Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 14:48:32 -0400
From: avaaz@avaaz.org
Subject: Syria: stand with the protesters
Dear friends,
 The crackdown on Syrian protesters has left 630 dead and more than 5,000 detained and tortured. Embattled Syrian activists are calling on Avaaz for financial support -- for supplies, transport, and other essentials that sustain their peaceful movement. Click here to see a harrowing video appeal from Syria and to chip in:  |
A desperate video plea has just come in from an Avaaz member in Syria who has risked his life to call on us for help.
The Syrian regime is laying siege to whole cities, and is willing to annihilate them to crush the peaceful democracy movement. Security forces have cut off all food, water and medicine to these towns, shot hundreds of citizens, and detained and tortured thousands -- in many cases ripping out their fingernails before releasing them, as a warning to other protesters.
Despite this unimaginable terror, the Syrian people refuse to be silenced, and are committed to a non-violent path out of this nightmare. But while they have no shortage of bravery, they are short of funds. They are asking for financial and other support -- for needs ranging from urgent medical help to ads and public messages urging soldiers to refuse to shoot protestors.
Click here to watch the harrowing video appeal and donate to help the Syrians' crucial efforts:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syria_stand_with_the_protesters/?vl
The heart-rending siege of the cities of Dera'a and Banias, the mass arrest and torture of more than 5,000 peaceful demonstrators, the total ban on foreign reporting (including the disappearance of Al Jazeera journalist Dorothy Parvaz), and the staggering death toll countrywide are fueling citizens' demands for real, democratic reform. Experts say the regime has reached the point of no return, and that the best hope for peace is to get trusted figures close to the regime to break off and demand an end to the violence.
A raft of resignations and defections show emerging cracks in the regime, which activists can help widen, particularly as the violence intensifies and international pressure increases.
Backed by thousands of Avaaz members, citizen journalists have bravely brought the images of the protests to the world's media. Reuters, CNN, BBC, Associated Press and Al Jazeera have all been using their footage and photographs -- often the only such material available to the international press amidst the government's attempted blackout. Now, as the violence worsens, peaceful activists are calling on the Avaaz community to help escalate their advocacy and organizing efforts.
We can help by funding ad campaigns and public messages urging soldiers to stop the violence, travel costs for high-level advocacy, safer communications equipment, phone bills, expert advisers on legal reforms and other assistance, including urgent medical and legal contingencies. If enough of us join together, we can sustain courageous activists' crucial push for peace and reform, and maintain the momentum of people power across the region.
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syria_stand_with_the_protesters/?vl
Avaaz members have played a key role in supporting people-powered movements in the Middle East. Several Avaaz contacts have disappeared or been wounded during the horrific wave of repression. But they are determined to keep pressing for human rights and freedom, even in the face of terrible violence -- let's muster all the strength of our community to support their struggle and their courage.
In solidarity,
Stephanie, David, Mohammad, Rewan, Brianna, Andrew, Alice, Ricken, Sam and the rest of the Avaaz team
SOURCES
Syria: Tanks 'deploy around Rastan' after protests, BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13279262
Syrian ruling party members defect en masse, Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0428/Syrian-ruling-party-members-defect-en-masse
Avaaz mentioned in piece on current situation in Syria, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/05/syria.unrest/
UN panel proffers diluted rebuke, Montreal Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/world/panel+proffers+diluted+rebuke/4703949/story.html
Deraa must be allowed to receive aid and siege lifted, NGO tells Syria, The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/04/deraa-syria-assad
Syria: Is Assad's clan turning against him?, Time
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2067087-1,00.html
Avaaz.org is an 8-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
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