Avaaz.org is a community of global citizens who take action on the major issues facing the world today. The aim of Avaaz.org is to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decisions. Avaaz.org members act for a more just and peaceful world and a globalisation with a human face.

Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means “voice” in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.

To stay independent, Avaaz takes no money from corporations or governments so building the Crisis Action Fund is up to individual Avaaz members.

Over the last year, we’ve shown together that global people power can make a decisive difference in moments of global emergency. So when the next crisis hits like the recent flare-ups in Pakistan, Kenya, or Gaza we want the best strategy, not budget constraints, to guide our actions.

That’s why we’re launching the 2008 Crisis Action Fund. Our goal is to raise 50,000 Euros this week to fund rapid-response advocacy as crises break throughout the coming year. The money could pay for rallies in cities across the globe; it could buy vital communications equipment for endangered democracy activists; it could fund emergency media campaigns - whatever will have the greatest impact when our voice is needed the most.

What kind of rapid response are we talking about? Here are some examples from 2007:

* Burma: When news broke in October of the violent crackdown against protesting monks, Avaaz members scrambled into action. Within 96 hours, more than half a million people called on the Chinese government to intervene, and Avaaz ran the total count in a full-page ad in one of the most influential global newspapers. Shamed, China successfully pushed Burma to start talks with the UN and with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

* Global poverty: When World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz’s personal corruption undermined the bank’s effort to encourage good government, Avaaz members joined the cry for new leadership. With global media looking on we hand-delivered 50,000 signatures to World Bank Headquarters. Wolfowitz resigned days later.

* Global warming: During the Bali climate change summit, Avaaz members confronted obstructionist governments in real time throughout the negotiations by flooding our officials with phone calls and letters and funding rapid-response ad campaigns in response to each day’s events. In the final moments, more than 320,000 Avaaz members spoke out against the attempt by the US, Canada, and Japan to scuttle an agreement. This massive, rapid public pressure helped to turn the tide.

To find out more about Avaaz.org click here