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Stop the Anti-Women Gag Rule
 Afghan reactionary lawmakers are trying to pass a law to ensure that family members can never testify as witnesses. This is a green light for more women and girls to be abused at home, but some courageous politicians are fighting back and say our outcry could make the difference! Sign now to stand with Afghan women and tell everyone!  |
Sold into marriage at 12, Sahar Gul lived in a house of horrors. Her in-laws chained her in the basement, beat her with red hot iron pipes, starved her and pulled out all her fingernails when she refused to prostitute herself for them.
Her attackers’ sentence was reduced to a meager one year, and now they’re free again! Worse still, the Lower House of Parliament just passed a bill that would ban aggressors’ family members from testifying in court. This would prevent countless children and women from ever getting justice.
The Upper House has beaten back anti-women legislation before and high-level officials say the Avaaz community could tip the balance and help stop the bill before it goes to a vote. But to do that, we need to act fast. Click below to sign this urgent petition now — when we reach 1 million signers we’ll launch a massive local media campaign targeting key senators until the bill is dumped:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_afghan_women_loc/?biEWLbb&v=28325
As a child, Sahar Gul was sold by her brother for $US 5,000 into a home of horrific abuse. When she was finally rescued, torture left her so weak that she came out of her basement prison in a wheelbarrow. Last year her tormentors received 10-year sentences, but a lower court judge just set them free.
Afghan women’s rights groups, aghast at the rolling back of their rights have been actively supporting Sahar Gul’s case and working to ensure that relatives aren’t banned from testifying against victim’s aggressors. If we join these brave women now, we can show the Afghan politicians that the entire world stands behind Afghan women.
In school now, Sahar Gul is courageously rebuilding her life — her dream is to someday lead a women’s rights organization. Her strength of spirit embodies the hope for a better future for women and girls in Afghanistan, and everywhere — let’s help her start fulfilling her dream by getting Afghan leaders to protect, not persecute women:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/justice_for_afghan_women_loc/?biEWLbb&v=28325
Afghan women’s rights advocates and extraordinary survivors of abuse have stepped forward time and again to fight for human rights. Over the years, Avaaz members from around the world have consistently rallied to back them up. Let’s do it again.
With hope and determination,
Luis, Alaphia, Alex, Ricken, Bissan, Mais and the rest of the Avaaz team
PS – Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue – local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917
MORE INFORMATION:
Sahar Gul: The fears of a tortured Afghan child bride (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23311414
Karzai: A legacy of failure on women’s rights? (Open Democracy) http://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/massouda-jalal/karzai-legacy-of-failure-on-afghan-womens-rights
Afghan judges free three jailed for torture of child bride Sahar Gul (Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/11/afghan-judges-free-sahar-guls-torturers
Afghanistan: Escalating Setbacks for Women (Human Rights Watch) http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/07/16/afghanistan-escalating-setbacks-women
Women’s rights face new obstacles in Afghanistan (Global Post) http://www.globalpost.com/dispatches/globalpost-blogs/rights/womens-rights-face-new-obstacles-afghanistan
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Luis Morago – Avaaz.org
Dear friends,
We said never again
 Most people didn’t know who the Rwandans were until 800,000 had been killed. Now, the fate of the Rohingya people of Burma is hanging by a thread as mobs attack them while the police look on. The Burmese President could stop the violence – all he has to do is approve a plan to protect them and ensure it is enforced, while granting them citizenship. Let’s appeal to European leaders to press him when he visits them in days, and stop the next Rwanda:  |
Most people didn’t know who the Rwandans were until it was too late, and 800,000 of them were dead. Right now, the fate of Burma’s Rohingya people is hanging by a thread. Racist thugs have distributed leaflets threatening to wipe out this small Burmese minority. Already children have been hacked to death and unspeakable murders committed. All signs are pointing to a coming horror, unless we act.
Genocides happen because we don’t get concerned enough until the crime is committed. The Rohingya are a peaceful and very poor people. They’re hated because their skin is darker and the majority fear they’re ‘taking jobs away’. There are 800,000 of them, and they could be gone if we don’t act. We’ve failed too many peoples, let’s not fail the Rohingya.
Burmese President Thein Sein has the power, personnel and resources to protect the Rohingya, all he has to do is give the word to make it happen. In days, he’ll arrive in Europe to sell his country’s new openness to trade. If EU leaders greet him with a strong request to protect the Rohingya, he’s likely to do it. Let’s get 1 million voices and plaster images of what’s happening in Burma outside his meetings with key EU heads of state:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/we_said_never_again/?biEWLbb&v=26500
Torture, gang rape, execution style killings — human rights groups are using the term “ethnic cleansing” to describe the brutality in Burma. Already more than 120,000 Rohingya have been forced to flee, many to makeshift camps near the border, while others have fled in boats only to drown, starve, or be shot at by coastguards from neighboring countries. Reports show that violence is escalating — earlier this year President Thein Sein declared a state of emergency after another round of deadly attacks, and it’s just a matter of time until there is a large scale massacre.
