Valentines needed year round

Although I've only just had a chance to briefly look at the Amnesty International blog (http://blog.amnestyusa.org/) it seems like it will become a part of a core human rights blogging network that I am trying to indentify in order to inform, inspire, and actively connect myself and others to real issues real people are dealing with in the world. With posts from different bloggers active with the agency around the world, it seems to give a quick spotlight on the issues most pertinent to the agency at any given moment. However, more than simply bring attention to an issue, the posts also seem to genuinely challenge people to action. Additionally, the blogger make it easy for readers to respond to this action inspiring rhetoric as posts frequently include links to ways to get involved. But just how effective is this "action campaign?"

While I am relatively new to the blogshpere, I am not all that new to the world of non profit agencies and their pleas for support. In that, I have seen quite a number of methods posed to the general public as means to getting involved. More often than not it includes writing a letter or e-mail to an elected representative of some city, organization, state, or nation. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure this is both needed and effective, but does the everyday person out there, the person working 60 hours a week to put food on the table for her family of five, really want to sit down after a long day and write a letter, even if doing so would personally benefit her family? While it is likely that these sorts of campaign are not meant to attract and engage the entire general public, but a subset of individuals truly passionate about one issue or another, I can't help but wonder if the most effective action campaigns are those that allow people to make an honest human connection.

I may have stumbled onto one such approach in reading the Amnesty International blog. One of the bloggers posting from Zimbabwe began her post on the day after Valentine's Day with the following: "I had a busy Valentine’s Day writing valentines to 75,000 Zimbabweans and a squadron of anti-riot police...Valentine’s Day is an important day for the grass roots organization Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). Founded on that day in 2003 with the mandate “the power of love is greater than the love of power,” it has grown to 75,000 women and men across the country that take to the streets every year in anniversary demonstrations to sing and dance as they march for greater human rights and civil liberties in Zimbabwe. These courageous women and men often face the violence of batons as anti-riot police disperse their marches.This year, Amnesty activists stand in solidarity with WOZA by sending valentines to the members showing our support; as well as valentines to the anti-riot police asking them to treat these non-violent activists with respect."

The blogger goes on to describe her day in more detail about her day, specccifically focusing on the efforts of WOZA in collaboration with supporters from around the world, supporters, the bloggers emphasize, could include you! I love the image of a group of grandmother, mothers, aunts, and daughters marching through the streets singing and handing out Valetines like roses and informational pamphlets. Even more than that, I love that I, and other readers like me, can be a part of the efforts even though I am half a world away by sending a Valentine of support to members of WOZA. The small token seems to offer a chance to connect on the most basic level, a personal note, a small bit of conversation between two people, with one of the most basic and essential human emotions: love.

Please note that Valentines are being accepted year round. We all need love year round.