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Please Help NOW! Re: Update 1/20/98 (r)



Subject: Re: Please Help NOW! Re: Update 1/20/98: Defend the Mass. Burma Law!

Thanks for your help!

Simon

At 08:24 PM 1/22/99 +0100, dawn star wrote:
>lets work around the clock this weekend pumping paper out of their fax
>machines, help now! I'm going to send fax to every state attorney and
>mass people, friend in and out the state to do same, hope you all will
>do the same, this is a make or break effort now, dawn star
>
>Simon Billenness wrote:
>> 
>> NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE
>> Update 1/20/98: Defend the Mass. Burma Law!
>> 
>> January 20, 1998
>> 
>> PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHERS!
>> 
>> ====================================================
>> In This Action Alert:
>> 
>> 1. Update & Background on the Mass. Burma Law
>> 2. What To Do If You Live Outside Massachusetts
>> 3. What To Do If You Live in Massachusetts
>> 4. List of State Attorneys General
>> ====================================================
>> 
>> 1. Update on Lawsuit Against MA Burma Law - January 20, 1999
>> 
>> On January 22, the Indiana Attorney General's office will circulate an
>> amicus brief to all state Attorney Generals. This amicus - or
>> friend-of-the-court - brief will be filed in federal appeals court in
>> support of the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law.
>> 
>> Short Deadline: January 29!
>> 
>> Your state's Attorney General has only until **January 29** in which to
>> sign on to the amicus brief. It is critical that we continue to Fedex, fax
>> and call our state attorneys general over the next week.
>> 
>> The Indiana Assistant Attorney General overseeing the amicus brief is John
>> Laramore. Ask your state Attorney General's office to contact Asst. AG
>> Laramore directly at (317) 233-4386. (Just give this number to your state
>> AG's office. Don't call him yourself. He'll be very busy!)
>> 
>> Background
>> 
>> On November 5, 1998, Federal District Court Judge Tauro struck down the
>> Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing law. In his ruling, Judge Tauro
>> concurred with the arguments of the corporate-funded National Foreign Trade
>> Council (NFTC) that the Massachusetts Burma Law is unconstitutional.
>> 
>> Inspired by similar South Africa selective purchasing laws, 23 American
>> citieshave enacted laws that bar municipal purchases from companies that do
>> business in Burma. If the NFTC succeeds in its case against the
>

>> Massachusetts Burma Law, it could render unconstitutional any selective
>> purchasing enacted to support in human rights and the environment,
>> including those already on the books with regard to Burma, East Timor,
>> Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Tibet and the purchase of rainforest woods. It
>> would devastate our rights as citizens to direct how our elected officials
>> spend our tax dollars.
>> 
>> The Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger has appealed Judge
>> Tauro's ruling. Attorney General Harshbarger has also sent a formal request
>> to the attorneys general of the other states asking them to sign on to an
>> 
>> amicus - or friend of the court - brief in support of the Massachusetts
>> Burma Law. January 29 is the deadline for signing on to the amicus brief.
>> 
>> We can help defeat these attacks on selective purchasing laws by
>> encouraging our states' attorneys general to strongly defend these laws.
>> Please ask your state attorney general to sign on to the amicus brief in
>> support of the Massachusetts Burma Law. Make sure you send your letter well
>> before the deadline of January 29.
>> 
>> Please find a sample letter below and a list of state attorneys general and
>> their addresses. Thank you for your support!
>> 
>> Simon Billenness
>> * for the New England Burma Roundtable *
>> Franklin Research & Development
>> 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
>> (617) 423-6655, x225
>> (617) 482-6179 - fax
>> sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
>> 
>> =========================================================
>> 2. What To Do If You Live Outside Massachusetts: Write Your Attorney
General
>> 
>> It is vital that we tell our state attorneys general to sign on to the
>> amicus brief by January 29.  Please adapt the letter below and send it to
>> your Attorney General.
>> 
>> ** Sample letter **
>> 
>> I am writing to urge that you defend one state's sovereignty, so that [your
>> state] will continue to be able to exercise its ability to defend and
>> protect our rights and values.
>> 
>> [Include a paragraph describing yourself and your roots in the local
>> community.]
>> 
>> On November 5, Federal District Court Judge Tauro struck down the
>> Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing arguing that it was an
>> unconstitutional infringement on the federal government's foreign policy
>> powers. Sponsored by state rep. Byron Rushing, the Massachusetts Burma Law
>> effectively bars companies that do business with the Burmese military junta
>> from receiving state procurement contracts.
>> 
>> How Massachusetts - or any state - spends its tax dollars is matter for the
>> citizens of Massachusetts and their elected officials. It is a violation of
>> state sovereignty and local democracy for the federal government or
>> corporations to try to micro-manage state or local spending.
>> 
>> Inspired by the campaign against apartheid in South Africa, Aung San Suu
>> Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and leader of the Burmese democracy
>> movement, has called for economic sanctions on Burma to press the ruling
>> military junta to restore democracy in that country. She has described
>> selective purchasing laws - such as the one enacted in Massachusetts - as

