Online petitions

[justginger]

Does anyone think they work? Do they bring about any real change?

Case in point: A woman I went to college with was arrested yesterday in the Maldives, presumably for being heavily involved in pro-democracy activities. Their current government overthrew the previous president by military coup and she is actively protesting their new control.

Her online petition has 2,000ish signatures. The goal is 4,000.

But...why would the new president, who snatched control by military force, give a crap about 4,000 online signatures? I think there is a real risk of her health and life in her current situation, but I just don't know how signing my name on a web browser is going to do anything.

Her university advisor has publicly and personally asked Obama to step in and grant her political asylum in the US. Perhaps pressure to HIM is better placed than pressure to a foreign leader?

Does anyone else hesitate to sign petitions, simply for the pointlessness of it?

 

[oranges]

WOW! That is so scary. I think that the online petition if it went viral could pressure Obama into action or another US political figure (hey the election IS coming-- have to save face, right)... but I don't think that a crazy militant in the Maldives would care. Where is the petition? I think that maybe PSer's could sign it to show support.

 

[JewelFreak]

In cases like that, I agree with you -- doubt a dictator gives a rat's you-know-what about an online petition. Also doubt it would motivate our prez to help -- only publicity does that. She isn't a U.S. citizen -- he has no standing, really, to ask for her release. She's a brave girl.

I used to sign them when I agreed with them, but no longer, after discovering some had been going around the web for years. There's also a chance it's a way to get names, internet addresses, town you live in if requested. You never know if the petition has been delivered; you don't know if people signed 40 times w/different names. So many hackers & viruses, I just steer clear of possibly giving them another way into my computer. If I had faith they worked, it would be different.

--- Laurie

 

[justginger]

Well, regardless of whether anyone was paying the petition any mind, it appears that in this specific case, a resolution has come about. The woman was seen in court and released on condition that she not participate in any democratic rallies for a period of 21 days. Seems fairly, well, democratic!

 

[oranges]

Well that's good! Hopefully she stays under the radar!