RALLY FOR BURMA THURSDAY IN FRONT OF THE STATE HOUSE

********RALLY FOR BURMA*********

3pm, THURSDAY (10/4), at the State House

*students meet 2:30pm in front of the Harvard T Stop*

Join the Burmese monks of Boston in a prayer

Hear the stories of student revolutionaries from the 1988 uprising for freedom

Support the Burmese freedom movement by encouraging companies to stop deals with the military junta

RALLY TO SUPPORT THE PASSING OF H.B. 2729

The Committee on Public Service held a public hearing for H.B. 2729 An Act Relative to Investment in Companies Doing Business in Burma (Myanmar), on June 28, 2007. This bill is sponsored by Representative Byron Rushing and it authorizes the Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment Management Board to use its shareholder power to encourage companies doing business in Burma to withdraw. It also suspends new state pension fund investments in companies doing business in Burma until a democratically elected government has been installed in that nation.

The Committee Chairs have still not moved on this bill despite the atrocities taking place in the country of Burma.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE RALLY TOMORROW, PLEASE CALL YOUR REP!

Call in for Thursday, October 4^rd

Targets:

1. Representative Jay Kaufman, at 617.722.2240 or Rep.JayKaufman@Hou.State.ma.us

2. Senator Benjamin Downing, at 617.722.1625 or Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us

3. State Treasurer Timothy Cahill, at 617.367.6900 or by email: webmaster@tre.state.ma.us

CALL IN SCRIPT

Hi, my name is ______________, and I am from _____________. I am calling to ask (Representative Kaufman/Senator Downing/ State Treasurer Cahill) to support H.B. 2729, An Act Relative to Investment in Companies Doing Business in Burma (Myanmar). The bill introduced by Representative Byron Rushing would put pressure on companies that support Burma’s ruling military regime.

I ask that you explore all of the ways in which you, as Massachusetts (Representative, Senator, Treasurer), can honor the Burmese democracy movement's call for economic sanctions. As a shareholder in companies worldwide, Massachusetts has the power to question and oppose corporate investment in Burma.

Massachusetts has a long and proud tradition of leadership in supporting democratic movements around the world. The Commonwealth was a leader in the campaign against apartheid in South Africa. Massachusetts was also the first to enact a state law in support of the democracy movement in Burma. This is especially crucial now since the military junta is killing, detaining, or torturing thousands of peaceful protesters. The time to show our support is critical and I urge you to take action as soon as possible. Thank you.