Click here to pass the torch for peace in Darfur.
As the Olympic torch arrives in the United States, you can help put pressure on China to stop its sales of deadly weapons to Sudan.
Click here to pass our virtual Olympic torch to at least one other person, thereby asking them to join our campaign to stop China ’s arms sales to Sudan!
We want our torch to reach all 50 states, and as many countries as possible around the world.
Since 2003, China has supplied Sudan with at least US $55 million worth of small arms and munitions — exactly the types of weapons and bullets that are used to kill, maim, rape, and leave people homeless in Darfur. To put this number in perspective, if each gun and its ammunition cost $500, $55 million would outfit 110,000 Sudanese troops and allied militia members.
The Olympic torch is meant to be a symbol of peace. But the Beijing Olympic torch will not represent peace as long as China continues to supply the government of Sudan arms that are used to commit atrocities in Darfur.
China is unlikely to stop its arm sales to Sudan unless we amplify our voices in the U.S. and around the world. Please pass our virtual torch to stand against Chinese arms sales to Sudan and for peace in Darfur!
Thank You,
Betsy Apple
Director of Crimes Against Humanity Program
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Human Rights and Investor Coalition Pushes Action on Darfur Atrocities by Stockholders of Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase
8 Apr 2008 05:01 Africa/Lagos
Human Rights and Investor Coalition Pushes Action on Darfur Atrocities by Stockholders of Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase
Groups Urge Engagement to Help End Darfur Conflict
NEW YORK, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Beginning today and continuing through May 20th, shareholders of four major financial firms -- Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo -- are being asked to vote on proposals that will push the firms to use their investment relationships with Chinese, Indian and Malaysian oil companies to press the government of Sudan to end atrocities in Darfur.
The shareholder proposals are being sought by human rights organizations and socially conscious investors out of concern about the government of Sudan's use of oil revenues to support its military campaign in Darfur, which has resulted in the loss of more than 200,000 lives. Civilians are routinely raped, tortured and kidnapped, more than 2.6 million people have been displaced and two-thirds of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive.
Four oil companies dominate the industry in Sudan: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC/PetroChina), China Chemical and Petroleum Corporation (Sinopec), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India-Videsh (ONGC/OVL).
Proponents believe U.S. investors with stock in strategic companies in Sudan can advocate for an end to the violence by engaging with companies that provide revenue for the government to finance its military operations in Darfur. The shareholder proposals are coordinated by a coalition that includes Amnesty International USA, Genocide Intervention Network, Calvert Group, Ltd, Trillium Asset Management, Walden Asset Management, the Philadelphia Comptroller's Office and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, among others.
PROXY Governance, Inc., which provides research and proxy voting recommendations to its clients, has recommended a vote in favor of the Sudan proposal, stating that "investment companies have the right, if not the fiduciary obligation, to seek to mitigate the potential risks associated with these stocks through active engagement on the issue" and it "could be beneficial to both the company and its shareholders."
"There is a misperception that divestment of stock is the only way to address risks associated with investment holdings in Sudan-linked companies," said Amy O'Meara, director of Business & Human Rights for Amnesty International USA, which filed the proposal with Citigroup. "We believe these firms need to talk to the companies in which they invest about the risks of doing business in Sudan, and urge them to use their unique leverage with the government of Sudan to support the full and speedy deployment of the full African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur."
The shareholder proposals are one component of a broader effort to encourage major investment firms with holdings in Sudan-linked companies to use their significant influence.
Please contact Amnesty International for copies of the shareholder proposals and the list of organizations in the coalition.
Source: Amnesty International
CONTACT: Suzanne Trimel of Amnesty International, +1-212-633-4150
Human Rights and Investor Coalition Pushes Action on Darfur Atrocities by Stockholders of Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase
Groups Urge Engagement to Help End Darfur Conflict
NEW YORK, April 8, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Beginning today and continuing through May 20th, shareholders of four major financial firms -- Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo -- are being asked to vote on proposals that will push the firms to use their investment relationships with Chinese, Indian and Malaysian oil companies to press the government of Sudan to end atrocities in Darfur.
The shareholder proposals are being sought by human rights organizations and socially conscious investors out of concern about the government of Sudan's use of oil revenues to support its military campaign in Darfur, which has resulted in the loss of more than 200,000 lives. Civilians are routinely raped, tortured and kidnapped, more than 2.6 million people have been displaced and two-thirds of the population relies on humanitarian aid to survive.
Four oil companies dominate the industry in Sudan: China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC/PetroChina), China Chemical and Petroleum Corporation (Sinopec), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India-Videsh (ONGC/OVL).
Proponents believe U.S. investors with stock in strategic companies in Sudan can advocate for an end to the violence by engaging with companies that provide revenue for the government to finance its military operations in Darfur. The shareholder proposals are coordinated by a coalition that includes Amnesty International USA, Genocide Intervention Network, Calvert Group, Ltd, Trillium Asset Management, Walden Asset Management, the Philadelphia Comptroller's Office and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, among others.
PROXY Governance, Inc., which provides research and proxy voting recommendations to its clients, has recommended a vote in favor of the Sudan proposal, stating that "investment companies have the right, if not the fiduciary obligation, to seek to mitigate the potential risks associated with these stocks through active engagement on the issue" and it "could be beneficial to both the company and its shareholders."
"There is a misperception that divestment of stock is the only way to address risks associated with investment holdings in Sudan-linked companies," said Amy O'Meara, director of Business & Human Rights for Amnesty International USA, which filed the proposal with Citigroup. "We believe these firms need to talk to the companies in which they invest about the risks of doing business in Sudan, and urge them to use their unique leverage with the government of Sudan to support the full and speedy deployment of the full African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur."
The shareholder proposals are one component of a broader effort to encourage major investment firms with holdings in Sudan-linked companies to use their significant influence.
Please contact Amnesty International for copies of the shareholder proposals and the list of organizations in the coalition.
Source: Amnesty International
CONTACT: Suzanne Trimel of Amnesty International, +1-212-633-4150
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