This time our pension funds, via BlackRock, profited from Palestinians dying. Facing our complicity is a first step in preventing future genocides, and might wring some drops of mercy from this one.
Here's the short version of what we can do, which may not seem like much, but I gave it a go anyway:
I asked Ai how the US could end funding to Israel. Ai said,
“The process to end funding to Israel involves multiple steps and can be influenced by both the legislative and executive branches. A resolution to block arms sales to Israel would require a vote in the Senate, and also needs to pass the House and survive a presidential veto to fully end the funding. If the president vetoes a bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.”
Unless you enjoy filling out all the info boxes required to send an email to someone in Congress, calling is probably quicker, and, savvy friends tell me, has higher impact.
1 ....... Sen. Alex Padilla 202 224-3553 They only take calls, M-F, 9 to 6 EST
916 448-2787 His Sacramento office records voice messages after hours.
Start with your NAME and ZIP CODE: Use your own words. I said, “Please vote to end military aid to Israel, which is committing genocide against Palestinians.”
2 ....... Sen. Adam Schiff 202 224-3841 This number takes messages after hours.
Start with your NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL, then give your opinion about Gaza
3 ....... Rep Mike Thompson 202 225-3311
Woodland office: 530 753-5301 9-5
Say your NAME and ZIP CODE, and your opinion about Gaza
4 ....... White House 202-456-1111
They only accept messages from 11 to 3 (EST), Tue - Thurs
I faintly remember learning modern American history in 1966. Decades later, as a substitute teacher after retiring from being a third grade teacher, I was interested to see that California history books mentioned the anti-war movement of the 1960s, when I was in high school and a classmate was killed in Vietnam while I was off in college.
Some historians think that Nixon was intending to escalate more, even to using a nuclear bomb, but he had to slow down because the nation was realizing we were losing hearts and minds, not gaining them, with that war.
And, you'll remember, if you had a civics class (they sort of faded out by the turn of the century), that Congress reserves the right to declare and fund wars.
I asked Ai:
Is there any way that Congress can stop the genocide in Gaza? For instance, could they vote against all funding for any further military aid to Israel, or use sanctions to block their trade or diplomacy with the US?
Here's Ai's answer:
• Immediate Ceasefire and Humanitarian Aid: Campaigns such as the Appeal for Redress V2 and the Urgent Action by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the safe passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This includes the establishment of safe zones and the resumption of access to water, electricity, and fuel for medical facilities.2,4,5,6
• Stop Military Aid to Israel: Multiple organizations are urging Congress to halt the $17.9 billion in military funding that the U.S. provided to Israel in 2024, which they argue has been used to perpetrate mass killings and destruction in Gaza. The ADC and others argue that this funding should be stopped to prevent further complicity in the ongoing crisis.3,5,6
• Leahy Law Enforcement: The Leahy law bans U.S. military funding to foreign units that have committed gross violations of human rights. Five Palestinians are suing the U.S. government for breaking this law, which could lead to greater transparency and accountability in how U.S. tax dollars are spent.3
• Humanitarian Aid: While the U.S. has provided $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid to Palestine since October 7, 2023, critics argue that this is insufficient and that more substantial aid is needed to address the massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza.3,4
• Political Pressure and Public Advocacy: Organizations are mobilizing public support to pressure Congress to act. This includes email campaigns, petitions, and public demonstrations to raise awareness and demand action from elected officials.2,4,5,6
• Arms Embargo: There is a growing public sentiment, with 61% of Americans supporting an arms embargo against Israel. This reflects a shift in public opinion, with more Americans expressing sympathy with Palestine over Israel.3
These actions and proposals aim to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prevent further loss of life by cutting off military funding and ensuring the delivery of essential aid.
The war between good and evil is a war between natural law and commercial law. The modern world is the commercial world.
