Take Action: Make sure President Bush lives up to Sudan divestment law

Make sure President Bush lives up to Sudan divestment law

To date, almost half the states in the U.S. have taken action to ensure that their tax dollars do not help fund the Sudanese government's brutal campaign against the people of Darfur.

Thanks to the dedication of activists like you, Congress unanimously passed a bill with the power to significantly increase the economic pressure on the Sudanese government—and re-affirm the U.S. commitment to ending the genocide.

President Bush signed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act into law on December 31, but said he would interpret and enforce the legislation in the manner he saw fit. For the strongest piece of Sudan legislation to date, this is hardly an assurance.

The bill's clout rests on its provisions to protect the right of states like yours to divest and to prohibit U.S. government contracts with foreign companies that help fund the genocide.

We need your help to ensure that President Bush takes the steps that the bill intends.

Tell me more

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

I am deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Darfur. I believe that the United States must do everything possible to stop the Sudanese government's ongoing campaign of murder, rape and displacement in Darfur.
 
I am writing to thank you for signing the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (S.2271) into law and to urge your Administration to enforce the full spirit and letter of the bill.

As you know, both the House and the Senate unanimously passed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act in December. Implementation of this legislation is one of the most effective tools at our disposal to increase the economic pressure on the Government of Sudan. Past experience demonstrates that the regime in Khartoum has changed its behavior in response to significant economic pressure.

By prohibiting federal government contracts with companies involved in Sudan's booming oil, mineral and weapons sectors, the legislation forces these companies to choose between receiving lucrative U.S. government contracts and funding a government responsible for killing hundreds of thousands of its own citizens. It also authorizes states to divest their own funds from these companies. Fully implementing the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act will provide the economic pressure necessary to reach a turning point with the Government of Sudan.

In September 2004, your Administration rightfully stated that the atrocities in Darfur constitute genocide. The people of Darfur have already endured more than four years of violence. As the genocide continues, we must ask whether we are doing all we can to stop the killing. Divestment is a tool that should be used only under extraordinary circumstances. Surely, the outrageous crime of genocide merits this response. I urge you to implement and strongly enforce the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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