Simon Wiesenthal Center Petitions McCain and Obama to Make Energy Independence #1 National Security Priority

Center Urges Bipartisan Energy Security Plan

New York, NY (August 26, 2008)- The Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organization, announced today the launch of their Energy Independence Appeal, animportant new effort to stop the unprecedented drain of our nation’s wealth into the hands of those who disdain our freedoms and plot our downfall. The Center has already sentletters to its 400,000 members asking them to sign a petition that they agree there is no greater threat to the future of our democracy than America’s dependence on foreign oil fromregimes and despots who seek to destroy us. Additionally, an e-blast sent today will reach another 350,000 online activists urging them and all Americans to sign the SWCUrgent-Action Petitions which will be presented by Wiesenthal Center officials to Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

The Urgent-Action Petition is available on the Wiesenthal Center’s website: www.wiesenthal.com.

“It is absolutely imperative that we stop allowing ourselves to be held hostage by oil despots who use our own funds to threaten our precious freedoms,” said Rabbi Marvin Hier,Founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “Reducing our dependence on foreign oil must become America’s #1 national security priority.”

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is urging that the next President and Congress to break the gridlock in Washington and work across party lines to rapidly implement a bipartisan EnergySecurity plan.

“Our political leaders must take steps to secure our energy future by exploring all energy alternatives, including biofuels, sustainable energy sources like wind and solar power,alternative vehicles such as plug-in hybrids, conservation, as well as domestic oil production,” Rabbi Hier added.

Regimes in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela are wielding their vast oil deposits as a powerful weapon, using oil revenues they collect from the United States to fund terroristgroups like Hezbollah, Hamas and FARQ, as well as extremist clerics and schools that promote the culture of death. “We are all well aware of the environmental costs of ourdependence on oil,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean of the Wiesenthal Center. “But the global security and human rights crisis precipitated by this unprecedentedhemorrhage of our national wealth into the hands of our enemies must also spur us to action.”

The Wiesenthal Center’s new grassroots initiative seeks to promote real change that will help reduce our dependence on oil from those regimes that support terrorism. The Centerwill…

— Mobilize tens of thousands of citizens of all political perspectives to sign our Urgent-Action Petitions, which we will present to Senators McCain and Obama seeking theircommitment to implement a comprehensive plan -- including energy alternatives -- that will help free America from the threat of oil-rich despots.

— Launch a National Day for Energy Security in 2009 to rally citizens from across the political spectrum to call and email the White House, congressional and local leaders who canmake a difference in this critical fight.

— Meet with top administration, congressional and state leaders to present our energy security position paper urging them to make an effective energy policy priority #1.

— Present our special Energy Alternative Menorah for energy independence to governors and mayors in all 50 states this Chanukah. This Menorah is a vivid and powerful reminder thateach and every one of us has an important role to play in achieving energy independence.

About the Simon Wiesenthal Center
The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust by fostering tolerance and understanding throughcommunity involvement, educational outreach and social action. The Center confronts important contemporary issues including racism, anti-Semitism, terrorism and genocide. The Centeris accredited as a non-governmental organization both at the United Nations and UNESCO. With a membership of over 450,000 families, the Center is headquartered in Los Angeles andmaintains offices in New York, Toronto, Miami, Jerusalem, Paris and Buenos Aires.