Here's the short version of what we can do, which may not seem like much, but I gave it a go anyway:
I asked Ai how the US could end funding to Israel. Ai said,
“The process to end funding to Israel involves multiple steps and can be influenced by both the legislative and executive branches. A resolution to block arms sales to Israel would require a vote in the Senate, and also needs to pass the House and survive a presidential veto to fully end the funding. If the president vetoes a bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.”
Unless you enjoy filling out all the info boxes required to send an email to someone in Congress, calling is probably quicker, and, savvy friends tell me, has higher impact.
1 ....... Sen. Alex Padilla 202 224-3553 They only take calls, M-F, 9 to 6 EST
916 448-2787 His Sacramento office records voice messages after hours.
Start with your NAME and ZIP CODE: Use your own words. I said, “Please vote to end military aid to Israel, which is committing genocide against Palestinians.”
2 ....... Sen. Adam Schiff 202 224-3841 This number takes messages after hours.
Start with your NAME, ADDRESS, EMAIL, then give your opinion about Gaza
3 ....... Rep Mike Thompson 202 225-3311
Woodland office: 530 753-5301 9-5
Say your NAME and ZIP CODE, and your opinion about Gaza
4 ....... White House 202-456-1111
They only accept messages from 11 to 3 (EST), Tue - Thurs
I faintly remember learning modern American history in 1966. Decades later, as a substitute teacher after retiring from being a third grade teacher, I was interested to see that California history books mentioned the anti-war movement of the 1960s, when I was in high school and a classmate was killed in Vietnam while I was off in college.
Some historians think that Nixon was intending to escalate more, even to using a nuclear bomb, but he had to slow down because the nation was realizing we were losing hearts and minds, not gaining them, with that war.
And, you'll remember, if you had a civics class (they sort of faded out by the turn of the century), that Congress reserves the right to declare and fund wars.
I asked Ai:
Is there any way that Congress can stop the genocide in Gaza? For instance, could they vote against all funding for any further military aid to Israel, or use sanctions to block their trade or diplomacy with the US?
Here's Ai's answer:
• Immediate Ceasefire and Humanitarian Aid: Campaigns such as the Appeal for Redress V2 and the Urgent Action by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) are calling for an immediate ceasefire and the safe passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This includes the establishment of safe zones and the resumption of access to water, electricity, and fuel for medical facilities.2,4,5,6
• Stop Military Aid to Israel: Multiple organizations are urging Congress to halt the $17.9 billion in military funding that the U.S. provided to Israel in 2024, which they argue has been used to perpetrate mass killings and destruction in Gaza. The ADC and others argue that this funding should be stopped to prevent further complicity in the ongoing crisis.3,5,6
• Leahy Law Enforcement: The Leahy law bans U.S. military funding to foreign units that have committed gross violations of human rights. Five Palestinians are suing the U.S. government for breaking this law, which could lead to greater transparency and accountability in how U.S. tax dollars are spent.3
• Humanitarian Aid: While the U.S. has provided $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid to Palestine since October 7, 2023, critics argue that this is insufficient and that more substantial aid is needed to address the massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza.3,4
• Political Pressure and Public Advocacy: Organizations are mobilizing public support to pressure Congress to act. This includes email campaigns, petitions, and public demonstrations to raise awareness and demand action from elected officials.2,4,5,6
• Arms Embargo: There is a growing public sentiment, with 61% of Americans supporting an arms embargo against Israel. This reflects a shift in public opinion, with more Americans expressing sympathy with Palestine over Israel.3
These actions and proposals aim to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and prevent further loss of life by cutting off military funding and ensuring the delivery of essential aid.
References:
1. https://truthout.org/articles/active-duty-us-service-members-issue-appeal-to-congress-to-stop-funding-genocide/
2. https://www.notmytaxdollars.org/take-action
3. https://www.notmytaxdollars.org/take-action
4. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/urgent-stop-the-genocidal-bombing-of-gaza
5. https://adc.org/stop-funding-genocide/
6. https://adc.org/urgent-action-tell-congress-to-stop-funding-genocide/