Today, failure is not an option. Today, we are in the midst of one of the greatest crises that our state has ever faced. Today, we need our leaders in Lansing to show true leadership and that our votes all those weeks and years ago were not cast in vain. The way they can do this? Show Michigan and the country that 'lame duck' doesn't mean you can't make progress by passing some important legislation.
Much focus is being put on Washington and the massive bailout of the auto industry. However, the policies we enact here in Michigan can have just as profound an impact as that $25 billion on the future of our state. From how we vote to whether our schools can function to what happens when we need medical care, there is a lot at stake in what happens in just about a week.
Despite a very successful election several weeks ago, there are still barriers to voting in this state. The infamous "Rogers Law" stands as an impediment to many college students across the state registering to vote at the places they now live, and conflicting information about the requirements for absentee voting has a direct impact on the ability for college students and the elderly or infirmed to participate in our democracy. Legislation exists to provide for a repeal of "Rogers Law" and to provide no-reason absentee ballots- all that needs to happen is a Senate vote.
With the continuing economic downturn, more funding cuts are looking likely. While the Governor wants to protect education funding, Sen. Bishop said no, "there are no sacred cows" in this battle. The question of how to appropriate the money while dealing with the exigent circumstances in Detroit and other districts must be top of the agenda. In addition to this, our universities need clear assurances on the future of funding so they can plan accordingly. Our leaders need to remember that spending on schools is not just an expense, but an investment that will pay dividends years from now when we produce some of the best trained workers in the country.
After years of debate, the time has come for the Legislature to take action on individual market health care reform. The "Blues Bills" are sitting in the Senate chambers, just as they have been. With the uncertainty of the economy and employers slashing benefits left and right, many more are expected to turn to the individual market in the coming years. Wouldn't it be great if the state government could stand up for these people and let them know they will be treated fairly?
Despite these urgent issues, we are already starting to hear excuses for failure. Senator Bishop has stated that he has no problem adjourning early if it is clear 'nothing is getting done'. This statement is in line with what Michigan citizens have come to expect from Lansing. Our leaders need to realize that the power to get things done is in their hands, and make the sacrifices necessary to faithfully execute the oath they swore not to party or ideology, but to the people of Michigan.

We need one last push to get Lansing to FINALLY pass Sudan Divestment!

The Senate has the potential to show it won't play politics with the lives of innocent civilians in Darfur who are dying and running out of food and time.

However, we need your help to give one final push! Call or e-mail the Senate committee members to make them do the right thing and vote YES!

Suggested script: "As a concerned constituent, I would like to ask Senator_______________ to call for a vote on House Bill 4854, and vote YES to help save the people of Darfur at no cost to us!"

Please, call today!

The contact information for the leadership is is below:

Senator Mike Bishop: (517) 373-2417
senmbishop@senate.michigan.gov

Michelle McManus: (517) 373-1725
senmmcmanus@senate.michigan.gov

Alan Cropsey: 866-305-2133
senacropsey@senate.michigan.gov

Cameron Brown: (517) 373-5932
sencbrown@senate.michigan.gov

Mark Schauer: 888-962-6275
senmschauer@senate.michigan.gov

Buzz Thomas: 866-348-6304
senbthomas@senate.michigan.gov

Why isn't the US doing more in Darfur? Barak Obama brought up ending the genocide in his victory speech the other day, George Bush mentioned it on his trip to Africa, but no one is actually following through. Governments are preventing their athletes at the Olympic Games from speaking out on China's involvement in Darfur, all the while Chad is declaring a state of emergency to try to save itself from the terrorists who caused the genocide, and are now exporting their campaign to other countries.

Michigan has the potential to do something. House Bill 4854 (and its Senate complement) would take Michigan's money out of the genocide and urge the supporters of these atrocities to change their ways. The $150 million of taxpayer money that is invested through the state public pension funds would be used to urge the foreign companies that give the Sudanese government its blank check to murder thousands to instead use their money and clout to end the genocide and help the civilians. If they refuse, Michigan will join with 24 other states in the country and withdraw its funds.

However, this legislation is going nowhere. The House of Representatives came together to pass it, 108-2, drawing the support of both Democratic and Republican leaders. However, a couple of activist Senators have refused to even take the measure up to a vote, letting it languish for months in the Appropriations committee.

