What can you get in 8 years?

8 years, that's 2922 days. In the space of a life here in America it's not that long. But for some it is more than a lifetime.

8 years ago the Darfur genocide in the Sudan started. Since that time there has been 2 movies, enough activist A-list Hollywood entertainers involved to almost create an awards show, a new President, 2 elections, and 4 Congressional elections. With all of that, and the numerous bloggers that I am proud to count myself among, the American government has succeeded in discussing the genocide everyone in the world knows is happening.

Congress has discussed HR 180 for several sessions now. They haven't moved forward to do anything, but they did talk about it a couple of times over the years. But to give our Government some credit, President Bush did send some funds to the region and President Obama mentioned it in 1 campaign speech.

Yet there is one company that has finally taken an actions that might get a result. It might even start a trend.

TIAA-CREF is the first, and as I am aware, the only major fund to divest from Asian energy companies that are involved with the Sudan. The companies they removed from thier portfolio are:

China's PetroChina Co Ltd
CNPC Hong Kong
Sinopec
Oil and Natural Gas Corp of New Delhi

Each of these companies values profits over the hundreds of thousands of lives their financial support allows to be killed. In fact the position of these companies can be understood from their response to the sale of a combined $60 million of their stocks.

"This will not impact our investment decision in Sudan," ONGC Chairman R.S. Sharma"

and

"[A] Sinopec spokesperson said: "Investors make rational judgments based on value. If some sell, others will buy."

Isn't that something. The lives of African men women and children has no impact on the business these men will continue to do. Because they are sure that more investors could care less about an African child's life than stepping on a piece of gum.

When anyone in the world equates a life to so many pennies a share, something wrong has happened. Imagine if it was your father, or sister, or family member. And someone said that if you buy a share of my stock it will make up for them being raped, mutilated, and then sometimes killed. Such a way of thinking makes me sick.

TIAA-CREFF deserves to be applauded. They spoke with these companies and asked them to put pressure on the Sudanese government to change what is happening. All but one company (Petronas Dagangan) did anything. Because, I assume, the other companies are taking their cue from world Governments including the U.S. Congress can't even pass one law in 8 years saying that this genocide is wrong, and U.S. companies won't contribute to this with their funds.

Still if one fund is willing to forgo the profit of these companies, others can too. Because there is always another energy company stock that's worth buying. In a country that isn't killing it's people, it's children.

Now if only Congress and the Obama Administration could step up and learn from TIAA-CREFF. If only they would listen to Don Cheadle and George Clooney (who I know has been to the White House).

Let's not wait another 8 years. Because if the people of Darfur are all killed before the Government does something, if you made money off the deaths of these people, imagine how you will be judged.

Where in the world was George Clooney?

I know that some people were curious about the non-appearance of George Clooney at the Oscar Awards on Sunday. And even more people are wondering about his appearance on the final episode of E.R. But far more important is the actual place he was at.

On Sunday, George Clooney delivered 250,000 postcards to President Obama from the Save Darfur organization. He then discussed his latest, and 6th, trip to the Darfur region.



It is in the Sudan where the genocide of Darfur has been taking place since 2003. Clooney, Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt and several other prominent celebrities and activists around the world have been trying to draw attention and help end the genocide for years, and I support that too.

The work of Save Darfur, the movie Darfur Now with Don Cheadle, and several other efforts have been mostly unheeded by the U.S. Government, including Congress. It is Congress that has been incapable of passing a single bill of legislation to place pressure on the Sudanese Government to end this slaughter of innocents. And that includes Democrats and Republicans alike.

But President Obama is supposed to be the President of change. He is supposed to be doing things differently in Washington. So I hope this meeting with George Clooney is the first step in a path where America does something to help end the death of children, women and men.



I think that the President cannot ask China to do anything, until the U.S. acts in a similar manner. Since 2004 the Congress has been unable to pass HR 180 IH, which would bar U.S. businesses from working with the Sudan – effectively helping to cut their funding for this genocide. To date over 400,000 are estimated to have been killed with 2.5 million, including children, refugees searching for safety from the fighting. If America will not stop funding such acts of vile murder, how can we expect China to do so?

But I am glad of this. At least Presaident Obama has listened to the plea. Even though he has never voted in favor of HR 180 IH while in Congress, and the fact he did not speak about Darfur on the campaign trail, this is a step in the right direction. But I hope he acts on it. Just as he promised in the media ignored, undiscussed trip to Chad



And I am glad that celebrities and entertainers like Don Cheadle, Brad Pitt, George Clooney and so many more are actively doing something beyond lip-service for this cause. So I don’t mind he was not at the Oscar Awards, nor do I care about the end of ER. Some things are just more important.

Darfur: An end to genocide is possible with your help

Sometimes there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You may not know there was a tunnel, or a light, if you only follow the major U.S. news media – but that is the case. In this point I am speaking about the 6 year long war in the Sudan, specifically Darfur.

