TOP and JCRC event with David Ibsen: "Isolating Iran: The fight to disable and disarm the nuclear threat"

The topic of anti-terror activities is particularly of interest to the Tampa Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation (TOP), as it launched a unique anti-terror investment policy in close concert with the State of Florida and the work of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) in 2012. Wednesday, March 6, the TOP cosponsored an event with the Jewish Community Relations Council. The evening's speaker was David Ibsen of UANI. A not-for-profit, non-partisan, advocacy group that seeks to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to obtain nuclear weapons, UANI was founded in 2008 by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, the late Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, former CIA Director Jim Woolsey and Middle East expert Dennis Ross. UANI's private sanctions campaigns and state and federal legislative initiatives focus on ending the economic and financial support of the Iranian regime by corporations at a time when the international community is attempting to compel Iran to abandon its illegal nuclear weapons program, support for terrorism and gross human rights violations.

UANI has spearheaded a number of formalized and grassroots efforts across the nation to raise awareness and communicate that a nuclear Iran is not acceptable. Grassroots efforts have included auto campaign and hotel protests, corporate marches, crane campaigns, and many others. UANI also developed and maintains an "Iran Business Registry," which individuals and corporations can use as a source of reference to learn about international business in or with Iran. With the goal of increasing economic isolation of the Iranian regime, anyone can use the registry for peaceful activism, and from the information found within can increase product awareness, divest, contact businesses and elected officials, and learn more about the Iran Business Certification Act.

Since many of the attendees had just returned from the AIPAC policy conference, there was a lively question and answer session. Ibsen spoke about the role that state legislation like the Protecting Florida's Investment Act play on the fight against funding terror. He encouraged everyone to continue to raise their concerns to state legislators, siting the tremendous progress that can be made through these channels.

To learn more about JFGO's impact locally through the Jewish Community Relations Council please visit, http://www.jfgo.org.