August Action Alert: LET'S KEEP MAS

[sbillenness@xxxxxxxx]

Subject: August Action Alert: LET'S KEEP MASSACHUSETTS FIRM ON BURMA LAW

NEW ENGLAND BURMA ROUNDTABLE: AUGUST ACTION ALERT

AUGUST 1, 1997

LET'S KEEP MASSACHUSETTS FIRM ON BURMA LAW!

On July 22, the European Commission (EC) and Japan conducted their first
"formal consultations" with the US on the Massachusetts Burma law under the
World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement procedures. The EC and
Japan claim that the Massachusetts Burma law violates an obscure provision
of a WTO Agreement that bars the use of "political" criteria in granting
state procurement contracts. 

Modeled on previous South Africa-related laws, the Massachusetts Burma law
effectively bars Massachusetts state agencies from buying goods or services
from firms that do business in Burma. Under pressure from European and
Japanese firms hit by the law, the EC and Japan now want to dictate how
Massachusetts should spend its own taxpayers money!

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A: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS
B: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS
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A: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS

Write your elected Massachusetts representatives. Tell them:

1.   You believe that elected Massachusetts legislators and officials
should decide how to spend Massachusetts taxpayers money, not European and
Japanese bureaucrats
2.   You are a Massachusetts resident and voter with roots in the community
3.   You believe strongly that Massachusetts should stand firm against this
unfair pressure from the European commission and the Japanese government
4.   If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family member to
write!

Governor Paul Cellucci
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133	
(617) 727-3600
(617) 727-5291 fax

Attorney General Scott Harshbarger
1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-2200
(617) 727-5778 fax

Senate President Thomas Birmingham
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-1500
(617) 248-3840 fax

House Speaker Thomas Finneran
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2500
(617) 722-2008 fax

Call your state representative and state senator at: (617) 722-2000
Write to them at:
State House, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02133

Please send us a copy of your letters as well as any replies!

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 292 8026 x225		(617) 482 6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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B: WHAT YOU CAN DO IF LIVE OUTSIDE MASSACHUSETTS

Write President Clinton, US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, your
US senators and representative. Tell them that:

1.  You strongly support the Massachusetts Burma law as it currently stands.
 
2.  European Commission and Japanese bureaucrats bureaucrats should not be
allowed to tell elected American state legislators how to spend US
taxpayers money.
 
3.  On June 12, the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution
that urged the European Commission not to take action against the
Massachusetts Burma law at the World Trade Organization. Why should
Massachusetts legislators amend their Burma law to suit European Commission
bureaucrats when elected European Parliament legislators unanimously
support the Massachusetts Burma law?
 
4.  Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the Burmese democracy movement,
supports the Massachusetts Burma law and has stated such laws are an
effective means of helping to restore democracy in Burma.

5. Mention that you support the enactment of similar Burma selective
purchasing laws in your home state.

***  6. If you have already written ask a friend, coworker or family member
to write too!  ***

To Whom to Write:

President William Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

* send a copy of your letter to President Clinton to:

U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Please also write separate letters to your US Senators and Representative.
Ask them specifically to write U.S. Trade Representative Charlene
Barshefsky to urge her to strongly defend the Massachusetts Burma law from
the European Commission

You can write your US Senator at:

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

You can write your US Representative at:

United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

You can call the Capitol Switchboard toll-free at (888) 723-5246.
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PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS ACTION ALERT TO OTHERS

Thank you for your help. Your efforts will protect the Massachusetts Burma
law. Please mail or fax me a copy of your letters so that we can gauge the
response to this action  alert.

Simon Billenness
* for the New England Burma Roundtable *
Franklin Research & Development, 711 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 292 8026 x225
(617) 482 6179 fax
sbillenness@xxxxxxxx
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