Today, two weeks before US policy makers join leaders from around the world for a major summit in Durban, South Africa, activists from across the country will join forces to send a clear message to Members of Congress:  When Obama administration officials meet in Durban they must Stand with Africa, and with communities everywhere which are disproportionately impacted by climate change. President Obama’s administration must go to Durban with a just and ambitious position on climate change!

Representatives from the US State Department and US Treasury will represent the US climate position at the Durban climate summit and negotiate with other countries on set of policies to come out of the summit.  Congress, however, can play a big role in influencing the State Department and Treasury.

Therefore, before the Durban summit, Representative Payne (D-NJ) and Representative Carnahan (D-MO) are going to send a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to show Congressional support for a just and ambitious United States position at Durban climate summit.

The deadline for your Representative to sign the letter is November 21st! Please call your Representative TODAY and urge him/her to sign this timely and urgent letter!

For instructions on how to contact your Rep please continue reading:

(Please note this letter is just being circulated in the House of Representatives, not the Senate, so just call your Representative!)

Instructions:

Making a call is really easy and it only takes a few minutes!

Call the Capitol switchboard with our toll-free number, 1-855-393-4546, and ask for your Representative. If you aren’t sure who your Representative is, go to: http://house.gov/htbin/findrep?ZIP=
When the office receptionist answers the phone, follow the basic call script below. The receptionist’s job is to make sure messages from constituents are relayed to their boss, so make sure you give him/her your name and address so he can officially log your call into their database.

Be sure to report your call here when you are finished. (http://www.ejcc.org/?p=155)

Sample Call Script:
Hi, my name is _____, and I’m a constituent. I’m calling to ask [Rep./Sen.’s name] to sign a letter being circulated by Congressman Payne calling for a just and ambitious US position at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change summit starting in November 2011.
The impacts of climate change are already affecting people all over the United States and the rest of the world—but particularly people living in poverty and communities of color.

The deadline for signatures to the letter is November 21st.  Signing the letter being circulated by Congressman Payne is an important first step.
Please take my name and address so I can hear back from [Rep./Sen.’s name] on whether he/she signs this important and timely letter.
Thank you.

Call-In Tips:
• Introduce yourself to the receptionist and make sure that he or she takes your name and address so that your message can be logged.
• Feel free to share why this issue is important to you.  Of course, you may modify the script as you would like—it is just a guide to help you.
• Report your call here. (http://www.ejcc.org/stand-with-africa-call-in-and-report-back/)

What Else Can I Do?
• Sign our petition! (http://actionaidusa.org/do/petitions/PresidentObama_standwithAfrica/)

• Spread the world via Twitter using the common hashtags #cutscostlives and #StandwithAfrica

Here are some sample tweets:
o I just called my senator (or representative) & told him (or her) to STAND with Africa and Act Now for Climate Justice. Will you? #cutscostlives www.ejcc.org
o URGENT: Call your member of Congress and ask him/her to sign the Congressman Payne letter calling for a just US position at the Durban climate summit.
• Spread the word via Facebook by posting a message on your facebook page. Here is a sample posts:
o Act now: Call your member of Congress and tell him/her to Stand with Africa, Act for Climate Justice, and sign the Congressman Payne letter calling for an ambitious US position on climate change. www.actionaidusa.org.
• Email your friends and family members and ask them to make a call.
• Write or email a letter to your member of Congress in addition to calling them on October 14th.
• Write a letter to the editor in your local newspaper.
• Make an appointment with your member of Congress’ local office and visit them to talk about these issues.