November 4 2008 was a great day for the world, for the environment, for visible and invisible minorities, for the oppressed and marginalized, for our unborn children and grandchildren. I feel compelled to write this because, for the first time in my life, a politician has managed to inspire and move me the way great art does.

Barack Obama appealed to our longing for a more just and sustainable society. And I believe that his appeal is sincere – otherwise I would not be so moved by his oratory. But – no matter how good his intentions - he will need help against the powerful lobby that will do everything it can to continue hijacking the common good.

We don’t have the money but we are many. So let’s ride this momentum and get to work; let’s put the public good back in public hands. I don’t want to be remembered as being part of a cynical generation; I want to be able to look back and say that I was a part of the generation that beat climate change by learning how to live sustainably. I want to be part of a generation that put human rights and citizens’ interests before those of corporations. If you feel the same way you might want to join me in sending a message to Obama that we’re behind him but also that we are keeping close watch to make sure he doesn’t succumb to the powerful interests that will try to get in the way of progress. How do you send that message? With the help of the good folks at Avaaz. Keep reading to find out how; it will only take a moment of your time.

Peace and blessings

/Johan

PS. Forgot what Obama’s platform was? Scroll down for ten central campaign promises that concern the world.

—-

Message from Avaaz:

Dear friends,

After 8 long years of Bush – finally a fresh start! Obama’s victory brings a chance for the US to finally join with the world community to take on pressing challenges on climate change, human rights, and peace. After years, even decades of distrust, let’s seize this moment of unity, reconciliation and hope to send a message of warm congratulations and invitation to work together to the new President and the American people. We’ve built a huge wall near the White House in Washington DC where the number of signatures on our message and personal messages from around the world will grow over the next several hours.

We’ve also asked Obama to personally receive our petition from a group of Avaaz members. Let’s get to 1 million signers and messages to Obama! Sign on at the link below and forward this email to others: http://www.avaaz.org/en/million_messages_to_obama

This is a time for celebration of democracy, but already the sharks are starting to circle – oil companies, war contractors, conservative lobbyists, and the powerful neo-con clique that brought us the war in Iraq are looking for ways to dim the prospects for change. Obama has promised national unity, and these interests will ask a high price for that unity.

Let’s act quickly to make sure the people of the world are heard as Obama makes crucial choices in the coming days on how to live up to his campaign promises to secure a strong global treaty on climate change, ban torture and close Guantanamo prison, withdraw carefully from Iraq, and double aid to make global poverty history. Rarely has a US President been more likely to listen to us. We’ll make the point that on most of the pressing issues faced by Obama and the American people – from the financial crisis to climate change — we need to work together as one world to achieve change. Sign below and forward this message on: http://www.avaaz.org/en/million_messages_to_obama

With hope, Ricken, Brett, Alice, Iain, Paula, Paul, Graziela, Pascal, Milena, Graziela and the whole Avaaz team.

PS – Send us pictures of yourself for our wall – email it to obamawall@avaaz.org

PPS – Here’s a link to a report on Avaaz’s past campaigning – http://www.avaaz.org/en/report_back_2/

PPPS – And here’s a list of 10 of Obama’s campaign promises that concern the world – you can find his full platform here http://www.barackobama.com/issues/:

• Reduce the US’s carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and play a strong positive role in negotiating a binding global treaty to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol
• Withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months and keep no permanent bases in the country
• Establish a clear goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons across the globe
• Close the Guantanamo Bay detention center
• Double US aid to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculoses and Malaria
• Open diplomatic talks with countries like Iran and Syria, to pursue peaceful resolution of tensions
• De-politicize military intelligence to avoid ever repeating the kind of manipulation that led the US into Iraq
• Launch a major diplomatic effort to stop the killings in Darfur
• Only negotiate new trade agreements that contain labor and environmental protections
• Invest $150 billion over ten years to support renewable energy and get 1 million plug-in electric cars on the road by 2015

——————————

——– ABOUT AVAAZ 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 Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Sydney and Geneva. Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don’t forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages!