The International Criminal Court indicted Sudan's President Omar Al Bashir for genocide.

Check our ad campaign to support ICC initiative:

The ad below ran, full-page black and white, in today's Financial Times newspaper (9 July, 2008). Click here to download a print-ready PDF file.

This ad ran in glorious full-page colour in all editions of today's Financial Times -- sponsored and endorsed by Avaaz members in 166 countries. (Click here for a print-ready huge PDF.)

Here are some links to learn more about the Bali and Australia stories:

BALI

...and the Asahi Shimbun article about its impact:

AUSTRALIA

...and also have a look at GetUp's "Be Climate Clever-Er" ad, broadcast in a huge nationwide push:

...all of which sets the stage for the new Avaaz "Hello Kiddies" ad!

This ad ran, full-page in black and white, in all editions of the Financial Times today (Monday, July 7, 2008). A print-ready, 3.8MB PDF file can be accessed at this link. The press release is online here.

More ads will follow on Tuesday and Wednesday.

In an an attempt to cow and intimidate people into voting, Zimbabwe's statesecurity agents had launched "Operation Red Finger" to identify if peoplehad voted by checking if they had indelible ink-stains on their finger.Those who had not voted could be beaten and forced to do so. (Chaz Maviyane-Davies, Photographer/Artist)

To: President Kikwete, Chairperson of the African Union
To: President Yar'Adua, Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council, AU
To: President Mwanawasa, Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community
To: Dr Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission
To: Members of the UN Security Council

Your Excellencies,

As you know, Zimbabwe is in the throes of a devastating political, economic, and humanitarian crisis. A presidential run-off election was scheduled for June 27th but the widespread political violence inflicted on the population has overshadowed the poll to the point where the opposition feels it cannot participate. Indeed President Mugabe insists he would remain in office regardless of the results, mocking the courage of those voters still willing to go to the polls. Meanwhile men, women and children are daily bludgeoned, medical care is scarce, homesteads burned, food is exhausted and the thousands displaced are on the move. The depth of the crisis has moved the governments of Tanzania, Angola, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Botswana to express their concern and to criticise the government of President Robert Mugabe.

African leadership is desperately needed at this time; we urge you to launch an urgent program of action to accomplish the following goals:

- Cessation of the violence and repression through deployment of a protection force and monitors, and containment of perpetrators;

- Restoration of aid flows and urgent increase of humanitarian assistance;

- Convening of a process to secure a political solution establishing effective governance, restoration of the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, along with necessary steps to allow economic recovery and a rapid return to democratic rule.

- Prevention of any further destabilizing spillover into the wider region.

THE DEPTH OF THE CRISIS

ZANU-PF responded to President Mugabe's loss in the first round of elections on March 29, 2008, with violent retaliation against the population, characterized by brutal beatings, burning of homes and villages, harassment, arrests, and torture. The violence is largely one-sided, perpetrated by agents of the government and ruling party and the impact has been devastating; indeed, what Zimbabwe is now experiencing is more akin to conflict, than an election. In such conditions, while we salute the determination of the voters to be heard, any election result must lack credibility.

The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights states that it has documented so many cases of systematic violent assault and torture that at times its members have been overwhelmed by the numbers. In May alone ZADHR members saw 1007 patients suffering from extensive injuries sustained during these violent attacks. A hospital in Harare says it has seen almost 2000 victims of violence and torture since the first round poll. The opposition MDC states that at least 70 of its supporters have now been killed and 25,000 forced from their homes as a result of the state's campaign of violence.

A CONFLICT SITUATION

As observed by President Kagame of Rwanda, there is no reason to hold a vote if you do not intend to abide by the outcome. Yet President Mugabe declared that he would refuse to cede power, regardless of the result. He thereby confirms that an election cannot resolve Zimbabwe's crisis. President Mugabe even threatened more violence, warning of "war" if the vote goes against him. Continental leaders and regional neighbours can have no clearer indication of the threat to regional peace and security and the impending and increased danger to civilians, a threat that is even greater if the election is not completed. We call on you to find solutions for Zimbabwe that go beyond merely salvaging the election.

