This is gaining steam! More than 700,000 signatures, thousands of
tweets and messages, and diplomats showing interest. Let's get to a
million now! Here's the email --
Dear friends,
Just weeks ago the kids in this image were gassed to death in their sleep.
There is one peaceful way to stop these massacres - if Iran and the US
sit down to talks and bring the warring parties to the table to get a
ceasefire. For the first time the two Presidents are showing dialogue is
possible. Let's tell them the world wants talks to start saving lives
now! Sign up:
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Just weeks ago the kids in this image were gassed to death in their sleep, but it feels the world has forgotten them and got stuck in a debate between US strikes or doing nothing.
Now there is a glimmer of hope for a peaceful way to stop these massacres.
Syria's bloody war has been fuelled by rivalry between Iran, Assad's
main backer, and the US and their allies. But this vile chemical attack
has changed their discourse: Iran’s new moderate president condemned the
gassing and Obama signalled he'd work with "anybody" to resolve the
conflict. Let's urgently
call on both leaders to sit down to talks and bring the warring parties together before any more lives are lost.
Right now, the global drums of war are beating over Syria, but
if enough of us make sure Rouhani and Obama know the world wants bold diplomacy, we could end the nightmare for thousands of terrified Syrian children under threat of new gas attacks. We have no time to lose.
Click now to join this urgent call -- when we reach one million signers we will deliver the petition directly to the two presidents:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/solution_for_syria_loc_rb/?brkDZcb&v=29042
Syria’s one of the most brutal wars of our generation, and this chemical
attack on innocent civilians is the worst our world has seen in 30
years.
The world has a responsibility to protect Syrians from extermination,
but for two years the international community has been shamefully
gridlocked and has failed the innocent victims. Now, despite
overwhelming evidence that Assad’s forces launched the attack, Syria’s
backers have sown doubt and, wary of war, the world is unsure about a
humanitarian intervention. These
talks are a new chance to stop the bloodshed.
It's always been believed that the US would never talk to Iran and that
Iran would never help the US solve the Syrian crisis, but current
evidence points to change and hope.
President Obama may launch
strikes, but he has no public support for a longer war, and he is
looking for a way out of a sustained conflict. And 130 members of
the US Congress are calling on President Obama to talk with Iran. A
massive global public push for diplomacy right now could push Obama
towards talks.
Iran's former President Ahmadinejad spent billions supplying cash and weapons to the Assad regime. But the new President
Rouhani was elected on a ticket to build bridges with the West and favours a political settlement with the Syrian opposition.
The chemical attack is eroding Iranian public support for Assad,
rekindling painful memories of Iraq’s gas attacks on Iran, and insiders
say pressure is building to reconsider Iran's support for Assad. This
could be a tipping point to bring Rouhani to the table.
Talks won't stop the horror overnight, but there is no quick and easy solution.
We urgently need to get started on a path that can stop the killing of
innocent children and bring the world closer together rather than tear
us further apart. Let’s get the US and Iran to start talks now:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/solution_for_syria_loc_rb/?brkDZcb&v=29042
A roadmap has already been put in motion for a Syrian peace process in
Geneva, but this is the first time there could be the political will to
overlook all the differences and sit down.
Iran is the only country in the world with sufficient influence in Syria to push the regime to the table.
Russia, another key ally of Assad, has said it will come to the table.
And the US, with its Middle East allies, can push the opposition to sit
down.
It took the horror of the Second World War to get the United Nations and the Declaration of Human Rights. Maybe
the
horror of Syria might finally push the US and Iran, and their moderate
presidents, to address longstanding differences and build the basis for a
more lasting peace for Syria and the region, with consequences for a
host of global issues from nuclear proliferation to peace in Israel and
Palestine. Our community has stood by the Syrian people from the very
beginning. Now they need us more than ever.
Let's give it our best shot.
With hope,
Alice, Luis, Ian, Emily, Bissan, Antonia, Ricken, Lisa, Mais and the whole Avaaz team
PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start
yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917
More information:
Syria Offers Opportunity For US-Iran Talks (Al Monitor)
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/syria-opportunity-iran-us-talks.html
Drawing a Line on Syria, U.S. Keeps Eye on Iran Policy (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/world/middleeast/drawing-a-line-on-syria-us-eyes-iran-talks.html?ref=world&_r=1&
No, Iran Doesn't Need Assad (The Atlantic)
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/09/no-iran-doesn-t-need-assad/279340/
For Syria’s sake, end Iran’s isolation (Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/03/for-syria-sake-end-iran-isolation
Iran ex-president says Syria government launched gas attacks: news agency (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/01/us-syria-crisis-iran-rafsanjani-idUSBRE98007R20130901
Over 130 Reps. Sign Bipartisan Dent-Price Letter to President Urging Diplomacy on Iran
http://price.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3439:over-130-reps-sign-bipartisan-dent-price-letter-to-president-urging-diplomacy-on-iran&catid=100:press-releases
Iran's Rouhani acknowledges chemical weapons killed people in Syria (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/24/us-syria-crisis-iran-idUSBRE97N06P20130824
Can Syrian Chemical Weapons Issue Lead to US-Iran Opening? (Al Monitor)
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/week-in-review-chemical-weapons-possible-us-strike-on-syria.html#ixzz2drRWTAPx
