Although surely plenty more campaign contributors will emerge as we edge closer to November, this Huffington Post site allows you to see who anyone has contributed to thus far, including your next door neighbors, boss, mechanic, etc……
Dahr Jamail returns to Fairbanks Sunday, March 9th
Seeing one of Dahr Jamail’s presentations two years ago in the Carlson Center gave me an understanding of the horrors of war and the nature of our occupying force there that I never could have found in the scariest nightmare. I strongly encourage all to check out his lecture and book reading/signing this Sunday, March 9th
Event: Book Reading / Iraq Lecture
Location: Schaible Auditorium, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Time and Date: Book signing, 7pm, Presentation at 8pm, 9 March 2008
Contact: anna (dot) godduhn (at) gmail (dot) com
Check out his site linked to the right or here.
APFC Investments
Looking further into the fund’s investments, we see a very long list of global corporations, without discrimination….. Besides genocide, our state needs to also stop supporting, unless ready to publicly promote, other inhumane and environmentally reckless practices. Once you look at the list, you’ll understand that there’s a lot more ethics overhaul needed than stopping genocide (although that one is usually up there at the top of the list….), since virtually all large corporations are there.
This story, owed to the concern of a 16 year old Alaskan, better only be the beginning. The state desperately needs to create an Ethics Oversight Committee for the APFC. There are a number of watchdog groups that have the dirt on these companies and the fund’s investments need to see a complete overhaul.
Here’s the scary lists:
Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation Top 50 Stock Holdings
All APFC Stock Holdings (pdf -321kb)
This story also serves to remind us that a huge percentage of the country invests in some of the same evils via their retirement and mutual fund investments, with people often investing blindly in a mutual fund ‘name’ with no idea what stocks the fund even contains. Simply choosing a ’proven’ profitable fund regardless of what business is involved, as our APFC so wisely does…. Many of the same people who usually hold their heads high and speak out against poor ethics at the cocktail party will turn around and quietly invest in ‘bad’ business “to secure the family’s wellbeing” or “because I have to retire someday right?” My last job allowed me to choose retirement investments (hahaha) through one of a few private investment firms. After selecting Lincoln Financial, I then was given a list of 30 or 40 funds to pick as a retirement investment. I was appalled to see that there was one fund, and just one fund, that was the obvious choice- entitled something like ‘Socially Responsible Fund’…..
Alaska’s Permanent Fund Dividend invests in genocide
Although I think I’m close to vomiting after just reading this ADN article : http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/333050.html
, I had to spread the nausea….Reading the whole article led to the truly unfathomable- Our state’s fund has had much money invested in Sudan businesses for a while, but most appalling was the attitude of state officials about the matter. I can’t believe they wouldn’t try to lie, instead Mr. Burns (I think it must be Montgomery…) tries to ease concerns by letting us know the state’s goal was ”never to enact a social or political agenda.” This political nonsense amounts to our ethicless PFD funds. This only begs the question: What else is the fund invested in?
stay tuned….
Noam Chomsky: Why Isn’t Iraq in the 2008 Election?
Although not directly tied to northern issues, expect to see much of Noam Chomsky’s work linked here. In my opinion he is one of the greatest minds and voices that needs to be heard by our country. Here is his piece transcribed from Democracy Now! (an outstanding, and award winning, nationally syndicated progressive radio and television daily news program hosted by the great Amy Goodman- appearing today on Alternet, perhaps the best compedium of progressive, unbiased, and well-written media found in our world today:
