| February 18, 2009 | DIAL FOR DARFUR DAY
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT ON MARCH 4TH
IN GEORGIA
TO SUPPORT 2 STATE BILLS BEFORE OUR GEORGIA LEGISLATURE.
CAN WE COUNT ON YOU?
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|  TO DIAL FOR DARFURALL YOU HAVE TO DO ON MARCH 4TH
IS MAKE AT LEAST ONE PHONE CALL
1. Thank each bill sponsor and co-sponsor for supporting this important piece of legislation in Georgia.
*both bills are sponsored by the same senators
2. Read the description of the bills below and briefly tell them why you are urging their support.
Sponsor
Senator David Adelman (42nd district) 404-463-1376
Co-Sponsors
Senator David Shafer (48th) 404-656-0048
Senator Eric Johnson (1st) 404-656-5109
Senator Chip Rogers (21st) 404-463-1378
Senator Kasim Reed (35th) 404-463-1379
Senator Robert Brown (26th) 404-656-5035
3. It is very important for you to find out who your own state senator is and urge him or her to support these bills. You can find out who they are by clicking this link and type in your zip code.
4. Senator Johnny Isakson (770)661-0768
is a ranking member of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa. He is also running for reelection in 2010. You can make a huge impact at the federal and state levels by calling him. Thank him for his support on Darfur in the past. Tell him to call Governor Perdue and encourage him to support the proposed state bills SB171 and SB170. Ask the senator to make sure a high level envoy is appointed to Sudan ASAP. Ask him to support all efforts to protect civilians, promote peace, and implement punitive measures to members of the government of Sudan who are accountable.
| DEAR COALITION MEMBER AND SUPPORTER,
Today, State Senator David Adelman introduced two very important bills into the 2009 Georgia Legislative session. Senate Bill 171 (SB171) is a targeted divestment from Sudan bill and Senate Bill 170 (SB170) is a contract prohibition bill.
Last year's effort towards targeted divestment for the state of Georgia from the most egregious companies doing business in Sudan who are essentially funding the Darfur genocide did not make it out of committee. This year with your help we can PASS this important piece of legislation. Please go to the Sudan Divestment Task Force for a more detailed overview of what SB171 means and why 27 states have passed this bill.
SB170 is a Targeted Sudan Contract Prohibition bill which would prohibit a state agency from entering into a contract with companies that have certain problematic business operations in Sudan. Contracts with state agencies will not be provided to any company that cannot certify that it does not have certain problematic business operations in Sudan. In other words, the worst offending companies doing business in Sudan will not be able to enter into a contract with the state of GA, and indirectly fund the ongoing genocide in Darfur. | | 
Since 2003, the government of Sudan has pursued a genocidal campaign against the civilian population of Darfur. Although obstruction by the government of Sudan has prevented the international community from determining concrete mortality statistics, between 200,000-400, 000 have died and over 2.7 million have been displaced as a result of the conflict. The U.S. government first labeled the Darfur conflict as genocide in July 2004, marking the first time the U.S. has declared a situation to be genocide while atrocities are ongoing.
Sudan has a well-documented history of responsiveness to economic pressure. Possessing neither the capital nor the expertise to fully exploit its own oil resources, the government of Sudan is highly reliant on foreign direct investment to fund its military and facilitate conflict in Darfur; up to 70% of Sudan's oil revenues go towards its military expenditures. Furthermore, events in Sudan and the prospect of continued international sanctions have led investors to question not only the social ramifications, but also the financial prudence of investing in problematic companies operating in the country. Do you want to rid all of Georgia's pension investments from companies fueling the Darfur Genocide? MAKE THE CALL ON MARCH 4TH
SB 170 State Contract Prohibition
The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 - which was signed into law at the end of last year
- provides a powerful new tool to pressure companies that support the Sudanese government by
authorizing state contract prohibition. State governments sign public contracts with companies that
operate in Sudan and through this legislation now have the power to prohibit contracts with certain
companies. SADA provides criteria for identifying problematic companies that operate in Sudan's oil,
power, mineral and military sectors - sectors that provide revenue primarily for the Sudanese government
and at the expense of marginalized populations.
Sudan's oil sector accounts for nearly 90 percent of the country's total export revenue. Up to 70 percent
of this oil revenue is used to finance the country's military - which arms, trains and provides military
support to the Janjaweed militia that continues to conduct a campaign of murder, destruction, torture, and
rape in Darfur. Sudan's oil sector is dependent on these foreign companies for capital, technology and
personnel.
Therefore, these companies must use their unique leverage with the Sudanese government to hasten the
end of violence and destruction in Darfur. If the Sudanese government continues to be unresponsive to
this pressure, companies should cease operations and/or sever economic ties with the regime in
Khartoum. Do you want to prevent Georgia state agencies from contracting with the worst offending companies doing business in Sudan? MAKE THE CALL ON MARCH 4TH
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| THANKS FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE. EVERY ONE OF YOUR CALLS WILL BE LOGGED AND COUNTED IN EACH SENATOR'S OFFICE ON MARCH 4TH. LOOK FOR A BRIEF REMINDER WITH SCRIPT SOME TIME NEXT WEEK.
CONTACT ADVOCACY DIRECTOR: atlaxn@gmail.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS ACTION
| MELANIE NELKIN, CHAIR
Melanie@gadarfur.org
Darfur Urgent Action Coalition of Georgia | | |
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