Dear friends,

Tibetans fighting the Chinese government's blackout are cut off from the rest of the world. Donate now, and help Tibetans beat the black-out.

As we mark 50 years since the Dalai Lama escaped to India, a dark curtain is being pulled across Tibet -- foreign media detained and expelled, armed troops patrolling the streets, citizens imprisoned for political purposes. And yet many of these violations will not reach the outside world because communications have been cut off.

Without our immediate support, those who are cutting vital holes in the censorship curtain won't be able to alert the global media or other Tibetans to disappearances and the denial of human rights. Open communication is the best insurance to prevent future infringements from taking place.

Donate today, and help ensure that the flow of information so critical to the Tibetan people isn't shut off completely:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibet_stop_the_blackout

A modest donation can have a major impact:

• For $90 we can fund transmission of an entire hour of the Voices of Tibet radio network, which provides unbiased news across the Tibetan plateau
• $25 each from just 100 of us will support a new technology program that allows Tibetans to avoid censorship and safely communicate their plight with the world and each other
• For $100 from 100 of us, we can help upgrade a radio transmitter just over the border in India, so that it can broadcast deeper into Tibet and China for one month.

Only freedom of information and dialogue among Tibetans and Chinese can help bring a lasting and peaceful solution to the Tibet problem. Click below now to make a contribution:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibet_stop_the_blackout

The situation is dire, and some reports suggest it's getting worse. The Chinese government has even cut phone networks to hinder grassroots organizing efforts by Tibetans and blocked their contact to the outside world – including to Chinese progressives. If we don't help Tibetans access new technologies that can breach the communications blockade, their plight could be silenced behind an impenetrable firewall.

Radio stations, bloggers, censorship avoidance technologies are like fog-lights out of the dark - and vital to the survival of the Tibetan people. Here is what the Dalai Lama says about Voice of Tibet radio – which your support today can help keep on the air:

"This is the only radio service in [the] Tibetan language with a Tibetan editorial board in charge allowing us [Tibetans] to comment on events of Tibetan interest from our perspective.... I would appreciate [...] if sympathetic organizations and individuals could help Voice of Tibet continue functioning..."

Donate today and help keep critical programs like this one alive – they've never been more urgently needed:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibet_stop_the_blackout

Freedom of information is vital to the survival of Tibetan culture and a key ingredient in securing Tibetan autonomy. It is also a key way to reach out to progressive Chinese in China, many of whom are looking for alternative perspectives and information. As a global community, we can help ensure access to vital information for Tibetans, Chinese and those of us who are beyond the veil.

With hope,

Brett, Ricken, Alice, Paul, Graziela, Ben, Paula, Luis, Pascal, Veronique, Iain, Milena and the rest of the Avaaz team

P.S. Consider donating to support organizations like Voice of Tibet at this crucial time. They need our support now more than ever. Even a modest donation will go a long way: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/tibet_stop_the_blackout

A year of escalating violence:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/011/2009/en
http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/china-amnesty-international-calls-chinese-authorities-open-tibet-2009030

UN Committee Against Torture Report covering the 2008 protests. Relevant section is pages 8-10:
www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/cat/docs/CAT.C.CHN.CO.4.pdf

Human Rights Watch report detailing those unaccounted for:
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/03/09/china-hundreds-tibetan-detainees-and-prisoners-unaccounted

Reports of increased violence across Tibet to 2009:
http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-press-releases/a-great-mountain-burned-fire-chinas-crackdown-tibet

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Dear friends,

This week, European regulators will start setting new efficiency standards for fridges, TVs, and other products. Strong rules could massively cut Europe's climate pollution, but industrial lobbyists are pushing to weaken the proposals.

We've received an unusual message: a video sent back in time from the future ... by a talking fridge named "Coldy." Click the picture to watch the video and take action now:

Green technology already exists that would dramatically improve the fridges, TVs, washing machines, and other products that each of us use. Strong green standards, according to expert studies, could have a huge climate impact--greater than taking two thirds of Europe's cars off the road. And these standards would reduce our energy bills by tens of billions of Euros per year.