As much as the major media has ignored this conflict, as much as the Congress has sat on it’s collective fat ass (Republican and Democrat alike), no less than 300,000 men women and children have died to date. Over 2.7 million have had to flee their homes.

Individuals like Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, and many others both with and without celebrity have worked hard for years to raise the awareness in America of the plight across the sea. The major news media was about as interested as Congress – one too busy hyping a case in Ohio, the other too busy looking to the past to see the present. But thankfully there have been others that have spread the word. And it may have helped.

Today it can be said that the main rebel faction and the Sudanese Government have started on the path that can lead to the end of the war. The first real steps have begun, with initial acts of good will being offered. It is possible that in about 2 weeks the first major cease-fire in that region will occur. It is possible that in the near future, one less place on the Earth will be at war.

But I still blame Congress for its inaction. Over 4 years in a row Congress refused to consider HR 180 IH – otherwise know as the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act. In many ways this could have been like the laws enacted to punish South Africa for Apartheid in the 1980’s. America could have led the world in bringing pressure to the situation, or at least stemming the money that funded the genocide. And genocide is not an opinion, but a direct description of this slaughter by the White House.

But Congress refused to make any statement. They just let this sit and gather dust. In essence they flipped channels while mothers had their breasts chopped off and/or were raped, and children were executed. They allowed enough people to fill a mid-sized American city to be brutally killed while they plotted polispeak and political one-upmanship in luxury resorts. Pick whichever political party you want, they all acted with the same disdain.

We will never know how many lives might have been saved by a simple show of concern by our Government. But I can definitely say that over 300,000 conservatively have died while America twittled its thumbs. It’s not something I am proud of.

Still the good news is perhaps one day soon Don Cheadle, George Clooney, and myself among thousands if not tens of thousands of others will no longer have to raise awareness. Perhaps this will be over and the healing will be able to begin.

But that is not today.

We still need to speak about this. To do something about this. To ask Congress to take some action. Because it could mean saving the life of even 1 child – and to me that is reason enough.

Donate to Not On Our Watch. Write to your Congressional Representatives. Send President Obama your request for action.

Because we are Americans, and we make an impact on the world. Because America is a good nation, with big hearts. And even while we worry about our jobs and homes, not one American ever fears being slaughtered in genocide. We can sleep at night in relative peace, which to me means that making even a symbolic act is the least we can do.

Nelson Mandela is 90, and America still doesn't care

Excerpt from VASS

Back in the far reaches of time there was a prisoner that no one knew. Well at least in America. Back in 1962 a Black man was thrown in a jail (with the help of the CIA) because he wanted freedom. He wanted a say in his government, he wanted to be equal to those around him. He wanted an end to the poverty that was focused on ever other Black in the nation. He was a visionary, and that vision was enough to have him locked up for 27 years....

Throughout the 1980’s and afterwards America woke up to the fact that a modern day slavery existed in the world. It was something the nation stood up and rejected, though not without resistance in some parts. But eventually the nation refused to do business with South Africa, hitting them in their pockets hard. We protested and held rallies. We politically turned up the heat internationally. And in 1990, Nelson Mandela saw the light of day as a free man. In 1994 he became the leader of his nation and abolished all vestiges of Apartheid. He led his nation to democratic rule, and improve the lives of millions of Africans in the process....

And I have to wonder. America woke up to Africa in 1980. For a brief moment the nation paid attention to a land filled with Black people, and the injustice being wrought by the Whites in power their. And then we walked away...

“America has become a policeman of the world in my lifetime. We have entered multiple nations as a peacekeeping force and in wars. Yet, for some reason America has turned its back while the equivalent of Orlando, Florida (or possibly Cleveland, Ohio – the exact number is unknown) have been killed since 2003. Let me make this clear, that’s between 200,000 to 400,000 men women and children that have been killed and counting.”

...

Nelson Mandela is a great man. He has lead a life worthy of notice and remembrance. At 90 he continues to call out to the world to do the right thing. And America has gone back to the deaf ear it had the day the jail cell doors closed on Mr. Mandela....

Full post found here>

Don Cheadle movie coming out in November - 10.30.2007.1

**This can also be seen at All American Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

In the list of things that many may not see in movie theaters there is one movie coming out that deserves more attention. This one movie needs to be seen in wide release. This one movie needs to get publicity and critical commentary. This one movie deserves the media hype and sales pitch given to forgettable films like 30 Days of Night or Transformers, but it won’t get it.

The movie is Darfur Now. A simple title and statement. And I would ask, do you even know where Darfur is or what has been happening there for years? Are you aware of what our government is doing about Darfur? If not, why?

