Chevron Fuels Genocide Denial - Take Action!‏

July 21, 2009
AYF Targets Corporate Complicity in Genocide Denial with July 22nd Launch of Chevron Protest CampaignSend a Free ANCA WebFaxto Chevron

ANCA ACTION: "Roadmap" a Stall Tactic: Turkey Backtracks on Dialogue Urge Your Representative to Cosign a Letter to Pres. Obama separating Armenian Genocide recognition from stalled Armenia-Turkey Dialogue Take Action
Training the Next Generation of Leaders:
Spotlight on the ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship and ANC WR Internship Externship Programs
Congressional Concern Mounts Over Turkey's Reversal on Proposed "Roadmap"
-- Congressional Letter Urging "Administration to separate the issues of normalization and genocide recognition" has Growing Support Take Action Now
WASHINGTON, DC - House Members concerned about Turkey's backtracking on a so-called "roadmap" to advance Armenia-Turkey dialogue are set to urge President Obama to separate Armenian Genocide recognition from normalization of ties between the two countries, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.)
In a letter to President Obama, initiated by Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) as well as Armenian Genocide resolution lead sponsors Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA), Members of Congress question Turkey's commitment to talks normalizing relations with Armenia, as stated in a "roadmap" agreement signed just two days prior to April 24th, the international day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey has since added preconditions to continued discussions, which have led most observers of the process to conclude the effort to be stalled indefinitely.
"It would appear that Turkey, in an effort to block U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide, agreed to a roadmap it did not intend to uphold," notes the letter to the President. "Therefore, we urge your Administration to separate the issues of normalization and genocide recognition. We hope that renewed efforts and focused resources from the Administration can be utilized to nurture the Armenia-Turkey normalization process without preconditions and within a reasonable timeframe, and continue to remain strongly supportive of your stated campaign policy to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide."
Armenian American have been contacting their legislators to cosign the Congressional letter, set to be sent to the President on July 24th.
AYF Targets Corporate Complicity in Genocide Denial with Launch of Chevron Protest Campaign
July 22nd demonstrations at Chevron headquarters; local stations to spotlight energy company’s lobby efforts against Armenian Genocide Resolution
Send a Free ANCA WebFax to Chevron
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) will join with Armenian Americans and human rights activists in kicking off a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about Turkish Government coercion of energy giant Chevron and some five multinational corporations currently lobbying against Armenian Genocide legislation.
The protest will begin on July 22, 2009 at the Chevron headquarters in San Ramon, California and local stations across the U.S., in conjunction with an online letter writing campaign to Chevron CEO Dave O'Reilly urging the company to publicly apologize for profiting from Genocide denial. Over 1200 activists are already part of a Facebook group taking action on the initiative.
"No company - however big or powerful - should be allowed to profit from genocide or its denial," said AYF Eastern Region Chairwoman Lauren DaSilva. "Chevron and its partners must be exposed for their outrageous actions and breach of their own stated corporate code of conduct."
According to their website -- the corporation prides itself on running the company the "Chevron Way" - responsibly, ethically and with respect to human rights. However, on June 13th, the Associated Press revealed that Chevron and 5 other multinational energy and defense corporations, including BAE Systems, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, United Technologies and Goodrich have filed disclosure forms with the Senate and House "quietly" lobbying against H.Res.252 the Armenian Genocide Resolution, among a wide array of legislation. In first quarter of 2009 alone, the six firms have spent some $14 million in Congressional lobby efforts. This is in addition to the over $3 million spent annually by the Government of Turkey to block U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide, a cornerstone of their foreign policy priorities. The firms would not respond to press inquiries regarding their opposition to the House resolution.
"Clearly, Turkey will spare to no expense to cover up its dark past," said AYF Western Region Chairman Vache Thomassian. "Coercing corporations like Chevron to do its dirty deeds is just the latest tactic - exporting genocide denial to our neighborhoods, one gas station at a time."
For more information, visit:http://www.anca.org/chevron


