The Fidelity Out of Sudan campaign


The Fidelity Out of Sudan campaign extends the targeted divestment movement to also include mutual funds. Other ongoing campaigns have focused on divestment at the state and university level.

Without realizing it, many families hold investments that indirectly contribute to the genocide in Darfur. When they learn the facts, they are typically outraged. The campaign educates the public and helps people object to these tainted investments that investment companies are making on their behalf. The campaign has resonated with the public because divesting from mutual funds and/or objecting to investment companies is a personal and direct action people can take to supplement their other advocacy and fund raising efforts for Darfur. For recent press coverage, visit www.FidelityOutOfSudan.com and select the link for Press.

The campaign’s goal is for Fidelity and other institutions to divest from two Chinese oil companies, PetroChina and Sinopec, which help to fund the genocide in Darfur. Visit www.FidelityOutOfSudan.com for a wealth of detail about the campaign, the problem companies, and actions to take. The campaign advocates that people, whether or not they hold Fidelity shares, take a range of actions including:
  • Sign the petition
  • Directly express your concerns to Fidelity
  • Move out of funds that invest in these Chinese oil companies
  • Move savings entirely out of Fidelity
  • Ask employers to move 401k plans away from Fidelity
  • Share information about the campaign and your actions with family and friends

Benefits of coordinated action


The Save Darfur Coalition’s Global Days for Darfur event in April provides an outstanding opportunity to unite the efforts of groups around the world to make a major impact on Fidelity. Focusing on Fidelity is a clear, focused, and fresh way to mobilize the public in support of the people of Darfur. It’s also an opportunity for decentralized but coordinated action by all the Coalition members on a common goal while retaining complete flexibility at the local level. Campaign staff members will support local efforts with start-up materials, help to coordinate local actions, and leverage all the local initiatives to maximize national press coverage.
 

Suggested local action


The Global Days for Darfur are April 23-30. We suggest the following schedule of activity:

April 23-28
  • Get all members of the local organization to each collect at least 10 signatures from family and friends. Note that multiple members of each household may individually sign and that there is no age limit or need to be a Fidelity investor
  • Publicize the Fidelity Out of Sudan campaign at all local Darfur events by handing out flyers, and collecting petitions. If possible, show the Fox TV video describing the campaign.
  • Identify one large employer in the area that uses Fidelity for its 401k. Use the 401k Action Plan suggestions, posted on the website, to organize employees to initiate employer engagement with Fidelity.
  • Collect petition signatures and hand out flyers outside local Fidelity offices
April 30-May 1

May 2-3

  • The Fidelity Out of Sudan team will create a consolidated package of petitions. This package will be distributed as a PDF file for local groups to print and then deliver to a local Fidelity office.
May 4
  • Local groups around the country deliver the thousands of petitions to their local Fidelity branch office, with the opportunity for local press coverage. Fidelity Out of Sudan will seek to arrange national coverage.

Registering to participate


Please tell us about your plans, by contacting us at Info@FidelityOutOfSudan.com or 617-517-6310. We will hold conference calls as necessary, communicate your suggestions and plans to other groups, provide materials to facilitate your efforts, and coordinate with you to receive the consolidated package. The first conference call will be on March 29th.

Video and other support materials


There are a variety of support materials available online by visiting www.FidelityOutOfSudan.com and selecting the link for Campaign Materials. These materials include several forms of flyers, the Fox TV video, a paper petition, and an action plan for companies with 401k plans administered by Fidelity or with Fidelity funds.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please let us know how we can help support your efforts!