Ron Dermer, co-author with Natan Sharansky of “The Case for Democracy,” and until recently
I have also been focusing on what I can do, in my little neck of the woods, to help increase economic pressure on
by getting people to stop investing money there. You, Ruthie Blum, are today investing in Iran . Iran
Really? How?
You have a pension fund. It is diversified, which means it has money in various things. Some of it — though maybe only a small fraction — is in the European Stock Exchange. This means that your pension fund is invested in something that’s invested in a company in Europe — like Total or P&P — and they’re invested in
. So you’re investing in companies that are investing in Iran . Iran
We, the free world — led by the
— have to do is take the lead in terror-free investment. The free world has to put its money where its mouth is and deal with this problem not only politically and militarily, but also use all of its economic power to pressure companies not to do business with United States . If we do this, the internal forces in Iran , in such a pressure cooker, could create a dramatic change in a very short amount of time. Iran
Isn’t it difficult to monitor fund activities?
Not really. We know there are a little more than 400 publicly traded companies which invest in. Iran
Would this require legislation?
Well, there are measures pending now in six states in thecommanding divestment of their state pension funds. If they get the mandate to move, it could have a huge effect on the market. There are measures pending in 25 states on the issue of divestment from US Sudan , and I see no reason why it shouldn’t beSudan and— you know, one is committing genocide and the other is inciting to genocide. Put together, this could create a huge coalition of people from all sides of the political spectrum sending a clear message that we’re not going to spend a dime to support those who are killing us, and woe to those who threaten our existence. Iran
The strategic logic of this movement was outlined in a 2006 report by the Center for Security Policy entitled “Divest Iran:”
Last month, the
Sheriffs public pension fund became the first in the nation to adopt such an approach in the form of a terror-free investment policy. Its portfolio managers, including T. Rowe Price, have agreed that the sheriffs’ retirement money will not be invested in foreign energy, telecommunications, banks and other companies that engage in commercial activities and investment in state-sponsors of terror like Louisiana . . . . Iran The U.S. government should encourage this model — call it Divest Iran– to be adopted by the scores of millions of other American investors whose decisions to hold or dispose of stocks will probably have a lot more influence with Iranian-connected enterprises than will pleas from our "engagement"-minded officials. Such a privatization of the effort to end the danger posed by the Iranian mullahs may not only make for a more coherent
policy. It may even make it possible to avoid the use of force against U.S. that could otherwise become unavoidable. Iran
Here is the full text of a letter sent yesterday to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa by the Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Los Angeles:
Honorable Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:
We commend you and the
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for taking such a courageous stand on the dire situation inDarfur . To divest from companies that are profiteering from doing business with the Sudanese government in order to protest the ongoing and severe human rights violations and genocide is the strongest message that can be sent that does not involve a single bullet or the loss of a single American life. It is a completely non-violent method to diminish a violent situation. No one in favor of saving innocent life can possibly oppose this type of action.Accordingly, we Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Los Angeles urge you to adopt the same position with respect to companies that do business with
Iran ,and countries that threaten our vital security interests. Syria According to The Center for Security Policy report, August 12, 2004,
financial involvement with terrorist-sponsoring states is at a minimum of just under $50 billion, and is invested as follows: Los Angeles
Los Angeles ’ Retirement (LACER): $20,231,020,000 County Employees
Fire & Police Pension (LAFPP): $27,054,680,000 Los Angeles
Employees’ Retirement (LACER): $ 2,199.825,000 Los Angeles City Your actions with respect to
Darfur make it obvious that you are in agreement with us that taxpayers should not fund terrorists. To quote Assemblyman Joel Anderson, sponsor of Assembly Bill 221, “Money is the mother’s milk of terrorism…It is outrageous for…taxpayers’ money to be invested in companies whose business activities benefit a nation that sponsors terrorists who target American citizens.”At this point in time, the leadership in
is facing substantial instability that affords us a narrow window of opportunity to further destabilize this dangerous regime. For the sake of world peace, the West must act strongly and forcefully now. Combine this effort with the current sanctions that have led to Iran Iran ’s calling for a summit which thehas agreed to attend, the Iran-Syria divestiture would put teeth into the diplomacy and would strengthen our bargaining position. US As important as the
Darfur divestiture is, this divestiture would have even more far-reaching implications. We urge you to please act on behalf of the entire free world and support a divestiture ofIran ,and other terror supporting countries. Syria Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors Los Angeles implores you to act now to preserve freedom for our children and our country by taking this proactive role in the face of the evil that is facing us in a non-partisan, non-violent and proven effective approach.
You would be the first mayor of any city in the
to take such a proactive role. This courageous act would ensure your legacy for our country and the entire free world. United States Respectfully submitted,
Wise Montrose, President Doris
Susanne M. Reyto
Nurit Greenger
Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors
(CJHSLA) Los Angeles