I’m often caught off guard by the number of people I meet who aren’t aware of the crisis in Darfur. These interactions — however surprising — serve as a great reminder that there’s much we can all do to spread awareness and build a movement that brings peace to Darfur and all Sudan.

I’ve recently spread the word using the video below. A quick email, blog posting, or note on Facebook with a link to the video encourages friends and family to “Be a Voice for Darfur” – as part of Save Darfur Coalition’s campaign to collect and deliver 1 million signed postcards to the next president.

Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTSaD-XLuBk

In less than two weeks, Americans will select the next president who is responsible for taking strong actions on Darfur.

We’ve set a goal of collecting 20,000 new postcards for the next president before Election Day.

A stack of urgent messages from Darfur activists will be waiting for him when he sits down in the Oval Office in January. Make sure yours is among them. Send your postcard, and be one of 20,000 new voices for peace.

We’ve come such a long way with your help. People are alive today in Darfur because we raised our voices together. And your consistent work has sparked strong words on Darfur from our nation’s leaders. Look at what we’ve accomplished just this year:

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Jerry Fowler, Save Darfur Coalition president, yesterday emailed Darfur activists regarding the presidential and vice presidential debates wherein Darfur was a topic of discussion. Jerry said tough words from the candidates on Darfur was only part of our work:

Now we must ensure that strong words in debates turn into strong actions in the Oval Office. And to do it, we must raise our voices together as one.

Jerry urged all activists to be a voice for Darfur by sending a message to the next U.S. president.

The full text of Jerry’s email follows:

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Last night the presidential candidates participated in their second debate in Nashville – this one in the town-hall style format – and we again had the opportunity to listen to the campaigns’ platforms on Darfur and humanitarian intervention. Below is the candidates’ exchange – spurred by moderator Tom Brokaw. To hear more about what the candidates have to say on Darfur, check out AddYourVoice.org.

Brokaw: Sen. Obama, let me ask you if — let’s see if we can establish tonight the Obama doctrine and the McCain doctrine for the use of United States combat forces in situations where there’s a humanitarian crisis, but it does not affect our national security.

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Last week, you heard Gwen Ifill prompt vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Sarah Palin on Darfur. Tonight’s presidential debate at Nashville’s Belmont University will be in the town-hall style format – with questions coming from audience members and the internet. In the run up to the debate, we asked activists to submit questions via MySpace on both candidates’ Darfur platforms. Tune in tonight at 9pm EST to see if debate moderator Tom Brokaw or an audience member asks the candidates to outline their plan for peace in Darfur.