Senator Clarke (D-Detroit, sponsor of the Senate version) issued this statement on the bill: "My legislation requires the State of Michigan to take appropriate action to divest from Sudan and to prohibit any future investment until the genocide has stopped and peace is restored. It is time for the State of Michigan to help eliminate the atrocities against human life occurring in Darfur. I urge swift passage of this legislation"

Senator Mark Schauer (D- Battle Creek, Senate Democratic Leader) has much the same view, saying, "The violence in the Darfur region of Sudan has gone on for several years, but without proper funding this horrible situation would decrease and hopefully be extinguished. For this reason, I support Senate Bill 0555 which would keep state funds in the retirement investments of state employees away from businesses with interests in Sudan."

We talk about genocides in Rwanda and Serbia. We all lament the Holocaust. We have the opportunity to do something now in Darfur, but the moment is slipping away. We are still funding the companies who keep this atrocity going. Please press the Senate to pass Sudanese Divestment legislation. Let us not allow Darfur to go down as another black mark on humanity.
Tell your Senator to move this bill! Go to www.divestsudannow.com !

GOTV. 'Get Out The Vote'. This should be familiar to members of our generation. In 2004 and 2006, campaigns such as 'Vote Or Die' sought to get us off of our Xboxes and Facebook and into our local polling precinct. Every election cycle, celebrities and political elites get together to encourage us Generation Y-ers to 'participate' in our democracy.

However, what does participation really mean? At a speech at Georgetown last month, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean claimed these programs worked, with 'participation' of 18-29 year olds up 61% . But these statistics define 'participation' as people who cast ballots.

At the same time, in 2006, we saw affirmative action, a stand-by principle of civil rights for Democrats and Republicans for almost 40 years, overturned in Michigan. In 2004, the 'Defense of Marriage Act' dealt a blow to both homosexual and heterosexual couples by denying either group the right to enter into a less-than-marriage living arrangement . 2004-2006 saw lawmakers such as Randy "Duke" Cunningham in California and Bob Ney of Ohio be re-elected, while the full extent of the Abramoff lobbying ring was just starting to come to light. Howard Dean's 2004 grassroots candidacy, targeted at college students, was knocked out by a billionaire whose campaign relied heavily on the older, 'traditional' base of the Democratic Party.

How is this possible then? If young people are truly being 'mobilized', then why do corrupt politicians keep being re-elected? Why do campaigns that are geared toward our generation fizzle out? Why do ballot initiatives pass that overturn the progressive social change our ancestors fought for, or are so poorly worded that they hurt people not even affiliated with the issue?

Straw poll time. Have you ever been to the state capitol or local city hall of your own free will? If so, one point. Have you ever sent a letter to an official, without having your civics teacher force you, to voice your opinion on an issue? This one is two points. Have you ever researched a candidate not running for President, or a ballot proposal to form your own opinion of it? Give yourself three for this one. Now, the $64,000 question: have you ever volunteered or donated to a campaign or an organization supporting a platform you agree with? A whopping five points for those of you who have.

Total up the points. How many do you have? This is the true test of political participation. To those of you with three or more points: congratulations, your civics class did not fail you. These people know what avenues were built into our democratic system to allow them the ability to voice their opinions besides voting. To anyone with more points than 3, you are great examples of citizens taking the power of government in their own hands.

However, there's another category: those with one point or less. Unfortunately, it seems that most college students (and adults for that matter) fall into this category. While they may vote, they are not informed on the issues or candidates. Many may have an apathetic view of government and lament how 'corrupt' politicians are. This is always crystallized for me by the 'George Bush Is Stupid'-Democrat: people who know nothing except the mantra that George W. Bush is "stupid", and think that they should vote for whoever has a "D" next to their name.

Is this truly participation? Have we really been deluded into thinking that voting is all that is needed for a democratic government to function? If vague mantras, partisan politics, and glitzy media campaigns are all that people have to base their vote off of, no wonder we have seen our government become so ineffective. GOTV shouldn't focus on getting people into the polls; it should be about educating the electorate and making up for where our civics education has failed.

Sandra Day O'Connor wrote, "One way of getting people to protect our system is to be sure that they understand it." In 2008, our system will be in danger. Do we re-elect the same party hacks who have ridden roughshod over our nation for the past decade, or do we take our country back? In this struggle, GOTV is not the answer. Real democratic engagement and participation is. Let's show the talking heads in DC and the rest of the world what we really think of the government by getting involved in our democracy and fighting for real change.

