Ramin Tork

Mission message please distribute

This message has been going to various media, figures as well those in opposition and Human rights groups:-

One million signatures- A campaign to change EU law 

I would be grateful if you could read and distribute this message, this is not for entertainment, it is for us to take action. 

Dear Iranian Citizen,

I know you receive a lot of emails and messages from our Iranian community some of which might be of eccentric nature but I have a proposal, which I must convey to the Iranian community, and for this I am contacting people in the media as well as key opposition figures and today the message is coming to you. In advance I hope you forgive the spamming nature of this message, but I am just a concerned ordinary citizen who wants to spread an idea and help our people in Iran.

A golden opportunity has come up for the Iranians in Europe and they must take it.

Last week euronews did a 5 minutes on the Lisbon treaty.

A new aspect of the new treaty is something called the Citizens' initiative. The terms of the initiative are still being discussed but it is now EU law.

If a lobby group collects one million signatures they can without the intervention of MEPs take their petition and turn it to EU law. I am trying to get the wording of the petition legally correct. Given that this was started several days ago, I am in the process of canvassing support.

As a blogger I have started raising awareness and a petition for a concept called ethical fuel (similar to fairtrade that you see in shops for coffee) is already setup and signatures are being collected.

The petition is that if according to Human rights watch reports a country is in gross violation of human rights, given that you can take it to the European Human rights Court of Europe a boycott order would be raised and it would be illegal for any of the EU members to trade oil and gas with the violating country. The concept can be used both ways so we could for instance stop Nokia trading with Iran.

I wanted to take the idea directly to Human rights groups and use my contacts in the Art world to raise its profile but I think it would be a good idea if the concept goes through a debate and be actioned by the Iranian community resident in Europe first.

This way Iranians would be seen as Bastions of Human rights in Europe and make History by being the first group to use this new concept as well as become a strong political lobby with influence on legislative power base.

Why do I want a boycott? Because I can see military action on the Horizon and I want our community to appeal to the people of Europe rather than the politicians to put Human rights back on the table. A boycott, along from pressure from the movement inside might just be enough to overthrow this regime before a military action is taken.

By the time this campaign succeeds, even China would think twice about the consumer power being used for this issue, we would even have the instruments to boycott Chinese good in Europe if they continue trading oil and gas with Iran. Consumer power and capturing the sympathy of the EU community would be so powerful that even the politicians could not ignore it, just as they can not ignore the powerful Jewish lobby.

Please join the facebook group ethicalfuel, or email ethicalfuel@yahoo.com

our petition is at: //www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ethicalfuel/ 

our faceboob group: //www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=229986451112

We already have some petitions but need as much support as we can.

I have already started talking to people in media, and have used my contacts to awaken our community to this campaign.

I know at the moment this looks like a storm in a tea cup but if the concept is picked up it could bring about a major change. Finally, there will be several articles that will be published with regards to this topic. Even if you do not agree with the mission of this campaign, you can join us for a debate on what we can do with the Lisbon treaty Citizens' initiative legistlative change. 

Regards,

Ramin Tork.

Thank you Reza

Please spread the News.

Best Regards,

Did sign it as well ...

Ramin Jaan,

I have followed your blogs and comments and found them logical, fair and positive in many ways. Thank you for your honest efforts and this project of yours... Good Luck.

FYI/Filmmaker Makhmalbaf Supports Smart Sanctions

Latest in the Guardian:

//iranian.com/main/news/2009/11/30/iran-should-face-smarter-sanctions-says-mohsen-makhmalbaf

calling to all electronic tigers!

Calling all electronic tigers! Those who beat their digital chests until it turns to RGB red!

Why if you care so much about the future of Iran do you not take action! (with apologize to all those who have taken action of course).

Why if you disagree with this idea do you not at least raise your voice!

Will do and Thanks

I contacted the London Kayhan, and send messages to various people in media this morning.

Excellent Ramin Jaan

Bravo !

This could also be a good opportunity to get VOA and BBC Persian voice a common cause rather than merely compete in the Iranian media Arena.

I emailed Nazanin last night. If she responds positively I will let you know. Could you also email me your personal email like that I can e-introduce you directly.

She has many commitments so I cannot guarantee if she can work with you immediately but at least that she is informed of what you are trying to do would be a first milestone towards an eventual cooperation which would be benificial to both of your campaigns.

Another group that could also help or join your campaigns is the Boroumand foundation :

 //www.iranrights.org/

Omid: a Memorial in Defense of Human Rights is an electronic database of human rights violations in Iran. The Memorial is dedicated to the victims of the Islamic Republic since it was established in 1979. Omid’s ultimate goal however is to be an impartial historical record that includes victims of human rights violations since December 10, 1948.*

Keep us updated on your progress.

and good luck !

DK

progress dear DK

I have just came back from the Human rights event 'Bani Adam' in London and as well as getting orgainizer details, I managed to explain my concept to VOA journalists, I hope that what we are trying to do here is big enough to report, in addition I have send a message to a friend in BBC and I'm hoping he would pass it on.

One thing that has come up in talking to people is that the petition could also be used against Nokia for their collaboration with IRI.

This could be the biggest thing that has happended to us. Imagine the Iranian community forming a lobby that has penetrated the European power base in chruch, Human rights circles, MEPs and the media and wants to use the legistlative power of EU citizens to force the politicians to put Iran Human rights issue back on the table and what is more it could change History by being the first lobby group to use the citizens' initiative clause of the Lisbon treaty to do this. Imagine That! I hope people start listening to me and start to pick up the idea.

OK

Will let you know as soon as I can get hold of her during the week.

Talk to you later,

DK

I would be grateful if you could

I would be grateful if you could contact her and explain the concept or let me know and I will speak to her directly.I have been filling up facebook walls, calling TV network numbers and leaving messages and I hope people would respond. I really want the Iranian community to take the initiative on this as it would be an instrument to transform their image from what it is to a nation of Human rights activist. However if the community does not pick it up I would take it to Human rights organizations and get recruits.I am not fussy about which political group people belong to and as long as they care about Human rights in Iran and believe in the mission of the campaign they can join.

By the way any thoughts on the idea of "European Iranian organization" which I proposed? 

Ba dorood,

Ramin.

Ramin Jaan an Idea regarding your campaign

Maybe you can get in touch with Nazanin Afshin Jam who already is working hard on the SCE campaign. She travels to Europe often and could try and voice your suggestion to European Parlimentarians and leaders.

Here is her website:

//www.nazaninafshinjam.com/

I can try and contact her in this regard since I know her. I cannot speak on her behalf but I can at least let her know about your initiative and see if she can help in her own capacity.

I cannot promise it will work but I can try.

Let me know what you think ?

take care,

DK

We have our first one hundered signatures

I want to thank all those who have supported this cause, you are the first 100 who participated in a noble cause.

As for the rest who have not signed, I will try to get the mission to you or at least if you disagree you can have your say in a debate.

And the link to sign the petition

//www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ethicalfuel/

Thanks DK

But I also need people to start helping with the campaign i.e. help to get the message to key media figures, spreading the proposal, open debate etc. before I take it to the non-Iranian wider world.

Keep Up The Good Work Ramin Jaan

Keep them coming.

Small Drops turn into oceans !

Cheers,

DK

Don't forget the facebook group

//www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=name&id=655467244#/group.php?gid=229986451112