The Northern Uganda Lobby Day is less than a week away, and our bags are already packed with DVDs and snazzy business-black clothes (we’ve decided that flip flops aren’t the best for looking like we know politics). We seriously can’t wait to meet you all.But for all of you that can’t make it because you live in Alaska or you happen to have a nasty teacher that planned midterms next week or something wretched, we’ve kept you in mind. We’re bummed you won’t be there…we’ll miss you…and we still love you.So instead of daydreaming about what it would have been like, here’s what you do on Monday and Tuesday next week: jam the lines. Yes, we’re asking you to use your precious cell phone minutes for a five-minute phone call to your Senators and Representatives. It won’t hurt, and really, that’s what they are there for (the foundations of this country are great, aren’t they?! You’ve got at least three people responsible for you). Every time we’ve been in the offices of Senators, it’s amazing how the receptionist gets only a few phone calls every so often. So call and jam the lines – whether it’s with your government class, during lunch break, in the car (with someone else driving), or while you’re doing laundry – because we know you have five minutes to spare for Northern Uganda. If you won’t call, who will? We’re counting on YOU to surprise us when we step into the offices next week and hear phones off the hook for the invisible children…it’ll be music to our ears.

So here are the links for the offices you need to call:

Senators

House

Or call the main Capital switchboard at (202) 224-3121 if you aren’t sure who represents you.

And if you’ve never called in, here’s our suggested Mad Lib version of what you can say on the phone:

"Hi, my name is _____ from _____, and I'm calling to urge Senator/Representative _______ to do everything he/she can to see that the peace talks currently taking place in Juba, Sudan between the Government of Uganda and Lord's Resistance Army successfully end the twenty-year-war in Northern Uganda."

If you’re pressed for specifics, don’t freak out and hang up. Be honest and clear, urging the Members of Congress to become involved in Uganda. They can make a statement of public support for the talks, along with providing financial help for the people to rebuild Northern Uganda after the war ends.

So call. Now. And again on Monday and Tuesday. Be the voice of Northern Uganda.