December 30, 2008

Gaza: internet action now

The internet action campaign AVAAZ and CODEPINK have launched petition drives for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

From CODEPINK:

GAZA EMERGENCY: Stop the Killing NOW!

Join CODEPINK by signing our call for a US-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

We will deliver it to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice next week.

From AVAAZ, the message distributed by the Women in Black listserve:

Dear friends,

The Gaza crisis has exploded -- put your name to our emergency petition
demanding a ceasefire. We'll deliver it immediately to the UN Security
Council, the Arab League, the US and other world leaders!

Take Action Now
As we watch the Gaza bloodshed with horror, appalled at how the crisis is
spiraling further out of control, one thing is clear -- this violence will
only lead to further civilian suffering and an escalation of the conflict.

There must be another way. Over 280 are dead so far in the Gaza Strip and
hundreds more injured -- rockets are striking Ashdod deep inside Israel for
the very first time, and the sides are mobilising for invasion. A global
outcry has begun, but it'll take more than words -- the immediate violence
won't end, nor will wider peace be secured, without firm action from the
international community.

Today, we're launching an emergency campaign which will be delivered to the
UN Security Council and key world powers, urging them to act to ensure an
immediate ceasefire and address the growing humanitarian crisis -- only with
robust international oversight and action can civilians on all sides be
protected and real steps be taken toward a wider peace. Follow this link now
to sign the emergency petition and send it to everyone you know:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/?cl=161503212&v=2605

After Gaza's bloodiest day in recent memory and eight or more years of
ineffective US and global diplomacy, we need to get world leaders to do more
than issue statements if they're to ensure a lasting ceasefire.1 Through the
UN Security Council and other international bodies, the world can provide
the help and pressure needed to stop the violence and change the situation
on the ground in Gaza -- preventing the rockets and incursions, re-opening
crossing-points under international oversight so that instead of
weapon-smuggling, the 1.5 million ordinary people of Gaza can get the fuel,
food and medicines they so desperately need.

All sides to the conflict will continue to act as they have in the past if
they believe that the world will stand by and allow them to do so. We
mobilised for a ceasefire in 2006's Israel-Lebanon war and succeeded, but
this time the international community must not delay -- let's raise a truly
worldwide outcry. 2009 is a year that things can be different. As we face
this crisis, and the possibilities of a new year, it's time for us
everywhere to work together to stop this violence.

With hope and determination,

Brett, Ricken, Alice, Ben, Pascal, Paul, Graziela, Paula, Luis, Iain and the
whole Avaaz team


1 Further actions could include: a formal resolution from the Security
Council rather than issuing a press statement as was done on 28 December
2008; explicit private and public international pressure on the parties to
end the hostilities including developing clear terms for the resumption of
negotiations; proper international oversight of the Rafah border; and in
time, a detailed Security Council resolution setting out the terms in
international law for a permanent peace between Israel and Palestine. For
background, see this Jerusalem Post article, "No international pressure to
end op":
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230456497503&pagename=JPost/JPAr
ticle/ShowFull)