Hullo everyone,

At one time or another, you may have received an electronic petition
- typically "chain-letter" style with a request to add your
name to a list of names if you support the cause discussed in the
email, to forward the request to as many as you can after appending
your name, and to forward this email back to the organisers if you
are at a certain position in the list. This techtip addresses the
issue of electronic petitions. For queries regarding this tip, or
requests for tips, please write to [email protected]

Regards,

Dorothy

ADVOCACY ONLINE - DESIGNING ELECTRONIC PETITIONS

Most email users have received their fair share of email petitions --
on topics ranging from the support of Afghan women's rights to ending
the dolphin slaughter in Japan. These types of messages are frequently
revealed as hoaxes or campaigns, but the question remains: why are
email petitions such a bad thing in the first place? The E-Petition
website explains why you shouldn't use, or forward, email petitions
(ever!), and provides lots of great links that will legitimately
support advocacy work online: http://www.e-petition.org

Available at http://www.e-petition.org is the following:
- examples of email petitions that did not work
- the bad news about email petitions, why "chain letter"-style
e-petitions do not work
- the good news about e-petitions, and suggestions on how to
conduct effective e-petitions
- examples of effective web-based petitions
- examples of organisations that use e-petitions effectively

While the good examples listed at http://www.e-petition.org
are web-based, you may sometimes need, or be constrained, to use
email methods. Here is one way you can organise an email-based
petition:
a) discuss/describe your cause and provide contact
information for interested people to learn more
b) request all interested in the petition to send their
name, organisation, country, or other pertinent information directly
to you
c) specify the kind of individuals, organisations, networks to
whom the e-petition could be forwarded to
d) if possible, include a deadline after which additions to the
petition will be closed
e) be prepared to potentially handle several emails a day

In conclusion, e-petitions can be a quick and easy way to
drawing attention to one's cause, however, it is important to
understand how to make effective use of this strategy.

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