Avaaz is a global web movement to bring people-powered politics to decision-making everywhere.
from Avaaz.org
It’s unbelievable, but Monsanto and Company are at it again. These profit-hungry biotech companies have found a way to gain exclusive control over the seeds of life — the source of our food. They’re trying to patent away varieties of our everyday vegetables and fruits like cucumber, broccoli and melons, virtually forcing growers to pay them for seed and risk being sued if they don’t.
from Avaaz.org
Right now at a UN meeting in Dubai, authoritarian regimes are pushing for full governmental control of the Internet in a binding global treaty — if they succeed, the internet could become less open, more costly and much slower. We have only 2 days to stop them.
The Internet has been an amazing example of people power — allowing us to connect, speak out and pressure leaders like never before. That's largely because it's been governed to date by users and non-profits and not governments.
But now countries like Russia, China and United Arab Emirates are trying to rewrite a major telecom treaty called the ITR to bring the Internet under its control — the web would then be shaped by government interests and not by us, the users.
Tim Berners Lee, one of the "fathers of the Internet," has warned that this could increase censorship online and invade our privacy. But if we object with a massive people-powered petition, we can strengthen the hand of countries fighting this power grab.
We have stopped attacks like this before and can do it again before the treaty text is locked this week. A wave of opposition to a new ITR is already building. Sign the petition to tell governments hands off our Internet! Then share this campaign with everyone you know. When we hit 1 million signers, the petition will be delivered straight to the delegates at this cozy meeting.
To the ITU and all nations meeting at the World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT) in Dubai:
As citizens of the world and Internet users, we call on you to reject any changes to current Internet regulations that would weaken or alter the free and open nature of the Internet, or give any government or body the ability to infringe on Internet users’ rights to free speech, free access to information or privacy. We also demand that any proposed changes to current international Internet regulations be publicly debated, and subject to citizen input and approval.
from Avaaz.org
In days, Nigeria's Parliament could approve a $5 billion fine against giant oil polluter Shell for a spill that devastated the lives of millions of people, and pass a law to hold all oil companies to account for polluting and plundering. This is a watershed moment, but unless we all speak out, oil giants will crush it.
Finally, Big Oil is having to pay for the wasteland and violence that they’ve created. President Jonathan supports the Shell fine, and progressive Senators are pushing for strong regulations, but oil companies are slick, and without huge international support MPs could buckle under the pressure.
Politicians are deciding their positions right now — sign the urgent petition for the Nigerian Parliament to fine Shell and support the bill, and then forward this page to everyone — when we hit a million signers we'll bring our unprecedented global call to the steps of Nigeria's Parliament.
Here is the letter:
To all Members of the Nigerian National Assembly:
As global citizens, we urge you to enforce the $5 billion fine against Shell to compensate the people affected by the 2011 Bonga oil spill. We call on you to end oil impunity by endorsing the NOSDRA Amendment Bill that holds polluters accountable with clear penalties, and support a Petroleum Industry Bill with strong transparency, accountability and environmental provisions to reform Nigeria’s oil sector.
Sign this letter on the Avaaz.org website.
from Avaaz.org
Ecocide is the extensive destruction of ecosystems and environments which has severe consequences for people as well as the environment.
To world leaders:
“As concerned citizens of a fragile planet, we call on you to back an international law of Ecocide. We call on you to make ecocide the 5th International Crime Against Peace. Life on Earth as it is now cannot survive if we continue to treat our environment as we are currently doing. We need to back strong measures to make ecocide a crime, to protect humanity and the Earth.”
As it currently stands there is no international law against ecocide. Making ecocide the 5th International Crime Against Peace will protect our environment and make those who destroy it criminally liable. We urgently need laws that put people and planet above profit.
We can make our leaders listen to our demands for change. Let’s show them that ecocide is a grave crime and that this must be put into international law. Sign this petition and share it with your friends!
Find out more about ecocide at www.eradicatingecocide.com
Lawyer and author Polly Higgins explains why Ecocide be made the fifth Crime Against Peace.
from Avaaz.org
Background:
On September 7, 2012 the Harper government's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced that it was closing Iran's embassy in Canada and expelling Iran's diplomats. The Harper government claimed, without providing evidence, that Iran was a state sponsor of terrorism. According to Minister Baird "Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today." In reality global peace and security are never improved by hostility or by a limiting of communication between factions in a dispute.
from Avaaz.org
My name is Nasser Nawajah, I'm 30 years old and a resident of a Palestinian village called Susiya in the occupied West Bank. My home is here in the Hebron hills that Israel calls an "illegal outpost" and they have demolished our town five times since 1985, even poisoning our wells. I'm writing to ask for your help to stopping the next demolition of my village in just days.
By David Sassoon, InsideClimate News
Over the last decade, Charles and David Koch have emerged into public view as billionaire philanthropists pushing a libertarian brand of political activism that presses a large footprint on energy and climate issues. They have created and supported non-profit organizations, think tanks and political groups that work to undermine climate science, environmental regulation and clean energy. They are also top donors to politicians, most of them Republicans, who support the oil industry and deny any human role in global warming.
