Stop Fracking In South Africa

Fracking is a disastrous and harmful practice, and South Africa's beautiful Karoo region is now under threat.

Tens of thousands of square kilometres of South Africa’s beautiful Karoo region are being threatened by a polluting and extremely water-intensive method of natural gas extraction called fracking.

Tell the South African government to protect this extremely water-stressed and ecologically sensitive area and ban fracking.

Numerous instances of catastrophic groundwater and air pollution as well as devastating health impacts on humans and animals have been documented in the USA where fracking has experienced an unprecedented boom in recent years.

This supposedly clean technology is no answer to climate change either. When its entire lifecycle is considered, natural gas produced by fracking has been shown to have a carbon footprint that is comparable to or substantially larger than that of coal.

It’s not too late. Right now, South Africa is in a position to learn from the negative American experience with fracking and to avoid its devastating consequences by denying Shell and other oil and gas companies permission to use it in the country.

You can help us convince the South African government to put an end to this insanity by signing our petition to stop fracking in the Karoo. »

Release Ai Weiwei Chinese Government

Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei's famous work - Bird's Nest

Ai Weiwei is the most famous artist in China, best known for his iconic "Bird's Nest" stadium that was the focal point of the Beijing Olympics.

Ai has always pushed the envelope, both with his internationally-acclaimed art and with his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government.

But these past weeks have brought Beijing's harshest crackdown on dissidents in more than a decade. And on April 3rd, government agents arrested Ai at the Beijing airport and seized papers and computers from his studio.

We don't know where Ai is now. The Chinese government is holding him on flimsy charges of "economic crimes" -- an allegation often used to silence dissenters.

Twelve leading figures in the international arts world, including the directors of the Guggenheim, Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, and Tate Museum, have started a petition on Change.org demanding that the Chinese government free Ai Weiwei.

The regime in Beijing has proven largely resistant to pressure from foreign governments. But they've made a huge push to raise China's profile in the arts -- the government just finished building the world's largest art museum. Widespread condemnation, led by the arts community, may be our best chance to save his life.

Please sign the petition to free Ai Weiwei as soon as possible:

http://www.change.org/petitions/call-for-the-release-of-ai-weiwei?alert_id=ZntTBqdKpo_TZyYBXEytZ&me=aa

War Against Corrective Rape Is Going Strong!

A small group of lesbian activists from the poverty-stricken townships of Cape Town walked into South African parliament on Monday and convinced their government to finally start fighting the country’s decades-old scourge of "corrective rape" -- where men rape lesbian women to "turn" them straight. .

Late last year, these activists called on the world to help them pressure their leaders to take action on corrective rape. People from over 163 countries signed up petitions to help them out.

Three and a half months later, they succeeded. Teaming up with 23 major South African organizations, they got some of the most powerful officials in the country to agree to bring together various government arms and civil society groups to develop and implement a national action plan to combat corrective rape.

The ministry officials asked for details of specific cases in need of immediate attention, committed to a series of meetings beginning in six weeks, and promised to present concrete proposals to prevent corrective rape by the next meeting.

The petitions by people from all over the world led to the international press coverage of the campaign, taking corrective rape from an unspoken epidemic to a prominent international issue. In the last two weeks alone, the campaign against corrective rape has been covered by Time Magazine, the Washington Post, USA Today, Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Globe, Miami Herald, Seattle Times, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, Fox News, MSNBC, Dan Rather, Forbes, Yahoo! News, Salon, and dozens of global outlets from Taiwan, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, Spain, and even a Finnish tabloid.

It’s an astounding victory, far beyond what we ever could have imagined when we set out late last year. Please sign up the following petition to continue building up pressure on the government against corrective rape.

Take Action Here.

Education Emergency

Pakistan is suffering an education emergency, with at least 25 million children denied their constitutional right to an education.

Few of those children who do go to school receive the quality education they need to prosper in the modern world. The economic impact of the emergency is catastrophic – billions of rupees a year – while the human cost is much greater.

Let’s join together to force Pakistan’s leaders to finally get serious about providing every child with a decent school and a committed teacher. Sign our petition to make ending the education emergency the country’s no 1 priority.

3 Reasons for signing this petition

• Because the cost of not educating Pakistan is the equivalent of one flood per year.
• Because we have the money. 26 countries are poorer than Pakistan but are able to send more children to school.
• Because a country cannot thrive in the modern world without educating its children. It is a fundamental right under our constitution.