NEIGHBOURS AT RISK

Regional governments bear a significant burden as a result of the economic and political crisis. Approximately 25% of the people of Zimbabwe have left. Millions of them are now in neighbouring countries and their needs impose a strain on already stretched domestic social services and intensify tensions between the host population and immigrant communities. This flow of people across borders contributes to active instability and conflict in the region as evidenced by the recent xenophobic attacks against immigrant populations in South Africa. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has recognized the threat that the situation in Zimbabwe poses to peace and security in its region by mandating President Thabo Mbeki's efforts to mediate a resolution to the crisis between the ruling party and the opposition. It is time to make resolution of Zimbabwe's problems a priority for the continent.

AFRICA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ZIMBABWE'S CITIZENS

Although SADC must be commended for its attempts so far to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe, its effort has not been repaid. The ruling party is effectively refusing to subject itself to a democratic contest, and waging a violent conflict against its citizens, aggravating a humanitarian crisis. As such it has lost legitimacy, triggering a necessary shift in Africa's stance. Under the Constitutive Act of the African Union, member states are enjoined to "promote and protect human and peoples' rights in accordance with the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights" and the African Union has an obligation "to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity." There is extensive documentation in Zimbabwe today of torture and killing of named individuals by agents of the ruling party and government who have been described and/or identified. African Union engagement, particularly by the Peace and Security Council, is fully mandated by conditions on the ground and is urgently needed.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

To SADC: Convene an emergency summit to:- Recognize the failure of the Government of Zimbabwe towards its citizens and the need for an urgent regional, continental, and international response;

- Request the AU to assume leadership of a mediation process with support from SADC and the UN;

- Authorize and initiate a discussion with international partners about funding humanitarian needs and a recovery plan for Zimbabwe.

To the AU Peace and Security Council: Convene an emergency session to:

- Establish the responsibility of Zimbabwe's authorities for the situation, confirm AU responsibility to protect civilians and prevent further destabilization of the region;

- Authorize deployment of a protection force and additional monitors;

- Plan discussions with the United Nations about support, resourcing and deployment of a protection force;

- Send a fact-finding mission to determine the level of responsibility of the different branches of the State in the current human rights violations and humanitarian crisis.

To the AU Commission:

- Include, as an urgent matter, the current situation of Zimbabwe in the agenda of the Sharm El Sheikh Summit and ask the Assembly for a mandate to intervene in the crisis and protect citizens;

- Appoint a Special Envoy on Zimbabwe;

- Authorise him/her to initiate dialogue with key players and the international community with the objective of establishing a mediation process aimed at achieving a political settlement and associated plan of work for achieving long lasting peace and timetable for return to democracy.

The UN Security Council:

- Urgently adopt the crisis in Zimbabwe as an official item on the UNSC agenda recognizing the threat it poses to international peace and security and requiring regular political and humanitarian briefings to the Council;

- Issue a clear statement indicating GoZ responsibility for the current violence, deploring the tactics used against the population by the GoZ and demanding the facilitation of adequate humanitarian assistance;- Provide support for an AU-led mediation effort and protection force.