But the most-polluting companies want to sell dirty products cheaply, and avoid green investment. It's up to us to make sure EU negotiators hear the clear voice of thousands of citizens across Europe -- and not just the voices of industry lobbyists. Click below to watch the video and sign the petition -- it will be delivered to negotiators this Thursday:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/refrigerator_revolution_video

With hope,

Ben, Luis, Iain, Graziela, Paula, Alice, Milena, Ricken, Brett, Pascal, Paul, Veronique, and the entire Avaaz team

FOOTNOTES

1. For more information, updates and policy briefs on the European Eco-design policy process (including the studies and draft legislation on the products covered by this policy, such as TVs, fridges, and lightbulbs), see this site by the NGO coalition ECOS, Greenpeace Europe, WWF-EPO and other leading environmental organizations:
http://www.env-ngo.eup-network.de

2. Last week, more than 100,000 Avaaz members joined the global call for a truth commission to investigate human rights abuses in Bush's war on terror. Avaaz hand-delivered the signatures to the Senate committee and spoke to key U.S. leaders. Click to see photos and a full report:
http://www.avaaz.org/delivery_to_truth_commission

3. Avaaz members will deliver this petition in Brussels with a stunt organized by Friends of the Earth Europe and Natuur en Milieu. For more information, check http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en later this week!

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Dear friends,

EU leaders meet this weekend to discuss the economic crisis. It's a huge opportunity to create jobs and save the planet -- click below to urge them to embrace a bold green recovery plan: Send A Message Now

In the face of the global economic downturn and the climate crisis, a brilliant new idea is taking hold: green recovery. From China's Hu Jintao to Obama in the U.S., leaders are realizing that a green recovery -- investing in renewable fuels, efficiency, and new technology -- is the best way to create jobs and save the planet at the same time.

But at a summit this weekend, European leaders may miss their chance -- unless enough of us speak up now.

Some European politicians, influenced by special interests, are stuck in the discarded view that helping the economy must hurt the climate, and vice versa. If this mindset wins out, vast sums will be spent on ruinously dirty growth, putting the entire world in peril. But if we raise our voices now, we can help tip the balance towards a cleaner, greener economy that works for us all.

Click below to send a message to European leaders, urging them to commit to a green recovery plan:

http://cdn.avaaz.org/en/europe_green_recovery

Green recovery isn't a dream -- it's already begun. The U.S. has committed to invest almost 1% of its economic output in sustainable recovery programmes. China is racing ahead, putting over a third of its big stimulus package into green investments, while South Korea investing two-thirds of its package in energy efficiency, green jobs, public transport and renewable energy.

The global race to a greener, cleaner future could begin here. But if we fail to switch to clean energy now, any economic recovery risks ending up being crippled by a new oil price spike in a couple of years.

Much more than Europe is at stake. Next April, the 20 biggest economies will gather in London to hash global plans for a coordinated response to the economic downturn. By taking action now, we can put sustainable recovery at the heart of their economic agenda, and set world leaders on the road to a climate deal this December in Copenhagen.

If enough of us write to our leaders now, we can show them that the public rejects the false choice between today's economy and tomorrow's climate. Follow this link now to urge Europe to embrace a green New Deal that creates the jobs of the future, ends our addiction to climate-poisoning fossil fuels, and lays the foundations of a sustainable economic recovery:

http://cdn.avaaz.org/en/europe_green_recovery

With hope,

Ben, Luis, Iain, Ricken, Paul, Alice, Brett, Paula, Graziela, Milena, Pascal, Veronique -- and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information on green economic recoveries:

Great clean-up - can economic rescue plans also save planet? -- The Guardian, 24 Feb 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/24/obama-environment-economic-rescue

Nicholas Stern: An outline of the case for a 'green' Stimulus - London School of Economics, Feb 2009
http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/granthamInstitute/publications/An%20outline%20of%20the%20case%20for%20a%20%27green%27%20stimulus.pdf

United Nations Environmental Programme special Green New Deal site:
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy

Ban Ki Moon and Al Gore: Green Growth is Essential to any Stimulus - Financial Times, 16 Feb 2009
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0fa98852-fc45-11dd-aed8-000077b07658.html

Green or Mean -- graphic of comparing the green impact of national economic stimulus plans:
http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2009/02/23/ENVIRONMENTweb.pdf

Visit here for the agenda of the meeting:
http://www.eu2009.cz/event/1/3153/

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Dear friends,

As Obama visits Canada, help fund an ad campaign asking him to press Harper on climate change: Take action now!

