[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index
][Thread Index
]
Selective Purchasing Laws
Dear David:
I have information on how to campaign for selective purchasing laws. I have
copies of the Berkeley and Madison laws, the Massachusetts legislation plus
information on the history and scope of South Africa-related selective
purchasing laws. If you or anyone would like this material, just let me have
your mailing address.
Simon Billenness
Franklin Research & Development
(617) 423 6655 x225
------------------------------------------------
>From: david dwight horne <dhorne@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>By David Horne
>Indiana University
>
>BLOOMINGTON, Indiana- A recent film lecture has sparked interest in the
>Burma conflict. The lecture was held on Monday, October 2 at 8 p.m. on
>the Indiana University campus. The dynamic speakers, Khin Ohnmar of
>Refugees International and Kevin Heppner of Canadian Friends of Burma and
>Director of the Karen Human Rights Group, motivated the students,
>faculty/staff and community of Indiana University Bloomington. Ms.
>Ohnmar first discussed the history of Burma's injustice and then gave her
>own testimony. As a Burmese refugee student herself she was able to
>provide a visualization of what took place in 1988. Her portion of the
>lecture kept the American students attention on what the movement is all
>about. Ms. Ohnmar simply said "The peoples of Burma need you." Her face
>did not show despair, when many students acknowledged her desire. Her
>charge was for the American people at large to put pressure on those
>corporations that support SLORC(State Law and Order Restoration Council),
>not to involve themselves in business with this brutal dictatorship. She
>specifically encouraged the boycott of PepsiCo, Unocal(Union 76), and
>Texaco. These American companies refuse to halt business with SLORC.
>
>The next speaker used photo's from his journey in Burma. Mr. Heppner had
>been in the minority areas and taken some disturbing pictures. As he
>methodically turned each slide and made his comments about each photo,
>some students turned their heads or covered their eyes in horror. Most
>American students have seen disturbing pictures of war crimes before;
>however, most of them were taken back in the 40's in Nazi Germany. Mr.
>Heppner's photo's had a devastating effect because of their time. He
>pointed out that these atrocities were still taking place today. He
>summed up his portion of the lecture by quoting an old Burmese farmer,
>the man said "I think democracy is being able to have a cow and not
>having to give it to the government." After the lecture had concluded
>there was a short question and answer time. The Americans present had
>been motivated to action. They wanted to know where to start and how
>they could be most effective.
>
>The Indiana University community is blessed to have two Burmese refugee
>students studying and leading this movement forward in Bloomington.
>Their names are Tun Myint and Moe Zaw Aung. Under their direction there
>will now be a protest at the Pepsi plant in Bloomington on October 27.
>Amnesty International was also well represented at the lecture and they
>were interested in doing more than just a protest. With the leadership
>of the Burmese students and the orginazational strength of Amnesty
>International the Bloomington Community will be attempting to bring
>selective purchasing to the attention of the City Council. Selective
>purchasing is how an individual, community, state, or even government can
>protest an unjust situation. In this case the city will be asked to stop
>local trade with companies that operate with SLORC. With enthusiam such
>as this democracy will prevail in Burma.
>
>
>