Respectfully,

1. Action des Chrétiens Activistes des Droits de l'Homme à Shabunda (ACADHOSHA), DRC
2. Aids Law Project, South Africa
3. Botswana Civil Society Solidarity Coalition on Zimbabwe (BOCISCOZ), Botswana
4. Centre for Excellent on Aid Effectiveness, Ghana
5. Centre for Peace and Conflict Management (CAFSO), Nigeria
6. Coalition for Peace In Africa (COPA), Southern Africa
7. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, Zimbabwe
8. East African Law Society (EALS), East Africa
9. Economic Justice Network of FOCCISA, Southern Africa
10. Environnement, Ressources Naturelles et Développement (ERND), DRC
11. Foster National Cohesion (FONACON), Kenya
12. Global Zimbabwean Forum, Switzerland
13. Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF), South Africa
14. Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA), South Africa
15. Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Kenya
16. le Centre de Recherche sur l'Environnement, la Démocratie et les Droits de l'Homme (CREDDHO), DRCFor full list of signatories, please follow this link:
17. Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), Namibia
18. Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ), Zimbabwe
19. MISA, Swaziland
20. Muslim Human Rights Forum (MHRF), Kenya
21. National Association of Democractic Lawyers, South Africa
22. Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria
23. Open Democracy Advice Centre, South Africa
24. Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF), South Africa
25. Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), Southern Africa
26. Positive Life Association of Nigeria (PLAN), Nigeria
27. Protection Enfants Sida, DRC
28. Public Personalities Against AIDS Trust, Zimbabwe
29. Rencontre Africain pour Defence des Droits des L'Hommes (RADDHO), Senegal
30. SANGONeT, South Africa
31. Southern Africa Communications for Development (SACOD), South Africa
32. Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC), Southern Africa
33. Southern Africa Resource Watch (SARW), Southern Africa
34. Southern African Legal Assistance Network (SALAN), Southern Africa
35. The Botswana Centre for Human Rights - Ditswanelo ¸ Botswana
36. Treatment Action Movement (TAM), Nigeria
37. Trust Africa, Senegal
38. West Africa Bar Association, West Africa
39. West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), West Africa
40. Youth Intercommunity Network, Kenya
41. Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, Zimbabwe
42. Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, Zimbabwe
43. Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, South Africa/Zimbabwe
44. Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, Zimbabwe
45. Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Zimbabwe
46. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR), Zimbabwe
47. Zimbabwe Liberation Veterans Forum ¸ Zimbabwe
48. Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), Zimbabwe
49. Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF), South Africa
50. Zimbabwe Women's Resource Center Network, Zimbabwe
51. The African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Kenya

*** Sent by Avaaz supporter and volunteer Duncan Maru ***

Climate change will certainly be one of the top agenda items at the G8 summit during the first week of July, but the real question is whether the G8 leaders will actually take decisive action to stop global warming. Leaders from each of the G8 countries have frittered away most of the momentum gained in 2007 and continue to avoid the pressing need to make binding, national targets to decrease carbon emissions. All the important innovations and ideas aimed at reducing global warming--from wind energy to fuel efficiency to changes in consumer behavior --can not be effective unless countries make the firm, immediate, political commitment to reduce carbon emissions. This meeting, a prelude to the broader G8 summit next month, marks a critical juncture at which the world's most powerful-- and polluting-- countries can start to take leadership on the issue.

Host country Japan plays a particularly central role here, and there is some reason for optimism. A recent Pew global attitudes poll showed that the 66% of Japanese citizens are concerned "a great deal" about global warming--the highest total among the countries surveyed (the same figure was 19% in the United States and 26% in Britain) [1]. Within the government, the Environment Ministry supports mandatory, national caps on carbon emissions. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, however, opposes these critical policy changes [2]. Japan's Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, is the key to shaping his administration's ultimate stance on it, and it looks presently as if he is leaning the wrong way -- on the side of the Trade Ministry [3]. Avaaz members need to show Mr. Fukuda that the global community supports the Japanese public and his colleagues in the Environment Ministry in trying to achieve aggressive policy action in Japan.

Why is this important? Most Avaaz members are well aware of the pressing need for action on climate change, but let's briefly recap. To avoid a greater than 2 degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures over pre-industrial levels, the scientific consensus is that greenhouse gases must be limited to 450 parts per million carbon dioxide over the next century [4]-- though some argue that even this figure may be too high and it should be as low as 350 ppm [5]. To achieve this and avoid environmental catastrophe, action must be taken swiftly [6,7]. Countries would need to reach a 60-80% reduction in carbon emissions over 1990 levels by 2050 [4]. An important graphic from the journal Science, showing clearly that if we continue to fail to act (blue line), the rate of carbon emissions we will need to achieve the desired greenhouse gas level may be out of reach [4]:

References

1. Pew Global Attitudes Project. "America's Image Slips, But Allies Share U.S. Concerns Over Iran, Hamas. No Global Warming Alarm in the U.S., China." http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=252.

