Dear friends,

*The crackdown on Syrian protesters has left 630 dead* and more than 5,000
detained and tortured. Embattled *Syrian activists are calling on Avaaz for
financial support* — for supplies, transport, and other essentials that sustain
their peaceful movement. *Click here to see a harrowing video appeal from Syria
and to chip in*:

Donate Now!

*A desperate video plea has just come in from an Avaaz member in Syria who has
risked his life to call on us for help*.

The Syrian regime is laying siege to whole cities, and is willing to annihilate
them to crush the peaceful democracy movement. Security forces have cut off all
food, water and medicine to these towns, shot hundreds of citizens, and detained
and tortured thousands — in many cases ripping out their fingernails before
releasing them, as a warning to other protesters.

Despite this unimaginable terror, *the Syrian people refuse to be silenced, and
are committed to a non-violent path out of this nightmare*. But while they have
no shortage of bravery, they are short of funds. They are asking for financial
and other support — for needs ranging from urgent medical help to ads and
public messages urging soldiers to refuse to shoot protestors.

*Click here to watch the harrowing video appeal* and donate to help the Syrians’
crucial efforts:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syria_stand_with_the_protesters/?vl

The heart-rending siege of the cities of Dera ƒ ¢ ¢â€š ¬ ¢â€ž ¢a and Banias, the mass arrest
and torture of more than 5,000 peaceful demonstrators, the total ban on foreign
reporting (including the disappearance of Al Jazeera journalist Dorothy Parvaz),
and the *staggering death toll countrywide are fueling citizens’ demands for
real, democratic reform*. Experts say the regime has reached the point of no
return, and that the *best hope for peace is to get trusted figures close to the
regime to break off and demand an end to the violence*.

A raft of *resignations and defections show emerging cracks in the regime, which
activists can help widen*, particularly as the violence intensifies and
international pressure increases.

Backed by thousands of Avaaz members, citizen journalists have bravely brought
the images of the protests to the world’s media. Reuters, CNN, BBC, Associated
Press and Al Jazeera have all been using their footage and photographs — often
the only such material available to the international press amidst the
government’s attempted blackout. Now, as the violence worsens,*peaceful
activists are calling on the Avaaz community to help escalate their advocacy and
organizing efforts*.

*We can help by funding ad campaigns and public messages urging soldiers to stop
the violence, travel costs for high-level advocacy, safer communications
equipment, phone bills, expert advisers on legal reforms* and other assistance,
including urgent medical and legal contingencies. If enough of us join together,
we can sustain courageous activists ƒ ¢ ¢â€š ¬ ¢â€ž ¢ crucial push for peace and reform, and
maintain the momentum of people power across the region.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/syria_stand_with_the_protesters/?vl

Avaaz members have played a key role in supporting people-powered movements in
the Middle East. Several Avaaz contacts have disappeared or been wounded during
the horrific wave of repression. But they are determined to keep pressing for
human rights and freedom, even in the face of terrible violence — let’s muster
all the strength of our community to support their struggle and their courage.

In solidarity,

Stephanie, David, Mohammad, Rewan, Brianna, Andrew, Alice, Ricken, Sam and the
rest of the Avaaz team

SOURCES

Syria: Tanks ‘deploy around Rastan’ after protests, BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13279262

Syrian ruling party members defect en masse, Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0428/Syrian-ruling-party-members-defect-en-masse

Avaaz mentioned in piece on current situation in Syria, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/05/05/syria.unrest/

UN panel proffers diluted rebuke, Montreal Gazette
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/world/panel+proffers+diluted+rebuke/4703949/story.html

Deraa must be allowed to receive aid and siege lifted, NGO tells Syria, The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/04/deraa-syria-assad

Syria: Is Assad’s clan turning against him?, Time
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2067087-1,00.html

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*
Avaaz.org is an 8-million-person global campaign network* that works to ensure
that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decision-making.
(“Avaaz” means “voice” or “song” in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every
nation of the world; our team is spread across 13 countries on 4 continents and
operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz’s biggest campaigns here
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