Maybe some stockholders prefer not to know that their investments support a government responsible for massive human rights abuses. But in today’s globalized world, stockholders must make it their business to know the human rights impact of their investments. Increase the pressure on investment firms to support human rights by taking a stand for Darfur.
Thousands of you have already joined with Amnesty International to call on firms investing in Sudan’s oil sector to make socially responsible investments. By using their influence, these firms have the power to help put an end to the Sudanese government’s stalling tactics against the full deployment of peacekeepers in Darfur. Thanks in part to your actions, JPMorgan Chase, Merrill Lynch, T. Rowe Price and Citigroup have begun taking positive steps to address our concerns. However, we need your help to get the same commitment from two other firms – Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo.
The United States has imposed sanctions against the genocidal regime in Sudan, including placing restrictions on companies that do business there in U.S. dollars. The Government of Sudan is in the process of converting its reserves from U.S. dollars to euros. It is essential for the European Union to impose banking and other economic sanctions on Sudan and its government leaders responsible for the Darfur genocide.
Please send your message to the EU at http://noeurosforgenocide.org.
Please scroll down to Option 2 and send your email.
This is really important! The U.S. cannot end this genocide alone.
And, this week, please forward this email to your acquaintances in Europe and ask them to go to http://noeurosforgenocide.org and take action.
What to say: Call 1-800-436-6243. Urge President Bush to deploy a team of U.S. diplomats working for peace in Darfur and all of Sudan.
Why it is important: In 2004, President Bush was instrumental in brokering a peace agreement to end a 21-year civil war in Sudan. To ensure peace for all of Sudan, this agreement must be implemented.
Additional information: An all-Sudan solution is necessary to bring lasting peace to Darfur. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and Abyei* Protocol are two key elements of the all-Sudan solution, which the United States must work to effectively implement.
[UPDATE: We're going to keep this action up over the long weekend. If you've already signed the petition below, please ask your friends and family members to sign! Thank you!]
WHAT: Sign a petition that will be sent to the current members of the UN Security Council. The petition calls on the UNSC to:
- “visit Khartoum in May 2008 to ask for the Sudanese government to hand over the two suspects” [i.e., Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb, who are responsible for committing war crimes and other crimes against the people of Darfur]
- “impose targeted sanctions (asset freezes) on the Sudanese Government ministers protecting these two men”
WHY: The International Criminal Court has an open case on Darfur. It’s been more than 280 days since the ICC issued indictments against Haroun and Kushayb. And still the two criminals have yet to see their jail cells in the Hague.
ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo needs the UN Security Council’s help in order to drive forward his case against the abovementioned — such help would in turn generate some much needed momentum for possible future cases targeting other Sudanese government perpetrators.
Most importantly, bringing Haroun and Kushayb to justice would make the Sudanese government think twice about continuing its genocide against innocent men, women, and children in Darfur.
This week Steven Spielberg ended his role as an artistic advisor to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This news was picked up by thousands of media outlets, hopefully sending a strong signal to China’s leaders that they will continue to pay a high image-price for sponsoring the genocide in Darfur. See Spielberg’s full statement after the jump.
An unprecedented and sophisticated grassroots campaign of pressure and shame is underway. The targets are the Chinese government and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Darfur movement is going to make sure the world knows about Beijing’s ongoing military, financial, and diplomatic sponsorship of genocide in Sudan. All of the necessary advocacy elements — media outreach, grassroots mobilization, outreach to high-profile politicians and celebrities, etc. — are really starting to come together.
The 2008 Olympic Games are now six months away. But as China is planning for the Games, it is ignoring the countless men, women and children suffering in Darfur.
Today we are holding press events at Chinese embassies and consulates around the world urging China to use its influence over Sudan to help end genocide.
Please join us by calling the Chinese Embassy to urge Sudan’s largest trade partner to help end the violence in Darfur.
Steven Spielberg has decided not to participate in the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing as an artistic adviser, citing the lack of progress in ending the genocide in Darfur.
The move marks a public relations blow to the Chinese government as it tries to prevent the Games from being politicized, not just on the Darfur crisis but other issues.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to formally announce the end of my involvement as one of the overseas artistic advisers to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games,” Spielberg said in a statement released today.
“I have made repeated efforts to encourage the Chinese government to use its unique influence to bring safety and stability to the Darfur region of Sudan,” Spielberg wrote. “Although some progress has been made …the situation continues to worsen and the violence continues to accelerate.”
“With this in mind, I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual,” he added. “At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that will continue to be committed in Darfur.”
Spielberg noted that the Olympic Organizing Committee had sent him a contract nearly a year ago, but he left it unsigned.
Today we mourn the loss of a true champion of human rights, Congressman Tom Lantos. He was an outspoken and courageous advocate for the people of Darfur. He served our country honorably, effectively, and selflessly.
Please see the press release after the jump.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Lantos’ family, friends and staff.
