8/24/2022

My Dear Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            Welcome back from vacation – I hope you feel rested & ready for the midterms.

            Thanks for your attention to the student debt problem even though it’s politically tricky. I believe the source of the problem is financial illiteracy which is a failure of our K-12 educational system. Most citizens don’t understand compound interest & they rely on others to do the math for them. Too many loaners took advantage of the ignorance of 18-year-olds so I am in favor of giving folks some college debt relief but I also agree with CO Sen. who said, “the bigger question is “how to create a pathway to economic security for every American.”

            Tomorrow will mark the 5th year since the junta launched its genocide against the Rohingya. Many pundits say the junta was emboldened in 2017 when they saw the world turn a blind eye on their atrocious activities. I hope you will take the opportunity to say something tomorrow about your plans to help the Rohingya & all citizens of Burma get free from oppression by their own military.

            Here are a few things Human Rights Watch suggests that we do:

1)    The US, UK, EU, and other governments should together strengthen international sanctions to cut off the Myanmar military from the revenue funding its abusive operations, including in Rakhine State. Governments should target the junta’s gas revenues, its largest source of foreign income, totaling about $1 billion in annual profits. 

2)    Explore every avenue for justice and accountability for the Myanmar military’s atrocity crimes, including by formally supporting the case under the Genocide Convention brought by Gambia against Myanmar before the International Court of Justice

3)    Encourage the UN Security Council to end its inaction borne of anticipated vetoes by China and Russia and urgently negotiate a resolution to institute a global arms embargo on Myanmar

4)    Help the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

BYBS,