With George Bush out of office, Stephen Harper has lost his biggest ally in avoiding action on climate change. When Barack Obama visits Canada on Thursday, Harper will desperately try to push Obama to accept parts of his do-nothing climate plan.We need to make it clear to the American President that Canada's citizens do not support their Prime Minister on this issue, and support Obama to take a firm position in telling Mr. Harper that the bad old days are over, and its time for both the US and Canada to act responsibly.

The media will be eagerly following Obama's first international visit, so we're publishing a big ad in the Washington Post on Wednesday (see right) to attract attention, clearly telling President Obama and the US media where Canadians stand. The ad will also be delivered directly to Obama's climate advisor. We have just 36 hours to raise enough funds to place the ad. Since this is a message from Canadians, the more of us who donate and endorse it, the stronger its message will be. Click below to join in:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/canucks_to_obama/?CLICKTRACK

2009 is THE make or break year for the earth's climate. It will take every nation working at its best to mobilize fast enough to get a global treaty at the UN Copenhagen summit in December, and Canadians want to be part of the solution. But we're stuck with a Prime Minister and an Environment Minister who are in the pocket of the oil industry, despite all their public claims to be green. On Thursday, Harper will likely offer guaranteed oil supplies to the US in return for Obama agreeing to exempt Canada's tar sands oil (which pollutes 3-4 times as much as regular oil) from global regulation. Side deals like this will effectively kill the global climate treaty at Copenhagen that the world desperately needs.

Obama is facing an uphill fight to get a progressive climate plan through in his own country, so we need to make sure that he doesn't feel any need to make damaging deals with our Prime Minister. Most Canadians are not represented by our government, so on this most crucial issue and visit, we have to conduct our own diplomacy, and give President Obama the true message of Canadians for him on climate change.

With hope,

Ricken and the Avaaz Canada team

PS - here's a link to reports on past Avaaz campaigns -
http://www.avaaz.org/en/report_back_2/

and here's a link for background on Harper's lobbying strategy for the Obama visit:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081105.wclimate1106/BNStory/National/home

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Dear friends,

Our fast has nearly begun. From sunrise to sunset on Sunday, February 1, more than 33,000 of us, from 190 countries, will eat no food as a demonstration of solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe. Thanks for pledging to be a part of this moment!

Here is a message from Kumi Naidoo, the South African activist who recorded the video appeal for the fast:

We are stunned by the response of Avaaz members around the world. I have not eaten a bite of food for eleven days, but when I speak to the African Union summit tomorrow, I will be fortified by your hope and energy. The press and leaders I address will know that they are contending with a serious global movement that will not settle for anything less than bold action. You are making a difference for millions of Zimbabweans. Thank you.

Yesterday, Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change signed on to a unity government with Mugabe in order to help resolve the crisis-with monitoring and safeguards from both sides and other Southern African governments. It was a risky and difficult decision. Now, other African and international leaders must commit to ensuring that Mugabe follows through on sharing power, releasing prisoners, and ending political violence. If this happens, and the unity government holds, then the urgent work of restoring Zimbabwe can begin. Our fast could not come at a more critical moment.

During the fast, we all can read messages from Avaaz members around the world and post them ourselves--as well as see a global map—at this link:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_fast_map

Here are a few comments previously posted there by Avaaz members who have pledged to fast:

• Ghandi used fasting as a peaceful way to win us our freedom. I do hope that our Zimbabwe brethren are able to overthrow a despot using the same method. This Sunday, I will join you in your protest. – Piu Lahiri, an Indian living in Cairo
• With the hope that this will represent one of the steps to breathe truthful change into Zimbabwe. I pledge to fast as a peaceful way of protesting to the injustice that it is done to the people. – Teodora, Romania
• This is a crusade of people around the world to condemn inequality and the neglect of governments to their people, we will turn it around! much strength Kumi Naidoo, you are not alone. – Féliz Rosales, Peru

While fasting, please be mindful of your health. Rest and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avaaz cannot accept any responsibility for injury or negative effects of fasting—so if you are pregnant, living with a serious illness, or have any other concerns, please consult your doctor before going without food.Avaaz members are fasting from Argentina to Albania, from Burkina Faso to Burma, from Palestine to Papua New Guineau. Here again is the link to the comments page and global map:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_fast_map

In Zimbabwe, hope can be as hard to find as food and medicine. But today, through a simple action, each of us around the world is showing that the people of Zimbabwe are not alone.