>
>> an effective means of supporting the Burmese democracy movement.
>> 
>> I urge you to contact Massachusetts officials and offer the support of your
>> office in the fight to defend the Massachusetts Burma selective purchasing
>> law. I specifically urge you to contact the Massachusetts Attorney General
>> to sign on to an amicus brief in support of the Massachusetts Burma Law
>> that will be filed in Federal Appeals Court on January 29.
>> 
>> I look forward to your support on this critical issue. Please tell me what
>> action you intend to take.
>> 
>> Sincerely,
>> --------------------------
>> 
>> So that we can gauge the effectiveness of these action alerts, please send
>> a copy of your letter to:
>> 
>> Simon Billenness
>> New England Burma Roundtable
>> Franklin Research & Development
>> 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
>> (617) 423-6655, x225
>> (617) 482-6179 - fax
>> sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
>> ===============================================================
>> 
>> 3. What To Do If You Live in Massachusetts
>> 
>> It is important that the new Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Reilly
>> hear from Massachusetts voters who support the Massachusetts Burma Law. The
>> Boston Herald urged Reilly to abandon the case. We need to ensure that he
>> will defend the Massachusetts Burma Law with the same vigor and
>> determination as the previous Attorney General Scott Harshgarger.
>> 
>> Suggestions for your letters:
>> 
>> -  Describe your deep roots in your community and tell him you vote!
>> 
>> -  You believe that elected Massachusetts legislators and officials should
>> decide how to spend Massachusetts taxpayers money, not large corporations
>> 
>> -  Citizens of cities and states have the right to express their moral and
>> political beliefs by denying taxpayer-funded contracts to companies that do
>> business with dictators
>> 
>> - Note that the previous Attorney General Scott Harshbarger has mounted a
>> strong defense of the Massachusetts Burma Law in Federal District Court
>> 
>> - Urge Attorney General Thomas Reilly to also strongly defend the
>> Massachusetts Burma Law by following through with the appeal of Judge
>> Tauro's decision
>> 
>> Attorney General Thomas Reilly
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Commonwealth of Massachusetts
>> One Ashburton Place
>> Boston, MA 02108
>> (617) 727-2200
>> (617) 727-3251 - fax
>> 
>> So that we can gauge the response to this action laert, please send a copy
>> of your letters to:
>> 
>> Simon Billenness
>> New England Burma Roundtable
>> Franklin Research & Development
>> 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
>> (617) 423-6655, x225
>> (617) 482-6179 - fax
>> sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
>> =====================================================
>> 4.  List of State Attorneys General
>> 
>> Alabama
>> Honorable Bill Pryor
>> Attorney General of Alabama
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State House
>> 11 South Union Street
>> Montgomery, AL 36130
>> PHO:(334) 242-7300
>> FAX: 334-242-7458
>> 
>> Alaska
>> Honorable Bruce M. Botelho
>> Attorney General of Alaska
>> Office of the Attorney General

>> Post Office Box 110300
>> Diamond Courthouse
>> Juneau, AK 99811-0300
>> PHO:(907) 465-3600
>
>> FAX: 907-465-2075
>> 
>> Arizona
>> Honorable Janet Napolitano
>> Attorney General of Arizona
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 1275 West Washington Street
>> Phoenix, AZ 85007
>> PHO:(602) 542-4266
>> FAX: 602-542-4085
>> 
>> Arkansas
>> Honorable Mark Pryor
>> Attorney General of Arkansas
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 200 Tower Building, 323 Center Street
>> Little Rock, AR 72201-2610
>> PHO:(501) 682-2007
>> FAX: 501-682-8084
>> 
>> California
>> Honorable Bill Lockyer
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> P.O. Box 944255
>> Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
>> PHO: (916) 445-4533
>> FAX: 916-323-5341
>> 
>> http://caag.state.ca.us/
>> 
>> Colorado
>> Honorable Ken Salazar
>> Attorney General of Colorado
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Department of Law
>> 1525 Sherman Street
>> Denver, CO 80203
>> PHO:(303) 866-3052
>> FAX: 303-866-3955
>> 
>> Connecticut
>> Honorable Richard Blumenthal
>> Attorney General of Connecticut
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 
>> 55 Elm Street
>> Hartford, CT 06141-0120
>> PHO:(860) 808-5318
>> FAX: 860-808-5387
>> 
>> Delaware
>> Honorable M. Jane Brady
>> Attorney General of Delaware
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Carvel State Office Building
>> 820 North French Street
>> Wilmington, DE 19801
>> PHO:(302) 577-8600
>> FAX: 302-577-6499
>> 
>> Florida
>> Honorable Robert A. Butterworth
>> Attorney General of Florida
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> The Capitol
>> PL 01
>> Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
>> PHO:(850) 487-1963
>> FAX: 850-487-2564
>> 
>> Georgia
>> Honorable Thurbert E. Baker
>> Attorney General of Georgia
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 40 Capitol Square, S.W.
>> Atlanta, GA 30334-1300
>> PHO:(404) 656-4585
>> FAX: 404-657-8733
>> 
>> Hawaii
>> Honorable Margery S. Bronster
>> Attorney General of Hawaii
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 425 Queen Street
>> Honolulu, HI 96813
>> PHO:(808) 586-1282
>> FAX: 808-586-1239
>> 
>> Idaho
>> Honorable Alan G. Lance
>> Attorney General of Idaho
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Statehouse
>> Boise, ID 83720-1000
>> PHO:(208) 334-2400
>> FAX: 208-334-2530
>> 
>> Illinois
>> Honorable Jim Ryan
>> Attorney General of Illinois
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> James R. Thompson Center
>> 100 West Randolph Street
>> Chicago, IL 60601
>> PHO:(312) 814-2503
>> FAX: 312-814-5024
>> 
>> Indiana
>> Honorable Jeffrey A. Modisett
>> Attorney General of Indiana
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Indiana Government Center South
>> Fifth Floor
>> 402 West Washington Street
>> Indianapolis, IN 46204
>> PHO:(317) 233-4386
>> FAX: 317-232-7979
>> 
>> Iowa
>> Honorable Tom Miller
>> Attorney General of Iowa
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Hoover State Office Building
>> Des Moines, IA 50319
>> PHO:(515) 281-5164
>> FAX: 515-281-4209
>> 
>> Kansas
>> Honorable Carla J. Stovall
>> Attorney General of Kansas
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Judicial Building
>> 301 West Tenth Street
>> Topeka, KS 66612-1597
>> PHO:(785) 296-2215
>> FAX: 785-296-6296

