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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2008
August 7, 2008
Contact:
Michael Darden
917-868-8780
communications@bill-for-congress.us
Michael Darden
917-868-8780
communications@bill-for-congress.us
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The following statement is in response to a candidate questionnaire
submitted by the Sudan Genocide Response Team and Boulder's
Congregation Har HaShem regarding the genocide in Darfur.
Rabbi Deborah Bronstein
c/o Barbara Gould
Congregation Har HaShem
c/o Barbara Gould
Congregation Har HaShem
Rabbi Bronstein,
Good afternoon, and thank you for your email. Below are my responses
regarding the Sudan, and thank you again for prompting some
considered thought on my part regarding the tragedy in Darfur.
1. Have you previously taken or supported actions intended to
alleviate genocide in Darfur on behalf of individual victims or
general conditions? For example, have you personally divested
investments from companies that either do business in Sudan or with
the government of Sudan with the goal of influencing the United
States to stop supporting the genocide in Sudan?
I am a man of average means who until recently held stock in
numerous indexed mutual funds which no doubt at one time or another
included American companies that indirectly did business with the
Sudanese government, despite the US trade embargo against Sudan
still in effect. Much as I recently sold an inherited direct
interest in an oil and gas exploration company in order to practice
what I preach about protecting the environment, I would never
knowingly own a direct interest in an enterprise (including, of
course, an oil company) that would deal directly with the Sudanese
government.
2. As a U.S. Representative what tangible measures will you support
in Congress concerning funding for UN Peacekeeping forces? How will
you exercise leadership in regard to this issue?
UN peacekeeping forces have historically been tragically hamstrung
(the Srebrenica massacre obviously comes to mind), and, while I
would support funding for UN peacekeeping forces if I thought those
forces would be allowed to fight effectively if fighting is
necessary, I believe a U.S.-led force outside a UN mandate would be
far more effective. Such a force could include elements from the
US Air Force and US Navy, both of which have been relatively
underutilized in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Such a
force could easily blockade Port Sudan, and, since oil comprises 90%
of Sudan's exports and much of that oil flows through pipelines
leading to Port Sudan, a blockade of the port and the support of an
alternative Sudanese strong man who expressed a commitment to
cracking down on the Janjaweed and ending the conflict in Darfur
could easily force the handover of President al-Bashir to the
International Criminal Court.
The funding of an operation along these lines I would support
wholeheartedly.
3. As a U.S. Representative what tangible measures will you support
in Congress concerning divestment of U.S. wealth that indirectly
or directly supports the Sudan regime or its supporters? How will
you exercise leadership in regard to this issue?
There are multiple Executive Orders in place prohibiting investment
in Sudan. Since China and other countries have merely stepped into
our place, especially regarding the Sudanese oil industry, more
proactive measures regarding Sudan must be taken.
4. What policies should the U.S. pursue regarding China’s support
of Sudan’s present leadership, given UN findings of that regime’s
complicity in genocide?
The United States should proceed with actions along the lines I've
already described above. The Chinese would have an opportunity to
end a tragedy reminiscent of Japanese atrocities on Chinese soil
leading up to and during the Second World War, and they might go
along through inaction.
One final comment:
I have previously stated that I support the issuing of global carbon
emission licenses to cap and gradually reduce emissions of carbon
dioxide worldwide (worldwide action is the only way we'll be able
to avoid a worldwide catastrophe). Since such a system on a global
scale would involve transfers of wealth from high emitters (ie, the
relatively prosperous) to low emitters (ie, many of the world's
poor), the issuing of global CELs would in many ways act as a
rolling global Marshall Plan. Western Europe's carbon dioxide
emissions plummeted in the mid-Forties, namely because much of
European industry had been reduced to rubble during the Second
World War, and the transfer of wealth caused by global CELs would
have immediately primed the pump of Western European economies much
as the Truman Administration's Marshall Plan did.
In much the same way, a global carbon emission license system could
have an immediate and practical effect in places like Darfur.
Refugees whose only carbon emissions are from the burning of
firewood, and those nomads who have been driven by desertification
to drive others out of their homes, could be encouraged to stop
fighting and start living with the prospect of relative wealth
transferred into their pockets through a global CELs system.
Sincerely,
Bill Hammons
www.bill-for-congress.us
bill@bill-for-congress.us
www.bill-for-congress.us
bill@bill-for-congress.us
About Bill Hammons
Bill Hammons graduated from New York University in 1997 with a
degree in English and American literature -- not to mention graduated
from Permian High School of Friday Night Lights fame in 1993 -- worked
in management at Newsweek Magazine for seven years, and moved to
Boulder to enjoy the stunning views and the great running trails. He
is the sole proprietor of wrhammons.com, whose extensive and popular
Guide to Boulder and Beyond covers a territory which bears an uncanny
resemblance to Colorado's Second Congressional District. His campaign
site is www.bill-for-congress.us.
About the Unity Party of America
The Unity Party of America was founded on Nov. 4, 2004 (the day
after the last presidential election) by Hammons and several others.
This centrist national political party now covers 23 states -- latest
state: Wisconsin -- is officially recognized in the State of Colorado,
and has fielded multiple Congressional candidates in
the 2008 election season. Its website is www.unityparty.us.
This communication paid for by the Hammons for Congress Committee
http://www.bill-for-congress.us
http://www.bill-for-congress.us
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