<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 12pt;
font-family:Calibri
}
--></style></head>
<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'><br>This communique from AVAAZ maybe overly optimistic, but they are right. Activisim does work, it is effective. There really is nothing else.<br>
<title>Avaaz.org - The World in Action</title>
<table width="600">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<font face="Helvetica">
<br><br>
"Lately, we're not just winning, we're winning BIG.
<br><br>
These are not small time victories, but the biggest stuff, the save the world stuff - <b>on climate change, Monsanto, our oceans, the internet, democracy, and more!</b> There's a lot that's depressing in the world today, but scroll down and see what our future could look like if we just stick together...
<br><br>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<br>
<font size="4"><b>After the March -- Real Progress on Climate Change!! From Europe, the US, and China!</b></font>
<br><br>
<table width="220" align="right" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 10px;" cellpadding="5">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<img width="220" align="right" alt="Progress on climate change" src="https://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/paris_220x200.jpg">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<i><font size="1">One of our 2,600 climate marches! </font></i>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
We desperately needed Europe to kick off a global round of ambitious climate commitments at a recent summit in Brussels, so I felt deflated when I was told by insiders there was "no way" the EU would stand up to big oil and coal to cut carbon emissions by "at least" 40% by 2030. But we didn't back down, and they did it!
<br><br>
<b>Here's how we got from "no way" to a <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/eu_2030_climate_sam/" target="_blank">big win</a>:</b>
<br>
<ul>
<li>Drove the <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/climate_march_reportback/" target="_blank">largest climate mobilisation in history</a> with <b> 675,000 people in the streets in 162 countries!</b></li>
<li>Got the UN Secretary General, <b>18 cabinet ministers</b>, and countless politicians to join the march.</li>
<li>Delivered a <b><a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/100_clean_final/" target="_blank">2.2 million strong petition</a></b> calling for 100% clean energy to world leaders including French President Hollande.</li>
<li>Held <b>advocacy meetings</b> with the climate and energy ministers of France, Germany, Brazil and the UK.</li>
<li>Lobbied Poland, a key blocker on climate action, with an <b><a href="http://polska.newsweek.pl/ewa-kopacz-jako-transformer-kampania-avaaz-newsweek-pl%2cartykuly%2c350382%2c1.html" target="_blank">ad campaign</a></b> that got news coverage throughout Poland <b>and phone calls</b> from Polish Avaazers.</li>
<li>Commissioned <b>opinion polls</b> in Germany, France, Poland and the UK right before the decision.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<table width="220" align="right" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 10px;" cellpadding="5">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<img width="220" align="right" alt="The climate march was a game changer" src="https://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/Melbourne_WorthSaving.jpg">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<i><font size="1">30,000 marchers in Melbourne!</font></i>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>The climate march was a game changer</b>, cited by president after president in their UN summit speeches. While hundreds of organisations contributed to the march and the win in Europe, our role was crucial. The <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29301969" target="_blank">BBC</a> said: <i>"The marches brought more people on to the streets than ever before, partly thanks to the organizational power of the e-campaign group Avaaz."</i> And Germany's Environment minister said: <i>"I would like to thank the millions of people who have joined Avaaz...Without public support it will be impossible to stop climate change."</i>
<br><br>
US President Obama also responded to the climate march, saying: <i>"Our citizens keep marching. We cannot pretend we do not hear them."</i> Following the momentum building win in Europe, Obama met with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week - Obama promised reasonable-sized cuts in emissions, and China promised cuts as well, for the first time ever! <b>The momentum we desperately needed has begun...</b>
<br><br>
After big oil and coal, what's the next worst soulless corporate lobby? Yep, Monsanto. And that's the next big victory that our community has helped win.
<br><br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<br>
<font size="4"><b>Monsanto's mega-plant blocked!!</b></font>
<br><br>
<table width="220" align="right" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 10px;" cellpadding="5">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<img width="220" align="right" alt="Monsanto's mega-plant killed!" src="https://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/RB333_220x200.jpg">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<i><font size="1">Protesting Monsanto's seed factory.</font></i>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
When Monsanto tried to extend its grip over the global food chain with a massive new seed factory in Argentina, Avaaz members stood side by side with a local movement and <b> stopped Latin America's largest GM seed plant from being built this year.</b>
<br><br>
Monsanto is a $60 billion mega-corporation that plays dirty. Here's how we helped stop them:
<br>
<ul>
<li>Launched a <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/stop_monsanto_in_argentina_global_/" target="_blank">1 million strong petition</a> and flooded the inboxes of decision makers with thousands of messages.</li>
<li>Worked with <b>top lawyers</b> on a briefing that showed Monsanto's Environmental Assessment was illegal, making <a href="http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3-255610-2014-09-19.html" target="_blank">a splash in the media.</a></li>
<li>Released a poll showing that 2/3rds of town residents opposed the plant.</li>
<li><b>Supported local residents to build their power</b> and a winning strategy.</li>
</ul>
Local grassroots leader Celina Molina said: <i>"After more than a million Avaaz members stood with the people of Malvinas Argentinas, we won an important battle in the fight against Monsanto! From gaining access to documents previously denied to us by the authorities to running a game changing opinion poll, Avaaz was important for preventing the largest transgenic seed plant from being built in our backyard."</i>
<br><br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<br>
<font size="4"><b>Plus Big Wins on Saving our Oceans, the Internet, and Democracy</b></font>
<br><br>
<table width="220" align="right" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 10px;" cellpadding="5">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<img width="220" align="right" alt="Big Wins on Saving our Oceans" src="https://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/RB4_220x200.jpg">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
</tr>
<tr>
</tr>
<tr>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<img width="220" align="right" alt="Open Vote in Brazil" src="https://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/RB5_220x200.jpg">
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<i><font size="1">'Nothing to hide!' protest, Brasilia.</font></i>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Thanks to several thousand Avaazers who donate monthly to <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/donate_rb2014/" target="_blank">sustain</a> our small team, we can work on several issues at once. Here are some other big wins in recent weeks:
<br><br>
<b>The Largest Marine Sanctuary in the World Created!</b> - To support this critical reserve, over <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/ocean_of_hope_loc/" target="_blank">1 million</a> of us called on the US government, we commissioned an opinion poll in Hawaii, and more. And in the end, President Obama stood up to the big fishing lobbies and protected an area of the Pacific almost the size of South Africa!
