I think you're being a bit dissmissive, Cate, (maybe deliberately??) about the power of petitions. Like you, I am no petition signer normally. But, in a democracy, unless we are amongst the rich and powerful, there is no way letting our "leaders" know what *we* think. Oh yes there is - once every four or five years we get to vote them out of office! Doesn't really work, does it?
I have only just started to become a petitioner. As an old man, a retiree, I wouldn't dream of petitioning for something which was essentially French domestic policy. It is not for me to petition on what subjects are taught in school. But I do feel strongly that "the people" have been overlooked for far too long by the politocracy who are generally far removed from their voters.
The online petition is both efficient and effective.
And now it looks as if people power *is* having an effect. Maybe - just maybe Assad (and the USA and Russia etc) *will* give up their WMD's. One can only hope and pray!
Whatever, the debate on here as been excellent!
Bon soiree
The petition is not to Assad, it is to presidents Rouhani and Obama of Iran and the USA. To quote from the call for signatures:
"Now there is a glimmer of hope for a peaceful way to stop these massacres.
Syria's bloody war has been fuelled by rivalry between Iran, Assad's main backer, and the US and their allies. But this vile chemical attack has changed their discourse: Iran’s new moderate president condemned the gassing and Obama signalled he'd work with "anybody" to resolve the conflict. Let's urgently call on both leaders to sit down to talks and bring the warring parties together before any more lives are lost.
Right now, the global drums of war are beating over Syria, but if enough of us make sure Rouhani and Obama know the world wants bold diplomacy, we could end the nightmare for thousands of terrified Syrian children under threat of new gas attacks. We have no time to lose. Join this urgent call now -- when we reach one million signers we will deliver the petition directly to the two presidents."
Avaaz, like Change.org and other campaigning organisations, e-petitions have begun to be influential because they reflect public opinion. Change.org petitioned for handicapped children (les enfants handicapés) to have more support in schools here in France a while ago. A couple of days ago they announced the success of the petition:
"Il y a quelques semaines, 9000 personnes signaient la pétition de Marie-Laure, une auxiliaire de vie scolaire qui demandait à ce que les enfants handicapés puissent être accompagnés dignement à l'école, grâce à la pérennisation des postes tels que le sien.
Et ils ont obtenu une grande victoire : le Premier Ministre a annoncé la semaine dernière la titularisation progressive de 28 000 auxiliaires de vie scolaire, une reconnaissance officielle du métier et une formation renforcée. Pour Marie-Laure, "même s'il ne s'agit que d'une petite victoire car tout le personnel n'est pas concerné, (...) c'est quand même un grand pas pour les enfants, leur famille et les professionnels !"
Marie-Laure a envoyé le message suivant à tous les signataires de sa pétition : "Merci à tous d'avoir participé à cette pétition... et ne relâchez pas l'attention : tout n'est pas gagné!"."
So, for all people who doubt the efficacy of a petition signed by approaching 700,000 people since Friday, let us just see that something is being done rather than people just sitting twiddling thumbs wishing they could do something. I think we all know that a million is a very small part of over seven billion, but great oaks and all that...
Still, if the petition carries on and we do nothing to stop this lunatic and his supporters we can print the petition and use it to waft away any agents that stray off course. As the temperatures fall and the winds in the area increase any of his neighbours could be in danger as I doubt, as Sadam failed, they have the expertise to use these weapons correctly.
How can we sit back and watch as this conflict moves onto another calendar year. Then again we can always send in the Politicians puppets AKA the UN. Didn’t they do a sterling job in Kosovo and the Congo recently watching massacres as they waited for government approval to move.
Wake up guys we ned to act against these tyrants.
Still, hopeful signs all round! And I am sure that Kerry/Obama *will* claim all the credit....
Yes, but it could make the million later tomorrow as against toward the end of Wednesday. That is a precedent they should note (if it happens) and with the Russian intervention on chemical weapons, if that works then no doubt Kerry will claim it was all his effort but it could never work if it was only the USA making those demands because the terms for supervision and monitoring would be too tight.
Give up weapons, Russia urges Syria
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24022866
The petition is slowing down: 673,000 + at the moment. Still quite fascinating!
Over 650,000 signatures. Well on the way to the million when the petition will be submitted to the two men. In the meantime Kerry is making ludicrous demands. The USA should hand over their store of chemical weapons too!
I thought it might be something like that !!
I have always found Germans about the most informal of people with regard to names whereas some nations see an entire name, real or pseudonym, of several parts a necessity. It makes me all the more Germanic, I go by my forename of preference and avoid family name.
It could be because in France and Russia surname (family name) comes first on official forms. In Hungary and Japan the convention is to use family name first, then given/personal name.
Apart from it raison d'etre, I find this fascinating. It would *appear* that most of the world signs using forename, surname, but France, Poland, Russia and some South American countries either sign with a pseudonym or just a surname. In France, perhaps, is it because Name = Nom? But I have found it very interesting - and it *is* a worldwide petition.... I wonder if they will analyse the results afterwards.
One million signatures, here we come.....
Well over 500,000 signatures and still coming fast. In Europe Germany and Spain have a lot of people signing, France is not so bad but UK a bit 'sluggish', however the Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavia are very, very slow to sign.
Here's a video explaining to what extent the US has become a disenfranchised nation. Once again, watch it and make your own mind up.
Signed as soon as I got the I pad connected to the Internet here I Suffolk.
Lovely day here, am going to Waitrose and T K Maxx, convenie try situated next to each other.
Shopping heaven.
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings!
It *is* extraordinary, isn't? Does it really mean that the whole world is heartily sick of ALL their politicians??
The petition is now close to 450,000. Fingers crossed for the 1 million or more.