Operation 2012

Operation: 2012 is dedicated to the establishment of social justice and bringing about the end of both government and corporate tyranny by utilizing progressive media in order to promote worker solidarity, greater consumer awareness and encourage non-violent civil disobedience or civil initiative. We promote a five-step process dedicated to changing the existing power structure that has invaded the American/global political system.

We call for a collective movement by the nations labor unions to strike in protest to governments domestic policy.

We call for a boycott of non-sustainable corporations and endorse rescinding corporate personhood.

We reject the campaign of falsification, disinformation, and misrepresentations of the corporate media.

We promote greater consumer awareness in the market place and encourage sustainable socially responsible investing.

We encourage civil disobedience/civil initiative.

Operation 2012 recognizes the American and coalition military presence in Iraq as an illegal occupation in violation of international law. We call for an immediate military and corporate withdrawal. We also encourage impeachment hearings against the current administration to become a part of mainstream political discourse.

We are not anti-government, nor anti-democratic, but rather we seek to expose the corporate interests that currently dictate the U.S. foreign and domestic policy. The liberation of America from the grip of corporate influence is contingent upon grassroots organizing and local efforts to stop feeding the corporate machine by withholding our dollars and re-examining our role in its workforce. Rather than dwelling on problems and social ills, we focus on reversing these trends and righting the wrongs.

Operation 2012 is also a source of daily headlines related to our movement.

The term 2012 is derived from the Mayan civilization; the year that human beings will enter a new era of awareness.

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The campaign to force companies not to invest in Sudan is moving into new territory: your mutual funds.

For years, Sudan's Darfur region has been the scene of brutal militia attacks that have left hundreds of thousands dead -- violence described by the United Nations as getting support from the Sudanese government, and by the Bush administration as constituting "genocide."

At the same time, Sudan is home to investments by large international companies that are fixtures in many Americans' mutual funds and retirement plans.

Through its mutual funds, Boston-based Fidelity is the largest U.S. holder of American depositary shares in PetroChina Co., a Chinese oil giant with Sudanese projects. *Fidelity's Contrafund, one of its top performers, has the largest stake in PetroChina of any mutual fund.

*Some of you may have some of their 401K money in Fidelity's Contrafund. It's a very popular fund and has been one of the best mutual funds around for years. As a disclaimer, I personally made a nice sum of money in the early 90s due to my investing in Contrafund. Not anymore. Do look into your portfolio and if it's feasible, move your money away from Fidelity altogether.

There have already been some successes: In the past week, Siemens AG, the German electronics giant and a target of activists, said it would pull out of Sudan for "humanitarian" reasons by July. Some financial corporations are considering Sudan-free mutual funds.

There are ways for investors to see if a mutual fund has Sudan-related investments. The site sudandivestment.org includes a feature, "The Sudan Screening Tool," which evaluates fund holdings based on criteria related to Darfur. Another site, investedinterests.com, offers a similar tool that examines an array of issues, from Sudan to terrorism.

Look at Fidelity Out Of Sudan for email instructions and phone numbers to Fidelity. While you're there, consider signing the petition, which anyone can do, or call to voice your opinion.

(via: wsj)



North Carolina pension to divest from 9 companies linked to Sudan violence

RELATED:
11/26/06
01/18/06
07/30/04

THE DEATH OF KEVIN CARTER

An Oscar nominated film with a South African connection is the short documentary "The Death of Kevin Carter", by Dan Krauss.

Carter was a member of the "Bang-Bang Club" of photojournalists who became (in?)famous in the early nineties for their work covering violence in the townships.

*In 1994 Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for this image of a starving child in the Sudan.

For a more complete description of Carter's dark but fascinating life visit this link, or buy the book "Bang-Bang Club" (highly recommended).

[via: South Africa Blog]

*I guarantee that you'll never forget that photograph.