2. "Voluntary, then mandatory path for CO2 scheme-Japan." Reuters, October 5, 2007. http://uk.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUKT14136220071005.

3. Arita, Eriko. "Are Japan's leaders merely readers on climate change?." Japan Times, March 20, 2008. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fe20080320a1.html.

4. Doniger, David D., Antonia V. Herzog, and Daniel A. Lashof. "CLIMATE CHANGE: An Ambitious, Centrist Approach to Global Warming Legislation." Science 314, no. 5800 (November 3, 2006): 764-765. doi:10.1126/science.1131558. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/314/5800/764.

5. Hansen, J., M. Sato, P. Kharecha, D. Beerling, V. Masson-Delmotte, M. Pagani, et al. "Target atmospheric CO2: Where should humanity aim?." 0804.1126 (April 7, 2008). http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.1126.

6. O'Neill, Brian C., and Michael Oppenheimer. "CLIMATE CHANGE: Dangerous Climate Impacts and the Kyoto Protocol." Science 296, no. 5575 (June 14, 2002): 1971-1972. doi:10.1126/science.1071238. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/296/5575/1971?ijkey=jVqsttm/anqYc&keytype=ref&siteid=sci.

7. Wigley, T. M. L. "The Climate Change Commitment." Science 307, no. 5716 (March 18, 2005): 1766-1769. doi:10.1126/science.1103934. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/307/5716/1766.

8. "The Bali Roadmap: main points." http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22932645-2,00.html.

9. Griscom, Amanda. "Involuntarism: Study finds mandatory caps work better than voluntary programs to limit pollution." Grist.org, April 21, 2008. http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2004/04/21/griscom-emissions/.

10. Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies, Natural Resources Defense Council, Public Service Enterprise Group. "Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Generation Owners in the U.S.." http://www.ceres.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=595&srcid=592.

11. Rivers, Nic, and Mark Jaccard. " Canada's efforts towards greenhouse gas emission reduction: a case study on the limits of voluntary action and subsidies." International Journal of Global Energy Issues 23, no. 4: 307-23.

12. Chris Fujioka, "Japan puts off interim C02 goal," Reuters, June 9, 2009, http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUST31826220080609?sp=true.

Students are being targeted by Mugabe's police, read below:

"On Monday this week, the offices of the Student Christian Movement of Zimbabwe were raided at 1pm by heavily armed members of the police, as well as central intelligence and military personnel.

During the raid, the police ransacked the offices, confiscating computers, laptops, digital cameras, and a mini bus. Prosper Munatsi, the Movement's General Secretary, as well as other members were arrested in the raid and they were released four days later but had to report to the police every day. In the process they spent the whole day of Thursday 12th of June and Friday 13th of June at the police station where they had to report. We believe they were arrested and continuously harrased for educating Christian students and youth about their rights and responsibilities in the face of a second round of presidential elections.

Please tell Mugabe's government to stop harrasing the Christian students, allow them to work and carry out their activities."

Send a message to Zim officials to STOP the harassment, click below:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/zim_rights_alert_2/

Check out this message from our Zimbabwean partners:

"Jenni Williams and 13 other members of Women Of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), a citizen group, were arrested and detained by armed riot police on 25 May for peacefully marching for regional support in ending violence in Zimbabwe. This week 12 of the activists were granted bail, but Jennie Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu were denied -- because the state said they were likely to mobilise people to demonstrate on the streets. Please tell Mugabe's government that you are watching and demanding justice for these women!"

Click here to send a message to free the WOZA women:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/zim_rights_alert/