[fvc-wat-disc] Lobbying avaaz.org

[Bryn Ossington]

they have a habit of stretching truth to present information with more
passion than fact. They use rhetoric and "truthiness" (as Colbert would say)
to get people to pay attention and sign on.

That being said they have a huge list of active subscribers and can get
information out to a lot of people who will pay at least some attention. So
I think for the end goal of FVC they can certainly help in a positive way. I
would be hesitant to endorse Avaaz but if they are willing to take up our
cause I see no reason not to.

Bryn Ossington





On 30 May 2011 11:47, Alida and George <burrettga at golden.net> wrote:

>  Hi Bryn
>
> "Controversial"?
>
> George Burrett
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Bryn Ossington <Bryn.ossington at wlusp.com>
> *To:* FVC Waterloo Region Discussion <fvc-wat-disc at listserv.thinkers.org>
> *Sent:* Monday, May 30, 2011 9:42 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [fvc-wat-disc] Lobbying avaaz.org
>
> Hi Kevin and everyone,
>
> I think this is a great idea. Avaaz can be controversial at times but I
> think getting them to trumpet our cause is a great way to bring some serious
> exposure.
>
>
> Bryn Ossington
>
> On 29 May 2011 22:53, Kevin Smith <kevedsmith at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi folks:
>>
>> I recently contacted avaaz.org about the proportional representation
>> issue in Canada.
>> This is a powerful online advocacy organization.  If we could get their
>> numbers
>> trumpeting our cause, that would be a big boost to us.
>>
>> They can be reached at:
>>
>> http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact/
>>
>> And here is the message I sent them:
>>
>> Dear Avaaz:
>>
>> Canada has recently elected another "false majority" government -- one
>> that has a majority of seats in the House of Commons, and 100% of the
>> executive and legislative power, with the support of only 40% of those who
>> actually voted, and about 25% of eligible voters.
>>
>> Many of us feel this is wrong, and that it is time that Canada joins most
>> modern democracies by switching to a system of proportional representation.
>> Then, no party could have a majority government without appealing to at
>> least 50% of the voting public.
>>
>> It would also give smaller parties more of a voice.  For instance, the
>> Green party got almost 4% of the vote in the last election, and won its
>> first seat, but it would receive 12 seats under a proportional system.
>> (There are currently 308 seats in the House of Commons.)
>>
>> I imagine that the current government would resist this change, even
>> though their leader has supported it in the past.  They're benefiting too
>> much from the current system.
>>
>> However, opposition parties and civil society groups might be convinced to
>> work together and launch a national dialogue around a new system that most
>> parties could get behind, and hopefully implement it in four years' time.
>>
>> It's a long process to decide on a new system, but if we had a campaign to
>> kickstart the discussion now, it might be achievable.
>>
>> In the days after the election, Fair Vote Canada received 2000 e-mails
>> from people interested in joining, so I think this is definitely the right
>> time to give this issue a big push.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Kevin Smith
>> Canada
>>
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