2 Things You Can Do Now To Help Darfur

What will you tell your grandchildren you did during the Sudan genocide? A grassroots movement is taking place in North Carolina. North Carolina is the 14th State in a growing coalition of States to have filed or passed divestment legislation.

Across our community concerned individuals are supporting House Bill 1294, which calls for divestment of North Carolina public funds from companies that do business with the Sudanese government.

*1) Please support this effort by signing an on-line petition


Dear President Bush,
During your first year in the White House, you wrote in the margins of a report on the Rwandan genocide, "Not on my watch."

I urge you to live up to those words by using the power of your office to support a stronger multi-national force to protect the civilians of Darfur.

*2) Send Postcard To George Bush

Day 12 On Hunger Strike for Darfur - On June 30, 2005, Nathan Kleinman went on a hunger strike to raise awareness of the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Since February 2003, an estimated 400,000 people have died due to violence, starvation and disease. More than 2.5 million people have been displaced from their homes and now live in camps lacking adequate food, shelter, sanitation, and health care. It is time for the international community to take action. Click for picture; Link

In June, CNN, FOXNews, NBC/MSNBC, ABC, and CBS devoted over 8, 000 segments of coverage of trivial matters like the “runaway bride,” the Michael Jackson trial, and actor Tom Cruise. Meanwhile, the same stations aired only 126 segments on Sudan. via

London. It was such a terrible thing and my heart is heavy with sadness. And hopelessness. Hopeless because there's nothing I can personally do to make it better. So I find something I feel I can make a difference with and that helps me deal with most the inadequacies in the universe. I vote. I march. I protest. I speak out. I send emails and write letters. It doesn't seem like much sometimes, but it helps me cope and I don't feel so hopeless. Besides, I've seen it work before.

"There will be no rescue, no intervention... you must shame them to action." (from Hotel Rwanda) The obscene tragedy in Darfur IS shameful. From the actions of the killers to the inaction of world leaders to insist on stopping it.

*You can Take Action Now by visiting this site, putting in your zip code and a letter will be ready for your signature along with the email addresses of your area newspapers and television stations. A couple of clicks will get your voice to the editors and managers of your local media.

From the ditch, Fatima witnessed a horrific avalanche of violence that will haunt her for the rest of her life.

In the early morning hours of July 12, Sudanese foot soldiers and mounted warriors began grabbing the screaming children and throwing them one by one into a raging fire. While this was happening, one of the male villagers ran from his hiding place to plead for the lives of the children. It was a fatal error. In no mood for mercy, the fighters quickly subdued the man, who was subsequently beheaded and chopped into seven pieces. All six of the children, including an eight-year old girl, a five-year old girl, and a three-year old boy, were burned alive.

This attack occurred about 10 days after the Government of Sudan committed to Secretary of State Colin Powell and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that it would halt the reign of terror of the militia in Darfur and provide security throughout the region. more »

There's a sad, but reasonable explanation why you won't see any African men pictured in Sudan refugee photos. Living in a country filled with pet psychics, animal liposuction and suntan butlers, my small worries sure pale in comparison to hers.

Tony Blair has asked Downing Street and Foreign Office officials to draw up plans for possible military intervention in Sudan, where more than a million refugees are at risk from famine and disease.

"If need be we will be able to go to Sudan," General Sir Mike Jackson, the chief of general staff, told BBC News 24's Hardtalk programme. "I suspect we could put a brigade together very quickly indeed."

We're probably working on similar scenerios, but they haven't flown anything up the flagpole yet to see how many people will protest it. Look for "leaks" to eek out soon testing those political waters here in the US. Link

saturday morning me//
fresh ground hazelnut coffee/rye toast/oj/
navy ETSU jersey/jean shorts/wooden chopstick in hair/
viewing: The Fifth Element for the 10th time/
Skyler's @ Bele Cheré for weekend/
Simeon's pouring over morning papers/
**playing: Dog Toy Or Marital Aid?/
only 9 out of 14 Correct--oops/via: Karen/
so how about you?/