With hope,

Ben, Alice, Iain, Paula, Ricken, Graziela, Pascal, Paul, Luis, Brett, Milena, Veronique, and the whole Avaaz.org team
_____

Dear friends,

Zimbabwean and South African citizens have launched a hunger strike to press for justice and democracy in Zimbabwe. Help answer their call for global solidarity: Click below to pledge to fast this Sunday�and they will present the world's call to leaders at an Africa-wide summit: Pledge to fast

When Africa's heads of state meet this Sunday, they will be greeted by a crowd of hunger strikers � calling for justice and democracy in Zimbabwe.

Desmond Tutu, Graça Machel, and hundreds of others have joined the fasting campaign in solidarity with the Zimbabwean people �and they have sent an appeal for the world to join in. They have taken this radical action to insist that the humanitarian and human rights crisis of Zimbabwe are immediately addressed and not just a political deal done that allows Mugabe to cling to power.

The more of us that join this powerfully symbolic action, the more effective it will become. Click below see a video appeal from Kumi Naidoo, who is one week into a 21 day hunger strike and then pledge to fast for a day on Sunday in support of the people of Zimbabwe:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/fast_for_zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's crisis�cholera, hyperinflation, hunger, and Mugabe's brutality�keeps worsening. But the movement for change in Southern Africa is growing stronger and bolder. All are aware that the stakes are rising. The European Union just tightened sanctions targeting Mugabe's regime. Hunger strikers in Southern Africa trying to deliver a petition to their leaders' summit on Monday, were blasted by riot police shooting rubber bullets. And this morning, after all-night talks, Southern African leaders tried to fend off global pressure by announcing a "breakthrough" in talks that does not resolve any of the desperate needs of Zimbabwe's citizens�only to see their ploy collapse when the opposition pointed out that no power-sharing agreement had been reached to form a unity government.

The next five days are critical: as Africa's leaders choose their next moves, we have to demonstrate that the world stands strong with Zimbabwe's people, and that Mugabe's reign must end. When the African Union leaders sit down this Sunday in Ethiopia, their decisions will be shaped by the political conditions that we help create.

Time and again, we have rallied. More than 400,000 of us have signed petitions, sending virtual "red cards" to Mugabe that were waved by labour activists in a march this fall. We flew an airplane over the United Nations headquarters to urge Mbeki to support democracy in Zimbabwe. And this Christmas, we sent radio ads to tell the people of Zimbabwe they were not forgotten.

Now, through a symbolic act of unmistakable self-sacrifice, we can take our efforts a level higher. Our solidarity fast will strengthen the moral force of Zimbabwean and South African activists who are demanding real change. Click here to watch the video appeal from South Africa and join the fast:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/fast_for_zimbabwe

One day, democracy will be restored to Zimbabwe--the refugees will return home, the fields will burst with food, the hospitals and clinics will be full of medicine and healing. And all of us will know that in answering the call of a suffering but defiant people, we played a part in their victory.

With hope,

Ben, Alice, Ricken, Iain, Graziela, Luis, Paula, Paul, Milena, Brett, Pascal, Veronique, and the entire Avaaz.org team

SOURCES

The Save Zimbabwe Now campaign is coordinating the hunger strike:
http://www.savezimbabwenow.com

"Save Zimbabwe activists begin hunger strike" - The Times, 1/25/09
http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=924433

"Police fire rubber bullets to break protest at SADC meeting" - ZimOnline, 1/26/09
http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=4158

"Catholic bishops say inaction killing Zimbabweans" - AP, 1/26/09
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jd_JZmhdw6XWClfpenWt9g-dqNNAD95US7H01

"Special Report: Crisis in Zimbabwe" - The Times, last update 27 Jan 2009
http://www.thetimes.co.za/specialreports/Zimbabwe/Default.aspx?id=363615

"Zimbabwe Lawyers' submission to SADC Summit" - This Is Zimbabwe, 26 Jan 2009
http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/3120#more-3120

Zimbabwe summit 'agrees' Morgan Tsvangirai should be sworn in next month - The Telegraph, 27 Jan 2009
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/zimbabwe/4354023/Zimbabwe-summit-agrees-Morgan-Tsvangirai-should-be-sworn-in-next-month.html

MDC denies Zimbabwe deal claims - BBC - Jan 27, 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7852978.stm

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Dear friends around the UK,

The BBC is refusing to show a charitable appeal for Gaza's civilians -- let's deluge its management with messages pressing them to change their minds and broadcast it: Take Action Now

The BBC is refusing to show a charitable appeal for humanitarian aid to hundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza -- their suffering is too "politically contentious" apparently.

