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. <div><br></div><div>
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. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Bryn Ossington<br><br></div><div><br><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 30 May 2011 11:47, Alida and George <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:burrettga@golden.net">burrettga@golden.net</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Hi Bryn</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">"Controversial"?</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">George Burrett</font></div>
<blockquote style="padding-right:0px;padding-left:5px;margin-left:5px;border-left:#000000 2px solid;margin-right:0px"><div><div></div><div class="h5">
<div style="font:10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="background:#e4e4e4;font:10pt arial"><b>From:</b>
<a title="Bryn.ossington@wlusp.com" href="mailto:Bryn.ossington@wlusp.com" target="_blank">Bryn
Ossington</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="fvc-wat-disc@listserv.thinkers.org" href="mailto:fvc-wat-disc@listserv.thinkers.org" target="_blank">FVC Waterloo Region
Discussion</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, May 30, 2011 9:42 AM</div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [fvc-wat-disc] Lobbying
<a href="http://avaaz.org" target="_blank">avaaz.org</a></div>
<div><br></div>Hi Kevin and everyone,
<div><br></div>
<div>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. </div>
<div><br></div>
<div><br clear="all">Bryn Ossington<br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On 29 May 2011 22:53, Kevin Smith <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:kevedsmith@gmail.com" target="_blank">kevedsmith@gmail.com</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="padding-left:1ex;margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:#ccc 1px solid">Hi
folks:<br><br>I recently contacted <a href="http://avaaz.org" target="_blank">avaaz.org</a> about the proportional representation issue in
Canada.<br>This is a powerful online advocacy organization. If we
could get their numbers<br>trumpeting our cause, that would be a big boost
to us.<br><br>They can be reached at:<br><br><a href="http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact/" target="_blank">http://www.avaaz.org/en/contact/</a><br><br>And here is the
message I sent them:<br><br>Dear Avaaz:<br><br>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.<br><br>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.
<br><br>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.)<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>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.<br><br>Thanks,<br><font color="#888888">Kevin
Smith<br>Canada<br></font><br>_______________________________________________<br>This
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