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  • FRIDAY FEBRUARY 2 2007 3:00 PM

Internet Advocacy. It Works.

Submitted by rouser_of_rabble

Edited by Rahodeb

Tags: petitions, Internet Advocacy, activism, shark finning, Oceana, Amazon.com, shark fin soup



So my first ever post on this site set off, among other things, a debate on the efficacy of Internet advocacy (try saying that three times fast). Since I’m going to be writing about and linking to a lot of petitions and e-mail writing campaigns in the future, I figured I might as well address this issue now.

First, all of us need to and ideally will do way more than just sign online petitions and write e-mails. I certainly won’t deny that. However, signing Internet petitions or sending e-mails isn’t an either/or proposition. Just because you sign an online petition doesn’t mean you’re then not going to go out and do something else. More than likely, it’s actually the case that you’ll either sign the petition or do nothing. So there’s nothing lost by participating.

Furthermore, Internet advocacy is effective. I can prove it. There are scores of examples but this is the most recent one that I know of: on January 8th of this year Oceana sent out an e-mail to it’s members asking them to write Amazon.com and demand that they stop selling Shark Fin Soup on their website. Oceana was on this issue because:

Shark finning involves cutting off the shark’s fins while it is still alive, and then tossing the body back into to the sea, dead or dying.

In just a few days over 14,000 people e-mailed Amazon.com demanding they stop selling Shark Fin Soup. And by January 24th Amazon.com announced they would no longer carry it.

It’s hard to argue that this particular online action wasn’t successful. It very clearly was and it took all of 16 days to effect change. This may not have been the biggest victory in the history of online activism, but it certainly serves as a good example of what can be done “just” by signing online petitions or sending e-mails.

I hope you’ll keep this example in mind as you see future alerts on this site, and realize that you can in fact make a difference.

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Comments
ardour

ardour

Canada
March 2006

FEB 02, 2007 03:03 PM

Even if it doesn't change much, it can get the word out, and who knows what that can change in the future.

Rahodeb

Rahodeb

Los Angeles, CA
March 2006

FEB 02, 2007 03:15 PM

I first learned about shark finning about six years ago, and the practice has haunted me ever since. Glad Oceana was successful, at least in that small victory against Amazon. Hope to see the practice outlawed more and more in the future.

Calypso

Calypso

SUICIDEGIRL

California, USA

FEB 02, 2007 03:30 PM

Huzzah!

And, I agree completely ardour. If nothing else, people are educated through these efforts.

Cherry

Cherry

SUICIDEGIRL

British Columbia, Canada

FEB 02, 2007 03:36 PM

I'm really looking forward to reading more things posted by you.

BrightRedScream

BrightRedScream

Stoney Creek, ON
April 2005

FEB 02, 2007 04:04 PM

I'm one of those people who knows ALL about internet advocacy...
I have managed to get two special needs animals rehomed from my city when no one else wanted them and they were on the verge of going kennel crazy.

I have participated in posting animals in urgent need, and seen many of them get adopted - simply because MANY people are NOT aware of the many different rescues out there.

Continue doing what you're doing, I know that it DOES make a difference.

Rahodeb

Rahodeb

Los Angeles, CA
March 2006

FEB 02, 2007 04:36 PM

BrightRedScream said:
I'm one of those people who knows ALL about internet advocacy...
I have managed to get two special needs animals rehomed from my city when no one else wanted them and they were on the verge of going kennel crazy.

I have participated in posting animals in urgent need, and seen many of them get adopted - simply because MANY people are NOT aware of the many different rescues out there.

Continue doing what you're doing, I know that it DOES make a difference.



you are an inspiration smile

ReapTheFearer

ReapTheFearer

I'm lost
December 2005

FEB 02, 2007 04:40 PM

Why the fuck can't I buy Shark fin soup any more?

Next you'll want to ban Baby Seal pâté!

freshprncebelair

freshprncebelair

Ellicott City, MD
June 2004

FEB 02, 2007 08:58 PM

proximityeffect said:
Why the fuck can't I buy Shark fin soup any more?

Next you'll want to ban Baby Seal pâté!



I was actually surprised you could buy it on amazon of all places.

1justin

1justin

Toronto, ON
September 2006

FEB 03, 2007 04:29 AM

Hey, I never said the internet can't be an effective tool in changing the world. But I still haven't seen an internet petition get anything done.

So when you see one of those you want to post about, post an address of somebody in a position to do anything about the issue in question instead. Less people will do it, but even a dozen people sending an email will get the message across better than a dozen dozen people signing an internet petition.

And of course writing an actual letter or maybe leaving the house would be better still.

dem_z

dem_z

United Kingdom
June 2004

FEB 03, 2007 08:38 AM

Campaigning to send unsolicited bulk email? puke

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

FEB 03, 2007 08:51 AM

What about the local tribes and peoples of Oceania whose traditions and local economies thrive on shark-fin soup?

Chainlink

Chainlink

Key West, FL
August 2005

FEB 03, 2007 09:13 AM

EarlLinguist said:
What about the local tribes and peoples of Oceania whose traditions and local economies thrive on shark-fin soup?



let them eat cake ?

roshambo74

roshambo74

Hayward, CA
May 2005

FEB 03, 2007 09:34 AM

I'm all for helping out. Even for those that think it doesn't work, worst case scenario, you are making people in a company or industry aware that you know what is going on. If it even makes them think twice about their actions it's a good thing. Most things in this society are geared towards the consumer. We are the consumer. If companies know that people care, as the numbers grow they will have no choice but to pay attention. That being said, does anyone know how to get something going to stop Gary Bettman from breaking the NHL more than he already has?

bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

FEB 03, 2007 11:21 AM

dem_z said:
Campaigning to send unsolicited bulk email? puke



You've got to be kidding me. Where did anyone say anything at all about unsolicited bulk e-mail?

Quirky

Quirky

Birmingham, AL
October 2005

FEB 03, 2007 01:17 PM

chainlink said:

EarlLinguist said:
What about the local tribes and peoples of Oceania whose traditions and local economies thrive on shark-fin soup?



let them eat cake ?


let their traditions alone, and stop shoving you comfort-zone on them, maybe?

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