Stop the atrocities: A plea to the Prime Minister

Dear Mr Blair,

The growing human crisis in Darfur, in Sudan, cannot and must not be allowed to continue.

Exactly one year ago today the international community agreed its responsibility to protect civilians from atrocities such as ethnic cleansing and war crimes.

One year later the international community is failing to act as the Sudanese Government masses 10,000 troops ready to begin a new wave of attacks on civilians.

With more than 300,000 people already dead and two million displaced, Darfur is teetering on the edge of catastrophe.

Meanwhile, the international community prevaricates and the African Union even considers withdrawing its peacekeepers.

We call on our Government to move Darfur to the top of its priority list until a UN force is deployed and the people of Darfur are protected.

"Never again" is a well-worn phrase. Now is the time to show we mean it.

EMMA THOMPSON, ACTOR

ANNIE LENNOX, MUSICIAN

HELEN BAXENDALE, ACTRESS

DAME ANITA RODDICK, FOUNDER, THE BODY SHOP

BRIAN ENO, MUSICIAN

GEOFFREY BINDMAN QC, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER

SIGRID RAUSING, PHILANTHROPIST

LORD CAREY OF CLIFTON, FORMER ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY

JAMES JONES, BISHOP OF LIVERPOOL

JOEL EDWARDS, DIRECTOR GENERAL, EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

RABBI MAURICE MICHAELS, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY OF RABBIS OF THE MOVEMENT OF REFORM JUDAISM

FLOELLA BENJAMIN, TV PRESENTER/CAMPAIGNER

BARONESS SCOTT, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

TOM ROBINSON, BBC RADIO 2 PRESENTER

JULIAN RICHER, RICHER SOUNDS

PATRICK COX, SHOE DESIGNER

KELLY HOPPEN, INTERIOR DESIGNER

ANTON BILTON, PHILANTHROPIST

PROF ANDREW TOMPKINS, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL CHILD HEALTH

ABDEL SALEM HASSAN, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER

DILEEP MUKARJI, DIRECTOR, CHRISTIAN AID

ROMEO DELLAIRE, CANADIAN SENATOR, HEAD OF UN PEACEKEEPING MISSION TO RWANDA IN 1994

DR DAVID POTTER, DR ELAINE POTTER, THE DAVID AND ELAINE POTTER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

DR AMAL SIDAHMED, SUDANESE WOMEN'S RIGHTS GROUP UK

HASHIM AHMED, SUDAN TRADE UNION COUNCIL

OSMAN HUMMAIDA, SUDAN ORGANISATION AGAINST TORTURE

DR ELAINE STORKEY, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, OXFORD UNIVERSITY

ALAN STORKEY, AUTHOR

BOB GELDOF, CAMPAIGNER

MIA FARROW, ACTRESS/UNICEF AMBASSADOR

ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN

DAVID FURNISH, FILM DIRECTOR

MARK THOMAS, COMEDIAN/CAMPAIGNER

EMMANUEL JAL, SUDANESE RAPPER

BARONESS D'SOUZA,

SIR ROBIN CHRISTOPHER, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO ETHIOPIA

JOANNA GLYNN, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF THE REDRESS TRUST