July 22nd Chevron Protest Locations
California:
11:00am - 1:00pm:Chevron Corporate Offices6001 Bolinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA
11:00am - 1:00pm: 1868 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles CA 90027
11:00am - 1:00pm: 466 W. Broadway, Glendale, CA
11:00am - 1:00pm: 233 N. Alta Dena Dr., Pasadena, CA
11:00am - 1:00pm: 1400 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA
11:00am - 1:00pm: 1500 Paramount Blvd., Montebello, CA 90640
12:00pm - 2:00pm: 100 S Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank, CA 91502
4:00pm - 6:00pm: 6737 Foothill Blvd., Tujunga, CA
4:00pm - 6:00pm: 18081 Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA 91316-3517
4:00pm - 6:00pm: 8980 Warner Ave, Fountain Valley, CA 92708
6:00pm - 8:00pm: 1020 E Shaw Ave, Fresno, CA
Florida:
11:00am - 1:00pm: 2626 Lee RD, Winter Park FL 32789
Maryland:
11:00am - 1:00pm: 5001 Bradley Blvd, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Nevada:
11:00am - 1:00pm: 8500 W Charleston Las Vegas, NV
Pennsylvania:
11:00am - 1:00pm: 2090 Sproul Rd., Broomall, PA 19008
ANC-WR Welcomes 2009 Summer Session Interns
GLENDALE - On June 15, the Armenian National Committee-Western Region welcomed the seven newest participants in its Internship-Externship Program. The 2009 Summer Session class includes students from across California who will be spending the summer working at the ANC-WR office in Glendale, California. The interns will assist the board and staff with day-to-day operations at the office while completing individually assigned community development and public policy related projects.
"We have a diverse group of interns this summer and several volunteers representing nearly a dozen schools, colleges, and universities. I am looking forward to a very active summer here at the Western Region office and the summer interns will be an integral part of what we hope to accomplish, from outreach to education," said Haig Hovsepian, ANC-WR IEP Coordinator. "While we expect this internship experience to provide them solid insight into Armenian American issues and the community, we hope that it is only the first step in their involvement in the ANC and the start of great friendships."
The 2009 Summer Session participants are Colette Ghazarian (Troy High School in Fullerton, CA), Hovsep Hajibekyan (UC Berkeley), Srbui Karapetian (UC Los Angeles), Razmig Khayalian (UC Irvine), Nare Kupelian (UC San Diego), Elizabeth McIntyre (CSU - Cal Poly - Pomona), and Lauren Shenian (Glendale Community College). Read more. . .

ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship Celebrates 25th Season
WASHINGTON, DC - The 25th annual Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Leo Sarkisian internship kicked off with a fast paced and remarkable start this week, as interns from across the United States gathered in Washington, DC, to participate in this intensive, eight-week training program.
"The Leo Sarkisian Internship program is an Armenian American advocacy boot camp - training the next generation of activists to effectively promote our collective Cause," said Leo Sarkisian Internship Director Garo Manjikian. "Their work will not only directly impact Washington DC Hai Tahd efforts but, more importantly, give them the skills to demonstrate grassroots leadership in their home towns."
Each of the interns participated in an intensive application process in their respective ANCA regions and look forward to this hands-on educational experience, dreaming of coming out from their local communities and making a difference on a national scale. The year's intern class consists of university students from coast-to-coast, including: Nareg Aghjayan, Sosse Beugekian, Hovanes Gasparian, Taleen Mekhdjavakian, Tatev Oganyan, Savada Simounian-Khygani and Tamar Thomassian.
Each of the interns are active members of Armenian American community life - from the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF), to the Armenian Student Association (ASA), ACYO, and of course their local ANCA chapters. Read more.


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Published by the Armenian National Committee of America1711 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036Tel: (202) 775-1918, Fax: (202) 775-5648, E-mail: anca@anca.org, Web: www.anca.org
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