Netanyahu's Iran Divestment Campaign Gains Momentum

IRIS Blog

Thursday, June 7. 2007

Netanyahu's Iran Divestment Campaign Gains Momentum

These achievements are largely to the credit of Bibi Netanyahu, with whom I have a love-hate relationship:

California Assembly OKs Divestment from Iran

Proposed California legislation that would require two state employee retirement systems to divest from companies with ties to the energy and defense sectors in Iran passed the state assembly on Tuesday, said Chip Englander, chief of staff for Assemblyman Joel Anderson, who wrote the bill. The bill requires the $245.3 billion California Public Employees Retirement System and the $167.2 billion California State Teachers? Retirement System to divest stocks totaling $2 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively.

Assembly OKs Bill to Drop Investments Tied to Iran

Divestment as a means of pressuring foreign governments has become increasingly popular, with proponents pointing to the example of South Africa, said David Cortright, president of the Fourth Freedom Forum in Goshen, Ind., which focuses on using economic power to resolve international conflicts. "The beginning of the end for the apartheid regime came around '86 and '87 when the big banks in New York rolled over South Africa's debt short term," he said. Soon after, some in government began to encourage negotiations with imprisoned anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela. But Iran is not South Africa, said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Like UN sanctions, divestment may impact the average Iranian, he said, but may not affect the ruling elite's positions.

Ohio Divestment: Deal or No Deal?

A controversial bill forcing Ohio pension systems to pull $1.1 billion worth of investments in businesses with ties to Iran and Sudan was stopped in its tracks Tuesday on the House floor with pension fund managers in an uproar at the mandatory requirements. House Speaker Jon Husted offered to pull back the divestment bill if the pension systems agreed to a voluntary divestment of half of those funds (more than $500 million) by the end of 2007. But Rep. Josh Mandel said Wednesday that he plans to push forward for a House floor vote next Tuesday.

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Posted by Barak at 20:08 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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Divestment? A dangerous game two can play.

Bibi? A dangerous man with two pretty faces.

#1 Dan Friedman on 2007-06-08 04:35 (Reply)

Sorry, I don't understand the first sentence of your comment. Are you saying that the state of California is risking having its assets divested by Iran?

#1.1 Barak on 2007-06-08 05:01 (Reply)

Theresa Fleming, Editorial

Re: The Iran Divestment Issue?

Ohio Legislators Should Support Iran Divestment Issue!

The Marine?s motto is Semper Fidelis, which means ?Always Faithful?. And for Marines, it?s more than a motto- it?s a way of life. Cam Beck, a marine, best described their motto when he wrote, ?Semper Fidelis means Always Faithful. It isn't "Sometimes Faithful. Nor is it "Usually Faithful,- but always. It is not negotiable. It is not relative, but absolute.?

The Marines, and all of those who are risking their lives each and every day have been faithful to their mission of protecting us. We sent them. They went. And many of them have paid with their lives. Even worse, there have been news reports of soldiers being brutally tortured and killed. But still they go. Because they are Always Faithful. Unfortunately, as a mom, I don?t feel we?ve been quite as faithful to those that are so bravely and selflessly serving us. But this week, Ohio?s legislators can start correcting that by voting in support of the Iran Divestment bill.

Sadly before the start of WWII, we faced a threat similar to the one posed by Iran, but we failed to act. Winston Churchill referred to it as the ?Gathering Storm?. Because we failed to act, millions died and millions more suffered. Iran poses a grave and growing threat to the future of those we love the most, our children. And they clearly pose a danger to our troops. While we may not yet be able to agree as to what steps should be taken to deal with that threat, we ought to at least be able to agree that we should not use the hard earned tax dollars of Ohio?s families to fund, even indirectly, a country that would harm us, and harm those who are serving in our armed forces in Iraq.

A great statesman once said that the ?only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing?. I know so many wonderful and caring teachers. Teachers who devote their lives to helping kids. And I have talked to a number of teachers that do support the Iran Divestment bill. And it is my hope that when teachers truly understand the issue, they will do what is right, because they are good and decent people. However, for now, as a state, we need to take action-because it?s the right thing to do.

Theresa Fleming is Co-Founder and Director of Moms For Ohio

#2 Theresa Fleming on 2007-06-08 07:27 (Reply)

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