There is much talk in Lansing and throughout the state about the proposed multi-million dollar expansion to Cobo Hall in Detroit. Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, Kwame Kilpatrick, and Governor Jennifer Granholm seem to believe this will bring large amounts of trade shows and other expositions to Detroit, brining in tourism dollars and helping to revitalize the downtown area.

There is a big question: how? How will this bigger space allow so many more shows and conferences to come to Detroit? Most of the time, Cobo is mostly empty. By building more empty space, how do they expect to hook more companies and industry collectives into coming to Detroit?

Gov. Granholm et al need to look at Germany as an example. Virtually every semi-major city there advertises itself as "Messestadt": basically, 'convention city'. Rather than just build convention centers, the German's try to offer the full package. The cities are centered on the principle of attracting and entertaining convention guests, with public transport designed to not only allow easy access to the convention center, but also to the rest of the surrounding area. In Detroit, without a car, a visitor has very little to actually do outside of eat and gamble. Going to The Henry Ford in Dearborn, the Fox Theater, or other attractions is difficult. Furthermore, transportation from Detroit Metro Airport to downtown in relatively hard and expensive, and there is no real way to get downtown with the train.

The Germans also focus on signage and the placement of tourism offices to better inform and acclimate guests. The Detroit Convention and Visitors Bureau is making progress, but without some serious infusion of funds, and the networking of DCVB with state agencies to provide guests with a networked 'one-stop-shop' of Michigan tourism as a whole, the city will still have to live with the reputation of having 'nothing to do'.

Building more empty space is not the solution. Only through a serious analysis of what visitors and companies want in a convention destination can policy makers come up with policies necessary to attract visitors and help revitalize Detroit and the whole of south east Michigan.

The majority of Michigan citizens have been to at least one of the Great Lakes, if only once. In fact, a large number of Midwesterners have come to Lake Michigan, Huron, Superior, Erie, or Ontario to swim, boat, fish, or any number of other reasons.

Besides supporting Michigan's tourism industry, which is the second largest contributor to our state's economy after manufacturing, the Great Lakes are an important environmental resource, housing any number of freshwater fish and plants. Their freshwater reserves, the largest surface reserves in the entire planet, supply thirsty Michigan and mid-western agriculture (the third largest economic contributor), in addition to many thirsty Michigan citizens, the water necessary to live and grow.

However, what would happen if those lakes weren't there anymore? What would happen if one or more of the lakes were put off limit to tourists and residents, citing high pollution levels? What if the water was unable to be pumped to the cherry producers in Traverse City or the soybean growers in Monroe, let alone to the pipes that wet-the-whistle of Michigan residents daily?

Some would tell you that this will never happen. They have the same false logic as many outside of the state: that Michigan is 'awash' in water. The water cycle, they say, ensures that the thousands of thousands of gallons wasted to water lawns and from table-water at restaurants will somehow comeback to the Great Lakes to be consumed again.

Why then are the Lakes at the lowest levels they have ever been? Why do certain areas of Michigan have to enact water moratoriums every summer to control dwindling water supplies amid drought conditions? The answer is: we do not have unlimited water to do with as we please. The wasteful practices that we have been indulging in for decades are combining with the effects of climate change to come back to haunt us. Unless we change our outlook on the Great Lakes and the environment, we will rapidly destroy the state many of us have come to treasure.

Hope is not lost though. Change is slowly beginning to happen. In 2005, Gov. Jennifer Granholm pushed the Great Lakes, Great Michigan! initiative through the Michigan Legislature. Constraints were placed on Dasani and other water-bottling companies, preventing them from sucking our lakes completely dry. In 2006 and 2007, the Legislature began to make progress on regulating aquifer tapping (the process of draining the ground-water that supplies the lakes, streams, rivers, tributaries, and us), another step in fighting low lake levels. Also, the public outcry was amazing when BP wanted to dump vast amounts of ammonia and sludge into Lake Michigan, with Facebook groups, websites, and the whole nine yards of grassroots activism coming into play to protect our most treasured resource.

Despite this progress, there is more that needs to be done. Michigan, while the only state to border 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, is only one of the seven American states that has territorial claims to them. Efforts need to be taken so that, when Michigan prevents a company from draining the lakes, they don't just relocate to Illinois or Wisconsin to continue their destructive practices. The strongest attempt to do just this is the Great Lakes Compact, an eight-state legislative package that, when fully ratified, will put the power to control water withdrawals into the hands of the people, rather than a few legislators.

