In today's Chronicle on the front page of the Business section, there is an article called, "When Business and Politics Bang Heads: Save Darfur Coalition takes on Franklin Templeton."
Franklin Templeton is a huge, San Mateo based mutual fund company that is an affiliate of China National Petroleum Corp., the affiliate infamous for being the main source of revenue which enables the Sudanese government to continue the slaughtering and displacement of civilians in the Darfur region.
While the spokeswoman for the Save Darfur Coalition is quoted saying, "we tried to engage all of these companies privately [Franklin Templeton, JPMorgan, Fidelity Investments, Capital Group, Vanguard], " the Coalition has recently become more aggressive in their campaign to persuade divestment of the blood-stained stock. In response to these efforts, Franklin Templeton issued a statement saying that while they can appreciate the calls for divestment, they assert that "fostering economic and business development through investment in troubled regions can often help in achieving reform."
This disregard towards their participation in the killings prompted Save Darfur Coalition to release various billboards, internet/television ads to put a not-so-flattering spotlight on the investment firms.
What do you think of the ad?
Do you think these divestment campaigns are worth the time, effort, and resources of Darfur activists?
If you had stock in PetroChina, do you think it would be worth the divestment?
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6 comments:
I actually think this ad is really powerful. The two people were speechless when the other man mentioned how their company has supported genocide in Darfur. Depending on what channel and what time these ads air, I think that these might get out to a lot of people to make them more aware of the problem. So many people watch television, so this could help initiate a boycott of this company. However, the money going into this ad is not DIRECTLY helping stop genocide in Darfur. Is there a better way to spend money so the genocide would stop? I bet these ads cost a lot to air.
I know very little about the company Franklin Templeton, but by Danielle's description, they are an affiliate of an affiliate of the genocide. Yes, there is still a connection and it is still an important one, but the add didn't even mention PetroChina, the bigger culprit. Aileen raises an interesting point about how it's not directly helping to stop the genocide, but at this point, is there anyway to invest in DIRECTLY stopping it?
For a while now I've been trying to get my parents to move whatever accounts they have with Fidelity to some other company because Fidelity also helps to support the genocide in Darfur. The tricky thing is switching companies like that is apparently not that easy or fast...
In terms of funding directly stopping the genocide, this is sort of difficult to do seeing as solutions to genocide or war are never really clear cut. There isn't really a way to just pay someone or something so that the genocide will stop, it is more through efforts like this that end up ceasing it. The reason for this is that there is a politics to genocide and a lot of international bureaucracy and red tape. Through indirect actions such as divesting in the companies that invest in the genocide, those companies will in tern either urge the government in Darfur to cease the genocide, or withdraw their support to the government, both of which would weaken the genocide overall. NGO's spend most of their time and effort pressuring those key individuals or companies to act one way or another to ultimately affect a greater international issue, since there are limited options in creating change otherwise.
I thought that this ad got the point across very clearly and that if this ad were to be circulated to many television networks I think that it could make an impact.
In response to the fact that ads like this one do not directly stop the genocide in Darfur, I think that they can still make an impact. While they may cost a great deal of money to create and spread to many networks, I think that because of the restrictions that the Sudanese government has put on aid and the accessibility of workers to the region, ads like this are the next best option in terms of making people aware. Although these ads to not target the main investors in the oil industry of Sudan such as PetroChina, targeting these "smaller" companies is a first step. I think that at this point anything is worth trying in order to stop the genocide...
(have these ads been on the air for a while? because i have never seen one on television prior to watching it here...)
To address aileens question of directly helping genocide... I think it may not directly if only a few people participate and realize their role in genocide... but just like the turkish governments denial of the genocide they threatened to cut off relations with countries who believed that the genocide occurred and then changed their mind once they realized they needed the economy of the other countries to remain stable I believe that effecting the government's economy is probably one of the best ways that individuals can stop the genocide.
I know that I personally feel powerless to do anything... but I believe that if EVERY individual who invests in this company stop it may have a real effect. Maybe i'm just being idealistic... but who knows... i think it's worth a try.
I actually really found this ad to be great. I think for someone not expecting the message that the ad has to offer, the line, "You're really making a killing in Darfur," grabs one's attention immediately. I haven't seen any ads like this yet, but I hope that more begin airing on TV.
I do think these campaigns are worth it because even if not everyone who supports Franklin Templeton pulls away, every little bit helps and makes a difference and sends a message. I think creating awareness of genocides is the most important thing. One of the child soldiers in the documentary Invisible Children that Agape showed last year said that if anything at all, we should not forget. Remembering the plight of many people and sharing this situation with others is one of the most important ways to battle these horrors. Once enough people have the problems of Darfur on their mind and move together as one unit to convince the government and those in power that this is an issue they care about, change is more likely to occur and action is more likely to be considered.
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