To Pakistan’s Prime Minister and Chief Ministers

We call on you to make education your number one priority in 2011 – the Year of Education – and to set out plans for giving every child their constitutional right to education. At a time of fiscal crisis, we ask you protect education budgets and to explain how, and when, they can be increased to at least 4% of GDP.

http://educationemergency.com.pk/

Education is the right of every kid. Please sign this petition. It won’t even take a minute. Thank you so much!

Those Who Were Burned Alive

One month ago, a tragic and preventable fire claimed the lives of 28 factory workers in Bangladesh while making clothes for luxury American brands. Gap, Calvin Klein & Tommy Hilfiger are a few companies that are taking the first steps toward providing just compensation for the families of those killed and instituting an urgent program of factory inspections. But Abercrombie & Fitch, Target, JC Penney, Jansport, North Face, OshKosh B’Gosh and the other clothing brands are still dragging their feet. 

We need to put pressure on these companies to begin an immediate inspection of their factories to prevent any more fatalities. The workers are generally young, poor and females. On December 14, more than two dozen of them were burned alive when an easily preventable fire broke out in the unsafe, multi-story sweatshop they were working in. The tragedy began when a fire broke out on the ninth and 10th floors of the multi-story "That's It Sportswear" clothing factory just north the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. With a number of the exits blocked, 28 workers were killed: most burned to death, some trampled to death, some killed by suffocation and others jumped from the flames to their death. Several dozen more suffered severe burns.

Please take action and sign the following petition so that big companies make sure this does not happen again to many other hardworking people who merely go to their factories for their bread and butter.

Petition For Those Who Were Burned Alive

Source: Change.Org

Declare 'Corrective Rape' a Hate-Crime

"Corrective Rape" is a term used to describe when a male rapes a lesbian with the aim of 'turning' her heterosexual!

This heinous crime is prolific in South Africa, especially in the "townships".

The South African government and justice system are failing the victims of Corrective Rape by letting the perpetrators out on ridiculously low bail, and taking literally years to bring the court-cases to a conclusion. In the meantime the victims have to live with seeing and being taunted and threatened by their rapists every day, as do those who help the victims.

In the last 10 years:

*31 lesbian women have been murdered because of their sexuality

*More than 10 lesbians a week are raped or gang raped in Cape Town alone

*150 women are raped every day in South Africa

*For every 25 men accused of rape in South Africa, 24 walk free

Despite all this, hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation are not recognised by South African law!

Therefore, please sign up to make sure you that you think corrective rape is also a heinous crime that needs to be dealt with seriously.

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/south_africa_declare_corrective_rape_a_hate-crime

Request Jamie Freeze to remove offensive dehumanizing headline in her story titled HE/SHE/IT

41% of all Transgender people attempt suicide at one time or another in their life. We need to try and help bring that number down. Life, in general, is very difficult for transgender humans. They have to face ridicule, discrimination, unemployment, homelessness and sometimes just having no hope whatsoever.

The last thing someone in such a vulnerable community needs to see is to be referred to as "It". This is by far the worst name you can call someone who is transgender. Everyone in the world knows this accept Jamie Freeze, who believe it or not, is a law student.

Please let Jamie Freeze and Renew America know what you think about this.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/request-jamie-freeze-to-remove-offensive-dehumanizing-headline-in-her-story-titled-hesheit/

Save the Yellowstone Bison!

America's last free-roaming wild bison are being slaughtered on a scale not seen since the 1800s. And hundreds more are slated to be killed.

1,600 bison were killed in the winter of 2007/2008 -- more than a quarter of the wild population. This is no way to manage one of the icons of the American West -- especially in a state that prides itself as a destination for wildlife-seeking tourists.

Take action now! Write to the Montana Promotion Division -- the state%u2019s tourism officials -- and speak out for sensible management of these American icons!

Please sign this petition…thank you!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/save-the-yellowstone-bison/

Save The Wolves From Aerial Hunting

Right now, we need your help to end the brutal and unfounded aerial wolf killing programs that have already claimed the lives of more than 1,000 of these magnificent animals.

Take action now to help save these wolves -- sign our petition to urge the Obama administration to put an end to unscientific and brutal aerial wolf-killing in Alaska.

