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ThinkSocial Awards: AVAAZ “Spreading news about urgent social and political issues”
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Name: AVAAZ
Nominated Category: Organization & Collaboration
URL: http://www.avaaz.org
Area: Advocacy, Fundraising
About:
“Avaaz” means “voice” in several Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages. Since it’s inception in 2007, the self-described “global web movement” has grown to 3.5 million members around the world, who receive Avaaz email news alerts in 13 different languages—which is a whole lot of voices.
Description:
Avaaz, a non-profit, is a global news network that aggregates media mentions of urgent issues as well as opportunities to create change. Members respond to issues highlighted in Avaaz email updates by volunteering time or money; multiplied by the number of people part of Avaaz, a little can go a long way, collectively. Avaaz.org was co-founded by Res Publica, global civic advocates, and political activist group Moveon.org (and certainly, neither founding organization is unfamiliar with political action on the web.)
In its campaigns, Avaaz has petitioned for a dialogue between Chinese leaders and the Dalai Lama; had its members fund ad campaigns to “Stop the Clash” between Palestinians and Israelis; and, most recently, petitioned for African and European Union sanctions on the Guinean government for civilian killings.
Through the web site, Avaaz makes participating in the campaigns easy for members — to sign petitions, for example, you simply type in your name and contact information into a web form, after which are listed other email forms so you can bring more friends into the cause.
The Avaaz web site is peppered with reminders of how members of the Avaaz community are making change happen — and ways they can continue to do so. There are videos of recent Avaaz stunts and events, like the delivery of petitions to specific leaders, and the web site’s “Campaign” section is studded with links to click-and-donate or click-and-comment.
The Basics:
WHO: AVAAZ.org
WHAT: A global e-news movement alerting members around the world, in different languages, about urgent social issues and how to take action.
WHERE: Worldwide.
HOW to get involved: Sign up for the emails, read up, and take action as suggested – usually through volunteering or donation. The Avaaz blog also tracks press coverage of pertinent issues and the response that Avaaz action is getting.
What other people are saying:
http://www.netoraton.es/ (Spanish)
Background and coverage (and awards won) for Avaaz’s “Stop the Clash” campaign
What do you think?
- Comment on this entry and tell us what you think. Who else should we be highlighting in this category?
- Share these initial selections with your network, through Twitter, Facebook etc
- Submit your own examples by completing the submission form or submit via Twitter
Learn more about ThinkSocial Awards here.
Thanks for your support and participation.
Posted in: Collaboration, Non-profit, Organization, awards, politics | Tagged: advocacy, Asia, email, Europe, fundraising, Moveon.org, Non-profit
