Below is a link to a site run by UNIFEM. I would like as many people to add their name to this campaign for UNIFEM. They need something like 1000000 names and at the last count I noticed only had something like 240,000. The link is as follows;

http://www.unifem.org/campaigns/vaw/you_can_help.php

This should take you to their page where if you look carefully you will be able to find a square box which should take you to their section which requires just your name. Nothing else is needed, just your name and you should not receive spam either.

I would like to thank everybody for their participation and help in this campaign against violence against women.

Alistair

The only thing that bothers me about just how effective this will be is this. Asking for just your name, gives no idea of who is simply typing in ten zillion aliases...normally, they would be asking for at the very least your email address where they will send a confirmation email for you to click on a link to verify that you are who you say you are and wish your name to be added.
Exactly what are they going to do with this list of names? It doesnt look very well thought out or professionally done, I wont be signing until I can clarify that I am not simply wasting my time.

This is now my third attempt to actually try and write this out, sooo frustrating when your browser keeps either freezing or closing down of its own accord.

Sorry for the last link, it is right but not the proper one. This is the one you do need as it will take you straight to the homepage.

http://www.saynotoviolence.org

Now for explanations, the simpler solution is to actually pay a visit to this site but here goes anyway.

The United Nations New York, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, UNIFEM and its Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman as well as a large number of partners launched an internet campaign on November 26th on ending violence against women.

The Say no to Violence against Women campaign invites people all over the world to add their names to a virtual book on a website specifically created for this purpose.

Violence against women is an appalling human rights violation and must be stopped.

The idea of this is to send a stark and compelling voice or message to the decision makers of this world to place ending violence against women on the global agenda.

I hope this clarifies a lot of your questions Rocketgirl but if you need anything else just please follow the link and you will get all the info you need.

The more people put their names to this virtual book the more perhaps global leaders will look at this very seriously and actually do something about it.

I have other information about some other things if you are interested in getting more involved in campaigning against violence against women and children please let me know.

Thank you all for taking the time to read this topic.

Alistair

Ok, but it says no one's signed it yet? Only organisations, no individuals. Not even Nicole Kidman herself. "Add your name to the 0 people who have already signed", book page is empty.
Am I missing something?

Rocketgirl

Over 230,000 people have already signed this campaign.

This should be said on the homepage unless I am mis-reading this altogether.

Yeah, but the "book" to view all the names (with the a-z) is empty, and it says that 230,000 or whatever includes names on a separate Chinese website? (no link to it provided).
The 'organisation names' book has quite a few though.
Are you saying you can see your own name? Where?
I am totally confuddled.
Dont want to sign up and be a Billy No Mates!

I can see what you are saying Rocketgirl but I can promise you I have done similar things on at least a couple of other sites all of whom have told me they will either be or who have already signed into this book.

I have already added my name too but when I went to look via the A-Z for some reason could not load the letter with my name.

This may be a fault with UNIFEM's book or something but I have been going by what they have said. Maybe I made the wrong assumption, don't think I have but not sure.

Rocketgirl

Cannot see where you would be a billy no mates by signing. I must already be one if that is the case as I signed this a few months back;)

Trust the UN to cock up a simple thing like a web page!

Yes

Will you sign, please

Hope so

Hmmm, whilst I am the first to support causes and actions like this, I see little point in adding my name to an endless list of other names, when the list of names appears to serve no real purpose other than to say “I’ve added my name, I’ve been counted”.

At the end of the day, I believe this list of names has no real value. It’s a psychological thing - the real ‘value’ is that micro sites like that attract visitors to move on to the parent web site, where they then presented with various options of supporting a cause (i.e. volunteering, donations, etc); since one has already ‘signed’ their name to a particular campaign, many feel a moral or personal obligation to do something more practical than just add their name to a list.

I have nothing against this kind of marketing (which is indeed what it is, I have been asked to make similar micro web sites for charities, with the exact aim, outlined above, as the primary brief for the campaign), but would prefer to do something of more real value than add my name to a pretentious list.

Although I feel very strongly about violence against women (and any other vulnerable person), the majority of the UNIFEM campaigns appear to be toothless dogs.

I was so tempted to write

WOOF!

But then I thought better of it.

I would like to point out that I have absolutely nothing to do with UNIFEM nor the UN. I am merely a Joe Bloggs that feels very strongly towards campaigns like this.

As I do not live in a place like London I am unable to get practically or physically involved so have to deal with campaigns like that on the internet.

This is why I believe campaigns like this come out as there are perhaps more people likely to do something on the internet then in real term, this can be for numerous reasons but mine simply is that I do not live in an area that would allow me to travel economically to and from.

"Although I feel very strongly about violence against women (and any other vulnerable person), the majority of the UNIFEM campaigns appear to be toothless dogs".

This is exactly why I've not signed it yet.
Sorry Snoopy.
My next question was going to be "How do you think this 'book' will achieve its purpose?"
I really cant see world leaders - and lets face it, it's not just women and children who need protecting from violence around the world - are going to log onto Unifem's website, see a whole bunch of meaningless names (until I *see* this list of names myself, I will continue to believe alot of the signers are called the likes of Bugs Bunny, Adolf Hitler, Bruce Wayne etc.) Are these world leaders then going to say to themselves "Oooooh, we simply MUST do something about this!" ?
I don't think so.
Crikey, no offense meant to anyone (and half my family seem to have UN blood in their veins to be honest) but until the UN Peacekeepers can stop inadvertently harming women and children wherever they plant their reinforced hobnailed boots on this planet, I cant see an online 'book' swaying anyone with the power to do something constructive.
Grass Roots is the way to go, not the internet.

Sorry Snoopy, but well done you for having a passion for something!