<br><br>
<b>Internet Neutrality Protected in Europe and the US!</b> - <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/internet_apocalypse_loc/" target="_blank">1.1 million</a> of us lobbied the EU parliament to protect the free and open internet with strong rules on net neutrality. And against all the efforts of the big telecoms companies, we helped get the win! In the US, Obama just followed suit and took a strong position to protect net neutrality that "stunned" the telecoms companies.
<br><br>
<b>Brazilian Congress Ends Secret Voting!</b> - After several months of steady campaigning with call-ins, activist stunts, media attention and more, Avaazers in Brazil (now 7 million strong!) pressed the Congress to almost completely end the shady practice of "secret voting." It's a <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/po/brazil_open_vote_sept/" target="_blank">huge victory</a> for one of the world's largest democracies.
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td valign="top">
<font size="4"><b>And More on the Way....</b></font>
<br><br>
These are the battles won, but they take months or years. Dozens of others are in the works. Here's some progress updates:
<br>
<table width="220" align="right" style="padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 10px;" cellpadding="5">
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<br> <img width="220" align="right" alt="And more on the way... " src="https://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/RB_ABP_220x200.jpg">
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>
<i><font size="1">ABP: divest from the occupation.</font></i>
</td>
<tr>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><b>Ebola Volunteers</b> - <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/ebola_volunteers_thank_you_3/" target="_blank">Over 2,500</a> skilled Avaazers have applied to volunteer to risk their lives to go to West Africa to help stop this deadly disease in its tracks. A stunning example of courage and humanity. Many have been processed by our partner organisations and are beginning to travel to the front lines of the crisis. </li>
<li><b>Ebola fundraiser</b> - Our community has <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/ebola_fr_donate/" target="_blank">raised over $2.2 million</a> for relief organizations at the front lines!</li>
<li><b>Save the Bees</b> - We delivered our <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_the_bees_us_pet_loc/" target="_blank">3.4 million strong petition</a> to a US government commission studying whether to ban the pesticides that are killing the bees.</li>
<li><b>Palestine</b> - After the horror in Gaza earlier this year, we're pulling out all the stops to get some of the world's largest pension funds and corporations to <a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/en/israel_palestine_this_is_how_it_ends_pa/" target="_blank">divest</a> from businesses that support the Israeli military occupation and illegal colonization of Palestine. We're getting close to winning, which could be a game changer for the conflict, and hopes for peace...</li>
<li>and much, much more...</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
I just came from a meeting of the Avaaz team, and some of us cried (ahem, maybe including me) at what a pure joy it is to serve our mission and this community, and just how much potential, together, we have to make a difference in the world.
<br><br>
The climate march and the Ebola volunteers campaign, as well as everyone donating, are examples of how Avaazers are stepping up to an even greater level of commitment to this vessel we share. And with each step we take, our power grows.
<br><br>
There's a lot of fear and greed and ignorance in our world, but we are steadily bringing love and hope and smart, effective strategies to make a difference. And in every way, we're just at the tip of the iceberg of what's possible. Let's keep building this vessel, and investing our time and hope more deeply in it, because something like this is precious, and the world needs us more than ever.
<br><br><br>
With love and huge appreciation for this movement,<br><br>
Ricken, with Nell, Pascal, Marie, Laila, Andrea and the whole Avaaz team."<br><br>
</font>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<img src="http://open.avaaz.org/act/open/6213996690.gif" border="0"><font color="#3f3f3f" size="-2">
<b><br>Avaaz.org is a 40-million-person global campaign network</b> that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/highlights.php/?footer" target="_blank">here</a>, or follow us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Avaaz" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/Avaaz" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br></font><font color="#696969" size="-2"><br>You are getting this message because you signed "<a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_flotilla_3" target="_blank">Gaza: investigate the raid, end the blockade</a>" on 2010-06-01 using the email address karenaram@hotmail.com.<br>
To ensure that Avaaz messages reach your inbox, please add avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book. To change your email address, language settings, or other personal information, <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact/?footer" target="_blank">contact us</a>, or simply <b><a href="https://secure.avaaz.org/act/?r=unsub&cl=6213996690&email=karenaram%40hotmail.com&v=48938&lang=en" target="_blank">go here to unsubscribe</a></b>.</font><br><br><font color="#696969" size="-2">To contact Avaaz, please <b>do not reply to this email.</b> Instead, write to us at <a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact?footer" target="_blank">www.avaaz.org/en/contact</a> or call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US).</font><BR> </div></body>
</html>