Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the goal of PEARL? (What does PEARL stand for?)
2. Why should I get involved with PEARL?
3. What has PEARL Accomplished so far?
4. What are PEARL Action Alerts?
5. What am I supposed to do with the Action Alert?
6. I want to get involved, but what if I am too busy?
7. I am sending Action Alerts regularly, but I want to get more involved.
8. I am sending Action Alerts regularly, but no one is contacting me from my Member of Congress or Senator's office.
9. I live far away from Washington, DC. How can I arrange to meet with my Congressman or Senator?
10. Do I have to be a US citizen to participate in PEARL?
11. Does lobbying make any difference?
1. What is the goal of PEARL?
PEARL stands for People for Equality and Relief in Lanka. The goal of PEARL is to educate the U.S. government about the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Sri Lanka. PEARL attempts to influence U.S. foreign policy to promote justice for innocent civilians in Sri Lanka. For the last decade, the United States has been providing military assistance to the Sri Lankan government. This military assistance has helped fuel the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka by supporting the Sri Lankan Armed Forces attacks on civilians, the majority of whom are Tamils living in the North and East of the island. As the conflict in Sri Lanka escalates, internationally respected human rights groups have condemned the Sri Lankan government's use of indiscriminate violence. PEARL attempts to keep the U.S. government aware of this heightening violence, and educate policymakers about the need to curtail military aid to Sri Lanka.
2. Why should I get involved with PEARL?
PEARL is the foremost advocacy group in the U.S. focused solely on improving the lives of civilians in Sri Lanka. If you are concerned about the human rights atrocities in Sri Lanka, joining PEARL is the first step towards taking action on this issue.
3. What has PEARL accomplished so far?
PEARL has established a nationwide coalition of activists concerned about this issue. Our growing listserv is comprised of over 1,800 Americans who receive Action Alerts every two weeks describing changes in the situation in Sri Lanka. PEARL has worked with Congressional staff and other advocacy groups to convey our concerns to the highest levels of American government. Advocacy requires consistent contact with Congressional offices, and PEARL has built itself as the strongest organization compelling our elected representatives to better the situation in Sri Lanka.
4. What are the PEARL Action Alerts?
PEARL's primary advocacy tool, the Action Alert, is an email message that is forwarded to thousands of Americans around the country. The recipients send these messages, usually concerning human rights violations, to their respective Congressional representatives. Action Alerts are issued roughly every two weeks, and are a mechanism by which our elected officials are kept aware of the plight of civilians in Sri Lanka. Regularly forwarding Action Alerts to your representatives serves as a constant reminder for them to maintain a constructive stance towards Sri Lanka.
5. What am I supposed to do with the Action Alert?
Accompanying each Action Alert is a link to the letter online. You simply click on the link provided and enter your personal information, and then click "Send E-mail." Based on your address, the text of the Action Alert will be sent to all of your elected federal government officials. The next time you click this link, your personal information will be auto-filled into the form and you will only have to click "Send E-mail" for your letter to be sent.
6. I want to get involved, but what if I am too busy?
If sending Action Alerts is the extent of your involvement, be assured that it takes only 2-3 minutes of your time, every two weeks. The simple act of sending an Action Alert to your elected officials is just a matter of a few mouse-clicks, nothing more!
7. I am sending Action Alerts regularly, but I want to get more involved.
PEARL commends your desire to be more active. Currently, PEARL is working to establish regional coordinators for cities and states across the country who ensure that Action Alerts are being forwarded by their local community members. If you are interested in this role, please let us know by emailing us at Contact@PEARLaction.org. Another venue of action is to begin developing a personal relationship with the foreign affairs aide at your Congressional offices. This is very useful when PEARL is attempting to garner support for relevant legislation. Our PEARL team can support you by sending you Advocacy Folders for your Congressional offices, with recent news articles and human rights reports describing the current situation. Once you have developed a relationship with your representatives' legislative aides, you may personally update them regarding escalations in violence. There are many other ways to get more involved - please email us for further details!
8. I am sending Action Alerts regularly, but no one is contacting me from my Representative's or Senators' offices.
It is the responsibility of your Congressional offices to be responsive to you--their constituents. If you have consistently sent PEARL's Action Alerts and have never received a response from their office, you should call their office and ask to speak to the foreign affairs aide. You can explain your concerns about Sri Lanka and ask for a written response describing the Congress Member's position on this issue. If you are hesitant to make this call yourself, please email us and we will be happy to call on your behalf.
9. I live far away from Washington, DC. How can I arrange to meet with my Representative or Senator?
PEARL applauds you! Engaging your Congressional offices face to face is often a key step in securing their support for our issue. On weekends and during "recess" periods, Members of Congress fly to their home districts for the express purpose of meeting constituents. Contact us if you would like assistance scheduling a meeting with your Congress Members.
10. Do I have to be a US citizen to participate in PEARL?
No. You do not have to be a citizen in order to forward Action Alerts to your state's Senators or Member of Congress. You do not have to be a citizen to make contact with the Congressional offices that represent the state and district you live in. We live in one of the world's great democracies; it is not only our right but also our civic duty to voice our opinions to our country's leaders.
11. Does lobbying make any difference?
YES, without a doubt! PEARL has been instrumental in making elected officials understand the plight of civilians in Sri Lanka, and it has even contributed to the passing of legislation which limits military aid to the Sri Lankan government. The power of lobbying can be seen in the amount of influence of advocacy groups concerned with Darfur. Keep in mind the words of the late Senator Paul Simon: "if each senator and congressperson had received 100 letters from their constituents urging an American response when the Rwandan crisis first surfaced, U.S. policy would have been different." We truly have the power to mold American foreign policy toward Sri Lanka - we only require the will to act in unison!
