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: |
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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