March 20, 2007

Your help is needed in passing the Sudan divestment legislation

Make TWO important calls TODAY, Tuesday, March 20 and help save HB 1484!

Background: HB 1484 was heard in the Pensions and Labor committee and is scheduled for a vote shortly. In a recent news article, State Senator Kruse (Chair of the Pensions and Labor Committee) did NOT express support for HB 1484, Sudan Divestment. He does not think that the situation in Darfur warrants divestment action, and he fears that HB 1484 might open the door for future divestment proposals.

The bill has bipartisan support and is co-authored by Reps. Crawford, GiaQuinta, Noe, Pierce, Porter, and Dickinson in the House, and co-sponsored in the Senate by Senators Dillon, Broden, and Breaux. The language of HB 1484 is based on the Task Force model of targeted divestment from Sudan.

Action: Call or e-mail: Senator Kruse, chair of the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor and Senator David Long, President Pro Tempore TODAY and urge them to support HB 1484.

Talking Points: “As a citizen of Indiana, I am concerned that Indiana’s money is helping fund the genocide in Sudan. I am calling to ask you to vote YES on the Sudan Divestment bill HB 1484. This bill will help ensure that Indiana is not funding genocide.”

Sample E-mail to Senators Kruse and Long:

Dear Senator [Insert Name Here]:

I am writing to encourage you vote yes on HB 1484, dealing with the targeted divestment from Sudan. The bill passed out of the House unanimously (97-0) and has bipartisan support in the Senate with Senators Dillon, Broden, and Breaux co-sponsoring the bill. The Sudan Divestment bill will help ensure that Indiana taxpayers are not funding genocide. This “targeted divestment” legislation focuses only on foreign companies that have a business relationship with the Sudanese government, impart minimal benefit to the country’s underprivileged, and have failed to respond to attempts at shareholder engagement. Additionally, the legislation contains safeguards that project the state’s pension funds and allow them to maintain their prudent investor responsibilities.

This is the first time in history that a massacre has been officially declared a genocide while the atrocities are still ongoing. An estimated 400,000 have been killed and 2.5 million are displaced since the conflict erupted in February 2003. Rape is being systematically employed as a weapon in this genocide. Despite a May 2006 peace treaty, the government-sponsored violence in Darfur has actually worsened. In August 2006, UN Undersecretary Jan Egeland stated, "It's going from real bad to catastrophic in Darfur."

Churches, synagogues, student and community groups throughout our state want Indiana to make a powerful statement and take action against genocide. Additionally, there are over 200 Darfurians living in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Given the Sudanese government’s historical sensitivity to economic pressure and the ongoing genocide in Darfur, I urge you to vote YES on HB 1484. By doing so, you will be playing a critical role in helping the growing number of citizens take action for Darfur.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Contact Information:

Dennis K. Kruse (CHAIR)
R--Auburn; Counties: Allen, DeKalb, Steuben
(317) 233-0930
s14@in.gov

Senator David Long, President Pro Tempore
(317) 232-9400
R--Fort Wayne
s16@IN.gov

This is your chance to have a hand in stopping genocide!

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