--------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Paul Hilder - Avaaz.org <avaaz@avaaz.org>

Date: 2008/11/4
Subject: Don't forget Burma
To: <burmasupporters>

Dear friends,

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 -- many of the Generals' West-linked
business ventures depend on one insurer: Lloyd's of London.[1]

Lloyd's is the world's oldest, most respected insurer, and cares a great deal about its
global reputation -- by pointing out Lloyd's blameworthiness as key insurance deals
come up for renewal, we can shift their cost-benefit calculations on support to the
Burmese regime.

If enough of us email and call key decision-makers at Lloyd's this week, we

could shame them into pulling out of this dirty trade, undermining the hardliners
and creating pressure for human rights and the release of political prisoners like
democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Follow the link below to lend a
hand to the Burmese people:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/shame_lloyds_on_burma

The Burmese people's struggle is long and tough. But as in South Africa,
international pressure on the 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. Burma's democracy movement decided on this strategy
because the benefit of these ventures flows overwhelmingly to the generals, while
the Burmese people have grown ever poorer.

Lloyd's of London is the umbrella and overseer for hundreds of specialist insurance
syndicates, and it can stop their dirty trade if it so chooses. Already many big
global insurers have stopped insuring junta-linked businesses – after Lloyd's,
the generals will start to run out of options. 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.[2]

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 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.[3]
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. 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

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. "Foreign Office warns Lloyd's over Burma":

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/sep/28/insurance.foreignpolicy

3. 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

---------------------------------

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