>> 
>> Kentucky
>> Honorable Albert Benjamin "Ben" Chandler III
>> Attorney General of Kentucky
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol, Room 116
>> Frankfort, KY 40601
>> PHO:(502) 696-5300
>> FAX: 502-573-8317
>> 
>
>> Louisiana
>> Honorable Richard P. Ieyoub
>> Attorney General of Louisiana
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Department of Justice
>> Post Office Box 94095
>> Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4095
>> PHO:(504) 342-7013
>> FAX: 504-342-8703
>> 
>> Maine
>> Honorable Andrew Ketterer
>> Attorney General of Maine
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State House Station Six
>> Augusta, ME 04333
>> PHO:(207) 626-8800
>> FAX: 207-287-3145
>> 
>> Maryland
>> Honorable J. Joseph Curran Jr.
>> Attorney General of Maryland
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 200 Saint Paul Place
>> Baltimore, MD 21202-2202
>> PHO:(410) 576-6300
>> FAX: 410-576-7003
>> 
>> Massachusetts
>> Honorable Tom Reilly
>> Attorney General of Massachusetts
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> One Ashburton Place
>> Boston, MA 02108-1698
>> PHO:(617) 727-2200
>> FAX: 617-727-3251
>> 
>> Michigan
>> Honorable Jennifer Granholm
>> Attorney General of Michigan
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Post Office Box 30212
>> 525 West Ottawa Street
>> Lansing, MI 48909-0212
>> PHO:(517) 373-1110
>> FAX: 517-373-3042
>> 
>> Minnesota
>> Honorable Mike Hatch
>> Attorney General of Minnesota
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol
>> Suite 102
>> St. Paul, MN 55155
>> PHO:(651) 296-6196
>> FAX: 651-297-4193
>> 
>> Mississippi
>> Honorable Mike Moore
>> 
>> Attorney General of Mississippi
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Department of Justice
>> Post Office Box 220
>> Jackson, MS 39205-0220
>> PHO:(601) 359-3692
>> FAX: 601-359-3441
>> 
>> Missouri
>> Honorable Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon
>> Attorney General of Missouri
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Supreme Court Building
>> 207 West High Street
>> Jefferson City, MO 65101
>> PHO:(573) 751-3321
>> FAX: 573-751-0774
>> 
>> Montana
>> Honorable Joseph P. Mazurek
>> Attorney General of Montana
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Justice Building, 215 North Sanders
>> Helena, MT 59620-1401
>> PHO:(406) 444-2026
>> FAX: 406-444-3549
>> 
>> Nebraska
>> Honorable Don Stenberg
>> Attorney General of Nebraska
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol
>> Post Office Box 98920
>> Lincoln, NE 68509-8920
>> PHO:(402) 471-2682
>> FAX: 402-471-3297
>> 
>> Nevada
>> Honorable Frankie Sue Del Papa
>> Attorney General of Nevada
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Old Supreme Court Building
>> 100 North Carson Street
>> Carson City, NV 89701
>> PHO:(775) 687-4170
>> FAX: 775-687-5798
>> 
>> New Hampshire
>> Honorable Philip T. McLaughlin
>> Attorney General of New Hampshire
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State House Annex, 25 Capitol Street
>> Concord, NH 03301-6397
>> PHO:(603) 271-3658
>> FAX: 603-271-2110
>> 
>> New Jersey
>> Honorable Peter Verniero
>> Attorney General of New Jersey
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex
>> 25 Market Street, CN 080
>> Trenton, NJ 08625

