With your help, RootsAction has effectively used online petitions to oppose militarism. (See our list of successes.) Now we'd like to give you our tools and the expertise we've gained, so that you can create effective online petitions, we can help promote them, and we can advise you on the most effective way to craft them and use them offline and on. See: http://DIY.rootsaction.org
Two examples and some tips:
I. Veterans For Peace has just created this petition:
President Obama: Act to Avoid War over Ukraine
Exercise your considerable influence to immediately halt all military activities . . .
- Publicly disavow any wish to incorporate Ukraine into NATO . . .
- Schedule a meeting, one-on-one, with President Putin . . .
- End U.S. support for the Ukrainian government as long as it includes fascist elements . . .
Read more and,

II. U.S. Labor Against the War has just created this:
Don't Send U.S. Troops Back into Iraq
To: President Obama and Congress
We urge you to commit now to not send any U.S. troops back into Iraq. Our national policy has come full circle in 20 years, from arming Saddam Hussein to illegally attacking, invading, and occupying Iraq, and then back to arming another autocratic Iraqi government. The way to break out of this vicious cycle is to stop promoting violence. Do not send U.S. troops back into a disastrous sectarian conflict in support of another ruthless autocrat. Our experience there should have taught us a lesson.
Learn more and,

III. Now it's your turn!
Six U.S. cities have passed resolutions against drones. Here's a sample petition to advance such an effort in your town.
You can start a petition on any topic. Here's our most important advice to get you started.
Go to http://DIY.rootsaction.org
Click on "Start a Campaign."
The most important thing you write is the title. It should be a clear action, directing someone to do something. You may want to survey your friends and allies. Choose carefully. Edit as needed. Some examples, bad and good:
BAD: Uranium is Dangerous to the Environment
BAD: Don't Reverse Undoing the Hold Blocking Bill Number 46 on Uranium
GOOD: Don't Dig Up Uranium in Virginia
GOOD: Don't Lift the Ban on Uranium Mining in Virginia
Whom are you Petitioning? In this box put the name of your local government or of the person or business or entity that you are addressing with the petition and seeking to influence. Be formal and accurate and respectful with the name.
What do you want them to do? Be concise. What specific action do you want taken? Put that in this box. Don't add adjectives or explanations or motivations. That comes below. Remember: Less is more. You want busy people to sign this petition!
Why is this important? Now, in this box you should explain persuasively why the above action should be taken. Be concise, restrained, accurate, and to the point. Refer to additional sources of information if needed, rather than trying to include a treatise in this little box. Give us the basics, a few sentences, or a short list. Cite authoritative sources that back you up.
Where? If it's not a global or national action, type the location accurately in this box. Otherwise we can't help you promote it to the right people who will help you build a movement and take this online activity into the real world.
It's that easy!
Give it a try: http://DIY.rootsaction.org
If you'd like more help, contact us at info@rootsaction.org
Please forward this message to organizations and individuals that might find it helpful.
-- The RootsAction.org team
P.S. RootsAction is an independent online force endorsed by Jim Hightower, Barbara Ehrenreich, Cornel West, Daniel Ellsberg, Glenn Greenwald, Naomi Klein, Bill Fletcher Jr., Laura Flanders, former U.S. Senator James Abourezk, Coleen Rowley, Frances Fox Piven, and many others.
P.P.S. This work is only possible with your financial support. Please donate.
www.RootsAction.org
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