There’s hardly a week that goes by that I don’t post a message about a petition and a cause from my friends at Change.org. Sometimes, the odds seem insurmountable. Sometimes the cause is a fight taking place on the other side of the globe. So what’s my name or anyone name on a sheet of paper demanding justice going to do? Move a mountain. It’s a powerful, sweet thing! Here’s what my friends at Change.org had to say today:
Best. Week. Ever. Here’s what happened in the last seven days, because Change.org members took action:
1) Ai Weiwei released! A petition started by more than 20 directors of the world’s most famous art museums turned into an international movement. 140,000 of us joined the campaign, and on Wednesday the Chinese dissident artist was freed. Weiwei’s manager says Change.org members were “amazing” and personally thanked you for the support that helped to lead to his release.
2) Women in Saudi Arabia are driving! Saudi women activists won 3 campaigns on Change.org this week: With your help, they got charges dropped against Manal al-Sharif, who was arrested for driving a car in a country where it’s illegal for women to do so. After two more petitions targeting Hillary Clinton and Europe’s top ambassador Catharine Ashton, both spoke out forcefully in favor of giving women the right to drive (and Hillary says she only took a public stand because of this campaign!).
3) Sled dogs, saved! After a hundred sled dogs were brutally massacred in British Columbia, Lost actor Ian Somerhalder created a campaign on Change.org to get the province to change its policies governing the treatment of animals. More than 67,000 people signed, and British Columbia just adopted the strongest anti-cruelty laws in all of Canada!
4) Grand Canyon, preserved! With a uranium-mining ban about to expire in the area surrounding the famous U.S. landmark, Arizona resident Suzanne Sparling led the charge to extend it. She collected 50,000 public comments from Change.org members, and last Monday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced his support for another 20-year ban on the dangerous practice.
5) And the Minnesota Twins make 5. To cap it all off, CBS reported on Tuesday that the Minnesota Twins will be the 5th pro baseball team to make an “It Gets Better” video to help prevent suicide by teens who are bullied for being gay. Every team that’s made a video (Twins, Red Sox, Cubs, Mariners, and Giants) has done so after a local Change.org member started a petition asking them to. As these victories add up, the cumulative effect is eroding the culture of homophobia in men’s pro sports.
We accomplished all this together, but every single campaign began when one person created a petition on Change.org.
Something on your mind that needs to change? Don’t wait, start a petition at Change.org.
