Divest from companies influencing genocide
Sarah Beringer and Steph Sutton
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Opinion
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund burke
The present genocide in Darfur is the first time in history the United States Congress and President have recognized a conflict as "genocide" while the atrocities are ongoing.
As citizens of this world, we cannot remain idle. The government of Sudan has supported and participated in genocide against black Africans in the Darfur region since early 2003. An estimated 400,000 innocent civilians have perished, 2.5 million have been displaced, and countless women have been raped.
As we read these statistics in the morning news, it's easy to turn the page and think, "It's horrible, but I can't do anything about it. I'm late for class."
However, as ordinary citizens, we can act. Massive international pressure on the government of Sudan is necessary to end the genocide. We in Nebraska can contribute to that pressure.
A growing number of individuals and institutions across the United States are advocating economic pressure to end the genocide. Specifically, a nationwide movement has emerged calling for targeted divestment. This targeted divestment campaign calls on states, universities, cities and other investors to remove their investments from the worst-offending companies operating in Sudan. Only companies that contribute to the genocide and provide little or no benefit to Sudanese civilians are scrutinized for divestment. These are primarily oil, gas and infrastructural companies from Asia. So far, nine companies have ceased operations in Sudan or significantly changed their behavior in the country since divestment started.
Twenty-two states including Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, New York and California have adopted Sudan divestment policies along with more than 50 universities and cities. Last spring, the University of Nebraska passed a resolution calling on the University to examine its holdings in offending companies. The university screened its investments and found no targeted companies.
Edmund burke
The present genocide in Darfur is the first time in history the United States Congress and President have recognized a conflict as "genocide" while the atrocities are ongoing.
As citizens of this world, we cannot remain idle. The government of Sudan has supported and participated in genocide against black Africans in the Darfur region since early 2003. An estimated 400,000 innocent civilians have perished, 2.5 million have been displaced, and countless women have been raped.
As we read these statistics in the morning news, it's easy to turn the page and think, "It's horrible, but I can't do anything about it. I'm late for class."
However, as ordinary citizens, we can act. Massive international pressure on the government of Sudan is necessary to end the genocide. We in Nebraska can contribute to that pressure.
A growing number of individuals and institutions across the United States are advocating economic pressure to end the genocide. Specifically, a nationwide movement has emerged calling for targeted divestment. This targeted divestment campaign calls on states, universities, cities and other investors to remove their investments from the worst-offending companies operating in Sudan. Only companies that contribute to the genocide and provide little or no benefit to Sudanese civilians are scrutinized for divestment. These are primarily oil, gas and infrastructural companies from Asia. So far, nine companies have ceased operations in Sudan or significantly changed their behavior in the country since divestment started.
Twenty-two states including Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, New York and California have adopted Sudan divestment policies along with more than 50 universities and cities. Last spring, the University of Nebraska passed a resolution calling on the University to examine its holdings in offending companies. The university screened its investments and found no targeted companies.
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