Marilyn King
The State News
Published: January 30, 2008

While many groups worldwide are putting forth effort to help the crisis in Darfur, the Spartans for Progressive Divestment are taking it a step further locally.

Three members of the group knocked on doors at the Capitol on Wednesday to create awareness about Michigan tax money going to companies that help fund local mercenaries in Darfur.

Two bills being considered by the Michigan Legislature are trying to take Michigan taxpayers’ money out of Darfur.

Tom Choske, an international relations and German senior and the group’s president, led the lobbying effort to make lawmakers aware of the bills.

“We’re really pushing to get this legislation through,” Choske said.

Choske worked on Darfur legislation this summer while aiding Sen. Hansen Clarke, D-Detroit, one of the bills’ sponsors.

“It seemed like a great idea,” Choske said. “But it just kept sitting there.”

The legislation was modified in meetings with groups such as the Michigan Department of Treasury, and concerned Darfur activists met with state officials to have the bills tailored specifically to Michigan.

Representatives who have been working on bills to stop tax dollars from aiding genocide in Darfur helped put together a hearing on the bills at a town hall meeting in Detroit.

“We wanted to kind of publicize what has been going on in Darfur,” said Kim Bowman, Clarke’s chief of staff. “Some people just don’t know.”

Bowman said she supports the bills that would stop tax dollars from going to Darfur.

“I think it’s important that we don’t invest our money, Michigan taxpayer dollars, in anything that could be perpetuating genocide,” Bowman said.

Choske has been working with Senate staffers such as Bowman to get the message across.

“It’s important the lawmakers know,” Bowman said. Choske said his group plans to continue advocating these bills in hopes that they will be passed.

“It’s a very worthwhile cause,” said Jeff Lakin, the group’s vice president. “It’s a fantastic organization and you couldn’t be doing it for much of a better cause.”

Hey-

The Lobby Day time has changed to 2:40 pm in 2 North Case Lounge. From there we’ll head out. Message me if you want to go, or if you are unable to attend now.

Thanks,
Tom

The lobby day for Darfur will be Wednesday, January 30th, at about 1pm. We’ll meet in 2 North Case Lobby, work out a transportation situation, and provide all of you with the materials and a briefing. Then we head to Lansing, where it shouldn’t take more than an hour (probably closer to 30-45min).
Remember, you can get an excused absence from any classes you have if you talk with me in advance.

Also, if you can’t do it, tell me.

-Tom

While not as sexy as drug overdoses or the withering away of Fred Thompson’s presidential aspirations, the crisis in Darfur is still going on, unabated. Despite the lack of media attention, it is imperative that we act to help turn the situation around.

Earlier this year, the African Union mission was replaced with a UN-Hybrid force. However, the Sudanese government has refused to allow this force the equipment it needs to carry out its mission, in addition to banning troops from some major donor nations. Unless this changes soon, this force will be rendered as ineffective as the AU force of old.

Michigan can help. $150 million of taxpayer dollars are invested in companies that support President Al-Bashir’s genocide. If Michigan passes HB 4854 and SB 555, it would join with 22 other states in pressuring these companies to change their tune.

Please help. Urge your state senator to call for the introduction and passage of these groundbreaking pieces of legislation. Together, we can make a difference.

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

Dates: We are thinking either next Monday or next Tuesday, the 22nd or 23rd of January. The process should take less than an hour, as we only have to target the Senate offices. We are looking at morning (preferably something like 9am-10am), mid-afternoon (1pm-ish), or late afternoon (3:30pm or a bit later). Please contact Tom (SPDmsu@gmail.com) with what dates you would be available. Transportation will be arranged.

Hey everyone,

Remember, meeting tonight at 8:30pm in the 2 North Case Main Lobby area. We need to go over the lobby day plans and get those finalized. To get acquainted with the legislation, I have included two little briefing sheets on the “About” page. Please look these over and ask Tom if you have any questions.
-Tom

Hey-

So, we had a meeting yesterday where we just started to get a framework in mind for the lobby day. We need about 4 volunteers or so to do it effectively, but more are always welcome. The goal will be to spread information on why divestment is sound policy for the legislators to vote on. Those of you who may be nervous of meeting with an elected official can relax: 1) it’s not that hard and 2) chances are that you will speak to staff people. We will give every lobbyist a packet of information to look over that has everything on it. These packets will then be given to the legislators to make sure they have all the info too.

We were thinking of doing this on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at the last week of the month. However, if the bill moves before then, we can do a ’scramble-day’ on Monday the 21st.

Anyone interested in participating should contact Tom or Han at SPDmsu@gmail.com

-Tom Choske
President, Spartans For Progressive Divestment

LOBBY DAY PLANNING!

New semester, new campaign. We have heard that Sudan divestment legislation, Iran divestment, and a refined ‘terror-divestment’ package will be moved out of committee sometime this month. However, we need to make sure that, when these bills get to vote, they are passed by as wide a margin as possible.Enter the lobby day, whereby volunteers would storm the capitol offices and knock on all 38 doors of the State Senate to explain the importance of these progressive divestment bills.

Therefore, we will have a quick meeting on Wednesday at 8:30pm in the 2 North Case Lounge to start getting plans finalized.

Next Meeting: Jan 9th, 2008 at 8:30pm at 2 North Case Lounge