As dozens of MPs, church leaders and journalists are saying, no fair or decent broadcaster should have to block a charitable appeal like this to protect perceptions of its impartiality. It is not taking sides to give food, shelter and medicine to the civilian victims of conflict -- and the Red Cross, Save the Children and the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) have an exceptional record of helping such victims impartially.

The BBC is funded by us, the British public, and it says it really cares about keeping our trust and its own reputation for impartiality -- but it risks losing both with this terrible mistake. We've got the email addresses of Director-General Mark Thompson and his colleagues: just follow the link below to send your own message urging the BBC to broadcast the appeal, and forward this email to friends and family -- let's deluge them with tens of thousands of messages this week:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bbc_charitable_appeal

In an interview on the BBC's own Radio 4 Today programme this morning, Mark Thompson was clearly on the defensive, dodging questions from presenter John Humphrys. The number of complaints is being broadcast daily in the media, and this approach has made a big difference in getting the BBC to back down previously. Already over 10,000 complaints have been made -- if we act now and spread the word, we could more than double that by tomorrow.

The BBC's policy says, "Impartiality is an essential part of the BBC's contract with its audience, which owns and funds the BBC. Because of that, the audience itself will often be a factor in determining impartiality" -- in other words, by showing them the strength of support for this charitable humanitarian appeal, we could make them realise their mistake. Even if they refuse, keeping this story in the media through our campaign all week will help many people who were prevented from seeing the appeal to hear about it and donate.

The DEC has answered every question raised about whether and how aid can be delivered. There's a standing public service agreement to broadcast DEC appeals, and commercial terrestrial channels ITV, Channel 4 and Five are all doing so. If the BBC continues to refuse, it will set a terribly dangerous precedent -- implying that civilians in politicised conflicts shouldn't get humanitarian aid, that we have to stand aloof from their suffering to maintain some kind of amoral neutrality.

David Hind, the chief executive of the Charity Commission regulator, said the BBC's refusal would have a direct impact on the money raised, adding: "I can't see how members of the public will confuse a humanitarian appeal for people in desperate need in Gaza with unbalanced reporting."

We're providing links on our website so that you can give a donation yourself, make a phonecall to the BBC or contact your MP about this. But the first step is to send your own message to the BBC now at this link, using our special email tool, and forward this email widely:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/bbc_charitable_appeal

With hope,

Paul, Iain, Alice and the whole Avaaz team

(PS: You may want to personalise the message, e.g. to make a stronger point about your license fee.)

Sources:

1. The Guardian: "Clamour for BBC to show Gaza appeal intensifies", 26 January 2009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/26/bbc-gaza-appeal-mps-motion

2. Mark Thompson interviewed on the BBC's Radio 4 Today Programme:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7850000/7850617.stm

3. Disasters Emergency Committee responses to the issues of access and impartiality raised by the BBC are at this link, as well as in the Guardian story above:
http://www.dec.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?ap=1&id=320

The DEC's assessment of the situation in Gaza is below:

After an 18 month blockade of Gaza and three weeks of heavy shelling the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is now completely overwhelming.

Thousands of people are struggling to survive with many having lost their homes and most down to their last supplies of food and only limited amounts of fresh drinking water.
Just £25 can buy warm blankets for 8 children
Just £50 can provide a food parcel for a family for one month
Electricity - supplies to Gaza are erratic at best with 75% of the area cut off completely. There is a significant public health risk arising out of the almost collapse of Gaza�s water and sewage system, the running of which is dependent on electricity.
Water - Around 500,000 people are without running water with 37% of Gaza�s water wells not working effectively and fuel reserves depleted due to restrictions on access and damage to pipes.
At least 412 Children have been killed and 1,855 injured
60% of the population is living in poverty
1.1 million people are dependent upon aid to survive.
Health - The capacity of the health system has been significantly reduced due to the damage of at least 21 clinics. Ten primary health care clinics are functioning as emergency clinics and hospitals and intensive care units continue to treat the mass casualties.

Please consider donating to the DEC after you have taken action to stop the BBC blocking the broadcast of their appeal at this link:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/bbc_charitable_appeal


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