Civility and harmony are not words which typically depict the 2008 election cycle. And after what has already been a rather venomous campaign season, it may seem as though the chances of Republicans and Democrats coming together on the big issues we face are at best, unlikely.

But alas, a ray of hope remains.

This morning, the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 180 faith-based, advocacy and human rights organizations, released a joint-statement signed by all three major party candidates, Obama, Clinton and McCain, in unity over ending the genocide in Darfur.

While not unprecedented in presidential politics, this statement represents a defining moment in the struggle to call the world’s attention to this crisis. Today all candidates have spoken in one voice and declared that ending genocide in Darfur is a priority of not just a U.S. Administration but also of the international community, which is primarily tasked with handling situations of this nature.

Here’s an excerpt of the statement:

“As we campaign for President of the United States over the next several months, we expect there to be significant focus on the many differences between us,” reads the statement, which is also featured today in a New York Times advertisement. “It is with this awareness that we are taking the uncommon step of issuing a joint statement about an issue. After more than five years of genocide, the Sudanese government and its proxies continue to commit atrocities against civilians in Darfur. This is unacceptable to the American people and to the world community.”

In addition to the statement, the Coalition has taken out a paid advertisement in the New York Times with signatures from the candidates.

The past seven years of Bush Administration foreign policy have been destructive in terms of America’s ability to be a moral leader in the world. The Bush Administration characterized the situation in Darfur as genocide yet, as on so many other issues, it has offered empty rhetoric in place of meaningful action towards confronting the regime in Khartoum, Sudan.

January 20, 2009 will be a new day for America. Whichever candidate is administered the oath of office will be tasked with cleaning up Bush’s messes and, when it comes to Darfur, implementing a policy that truly works towards ending the genocide.

Today, we should all pause and regardless of political party, be proud that when it comes to ending genocide each of the candidates are ready to declare “never again.”

I have been working with the Save Darfur Coalition for almost two years and am happy that today we are taking the campaign to stop this genocide to a whole new level.

Save Darfur is joining the divestment movement and is calling on Fidelity Investments to divest from PetroChina- a company whose parent, the China National Petroleum Corporation, provides 70-80% of the funds that the Sudanese Government uses to carryout the genocide in Darfur.

It’s time for Fidelity, Berkshire Hathaway and other mutual fund managers to do the right thing and immediately take their money out of PetroChina stocks.

Take a look at this new national television spot which will run on CNN and in print in major publications including USAToday, The Washington Post, TIME, Newsweek and Business Week and others.

Also, you can read the FAQ from the Save Darfur Coalition website which outlines in more detail how Fidelity and other companies are at fault and what they can do to take their money out of Darfur.

All of these companies have attempted to spin the media and use technicalities to remove themselves from their moral responsibility to divest. Money is important, yes. But, Sudan has historically responded to economic pressure and the time has come to divest.

has passed a resolution to create a UN peacekeeping force in Sudan’s Darfur region. The resolution calls for up to 22,500 U.N. troops and police officers and an immediate injection of air, engineering and communications support for the 7,000-member African force already in the region.

the Deputy Secretary of State and one of the Bush Administration’s most prominent figures in foreign and economic policy, is resigning to join the Wall Street investment firm of Goldman Sachs. Zoellick is considered to be one of the loudest moderate voices in the Administration on many policy areas. Zoellick has played a large role in the U.S. Goverments involvement in Darfur, Sudan…