Ask the Candidates About Darfur:

Four months after South Carolinians rallied at the State House to end the crisis in Darfur, Sudan, advocates say they are reaping significant results.

Two Democratic presidential contenders, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, have signed a resolution pledging to support a United Nations peacekeeping force in Darfur and a "high-level diplomatic initiative" to resolve the conflict.

That's great news to Dr. Richard Sribnick, the Columbia physician who along with a core group of Columbians developed the Oct. 6 rally to leverage action on U.N. Resolution 1769.

That resolution authorizes a peacekeeping force of 26,000 to the troubled region. About 9,000 international peacekeepers are there now.

"We developed a relationship within the (presidential) campaigns themselves," said Sribnick, who credited high school and college students with much of the legwork. "This happened as a result of attending multiple town meetings."

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, who has since dropped out of the presidential race, also signed the resolution, he said. And Sribnick said he is hopeful that the campaigns of GOP contenders John McCain and Mike Huckabee will soon sign.

Students, led by volunteer Jo Read, have mobilized on campuses around the state, collecting signatures by the hundreds.

"It's really the kids themselves who have been so connected," said Read, a native of Wales living in Columbia. "On campuses and high schools, we have so many committed young people who have given of their time throughout the primary campaign."

She said USC students caught up with former President Bill Clinton at the Starbucks in the Russell House on campus and asked him why his wife had not yet signed the petition.

The students printed it out for him, and by that evening, Hillary Clinton had signed it.

Read said the group, formally known as the Darfur Action Group of South Carolina, soon will introduce a genocide awareness and education program for schools around the state.

President Bush on Friday began an eight-day trip to Africa that also will focus attention on the continuing genocide in Sudan. Bush does not plan to travel to Sudan, but will go to Kenya, where a contested presidential election erupted in bloodshed and violence.

About 400,000 people have been killed and 3 million displaced in the Darfur conflict, which involves ethnic rivalries, oil and greed.

The Muslim-based Sudanese government has refused to protect the Darfuris, unleashing horseback militias to destroy Darfur villages in a bid to wipe out ethnic tribes.

As awareness of the crisis has grown around the country, many advocates are turning the spotlight on the connection between China and Sudan, particularly as the Beijing Olympics approach.

"As far as the activist community, (Hollywood director) Steven Spielberg pulling out of the directoral aspect of the Olympics was a direct result of Darfur activism," Sribnick said.

The South Carolina group also is working on a bipartisan Sudan divestment bill sponsored by state Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland.

The Washington-based Save Darfur Coalition has recognized the work of the Columbia group, designating them as "Darfur Heroes."

The story of the Columbia rally and efforts since then to challenge presidential candidates to address the issue will be featured on the Save Darfur Coalition Web site.

More information: www.dagsc.org.