This compact, though, is falling victim to the water-politics it is seeking to abolish. Two states (Illinois and Minnesota) have already passed it, while the other states and Michigan are considering it. Wisconsin and Ohio are presenting a challenge to this bill, wanting to amend it to allow more areas than just Great Lakes-basin areas to withdraw water. This is problematic as the compact only goes into effect if every state passes the same language. If one state refuses to agree, it acts as a veto, sinking the entire project.

There is no excuse for this. Politicians from both parties need to have the leadership necessary to fight politics-as-usual and make a decision with the interests of the people in mind, rather than their careers. It is at this point we, the people, need to stand up and show our elected officials that we will not support continuing the policies of the past that risk destroying the Great Lakes, the environmental jewel that sustains us and provides us great enjoyment.

-Tom Choske

The terror in Darfur shows no signs of ending. Yesterday, countless years of efforts to quell the violence were thrown out the window, when the Sudanese government recklessly attacked three Darfurian towns, displacing thousands more and killing hundreds. Far from hurting the rebels, this strike served to embolden Omar Al-Bashir and his terrorist force, the Janjaweed.
The terrorists murdering hundreds of thousands in Darfur were linked to the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000. This is not just a Sudanese problem, or an African problem, but an American and a global problem.
There is something we can do here. We can make stand against these terrorists and against the wanton slaughter of millions. If Michigan divests from companies aiding the Janjaweed, it will push the US government to take more action against these terrorists. They know that the only thing keeping them alive is the apathy of the first-world nations. Fight apathy. Fight terrorism. Push for Sudanese divestment in the Michigan Senate.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

Civil war in Chad. This democratic country that has stood against the forces of tyranny for years is now falling victim to the march of extremist terrorism. However, far from being motivated by a distorted religious creed, this terrorism is motivated by fear: fear of what could happen if responsible countries pushed to end the Darfur genocide.
The terrorists invading the capital of Chad are the same ones murdering hundreds of thousands in Darfur. They are attacking the government of a country that has allowed the refugees the hope to escape this tragedy. If others join Chad to put an end to this genocide, the Janjaweed's free reign of terror would be squashed. This scares them.
There is something we can do here. We can make the terrorists more afraid. If Michigan divests from companies aiding the Janjaweed, it will push the US government to take more action against these terrorists. They know that the only thing keeping them alive is the apathy of the first-world nations. Fight apathy. Fight terrorism. Push for Sudanese divestment in the Michigan Senate.

While not as sexy as drug overdoses or the withering away of Fred Thompson's presidential aspirations, the crisis in Darfur is still going on, unabated. Despite the lack of media attention, it is imperative that we act to help turn the situation around.
Earlier this year, the African Union mission was replaced with a UN-Hybrid force. However, the Sudanese government has refused to allow this force the equipment it needs to carry out its mission, in addition to banning troops from some major donor nations. Unless this changes soon, this force will be rendered as ineffective as the AU force of old.
Michigan can help. $150 million of taxpayer dollars are invested in companies that support President Al-Bashir's genocide. If Michigan passes HB 4854 and SB 555, it would join with 22 other states in pressuring these companies to change their tune.
Please help. Urge your state senator to call for the introduction and passage of these groundbreaking pieces of legislation. Together, we can make a difference.

-Tom Choske

Many have endorsed the new primary date with the rational that "Michigan's issues" were on display in the national sphere, and that the media and candidates would have to start addressing the issues that are important to Michigan voters rather than just those important to New Hampshire and Iowa. The question is: did this really come to fruition? Did the candidates, Republican or Democrat, address real Michigan issues, or just give the same superficial stump speeches that would work in any state?
CNN, Fox News, and every other media outlet have been hammering Michigan for having the highest unemployment rate in the country, citing the legacy of the auto industry contractions of the past decade or so. And what happens after they mention the Big Three? Commercial break before the next story. The same goes for the candidates who campaigned here. John McCain and Mitt Romney got into a tussle over Romney's desire to bring auto jobs back and McCain's view that we need to create new jobs. Beyond that, silence. The rest of their speeches were simply modified stump speeches, the same things they said in South Carolina and New Hampshire.
Great Lakes protection? Urban sprawl? Education reform? Health care? Mortgage crisis? Where are these issues in the debates? Michigan, with its gorgeous environment threatened by urban expansion and falling lake levels, some of its schools among the worst in the nation, millions of uninsured, and thousands upon thousands who have already or are in danger of losing their homes, is more diverse than car company jobs. It will take a lot more than a snap primary to force candidates to address these controversial yet vital issues here.