Easy targets against fallen snow, wolves are gunned down from airplanes or chased to exhaustion, then shot at point-blank range. State-licensed riflemen can target entire packs -- even pregnant wolves!

Defenders of Wildlife has long led the fight to rein in out-of-control aerial wolf killing and promote sound management of wolves in Alaska. We were able to stop this terrible practice twice, only to see it started up again after two years. But, with the anti-wolf Bush/Cheney administration now gone from the White House, we have renewed hope that we can end these awful programs once and for all.

It’s not wolf management. It’s a wolf massacre. Please take action now to save these wolves.

Ban Irish Fox Hunting

Target: The mission is to ban "the hunt" in Ireland and get it reinforced!

Web site: http://www.banbloodsports.com/foxhunting.htm

Fox hunting is cruel and there's no reason to do it, apart from the fact that they're vermin. This petition is to ban irish fox hunting until the deer culling season which is usually in November.

Numbers taken per year from an anto fox hunting site:
Foxes killed: 15000
Human killed in accidents: 3
Pups and hounds killed: 6000
Vet fees for horses: £15 million
Injuries to hounds: 1000
Injuries to those on foot: 500
Total blood spilt: 1 ton plus
Policing costs (paid by taxpayers): over £1 million

That's just the grounds, please sign this petition and ban the hounds tearing these animals apart!!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-irish-fox-hunting.html

U.S.- Close the "Generic Tiger" Loophole

In the United States, thousands of tigers languishing in tiny, filthy cages and are dropping off the radar daily as there is no one monitoring what happens to them next.

"Generic tigers" that are inbred, crossbred or otherwise not considered purebred, are discarded into the pet trade, warehoused in tiny, barren cells or worse; ending up on dinner menus, skinned, stuffed or disappearing into the black market trade.

Back in the 1980s the US Fish & Wildlife Service decided it was too much bother to deal with every back yard breeder who wanted a permit to breed tigers, so they created a "generic tiger" loophole. It essentially states that if you are not a legitimate American Zoological Association accredited zoo, which must conform to permitting requirements to breed purebred tigers, then you can breed, exploit and discard tigers at will and with virtually no oversight.

Tiger breeding requires a costly permit that insures the lifetime care of a tiger. Please sign this petition. This is not the right way to treat any animal. We need 1000 signatures. Take out a minute & sign it…thank you!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/us--close-the-generic-tiger-loophole/

Help Me Provide Meals For Abandoned Cats

Help provide meals for abandoned cats and together we can help make a difference. Every signature will bring a helpless cat that much closer to receiving a meal they may desperately need. Thank you!

Well we need 2000 signatures & only 251 people have signed. If you believe in this cause, then just take out a minute & sign this petition.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/help-me-provide-meals-for-abandoned-cats/

Ban Gin Traps

GIN TRAPS– horrible, mechanical devices, designed to grasp an animal by the leg using spring-operated metal jaws. In their desperation to escape the pain and terror of being trapped, the captured animal will sometimes bite off the limb that has been caught. The use of gin traps has been illegal in the UK since 1958 and is banned in 90 other countries around the world.

The Government of South Africa is now proposing new legislation which appears to have re-named Gin Traps as ‘Soft Traps’ – a totally misleading name for such a nasty, cruel device. The legislation, if approved, will permit the continued use of these soft traps.

There is ample scientific evidence to show that even if an innocent animal survives the trapping, it often ends up with damaged tendons or ligaments in its efforts to escape. Trapped animals still suffer from torsion injuries, fractures, soft tissue damage and other limb injuries. Innocent animals caught by mistake often have to be euthanized as a result.

Please sign the petition…thank you!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ban-leg-hold-traps/

Save the Desert Tortoise and its Habitat

A company in Southern California is moving forward with plans to build a solar energy plant in California's Mojave Desert. While this is no doubt a stride toward energy-efficiency, it's a step back for animal life conservation. The solar plant is being built atop land that is home to desert tortoises. The tortoises then wander away from their habitat, where they are susceptible to predators and other unfamiliar factors.

Implementing solar technology is important, but it cancels out the benefits when it stands to destroy precious animal species. Write to the CEO of BrightSource Energy, the company that's building the solar plant, asking him to reconsider the location of the solar plant in order to preserve the lives of the tortoises.

