Some good news for the Uyghurs but more needs to be done
First some good news. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the “Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.” The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives. Would you contact your Member of Congress and let them know you want them to co-sponsor it there? Please click here to contact them. Many people call what is happening to the Uyghurs genocide. We can do more to help them.
The good news from the Senate action goes beyond Congress. American companies know a ban on products made by the Uyghurs or in the Xinjiang region of China is coming. Some have already curtailed their purchases of products made there. Nike and Apple have suppliers in China who are phasing out the usage of Uyghur labor.
We can cut off the flow of money to the Myanmar military
The Tatmadaw (Burmese military) took over the country in February. Since then, they have murdered 934 protesters. They could not continue without proper funding. Companies like Harry Winston (owned by Swatch) still buy rubies and jade from Myanmar (90 percent of the world’s supply comes from there). Moreover, the military rakes in millions from the sale of oil and gas. You can help stop that.
- Will you sign the petition to President Joe Biden to sanction the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE)?Through pressure, Chevron and Total have cut some of their payments to the Myanmar military but they need to cut it all off.
- Can you contact Harry Winston? Please sign this petition to let them know you want them to stop selling #GenocideGems.
Paul Rusesabagina still needs our help
Last week, we sent you an email about how Rwandan President Paul Kagame is using Pegasus, software from the Israeli NSO, to spy on people around the planet. Some, such as Carine Kaminba, are American citizens. This week, the Washington Post published a piece by Rusesabagina’s other daughter, Anaïse Kanimba. In it, she says, “When a U.S. resident and human rights hero is kidnapped abroad, dragged across international borders and tortured, I believe that the moment for action has already come.” Rusesabagina stood his ground and saved more than 1,200 people from the 1994 genocide.
Would you sign our petition urging him to do more to bring Paul Rusesabagina home?