"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.
At the federal level, targeted Sudanese divestment has been endorsed. Last month, President Bush signed into law the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, or SADA, which was approved unanimously by Congress. SADA authorizes state and local governments to divest from companies that support the Sudanese government.
Now, this legislative session, the state of Nebraska has the opportunity to become part of this growing movement for change. Senator Bill Avery, a former UNL professor of political science, is introducing a bill that would remove Nebraska state investments from the worst offending companies in Sudan.
We at Divest Nebraska call on the citizens of Nebraska to support this legislation. Targeted divestment appears to be one of the best tools for ending the genocide as political pressure and diplomacy have failed to end the killings. Conditions in Darfur have deteriorated since the Darfur Peace Agreement was signed in May 2006. In July, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the deployment of 26,000 peacekeeping troops. Currently, only 9,000 of the 26,000 troops are in Sudan. The government of Sudan has impeded deployment by accepting only African and Muslim troops.
With diplomacy proving ineffective, there is good reason to believe that divestment will make a difference in Darfur. The government of Sudan has responded to economic pressure in the past. In 1997, the United States imposed sanctions on Sudan for its support of terrorism, banning most United States companies from doing business in Sudan. In response, Sudan changed its terrorism policy, sharing intelligence with the United States and detaining Al-Qaida suspects. United States companies are still banned from operating in Sudan, but other foreign companies do business in Sudan, fueling the genocide. The Sudanese oil industry relies heavily on the foreign direct investment of these companies. More than 70 percent of oil revenue goes to the military budget in Sudan.
It is important to emphasize this divestment legislation will not have a significant impact on financial returns in Nebraska. The number of companies considered for divestment will represent a very small percentage of Nebraska's total investment portfolio.
The international community has the responsibility to act when large-scale crimes against humanity are being committed as they are in Sudan. Supporting Sudan-targeted divestment campaigns is one of the most effective ways concerned citizens can exert pressure on Sudan.
We urge Nebraskans to contact their state senators and voice their support for legislation to divest Nebraska pension fund investments from companies perpetuating the genocide in Sudan. We do not want our state's investments funding genocide. E-mails can be sent to Speaker Mike Flood at mflood@leg.ne.gov.
For more information on Nebraskan divestment from Sudan and for ways you can get involved, e-mail Divest Nebraska at nesudandivestment@gmail.com, or join the Facebook group, "Divest Nebraska!: Help end the genocide in Darfur." For more information about the nationwide divestment movement, visit www.sudandivestment.org.
Sarah Beringer is a senior political science major and Steph Sutton is a sophomore international studies major. They are the co-chairs of Divest Nebraska.
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