RSS Feed
|
||||||||||||||
|
Sampson Bill Would Prevent State From Investing In Sudan State Senator Sampson will shortly be co-sponsoring legislation to stop New York State from investing in companies doing business in the Sudan. This bill ensures that New York does not support business activities with a state that sponsors terrorism and perpetuates genocide in Darfur. The atrocities in Darfur, the South-ern region of Sudan, have resulted in the deaths of 400,000 people and the displacement of 2.5 million, inciting outrage throughout the world. Thousands of lives have been ruined from systematic rape, wholesale destruction of vital living resources, malnutrition and appalling conditions in refugee camps. "Our world proclaimed 'Never Again' to genocide after World War II and sat in humiliation after Rwanda and Srebrenica. It is vital to prove that we have not lost our resolve and equally essential to ensure that we are not supporting state-sponsored terrorism," explained Sampson. "In 1997, the federal government classified Sudan as a state sponsor of terrorism and subsequently sanctioned U.S. companies from doing business in the country. Investing New York pension funds in companies that conduct business in the Sudan does not support efforts against terrorism and additionally poses certain financial risks," Sampson said. "While efforts made at the federal or international level deserve applause, if factors at the state level contribute to terrorism and the ensuing inhumanities, states must respond, too." Currently, six states have passed Sudan divestment laws and there is legislation pending in 15 others. Over 30 universities including Cornell, Columbia and Vassar have also adopted divestment policies. In applying a targeted divestment strategy, strict cri-teria are set for only the most severe abettors while avoiding unintended negative consequence to civilians. "State divestment of pension funds has received heightened attention as a potentially effective and morally consistent response, especially in the wake of decreasing options at the international and federal level," Sampson said. Using a fiscal strategy to respond to moral conflicts is not an unprecedented proposition for the legislature. The New York State legislature responsibly employed the MacBride Principles as a 'code of conduct' for companies doing business in Northern Ireland to combat employment discrimination and ease tensions in the region. Di-vestment at the state and municipal level, including 28 states and 92 cities, was also one of the most effective methods for ending Apartheid in South Africa. Sampson emphasized that, "New York has always been at the forefront of tackling gross violations of human dignity through effective and consistent policy. As an issue critical to both Democrats and Republicans, NY State's financial contribution to this human tragedy can be addressed through co-operative efforts and should be done with expediency to save those lives that hang in the balance."
|
for larger version       |
|||||||||||||