>> PHO:(609) 292-4925
>> FAX: 609-292-3508
>> 
>> New Mexico
>> Honorable Patricia Madrid
>> Attorney General of New Mexico
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Post Office Drawer 1508
>> Santa Fe, NM 87504-1508
>> PHO:(505) 827-6000
>> FAX: 505-827-5826
>> 
>> New York
>> Honorable Dennis C. Vacco
>> Attorney General of New York
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Department of Law - The Capitol
>
>> 2nd Floor
>> Albany, NY 12224
>> PHO:(518) 474-7330
>> FAX: 518-473-9909
>> 
>> North Carolina
>> Honorable Michael F. Easley
>> Attorney General of North Carolina
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Department of Justice
>> Post Office Box 629
>> Raleigh, NC 27602-0629
>> PHO:(919) 716-6400
>> FAX: 919-716-6750
>> 
>> North Dakota
>> Honorable Heidi Heitkamp
>> Attorney General of North Dakota
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol
>> 600 East Boulevard Avenue
>> Bismarck, ND 58505-0040
>> PHO:(701) 328-2210
>> FAX: 701-328-2226
>> 
>> Ohio
>> Honorable Betty D. Montgomery
>> Attorney General of Ohio
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Office Tower
>> 30 East Broad Street
>> Columbus, OH 43266-0410
>> PHO:(614) 466-3376
>> FAX: 614- 644-6135
>> 
>> Oklahoma
>> Honorable W.A. Drew Edmondson
>> Attorney General of Oklahoma
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol, Room 112
>> 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard
>> Oklahoma City, OK 73105
>> PHO:(405) 521-3921
>> FAX: 405-521-6246
>> 
>> Oregon
>> Honorable Hardy Myers
>> Attorney General of Oregon
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Justice Building
>> 1162 Court Street NE
>> Salem, OR 97310
>> PHO:(503) 378-6002
>> FAX: 503-378-4017
>> 
>> Pennsylvania
>> Honorable Mike Fisher
>> Attorney General of Pennsylvania
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Strawberry Square
>> Harrisburg, PA 17120
>> PHO:(717) 787-3391
>> FAX: 717-787-8242
>> 
>> Rhode Island
>> Honorable Sheldon Whitehouse
>> Attorney General of Rhode Island
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 150 South Main Street
>> Providence, RI 02903
>> PHO:(401) 274-4400
>> 
>> FAX: 401-222-1302
>> 
>> South Carolina
>> Honorable Charlie Condon
>> Attorney General of South Carolina
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Rembert C. Dennis Office Building
>> Post Office Box 11549
>> Columbia, SC 29211-1549
>> PHO:(803) 734-3970
>> FAX: 803-253-6283
>> 
>> South Dakota
>> Honorable Mark Barnett
>> Attorney General of South Dakota
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 500 East Capitol
>> Pierre, SD 57501-5070
>> PHO:(605) 773-3215
>> FAX: 605-773-4106
>> 
>> Tennessee
>> Honorable Paul G. Summers
>> Attorney General of Tennessee
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 500 Charlotte Avenue
>> Nashville, TN 37243
>> PHO:(615) 741-6474
>> FAX: 615-741-2009
>> 
>> Texas
>> Honorable John Cornyn
>> Attorney General of Texas
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> Capitol Station
>> Post Office Box 12548
>> Austin, TX 78711-2548
>> PHO:(512) 463-2191
>> FAX: 512-463-2063
>> 
>> Utah
>> Honorable Jan Graham
>> Attorney General of Utah
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol, Room 236
>> Salt Lake City, UT 84114-0810
>> PHO:(801) 538-1326

>> FAX: 801-538-1121
>> 
>> Vermont
>> Honorable William H. Sorrell
>> Attorney General of Vermont
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 109 State Street
>> Montpelier, VT 05609-1001
>> PHO:(802) 828-3171
>> FAX: 802-828-3187
>> 
>> Virginia
>> Honorable Mark L. Earley
>> Attorney General of Virginia
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 900 East Main Street
>> Richmond, VA 23219
>> PHO:(804) 786-2071
>> FAX: 804-786-1991
>> 
>> Washington
>> Honorable Christine O. Gregoire
>> Attorney General of Washington
>> Office of the Attorney General
>
>> P.O. Box 40100
>> 1125 Washington Street, SE
>> Olympia, WA 98504-0100
>> PHO:(360) 753-6200
>> FAX: 360-586-8474
>> 
>> West Virginia
>> Honorable Darrell V. McGraw Jr.
>> Attorney General of West Virginia
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol
>> Charleston, WV 25305
>> PHO:(304) 558-2021
>> FAX: 304-558-0140
>> 
>> Wisconsin
>> Honorable James E. Doyle
>> Attorney General of Wisconsin
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> State Capitol
>> Post Office Box 7857
>> Suite 114 East
>> Madison, WI 53707-7857
>> PHO:(608) 266-1221
>> FAX: 608-267-2779
>> 
>> Wyoming
>> Honorable Gay Woodhouse
>> Attorney General of Wyoming
>> Office of the Attorney General
>> 123 Capitol Building
>> Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
>> PHO: (307) 777-7841
>> FAX: 307-7776869
>> ===============================================
>