Highlights

Success stories from the Avaaz movement worldwide

Internet freedom

Saving the Internet

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In just 3 weeks, over 3 million of us worldwide signed a petition opposing a scandalous bill that would give the US government the right to shut down any website – targeting sites like YouTube, WikiLeaks and even Avaaz! We worked with other organisations such as DemandProgress, and President Obama’s team responded. Avaaz organised a 1 hour meeting with top White House officials to deliver the petition. The White House subsequently condemned the bill and key backers withdrew their support. As of right now, the Internet censorship bill is dead in the water. When we started, everyone told us the bill could not be stopped, now it’s been ditched by both parties -- a huge win for internet freedom and for people power!

IN THIS SECTION:

Avaaz is closing the gap between the world we have and the world we want, one campaign at a time

Media Ownership

Dismantling Murdoch’s Media Monopoly

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March 2011
350,000 signatures

For too long, Rupert Murdoch and his manipulative media empire have enjoyed undue influence over our politicians and distorted essential issues like climate change and the war in Iraq. This year the rogue media baron tried to tighten his stranglehold on the UK press by taking over BskyB.

Everyone said we couldn’t stop it but during months of tireless campaigning, we took over 1 million online actions, sent 668,784 messages and made 30,000 phone calls to members of Parliament, running stunt after stunt as well as 2 opinion polls that showed massive public opposition to Murdoch’s power grab. With some incredible reporting from The Guardian and great work with 38 Degrees, we won! Now we are focused on changing media laws so that no media baron can ever again own more than 20% of the press.

Tom Watson MP said: "Avaaz members in the UK and throughout the world lead the campaign to make politicians listen to the victims of phone hacking. Now everyone knows that Rupert Murdoch just got too powerful. The Government will have to act to make sure that a hacking scandal can never happen again. You spoke out. You made a difference. Thank you."

Censorship Defeated

Free Speech for Italy

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March 2011
70,000 Italian signatures

Facing growing unpopularity and statutory rape charges, Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi tried to silence his critics by jamming a ludicrous censorship law through parliament. Italian Avaaz members fought back – spearheading a 70,000-strong petition and placing thousands of phones calls to parliament just before the vote. Berlusconi lost. Italian democracy won.

Fairness in Media

Real News for Canada

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February 2011
100,000 Canadian signatures for fair media

Conservative officials and businessmen in Canada had been working to launch a Murdoch-style propaganda TV network – but when they moved to strike national journalism standards against false or misleading broadcasts, they brought down a firestorm of opposition. More than a 100,000 Canadian Avaazers signed in opposition, and the outrageous proposal to undermine balanced reporting was withdrawn.

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