-Tom Choske

Many have seen the Mitt Romney campaign ads in Michigan on the television, where he stands in a warehouse lamenting the growth of China and pledging to implement policies to keep the US as the 'world's only economic superpower'.

However, while he makes these statements, Bain Capital (the investment firm he found and led in a state other than Michigan) is doing the opposite. 3com, an established and respected American semiconductor manufacturer, has recently come on hard times. In a bid to gain more access to the American market and 3com's advanced technology, a group of Chinese investors came together in an attempt to take over the company. And, guess what company was partnering with them in this bid: the same Bain Capital.

When making a choice for president, or even for candidates, make sure you have the full story. Vote for people who stand up for America, in both word and deed. Romney has failed that test, and has failed the people of Michigan.

Referenced from the Financial Times

The death toll is rising, and you money is making it possible.
Currently, Michigan tax dollars are supporting companies that aid the Sudanese government in its genocide in Darfur. Already 400,000 have died in addition to the over 2 million refugees. This needs to stop.
Michigan can make a difference. Existing legislation would divest our tax dollars and tuition dollars from companies aiding the genocide. Together with the other 20 states doing this, Michigan can say with a clear voice that, just as we didn't support Apartheid, we don't support genocide.
However, this legislation is sitting in a Senate committee, never receiving a vote. While the House voted divestment through almost unanimously, the Senate is, once again, playing politics with people's lives.
The people of Darfur need this. Michigan needs this. Please call your legislator and urge them to bring Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 4854
up for a fair vote.
-Tom Choske and Jeff Lakin
President and Vice President for Government Outreach (respectively)
Spartans For Progressive Divesment

Yesterday, the United Nations released a statement that the government of Sudan is, once again, failing to comply with UN Security Council Resolutions. Unless they allow all Peacekeepers into the country, hundreds of thousands more will die.

Michigan can make a difference. Existing legislation would divest our tax dollars and tuition dollars from companies aiding the genocide. This would hurt the Sudanese President in a very tender place: his wallet. Also, it would make a statement that Michigan doesn't want Lansing to send its money to foreign companies that help murder innocent civilians.

However, this legislation is sitting in a Senate committee, never receiving a vote. Certain lawmakers are stifling this legislation for political gain, much as they did for the budget. We all know how bad that was for the university and the state.

The people of Darfur need this. Michigan needs this. Please call your legislator and urge them to bring Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 4854 up for a fair vote.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

Darfur needs our help. The United Nations has released a statement that, unless the government in Khartoum fully complies with UN Resolutions and allows all aid into the country, the peacekeeping mission will fail and hundreds of thousands more will die.

Michigan has legislation to divest from companies aiding the genocide, hitting the Sudanese President where it hurts: his wallet. However, this legislation is sitting in a Senate committee, never receiving a vote.

The people of Darfur need this. Michigan needs this. Please call your legislator and urge them to bring Senate Bill 555 and House Bill 4854 up for a fair vote.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

It has claimed 200,000-400,000 lives. It has displaced millions. It has tortured countless millions more. And it continues to this very day -- with no end in sight.The situation in Darfur is real. Real people are being forced from their homes. Real people are being tortured. Real people are dying. To date, the genocide waged by the government of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir has taken the lives of well over 200,000 people, and the attacks by the Janjaweed, local mercenaries hired by the regime, have tortured and displaced millions.

The only way to bring an end to this is to target the money the government gets, namely the foreign oil companies. They must be engaged by their shareholders, and the State of Michigan has a lot of shares. If the state can engage these companies, we can make a difference on the ground in Darfur. To do that, though, we need your support as concerned citizens to get the government to pass SB 555 and HB 4854, the Michigan Sudan Divestment legislation.