Genocides don’t happen when governments oppose them, but the Burmese regime has been leaning the wrong way. Recently, a government spokesperson admitted that authorities were enforcing a rule that limits the Rohingya population to having only two children and forces couples seeking to get married to obtain special permission. And experts report that government authorities have stood by or even participated in acts of “ethnic cleansing.” President Sein has finally been forced to acknowledge what’s happening to the Rohingya, but he has so far refused to implement plans to stop the violence and protect those at risk.
Until he does, the risk of genocide hovers like a dark cloud over not just Burma, but the world. Through their trade relations, UK PM Cameron and French President Hollande have massive leverage with Sein — if they press him to act when he meets with them this month, it could save lives. Let’s make sure they do. We’ve failed too many peoples, let’s not fail the Rohingya. Join the call now and share this with everyone:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/we_said_never_again/?biEWLbb&v=26500
Time and again, the Avaaz community has stood with the people of Burma in their fight for democracy. When the regime brutally cracked down on Buddhist monks in 2007, Avaazers donated hundreds of thousands of dollars/euros/pounds to provide technical support and training to activists to fight a communications blackout. In 2008, when a devastating cyclone killed at least 100,000 Burmese, but the venal military regime stopped all official international aid from coming in, our community donated millions directly to monks on the front line of the aid effort.
Our community didn’t exist when genocide was committed in Rwanda, 20 years ago. Would we have done enough to stop it? Let’s show the Rohingya our answer to that question.
With hope and determination,
Luis, Jeremy, Aldine, Oliver, Marie, Jooyea and the whole Avaaz team
PS – Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue – local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917
MORE INFORMATION
Burma riots: Video shows police failing to stop attack (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22243676
Burma: End ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ of Rohingya Muslims (Human Rights Watch) http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/22/burma-end-ethnic-cleansing-rohingya-muslims
Video shows Burmese police standing by as Buddhists attack Muslims (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/22/burmese-police-buddhists-attack-muslims
The unending plight of Burma’s unwanted Rohingyas (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23077537
Dalai Lama Pleads for Myanmar Monks to End Violence Amid Damning Rights Report (ABC News) http://abcnews.go.com/International/dalai-lama-pleads-myanmar-monks-end-violence-amid/story?id=19013148#.UXV3vCt4a5w
Thein Sein to visit Britain, France in July (AFP) http://www.dvb.no/news/thein-sein-to-visit-britain-france-in-july/28815
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Stop the Amazon Chainsaw Massacre Luis Morago – Avaaz.org
 Brazil‘s Congress has just passed a bill that gives loggers and farmers free rein to cut down huge swaths of the Amazon. Only President Dilma can veto it. Domestic pressure is mounting, but a massive global outcry will prove her international reputation is at stake. Let’s tip her over the edge to stop the Amazon chainsaw massacre — sign the urgent petition and tell everyone: |
The Brazilian Congress has just passed a catastrophic forestry bill that gives loggers and farmers free rein to cut down huge swaths of the Amazon.
Now only President Dilma can stop it.
Fortunately, the timing is on our side — in weeks Dilma will host the world’s biggest environmental summit and insiders say she cannot afford to open it as the leader who approved the destruction of the rainforest. She’s facing mounting domestic pressure, with 79% of Brazilians rejecting this new bill. Now, if we join them we can turn up the global heat and push her to axe the bill, not the rainforest.
Dilma could make her decision any day.
Let’s get her to veto the bill now. Click below to sign the urgent petition to stop the Amazon chainsaw massacre and if you have already signed — send this to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?vl
The Amazon is vital to life on earth — 20% of our oxygen comes from this magnificent rainforest, and it plays a key role in mitigating global climate change. Over the last decade, Brazil has vastly reduced deforestation rates, achieving a 78% decline between 2004 and 2011. The reason? A world-acclaimed forestry law, strong enforcement and satellite monitoring.
But this dangerous new bill would open up an area the size of France and Britain combined to clear-cutting and gives loggers amnesty for all past deforestation crimes. This would not only spark total forest devastation in Brazil, it would also set a bad precedent for other countries. That’s why it’s so crucial that we all protect it.
