Burma is far from the headlines - but we've found a real pressure point, the
insurers who prop up the junta's economic interests: Take Action Now!
(Meanwhile a new US president is about to be elected -- watch out for our
post-election campaign) A year after their crackdown, Burma's military dictators
remain entrenched, propped up by dealings with Western companies. But the
Burmese democracy movement has found a powerful pressure point -- the insurers
who underwrite the generals' economic stranglehold -- exposing them one by one,
and forcing big companies to pull out.[1]
Now information has leaked that Lloyd's of London, one of the world's oldest,
most respected and secretive insurers, is the ultimate channel for insurance on
the generals' ventures including aviation and shipping: yesterday, news broke
that Lloyd's chairman Lord Levene also sits on the board of the junta-linked oil
giant TOTAL![2]
Bad publicity is growing as deals come up for renewal -- if enough of us
email and call key Lloyd's decision-makers this week, we can shame them into
pulling out of this dirty trade, undermining the hardliners and creating
leverage for the release of political prisoners like rightfully elected leader
Aung San Suu Kyi. Follow the link below to respond to the Burmese people's call
for help:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/shame_lloyds_on_burma
The Burmese struggle is long and tough. But as in South Africa, international
pressure on the military regime's exploitative ventures could tip the balance.
Because it's hard or impossible for them to continue without insurance, this is
an effective and wide-reaching approach for citizens everywhere to have a real
impact.
Lloyd's of London is the umbrella and overseer for hundreds of specialist
insurance syndicates, the last option for many junta-linked companies, and it
can stop this dirty trade if it so chooses. We'll ramp up the pressure by
alerting the media to our campaign, specialist insurance publications included.
Even the British government has begun to ask Lloyd's to cease its business with
the Burmese military junta.[3]
We can win this campaign, so let's flood Lloyd's with emails and phone calls
all this week -- on the campaign page we provide key numbers, email addresses
and suggestions for what to say -- just follow the link below now to take
action:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/shame_lloyds_on_burma
If we win, the regime will be thrown onto the back foot, Burma's people who
have only grown poorer under this dirty trade will be immensely heartened, and
the UN Secretary-General will have a greater chance of securing the release of
Aung San Suu Kyi and other prisoners this December.[4] Together, our individual
small acts are becoming irresistible. We can't forget Burma.
With hope and determination,
Paul, Alice, Iain, Graziela, Ricken, Pascal, Paula, Brett, Veronique, Milena
-- the entire Avaaz team
For updates on Avaaz campaigns: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/report_back_2/
You can also view reports on our campaigns in support of the Burmese democracy
movement and the $2 million of aid Avaaz members provided in the wake of Cyclone
Nargis.
Sources:
1. Reinsurance Magazine: Big insurers including Marsh, Swiss Re, AON pull
out:
http://www.reinsurancemagazine.com/public/showPage.html?page=787739
Arab Insurance Group and XL also pull out:
http://www.mizzima.com/news/world/962-campaigners-hail-arigs-decision-to-pull-out-of-burma.html
2. The Observer: "The baron who holds Burma's purse strings", 2 November 2008
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/nov/02/oil-total-burma-lloyds-levene1
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/28/insurance.foreignpolicy
4. As Ban Ki-Moon prepares to visit, Asia-Europe summit in Beijing calls for
release of political prisoners:
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/10/release-aung-sa.html