Tom Choske

President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment and International Relations and German senior

How can we make a difference in Sudan? This question has sparked much debate in the news of late. Some believe the only way is through deploying troops. However, that is not the case. The U.S. can help end the genocide in Darfur at little cost and no loss of life.
Divestment is the first step. Much of the world -- the U.S. included -- divested to end apartheid in South Africa in the 1990s, so we can divest from Sudan to end the genocide. The Sudanese government makes most of its money from oil revenues, which the people don't see a penny of, by pressuring foreign oil conglomerates that are involved in Sudan to put pressure on the government. To get the oil companies to do this, they must be engaged by their shareholders, such as fund managers and even individual people. If they don't change their practices, we as concerned citizens will take our money other places.

This strategy has worked already. Schlumberger, a French oil company, stopped supporting the genocide and is now building hospitals and schools in Darfur. It carried virtually no cost for the investors, as there are plenty of more profitable companies out there to invest in, and it made a difference on the ground. There were no lives lost, either.

Stand up and support divestment legislation. It is the first step, and a significant one, that can help a lot of people at little cost.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

The Michigan Democrats have a challenge ahead of them. Regardless of any infighting surrounding Presidential politics, Democrats must unite to fight to make Michigan relevant on the national political stage. As of the date of this letter, the Michigan Democratic Party is planning on hosting a state-wide primary on January 15th, paid for with taxpayer money and alienating virtually all the candidates.

Currently, with the exception of several candidates, no one will participate in this primary that broke, without prior consultation, guidelines set down by the Democratic Party as to primary and caucus dates. Furthermore, Michigan's votes at the convention will be furthered censored, ultimately giving Michigan no voice and wasting over $10 million of your money at the same time.

Because of the actions of a few party activists, the Michigan Legislature voted this into law. Despite having been challenged twice by lower courts, the Michigan Supreme Court relented to political pressure and upheld the law last week.

However, there are problems with implementation. Certain state officials are unsure as to whether or not they will be ready. No one knows for certain even if any of the ballots will count for anything in the nominating conventions for either party.

This law is flawed. This primary is flawed. Democrats, the main victims of this, should put their internal differences aside in order to show a unified front opposing wasting public money and supporting Michigan having a voice come 2008.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Richardson

In the November 1st State News, columnist Leo Madarang wrote on why Mitt Romney was the 'right man' to be president. In it, he stated that Governor Romney's qualifications as a former CEO of Bain Capital and his gubernatorial accomplishments are the reasons he is the 'right man' to lead America.

However, there is another man in the race who was also a CEO and also a successful governor, plus an international player. This is Governor Bill Richardson. Toe-to-toe, he has many times more accomplishments than the entire Republican field put together. Under his stewardship, New Mexico balanced its budget five years in a row, and even grew its rainy day fund by over $4 billion. His tax cuts have been targeted to give low-income and middle-income people a break, and also to attract businesses small and large. His policies have created over 80,000 new jobs, lowering unemployment to the lowest it's been in 30 years. Richardson also has international experience, disarming dictators and saving lives.

The only thing Romney has that Richardson doesn't is a vague Michigan connection. However, if he is truly 'Michigan's son', then why did he move out? Where did he open up his company? Where was he when Michigan was going through hard times before? The answer is: not here. Now, when Michigan is useful to him in the campaign, he comes back pandering.

When making a decision for whom best to run the country, look at the facts. Don't get swayed by political pandering.

Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Richardson

How can we make a difference in Sudan? This question has sparked much debate in the news as of late. Some, such as Mr. Bristow, believe the only way is through deploying troops. However, that is not the case. The United States can help end the genocide in Darfur with little cost and no loss of life.

Divestment is the first step. Much as the world (the US included) did for South Africa to end Apartheid in the 1990's, we can divest from Sudan to end the genocide. Since the Sudanese government makes most of its money from oil revenues (which the people don't see a penny of), by pressuring these foreign oil conglomerates that are involved in Sudan to put pressure on the government. To get the oil companies to do this, they must be engaged by their shareholders, such as fund managers and even individual people. If they don't change their practices, then we as concerned citizens will take our money other places.

This strategy has worked already. Schlumberger, a French oil concern, stopped supporting the genocide and is now building hospitals and schools in Darfur. It carried virtually no cost for the investors (as there are plenty of more profitable companies out there to invest in) and made a difference on the ground. There were no lives lost either.

Stand up and support divestment legislation. It is the first step, but a significant one, and can help a lot of people with little cost.

-Tom Choske

President, Spartans For Richardson