Congratulations! Kansas has divested from Sudan.

The Kansas House of Representatives voted 123-2 in favor of targeted Sudan divestment legislation on Friday, April 27, 2007, sending the bill to Governor Sebelius's desk. She then signed it into law on May 11, 2007. Thanks to everyone who contacted their legislators in support of divestiture from Sudan -- our efforts paid off!

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400,000 dead. 2.5 million displaced from their homes.

The numbers are staggering, but even more startling is the incredible inaction on the part of the international community to put an end to the atrocities being committed every day in the Darfur region of Sudan, Africa.

The United States government and the United Nations began pressuring the Sudanese government to end the genocide in 2003, but these diplomatic tactics have proved remarkably ineffective. As our government officials draft futile peace treaties, the BBC reports that the conflict is "now worse than ever" and that "the humanitarian operation there is on the verge of total breakdown."

Kansans are left to wonder: what can we actually do to help end the genocide?

Our best option is targeted divestment of our state pension fund from Sudan. Although no American companies can do business in Sudan due to U.S. sanctions, the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) currently has $38 million invested in oil, energy, and construction companies whose revenues go to the Sudanese government, which then uses that money to fund the Darfur genocide. Seven states have already divested their state pension funds from these companies, and it is our moral obligation to ensure that Kansas does not passively condone genocide by remaining invested in these companies.

The Kansas Legislature is considering targeted divestment legislation in this session (Senate Bill No. 335 and House Bill No. 2468), but to ensure the bills' passage, we must let our state legislators know that this is an important issue to all Kansans. Join the fight against the Darfur genocide by registering today and urging your legislators to support targeted divestment from Sudan.