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March 23, 2007
Legislative alert
Sudan Divestment bill is in trouble and needs your help
Background: HB 1484 is facing trouble in the Senate Pensions
and Labor Committee. There are plans by some members of the committee to
make the bill into a resolution. This would simply encourage – and not
require – -the pension fund to divest its holdings from those companies
complicit in genocide.
Action: Call or e-mail ALL Members of the Senate Pensions &
Labor Committee TODAY, as well as the Senate President Pro Tem, Senator
Long and urge them to make the bill binding. (Feel free to e-mail
Senator Kruse and copy all committee members and Senator Long.)
Talking Points: "Senator, as a resident of Indiana I urge you
to do all you can to make sure that binding legislation – not a
resolution – that is focused solely on the Sudanese government,
successfully passes out of the Senate Pensions & Labor Committee. Please
give the bill the chance to be voted upon by the entire Senate."
Sample e-mail:
Dear Senator ________:
As a Hoosier citizen, I am concerned that Indiana taxpayer
dollars are supporting the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. HB 1484 will
make sure this isn’t the case by requiring PERF & TRF to divest from
a targeted list of foreign companies that are directly aiding the
Sudanese government in its genocidal activities. Please do all you
can to make sure legislation – not a resolution – that is focused
solely on the Sudanese government, successfully passes out of the
Senate Pensions & Labor Committee so that the entire Senate can vote
on this bill. I am sure that Indiana’s public employees and teachers
don’t want their pensions invested in genocide. It would be shameful
if the State of Indiana failed to join the growing list of states
willing to DO something to help end the genocide in Darfur. Doing
nothing also makes a statement – that Indiana is willing to be a
bystander to genocide. Please vote YES on a clean HB 1484 in
Committee on Wednesday, March 28th. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Name, Address
Please, forward this message if possible to every Hoosier who wants
to make sure the genocide in Sudan comes to an end. Have a hand in
stopping genocide!
A longer version of this is available on the Indiana Area Web site
www.inareaumc.org.
United Methodist public school teachers, state government workers
encouraged to support HB1484 – Sudan Divestment bill
The Rev. Darren Cushman Wood of Speedway UMC and Beth Reilly, a
member of Aldersgate UMC in Fort Wayne, both working with a statewide
interfaith coalition on this issue, encourage United Methodists who
teach or who have taught public school or state government employees to
help support HB1484, the Sudan Divestment bill, by signing on to this
petition. Copies of this petition are available on the Indiana Area Web
site at www.inareaumc.org.
Petition in Support of HB 1484
Sudan Divestment Bill
As a current or former Indiana public school teacher or state
employee, I support HB 1484 which calls for the Public Employee’s
Retirement Fund (PERF) and the Indiana State Teachers’ Retirement Fund (TRF)
to divest from companies supporting Sudan’s genocidal practices in
Darfur. More than 400,000 people have died or been murdered and millions
have been displaced. I do not want my pension money being used to help
fund genocide.
Include name, address and school or department employed by
Please fax this information to 317-924-4859. Thank you.
This petition is available on the Indiana Area Web site at
www.inareaumc.org.
Updated announcement
Hoosiers for Darfur speaking tour now going across the state
Be informed about the crisis in Darfur. A state wide speaking tour is
being organized, which will culminate with a Finale Rally in Indy.
Speakers intend to travel to speaking engagements across the state which
will be organized with the help of Indiana Coalition Members. Organizers
hope to bring Indiana activists for Darfur, including representatives
from each speaking venue leading up to the rally, together for the
Finale Rally.
The confirmed dates are:
- Lafayette, Indiana: Sunday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at the Unitarian
Universalist Church, 17 S. 7th Street in Lafayette.
- Indianapolis, IUPUI Law School: Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m. –
Inlow Hall, 530 W. New York Street in Indianapolis. Suliman Giddo,
president of Darfur Peace & Development Org. will be speaking.
Public Parking is available at the Natatorium garage 1½ blocks west
of Inlow Hall. The garage is on the corner of New York and Blake
Streets. It is accessed from the Downtown area by taking Michigan
Street West to University Blvd., and turning South (left) on
University Blvd. to New York Street. Turn left (east) on New York
and immediately right on Blake Street. Turn right at the next corner
to reach the entrance into the garage.
- Indianapolis, Butler University: Wednesday, April 4 at 5 p.m.
(Lecture hall location TBA). Suliman Giddo alone will be speaking.
- Indiana State House: Sunday, April 15 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. This
will be a large interfaith rally in support of Darfur with speakers
and bands. The rally is scheduled for the east side or Capitol
Avenue steps to the State House. In case of rain, enter the north
doors of the State House for a rally in the North Atrium area on the
second floor.
We do not anticipate any other venues being planned at this point, as
the speakers' schedules are quickly booking up. I will let you know the
locations as soon as possible.
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e-HUM
Alert copyright 2007 by Indiana Area United Methodist
Communications.
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