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 !

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

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

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

I must say I respect and welcome Mr. Bristow's viewpoint on Darfur. He brings up a valid point that the United States has as its first responsibility the duty to protect its citizens and its founding principles. By the way, when his letter was written on October 8th, Sudanese government forces and proxy forces attacked and destroyed a village controlled by the Sudanese Liberation Army, a group with which they have an established cease-fire. 100 people were killed and the town was razed. I ask you if the murder of innocent civilians in the midst of a cease-fire violates our belief in 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' or not.

Mr. Bristow gathered from my previous letter that I was of the opinion we should 'invade' Sudan or use our troops. This couldn't be further from the case. The United States has the economic and political might necessary to make the changes without troops.

We need the Bush Administration to put some of its highest ranking diplomats on this issue, giving it the attention it deserves. We need to diplomatically target Sudan's economic partners, such as China, to force change in Khartoum. We need to prevent the conflict from spreading to neighboring nations such as Chad through engaging the African Union and other regional partners. We should moderate productive discussions between the regime and rebel groups officially. Finally, if we are to stand for international law against genocide, we should join the International Criminal Court.

These six steps are Governor Richardson's plan to end the genocide. However, we can't wait till January 20, 2009 to see these policies implemented. We, as citizens, need to stand with the Governor and oppose the outright massacre of innocent civilians every day until the crisis is resolved. This can be done by supporting targeted divestment policies in your state, you community, or even checking your own finances to make sure you are not supporting companies that support genocide.

-Tom Choske

President, Spartans For Richardson

As the media goes, so does the American populace. As Darfur seemed to be getting better with the UN Peace Keepers and the cease-fire, the media and the people seemed to hop to the next story of the day, be it OJ Simpson or Britney Spears.

However, the crisis is not any better, and UN Peace Keepers are meeting stiff resistance from the Sudanese government. While thousands continue to die per day in Darfur, the attention of the United States and other powers wanes.

Certain people are attempting to make a difference. As the only presidential candidate to have been to Sudan, Governor Bill Richardson has a clear policy to bring the might of the United States to bear on the Sudanese regime, forcing a true cease fire and real humanitarian relief.

2008, though, is a long way away. State Senator Hansen Clarke and Representative Alma Wheeler-Smith have legislation in Lansing to divest Michigan pension funds from companies found by analysts to be complacent in the genocide in Darfur. With the budget focus, and the counterproductive partisanship of the majority in the Senate, these bills need a popular push to get through, and start making a difference.

I urge you, contact your representatives. Get involved. Help us prevent another 500,000 from dying a needless death because of our apathy.-

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Richardson.