Never forget that when we are silent, we are one. And when we speak we are two. Indira Gandi
John Lennon's dream of a wonderful world where all people live in peace may be getting closer every day. I well remember taking part in letter-writing campaigns for Amnesty International decades ago. Dictators get nervous when they realize the world is watching.
Today Avaaz.org is a 24-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. Growing by more than a million a month, Avaaz's influence on the global front is phenomenal.
If you have not heard of Avaaz, you have heard of some of the injustices they have successfully tackled. When a Bangladeshi garment factory collapsed, killing over a thousand, Avaaz joined forces with labour organisations and targeted retail giants H&M (Swedish cheap chic designer) and GAP to get them to sign an enforceable worker safety plan that could be a model for the world.
Avaaz made a path where there was no road when Sweden turned down their requests. After Avaaz turned up the heat in the media, H&M got on board and 75 other brands followed.
"Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages. Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; in 194 countries, and operate in 17 languages. Making your voice heard through Avaaz is as simple as signing on-line petitions, though financial support is welcomed as donations from members cover 100% of Avaaz's costs.
More recently Avaaz played a key role in Brazil creating the biggest on-line petition in Brazilian history. The Senate President targeted for corruption remains, but the secret voting process that allowed him to get into power is under review. The Senate has agreed to halve how many people need to sign popular initiative petitions, and they determined that online signatures can count!
Another target for Avaaz is ending the War on Women in the world. In India, a 23-year-old student was raped on a bus, then died from her injuries. In the Maldives, a 15 year-old girl was sentenced to flogging for having sex outside marriage. In Somalia, a young woman was gang-raped by the security forces that were supposed to protect her.
In each case Avaaz members have helped turn horror into hope, thanks to millions of our voices in the media. In the Maldives, our campaign got the top political leaders to say the girl would not be flogged, for now, while in India a big pink bus touting Avaaz's message was driven through the streets of Delhi.
Imagine all the people living life in peaceI hope some day you'll join usAnd the world will be as one
We are getting closer to A brotherhood of man described in Lennon's song, thanks to the possibilities created by the cyber world we inhabit.
Thanks to an Avaaz Email for much of the information used in this article.