Brazil is a rapidly developing country, battling to lift tens of millions out of poverty. Despite evidence that growth does not require deforestation, Dilma is under pressure from the powerful agriculture lobby that helped her get elected to cut down rainforest for profit. And it is an ugly battle — activists are being murdered, intimidated and silenced. But ex-Environmental Ministers and people across Brazil have sent a clear message to Dilma that they want to save the Amazon. Now, it’s up to all of us to stand with them and urge President Dilma to remain strong.
The fate of Brazil’s rainforests is dangling by a thread. But, with President Dilma so vulnerable to public pressure right now, we can bring the global force of people power to get a win for our planet! Sign the urgent petition below and tell everyone — the petition will be delivered by Brazil’s former Environment Ministers directly to Dilma:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/veto_dilma_global/?vl
In the last three years, we have won battle after battle against the odds. Now, let’s come together before it is too late to stop the destruction of the Amazon, protect our planet and herald Dilma as a true international environmental leader.
With hope and determination,
Luis, Pedro, Maria Paz, Alice, Ricken, Carol, Lisa, Rewan and the entire Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
Brazil’s Congress approves controversial forest law (BBC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17851237
Brazil Forest Code Passes In Defeat For Dilma Rousseff (Huffington Post) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/27/brazil-forest-code_n_1457149.html
Revised Brazilian Forest Code good for environmental criminals, bad for forests (IB Times) http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20120501/revised-brazilian-forest-code-environmental-criminals-forests-common.htm
Amazon deforestation record low (BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8358094.stm
Brazilians reject axing of forest protections (WWF) http://wwf.panda.org/?uNewsID=200698
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EU Special Offer — Amazing Climate Law!
Europe has just launched a ground breaking new climate law that radically reduces carbon pollution by forcing all airlines to pay for emissions. But China’s top-fliers are refusing — and threatening to spark a trade war!
This ambitious law is like taking 30 million cars off the road each year! It is a huge step forward for our climate. But China’s top three airlines, who together make $3.5 billion in annual profits, are shamefully arguing that it will seriously damage business. In fact, even in the worst case scenario it would mean between a $3 – $10 passenger fee. 30% of their business is global and they want more. If enough of us urge them to put our planet before their extortionate profits, we could convince them to comply.
Let’s show these jet-setters how important public reputation is in global business and appeal to China’s new-found image as a country serious about combating climate change. Sign the petition now and share this with everyone — when we reach 500,000 signatures, we’ll deliver it to the companies with a big splash:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/china_dont_break_climate_law/?vl
Aviation is the fastest-growing source of carbon pollution in the world — it already accounts for more carbon emission than the entire economy of the UK which in and of itself is the world’s 10th biggest carbon polluter. Europe’s new law requires airlines to reduce emissions under the carbon trading system — it’s the only law that effectively combines economic incentive with legal obligation to put the brakes on this industry’s rampant pollution.
But China’s largest airlines are trying to dodge their responsibility, instead spreading false rumours that the rules mean exorbitant costs for both them and their passengers. The truth is airlines that reduce their emissions will make money from fuel saving initiatives. And even those that don’t clean up their ways and instead pass the costs along to passengers are unlikely to feel it — a flight from Beijing to London would cost an additional $1.53 — hardly noticeable compared to ticket prices and other hidden fees we all pay.
Last year US airlines tried to challenge the law with a shady lawsuit and were struck down in EU courts. There’s no reason why record-breaking profitable airlines can’t comply with an affordable climate-saving law. Let’s protect it and fight this latest Chinese threat with people power. These image-conscious airlines won’t be able to ignore our 500,000 strong outcry. Sign this urgent petition now and send it to everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/china_dont_break_climate_law/?vl
The stakes have never been so high in our struggle to stop catastrophic climate change — we must propel every carbon-reducing measure and multiply it. China, as the world’s biggest investor in clean energy, has the power to pull the world onto the right path. Let’s demand that it’s government and businesses support this crucial EU leadership and comply with the law.
With hope and determination,
Jamie, Iain, Alice, Allison, Ricken, Wen-Hua, Wissam and the rest of the Avaaz team
Sources:
China CATA to sue EU on airline carbon rule (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/24/china-eu-emissions-idUSL3E7NO01J20111224
EU’s aviation charge is a drop for China’s airlines (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16423633
Chinese airlines dig their heels in over EU carbon charge as international dissent grows (The Daily Mail)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2082586/Emissions-Trading-Scheme-China-airlines-dig-heels-EU-carbon-charge.html#ixzz1ihNBGysI
Asian airlines mull new charges to deal with EU carbon plan (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/06/airlines-asia-idUSL3E8C40E320120106
Carbon Emission Fees for Flights Upheld (The New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/business/global/court-upholds-europes-plan-to-charge-airlines-for-carbon-emissions.html?scp=2&sq=eu%20emissions%20airline%20lawsuit&st=cse
Be a Seed for Change 
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