September Action Alert: HELP DEFEND

[sbillenness@xxxxxxxx]

NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE: SEPTEMBER ACTION ALERT

SEPTEMBER 8, 1997

HELP DEFEND THE MASSACHUSETTS BURMA LAW!

Modeled on previous South Africa-related laws, the Massachusetts Burma law
effectively bars Massachusetts state agencies from buying goods or services
from firms that do business in Burma. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San
Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement, has praised the
Massachusetts Burma law, calling it an effective means to help restore
democracy in Burma.

The Massachusetts Burma law faces three attacks:

Attack #1: 
The European Commission and Japan continue to move forward with their
challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the Massachusetts
Burma selective purchasing law. Later this month, the European Union and
Japan will conduct their second round of "formal consultations" with the
United States under the WTO dispute settlement procedures. Under WTO rules,
the European Union and Japan must undertake three rounds of formal
consultations before they can request that a dispute panel be convened.

Attack #2:
Several corporations are strongly considering filing a lawsuit against the
Massachusetts Burma law.  According to the August 28 Journal of Commerce,
several corporations affected by the Massachusetts Burma law and municipal
Burma laws are expected to file a lawsuit alleging that state and local
selective purchasing are unconstitutional.

Attack #3:
Senator Richard Lugar (R, Indiana) and Rep. Lee Hamilton (D, Indiana) are
reported to be about to introduce a bill in Congress that may include a
provision making state and local selective purchasing laws illegal.

Since when did a handful of corporations dictate how Massachusetts should
spend its own taxpayers money?

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A: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS
B: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS
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A: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS

Write your elected Massachusetts representatives. Tell them:

1.   You believe that elected Massachusetts legislators and officials
should decide how to spend Massachusetts taxpayers money, not European and
Japanese bureaucrats

2.   You are a Massachusetts resident and voter with roots in the community

3.   You believe strongly that Massachusetts should stand firm against this
unfair pressure from the European commission and the Japanese government

4.  On June 12, the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution
that urged the European Commission not to take action against the
Massachusetts Burma law at the World Trade Organization. Why should
Massachusetts legislators amend their Burma law to suit European Commission
bureaucrats when elected European Parliament legislators unanimously
support the Massachusetts Burma law?

5.  Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement,
supports the Massachusetts Burma law and has stated such laws are an
effective means of helping to restore democracy in Burma.

6.   If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family member to
write!

Governor Paul Cellucci
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133	
(617) 727-3600
(617) 727-5291 fax

Attorney General Scott Harshbarger
1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2200
(617) 727-5778 fax

Senate President Thomas Birmingham
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1500
(617) 248-3840 fax

House Speaker Thomas Finneran
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2500
(617) 722-2008 fax

Call your state representative and state senator at: (617) 722-2000
Write to them at:
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133

Please send us a copy of your letters as well as any replies!

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 292 8026 x225		(617) 482 6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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B: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF LIVE OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS

Write President Clinton, US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, your
US senators and representative. Tell them that:

1.  You strongly support the Massachusetts Burma law as it currently stands.
 
2.  European Commission and Japanese bureaucrats bureaucrats should not be
allowed to tell elected American state legislators how to spend US
taxpayers money.
 
3.  On June 12, the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution
that urged the European Commission not to take action against the
Massachusetts Burma law at the World Trade Organization. Why should
Massachusetts legislators amend their Burma law to suit European Commission
bureaucrats when elected European Parliament legislators unanimously
support the Massachusetts Burma law?
 
4.  Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement,
supports the Massachusetts Burma law and has stated such laws are an
effective means of helping to restore democracy in Burma.

5. Mention that you support the enactment of similar Burma selective
purchasing laws in your home state.

***  6. If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family member
to write too!  ***

To Whom to Write:

President William Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

* send a copy of your letter to President Clinton to:

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Please also write separate letters to your US Senators and Representative.
Ask them specifically to write U.S. Trade Representative Charlene
Barshefsky to urge her to strongly defend the Massachusetts Burma law from
the European Commission

You can write your US Senator at:

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

You can write your US Representative at:

United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

You can call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at (888) 723-5246.
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PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHERS

Thank you for your help. Your efforts will protect the Massachusetts Burma
law. Please mail or fax me a copy of your letters so that we can gauge the
response to this action  alert.

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 292 8026 x225
(617) 482 6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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