Please sign this petition…thank you!

http://www.therainforestsite.com/clickToGive/campaign.faces?siteId=4&adId=59501&placementId=169256&campaign=DesertTortoise

Save over 200,000 seals with your signature

Yet again, we have a difficult situation at hand. It's the grey seals in Canada that are in trouble. Authorities there feel that these grey seals are killing the cods in the waters, which is not true as they are depleting due to continuous over fishing for many years. The goal is to get 30,000 signatures and right now we have more than 14,000. So, kindly sign and forward the message around after reading the whole story.

A recent report brought to light a proposal prepared for the Government of Canada that would see 220,000 grey seals killed and incinerated in their protected Sable Island nursery.

To reach the proposed number of 220,000 seals, the cull and disposal program would run at birthing time each year for about five years and cost Canadian taxpayers an estimated $35 million. Please urge the Canadian government to categorically reject this outrageous proposal.

Of course, this disgusting grey seal massacre will not help the recovery of depleted cod stocks. Culling of marine mammals has never been shown to benefit any commercial fish stock. According to your own scientists, the current state of cod stocks is the result of the long-term effects of overfishing — not grey seals.  

Please sign up:

Petition to save 200,000 grey seals in Canada

Ban Greyhound Racing in Florida in 2011

The state of Florida is one of only seven states in the U.S. that still allows the "sport" of greyhound racing to continue within its borders. Recently, in Ebro, Florida, a racetrack owner was arrested on suspicion of having killed at least 32 of his dogs. The racing park in Ebro is also under investigation on suspicion of animal neglect and cruelties, as many of the dogs are left to suffer when the racing season is not underway.

While the Florida legislature has, in the past, worked to prop up this failing industry, it is long past due for them to take steps to get rid of it entirely. Let the lawmakers in the Sunshine State know that you want to see an end to this cruel form of entertainment.

Please take action and sign up...

Ban Greyhound Racing in 2011

Pass the Great Ape Protection Act

Please sign the petition below. The target is 20,000 signs and just a few more signatures are needed. Stand up against the inhumane research practices conducted on chimps.

Chimpanzees will gingerly fold a napkin in their lap before picking up a fork to eat. When dressing, they'll methodically choose their favorite outfit.

And now there's a chance to protect them from inhumane, inefficient, and increasingly obsolete research in the United States.

Protect apes from inhumane research in the U.S.»

The Great Ape Protection Act would:

* phase out the use of chimps in invasive research in the U.S.
* retire the 500 government owned chimps to sanctuaries
* make the National Institute of Health's decision to end breeding on government owned chimps statutory

The difference between human and chimp DNA causes significant discrepancies in our immune systems -- a major roadblock in medical research. New, humane, animal-free testing methods are gaining popularity and credibility.

Source: www.care2.com

No Benazir Monuments Plz

Dear Friends,

I have just read and signed the online petition:

"1 Billion Rupees for Flood Relief - not Monument" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free online petition
service, at:

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/flood786/

I personally agree with what this petition says, and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look, and consider
signing yourself.

Pakistanis surely don't need a monument for Benazir Bhutto at this point in time of our history. Please stand up against this stupidity. Be a human! Be a Pakistani!

Justice for the 2 innocent boys

Some incidents just leave one speechless – this is certainly one of them. We need to protest against this horrendous act. Morons have been killing robbers in Karachi & people kept mum about it. At that time, they were killing criminals & now they have gone ahead in Sailkot, they have started killing innocent teenagers.

This has been the most horrifying incident in which humans have crossed all the boundaries of insanity. No one has the right to kill anyone & here these people killed 2 innocent boys right in front of some corrupt policemen & countless other silent spectators. Who has given them the authority to torture humans in the 1st place? Culprits ought to be punished no matter what. These boys were just teenagers (aged 15 & 17). That’s the time when one wants to experience all the beautiful. That’s not the time to be lynched by morons & that too on a false charge. These boys were tortured for 2 hours…They were just beaten by iron rods & wooden sticks; they were later on hanged to the tree & even carried around in truck. Even animals do not kill other animals like this. This incident just proves how low humans can stoop.

Culprits are not just those who tortured them to death. Culprits are all those people who didn’t do anything to stop this madness.

Please sign this petition. Thank you!

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38585.html

PS Guys, one of the pic is quite graphic, but I have uploaded it, so that people can see what happened in the month of Ramazan when we are supposed to fast, but some people were busy killing 2 innocent boys.