From: "Lev Lafayette" <lev@levlafayette.com>

On Mon, April 7, 2014 5:58 pm, Trent W. Buck wrote:

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Russell Coker wrote:

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Often a petition gets a result after other measures have failed.

Citation needed.

The 2007 UK road pricing and car tracking petition is a good example of success after normal lobbying failed.

Perhaps some of Avaaz's successes can be considered as well.

I am involved in Amnesty International campaigns and some actions can report success afterwards. It is hard to say how much of it can be contributed to the online petitions. BTW: I am putting time and money in for these causes, Tim. I am pretty sure others do too. You are invited to come along on Sunday and speak to people, there is a Palm Sunday Refugee Rally at 2pm starting at the State Library: http://www.chilout.org/palm-sunday-refugee-rallies-walk-for-jus Looking at this site: "UN denied access to Australia's detention facilities on Nauru http://t.co/BarOv33654 180 children locked up here" It is obvious that we are even too ashamed to show the world how we treat refugees. This explains Julie Bishop's claims in London. They were not made for our ears. I, personally, find this country is settling for a "new rich" attitude. The Australian spirit I have felt in 1997, an open, optimistic country: it seems to be a thing of a past. I was at a house warming party last weekend. Two people, no kids, four bedrooms, two lounges to play football in, three toilets.. well, that's the spirit of today. And the camps, set up in paranoid fear because someone may come and take something away. The couple I mentioned are Chinese. They just do what they are told to do in this society. Wealth is what counts. That's what they learn over in China. China is a cartoon version of capitalism. Our political discussions are mirroring this spirit and confirm their views. Our voices are needed to keep a democratic country where people care for each other. The "refugee issue" is not just about refugees. It is about the way we want to live. Not every campaign will be a success. I am aware of it. I do not know where we are heading. But I was around when one country changed. And it was much harder and needed much more courage to speak out then. Regards Peter