But as for the movie, it details 6 lives that are trying to make an impact and those that work with them in this endeavor. In my humble opinion, all those fighting to bring attention and resolution in Darfur deserved the Nobel Peace Prize far more than Mr. Al Gore and his questionable movie. That’s the real intent of the Prize I always thought. The Nobel goes to people like Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King and such. Not an overly politicized, overly glorified, politician that has not, to my knowledge, even publicly acknowledged Darfur.

Over a million people have been allowed to die without more than a glance by the major news media. Even with the attention major stars like Mr. Don Cheadle (who is featured in the movie), Mr. George Clooney, Mr. Brad Pitt and several others the media and Congress placed this story on the back burner.

For all the movies and news out about wars and conflicts in the world, most discuss the past. This movie discusses the on-going genocide of a people in Darfur. I say that again, on-going. Yet the major news media feels that Ellen Degeneres crying about a puppy deserves 2 day+ of news coverage. Years of murders, with approximately 1 million dead and a puppy going to a different family than where Ms. Degeneres wanted gets 2 days of coverage.

This movie deserves a wide release. It needs coverage. It’s a story that should be told in a big way, even if the studios don’t make a ton of money. Underdog was a complete flop, but they put that out nationally and made a big deal of it. If they could right of that loss, why not take a loss for something that matters and could have an effect of saving hundreds of thousands of lives, literally.

Suffice to say, I suggest seeing the movie. There are plenty of other films coming out by the end of the year to get you into the holiday spirit (not that I think Fred Claus is going to do well or be a good movie) or just thrill you (Mr. Will Smith has a remake that should be quite good out in December). Why not take one day [actually slightly more than 1 ½ hours of one day] to see what is happening in the world, which the major media seems to think you aren’t adult or mature enough to handle.

America debates while the U.N. acts on Darfur - 7.31.2007.1

Repost from Vass

Finally we see the start of some action. Finally leadership has arisen and taken a stand. Sadly it was not the United States that has been the bold leader that our nation can be, and often is. Even so, I am happy to spread this news.

The United Nations has announced that it will be sending 26,000 peacekeeping troops to stop, or at least stem, the mass murder in Darfur that has claimed some 400,000 lives and left 2,500,000 homeless. I have been speaking about Darfur for a little while now, inspired by the words and actions of Mr. Don Cheadle.

Still the resolution has its flaws. Since the troops will be comprised of African Union and U.N. troops it will take months to organize and implement. Additionally there is no sanction component that can cause a dampening effect on the ruling government, slowing its efforts to commit genocide. This sanctioning is a needed component as is food aid for the area. It is an abysmal fact that the major industrialized nations of the world, including America, have sat on their collective asses in this matter.

As I mentioned previously HR 180 IH, has sat in Congress without action all year. In 2005 the members of the G8 summit sought to address the issue, and after few words that hold as much impact as the soundbites politicians use for most every situation these days, did nothing. So I have mixed emotions right now.

There is the start of actions to improve the lives of millions of Africans, a start but that is all. American businesses continue to support and by their inaction fund a genocide that has been on-going since 2003. Politicians have failed to act on resolutions presented to them. The news media has virtually ignored the situation. This is insulting.

I place myself along with the major media, up until recently. We can all do better and more. The stories on the vapid and imbecilic Paris Hilton can wait a bit. The comments on the rantings of Ms. Rosie O’Donnell will still be there later. BET will still provide the second-rate, debateably exploitative programming which can be protested against while they ignore their obligation to provide news and substance to the very target group the cable news channel is named for.

Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS et al. need to forget that this is happening in Africa and treat this matter like it was in Europe. I strongly feel that were this happening on a separate continent, with people of a different color, more would be done. Well it is happening and they are human beings and we can do more.

And politicians can take the simple amount of time it takes to act on HR 180 IH, Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, forcing companies to admit if they are supporting the regime that is murdering women and children for no reason beyond the fact they exist. I dare even one politician to provide a reason that is logical that explains why this has not passed yet. To explain why this simple act has yet to be passed after 7 months seems inplausible to me. That only 151 Representaives have backed this is sad. How many lives will it take to move forward and act?

America is a great nation, I believe that without hesitation. We have helped and defended millions across the globe for decades. We stand for freedoms and rights that no other nation can claim to give so completely. Because of these reasons we cannot fail to act when the need is so dire.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Where are the straight answers on Darfur? - 7.25.2007.1

Excerpt from Vass, on Darfur. I will be following this subject from time to time on both blogs.

Some may recall that I recently raised the question of what is happening with HR 180 IH. You may not recall the name it has in the House of Representatives, but it’s also known as Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007. This is one item of several that are sitting in Congress waiting for some action to be taken by the nation. Not everyoe is aware of this but at least one person had his YouTube question presented to the Democratic candidates in their recent debate.

Only 4 of the Democratic hopefuls were given the chance to respond. They were Governor Richardson, Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, and Former Senator Gravel. In my opinion none were satisfactory answers, though they were decent soundbites….

