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McGovern Colombia Amendment
Colombia's US-created drug war is increasing violence and political instability and harming the environment. Rep. George McGovern (D-MA) is offering an amendment -- as soon as Thursday, 6/8/06 -- to transfer $30 million of funds now slated for aerial fumigation of drug crops in Colombia to emergency humanitarian relief for refugees. Letters and phone calls to Congress are needed now.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Data released by the State Dept. in April found that there is as much coca being grown in Colombia now as when Plan Colombia was launched in the early '90s. This means that eradication programs don't work -- they only shift the growing from place to place. Aerial fumigation is especially reckless, as it harms the environment and any people who happen to get caught in its way. As soon as this Thursday (6/8), Rep. George McGovern will offer an amendment on the House Floor to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that would transfer $30 million of fumigation funding to emergency humanitarian relief efforts helping refugees. I urge you to vote YES on the McGovern amendment. Thank you for considering my opinion.
Sincerely, |
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| Background Information |
As early as Thursday of this week (6/8/06), Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA) will offer an amendment to the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to take $30 million away from aerial fumigation of drug crops in Colombia and transfer it to emergency humanitarian relief for refugees. Fumigation harms Colombia's environment and people caught in its way, and eradication has never done more than move the growing from place to place
Please help to roll back the futile and destructive drug war that the US has forced on Colombia by supporting Rep. McGovern's amendment -- use this web site to e-mail your US Representative today! When you are done, please follow-up with a phone call to make additional impact. You can reach your Rep.'s office by calling the Congressional Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. (See the links appearing below for further information that will help you with your phone call.)
Again, this vote could happen as soon as Thursday -- that means your action is needed right now -- so please lobby Congress today! Thank you for helping to end the drug war.
Visit http://www.lawg.org/countries/colombia/fy07action.htm on the web site of the Latin America Working Group to read "talking points" to help with your phone call for additional information on this issue. Visit http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/432/colombia.shtml for the Drug War Chronicle report on the State Dept.'s latest coca growing stats -- there's just as much of it now as when Plan Colombia was started in the '90s!