Letters to the Presbyterian Church

The Church needs our support. They need to know that the divestment plan they have adopted is a legitimate and powerful statement of peace. Please write letters of support and ask your email networks to do the same. Urgent we reach as many Palestinians, Muslim and Christian as possible, although all letters of support are appreciated.

Please send letters ASAP.

Background:

This year’s national meeting (June 15-22) will see at least 15 proposals to rescind the Church’s 2004 decision to pursue a policy of “socially responsible investing” that as a last resort includes divestment.

The backlash by pro-Israeli activists has been significant. They accuse Presbyterians of naïve behavior that will harm Palestinians and Israelis. At the June meeting, over 500 Presbyterians will be voting on the issue which will have a major impact on the movement to end Israel’s Occupation of the Palestinian Territories. It is
anticipated that the vote, either way will create major press coverage.

If divestment is overturned, the pro Zionists will call it their victory and use it to attack other divestment proposals. If divestment is upheld, it will bolster similar divestment actions at universities and churches around the country. It may even have an impact upon events the following week at the annual stockholder’s meeting of the Caterpillar Corporation, one of the five targeted
businesses in the Presbyterian action.

“Socially responsible investing” is a policy with a long tradition in the Presbyterian Church. It has been used to influence issues as diverse as strip mining, misuse of infant formula in developing countries, corporate activity in South Africa, Sudan, and Indonesiaand the manufacture and sale of military and tobacco products.

For more information, visit www.pcusa.org/mrti.

Address letters to each Presbyterian leader below:
Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator
Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk

Office of the General Assembly

100 Witherspoon Street
Witherspoon Street

Louisville, Kentucky, USA 40202-1396

Letters should have cc’s to Pauline Coffman
(p.coffman@sbcglobal.net) or Noura Erakat
(legal@endtheoccupation.org) who are assembling a summary with excerpts for the voting commissioners at the meeting. If unable to email copies then please snail mail copies to: Pauline Coffman; 623
South Euclid Avenue; Oak Park, IL 60304

Talking Points
1.Emphasize your personal connection to the issue. Speak from the heart.
2. Divestment is not unique in Presbyterian
history. "Socially responsible investing" has a long history in the church and has been used to influence issues as diverse as strip mining, misuse of infant formula in developing countries, corporate activity in South Africa, Sudan, and Indonesia and the manufacture and sale of
military and tobacco products.

3. Guidelines for "socially responsible investing" emphasize that the goal is to "influence the behavior of the corporation".

Divestment is never THE goal, rather, a tool to affect change; one that is used only after other strategies fail.

4. Divestment is not economic boycott.

5. Divestment is supported by Palestinian civil society
organizations, non-governmental organizations, and many Israeli peace organizations and activists.

6. Divestment will not, as claimed by opponents, "hurt
Palestinians". Palestinians are already hurting and dying as a direct result of Israeli military occupation.

7. One of the companies targeted for action isCaterpillar, which sells massive bulldozers to Israel who then adds armor and bullet proof windows to protect operators as they demolish Palestinian homes. Many times Palestinians are killed while protecting their homes from demolition.

Divestment from Caterpillar will not hurt Palestinians.

8. Thank the Presbyterians for the actions they have taken so far, and commend them for their courage and commitment to their beliefs.

Thank you for your help and do pass this on to your network.

Please make follow up phone calls to ensure that action is taken.

If you are you are one of the first 30 people to receive this and each of you sends it to 10 more, then it will reach 300. If that continues, then by increments it can reach 30,000 and upwards. And if each iteration results in 10 letters to the Presbyterians, we will make a difference.

Please act and phone your friends to make sure they act.

Hasan Newash, Director

Casey Currie, Presbyterian Representative

Palestine Office Michigan

313-945-966

Mike Odetalla..."A seed in the eternal fruit of Palestine"