As for Senator Clinton, she got a bit of all the best answers and combined them, mostly. She agreed on the need for sanctions. She agreed on a no-fly zone. But she would not agree to place ANY troops on the ground.

Senators Dodd and Obama (as well as Biden and Clinton) co-sponsored Senate Resolution 559 (introduced on Sept. 7, 2006), which encouraged President Bush to work with NATO and the UN in establishing a no-fly zone.

Ok, first off a no-fly zone just does not work. Not in England (Germans during WWII), Viet-Nam, Bosnia, Iraq nor Darfur. … Stopping a plane flying overhead does not stop AK-47 and machete wielding troops from killing people.

Economic and political pressure is one option, but like a no-fly zone it does not stop anything. Cuba, North Korea, and Iraq have all had (or have) sanctions for years if not decades. Yet North Korea has nuclear weapons, Cuba still is a Communist dictatorship and we attacked Iraq. …

Face it, it takes troops. Just like it did in Bosnia. …

Full post found on www.mvass.com

HR 180 IH, what does that mean? - Repost - 6.28.2007.2

This is a repost from my Vass ...

Here is something annoying. You have not heard a single Presidential candidate speak about this. I don’t recall any news media coverage of this. Were it not for the efforts of Mr. Don Cheadle, and several other prominent actors, and the humanitarian award he received I might not have heard about this. Not that there was any significant attention made about Mr. Cheadle getting the award or why.

The point is that the United States government has reacted pitifully in regard to Darfur. So far 3 sessions of Congress have been discussing this and still nothing has been done. And here is the proof. On January 4th Representative Lee introduced HR 180 IH. If you wonder what that means it’s the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (Introduced in House). So far any attempt at accountability has gone out the window.

As of my writing this now, as Congress prepares to go on July 4th celebration seven months after introducing this bill the best thing that can be said is that it only took 3 months for a subcommittee meeting on this. In virtually seven months there has been no movement on this bill since March 20th. Perhaps if the members of Congress were in danger of losing loved ones there might be more action on the matter.

Now some of you may be saying, ‘Hold on, we don’t need to start another war.’ Others may be saying, ‘What is HR 180 IH?’

The answer to the first is that the bill doesn’t require the United States to put a single solider anywhere they aren’t already. The answer to the second is

“To require the identification of companies that conduct business operations in Sudan, to prohibit United States Government contracts with such companies, and for other purposes.”

Basically this bill cuts off money that goes to support what the 108th Congress

“declares that the atrocities unfolding in the Darfur region of Sudan, are genocide.”

That was almost 3 years ago to the day. How many have died since that time do you think? The GENOCIDE was unfolding according to Congress, it still exists, and we barely hear anything about it.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell told Congress there was a genocide, President Bush told the U.N. that there as a genocide, yet only 4 states have passed laws requiring that no company doing business with the Sudan can do business with their state. Odds are it’s not your state. I can guarantee that it’s not New York State, home of Wall Street, and where the big six brokerage houses invest millions of dollars in mutual funds that could be doing business with [thus supporting] the Sudan and genocide.

I bet that 99% of those reading this now, that have a pension or mutual fund, have no idea what that mutual fund is invested in. I would bet that 99.5% have no idea what businesses might be supporting the Sudan government. Yet I am sure that, of those over 30 [which is maybe 50% of my readers] everyone was for and supported the bans against South Africa and Apartheid back in 1986.

To my knowledge, virtually every member of Congress is old enough to have at least heard about the 1986 bans. They have no excuse.

Of the 24 colleges mentioned in this bill there is not one that I am aware of that is a Black college. That could be simply an oversite of Representative Lee, or that they are doing matters separate of this bill. But I recall that back in ’86, there was more than one black college that was invested in South Africa.

Perhaps Congress can sleep at night without doing more than speaking about this terrible situation. Perhaps they have more to do in preparing their particular candidate for the 2008 election, or raising funds for that candidate. Perhaps every candidate for President right now can’t spend any time to come up with a 30 second soundbite for Darfur, as there isn’t enough time after explaining the resolution to Iraq, taxes, terrorism, social security, and why they are so great and warm people. Each of those points explained in 30 second soundbites. Perhaps the moderators of the debates are too overwhelmed with questions on when America will be out of Iraq, that question can be and has been asked in each debate maybe 20 different ways, to find one on Darfur.

I know that I was too busy writing to 6 blogs, and growing my company to stop and get into this issue. But at some point you have to stop and say, I can do more.

Well here I am doing more. I’ve raised the bar. Now you know. What will you do? Will you get in touch with you Congressional representative and ask them what they did over the 4th of July while people died and a simple resolution sat on the congressional floor? Will you take a moment to read HR 180 IH, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007?

This is what I think, what do you think?