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JCRC Virginia Action Alert:

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Supporting HB1828 "Targeted Divestment from Darfur"

CALL OR EMAIL THE HOUSE Appropriation Subcommittee on Compensation & Retirement

Before 3pm Today

Background:   Virginia is the first of 25 States that will vote this year on divesting resources from Sudan.  HB1828 (Dels Valentine & O'Bannon) and its companion SB 1331 (Sens Cuccinelli, Devolites-Davis,&  Ticer) call on the Virginia Retirement System to divest from companies that enable the Sudanese government to carry out genocide in Darfur. Six states, 30 universities and several cities & localities have already enacted similar measures as divestment campaigns unfold in Europe, Canada and Africa.

Talking Points:

·     We must take a moral stand: This is the first time in history that a massacre has been officially declared a genocide while the atrocities are still ongoing.  In February 2003, the Sudanese government began a brutal campaign of genocide against the people of Darfur. Four years later violence still rages in the region. 90% of Darfur's villages have been destroyed, over 400,000 have been slaughtered, and nearly 3 million have been displaced. The time to act is NOW.

·        Divestment can work:   Divestment has worked in Sudan in the past – both our federal U.S. embargo and others – were instrumental in getting the Sudanese government to end its civil war in the South and end its support of international terrorism. Targeted divestment can work again – and that's why both the Council Foreign Relations and the International Crisis Group have endorsed this effort.

·        This Divestment is Targeted: Out of the 400+ international companies operating in Sudan, roughly two dozen companies are currently targeted for engagement. (Because the United States maintains sanctions against Sudan, no United States companies are targeted for divestment.)  These "scrutinized" companies have a business relationship with the Sudanese government or government-created project, fail to benefit civilians outside of government controlled circles, fail to reasonably address the genocide through corporate action, and have proven unresponsive to repeated attempts at shareholder engagement. These firms typically come from the oil, mineral extraction, and power sectors in Sudan – some of which are already responding to the threat of divestment and beginning to adopt more responsible behavior in Sudan

·        This Divestment is Fiscally Responsible: HB1828 and its Senate companion SB1331 will affect the Virginia Retirement System's investments in 8 companies – less than .2% of VRS's total market value.  The legislation includes provisions at the request of VRS to extend its negotiation period with targeted companies beyond 15 months if necessary and allows VRS to discontinue divestment if the costs of implementation exceed 0.5% (50 basis points) of the total assets managed by the

Action:   This proposed will be heard today at 3:30pm in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Retirement and Compensation.  

·        Call or Send this letter to the committee's 6 members now!

·        Thank Congressman Wolf for lending is leadership and support to this effort!

·        Ask Governor Kaine to join us in urging the General Assembly to action! President Bush let us know the urgency of the genocide in Darfur in his State of the Union – now our state executives must act as well

Putney, Lacey E.        (804) 698-1019         DelLPutney@...

Hogan, Clarke N.      (804) 698-1060         DelCHogan@...

Ingram, Riley E.         (804) 698-1062         DelRIngram@...

Joannou, Johnny S.     (804) 698-1079         DelJJoannou@...

Tata, Robert               (804) 698-1085         DelBTata@...

Ware, Onzlee              (804) 698-1011         DelOWare@...

Draft Letter:

Dear Delegate _________:

Our statewide Jewish community brought thousands together last Spring urging our country to do more to stop the genocide in Darfur and now I join with the Jewish Community Relations Councils of Greater Washington and Richmond and congregations around the state in calling for your SUPPORT of HB 1828 – Divestment from Sudan.

Following World War II, in horrified response to the decimation of our Jewish communities in the Holocaust, the world stood up and said "Never Again."  That pledge has had strong meaning to our community, to our nation, and to our Commonwealth to not bear silent witness to genocide.  Two years ago you recognized the importance of this message with a resolution to recognize the Virginia Holocaust Museum as a state museum bearing witness to that unspeakable history.   Our Jewish community humbly but urgently calls upon you today to honor that commitment with action today against the genocide in Darfur.  Our President did the same in his State of the Union this week, Congressman Wolf has called upon you to join this effort and a bi-partisan group of Virginia legislators have answered that call

Divestment pressure has worked in Sudan in the past – both our federal U.S. embargo and others - and we believe this targeted divestment effort will work again. These are not just my words, they are the recommendation of foreign policy experts at the Council Foreign Relations and the International Crisis Group.  Though the cost to Virginia and VRS is quite small, the message we send is much more significant.  Our Commonwealth will join with six states that have already divested, and dozens of universities & institutions.  These campaigns are on-going in the U.S., and Canada, Europe and Africa so far.  Twenty-five states will consider divestment during their sessions this year – we are the first.  Let us send a strong message.  Our community has made a solemn oath to our parents and grandparents and to those who perished with no one left to speak for them – Never Again will we bear silent witness, Never Again will we let genocide occur on our watch.  In this time, in this place, and on our watch please lend your strong vote and your conscience to that message.   Please VOTE to divest.gw