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D. Yobachi Boswell
PO Box 331025
Nashville Tennessee 37203
August 13, 2007
Richard Plepler
VP Admin Service/Public Relations
1100 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Dear Mr. Plepler
HBO did a commendable thing recently in purchasing what is purported to be a powerful documentary on the history leading to the Darfur crisis - Sand and Sorrow. Yet then, with something as time sensitive as present genocide, and despite the rising crescendo of public outcry here in the U.S. and elsewhere for something to be done in Darfur; HBO decided to shelve the doc until December.
This perplexing move by HBO is another blow to the movement.
I would like to urge you to air the documentary now. The people of Darfur don’t have the time to wait for support that is already years too late. They need the public consciousness awakened now, and HBO could help with that by simply airing a property it already owns.
I know you have normal protocol for leading time and promotion of a program; but this is a special situation. Did you wait 5 months to air programming on 9/11 after the event even though you didn’t have lead time?
It is of no undertaking for HBO to simply put something on the air that has already been produced and acquired; so we are not asking anything the least bit extraordinary or burdensome of you.
Please act now, the moment to help the people of Darfur could use this fuel.
Sincerely,
D. Yobachi Boswell
