November 23, 2016

Aleppo's hospitals ravaged by Russian bombs: what can you do?

located:	Russia, Syria
editor:	Vanessa Ellingham

Russian bombs targeting hospitals in Aleppo is disturbing, shocking, and yet sharing another Facebook status isn't going to do anything about it.

As recent world events have shown, frustration is rife. It's time to ask, what can we DO?

The Syrian Peace Action Centre has created a five-point plan for workable action to stop the bombing.

The good news: it's all doable from home. But it's far more effective than a grumpy Facebook status.

Here are the steps:

FIRST - Send a letter to your MP:
Call and write to your representatives in the parliament and ask them to stop the bombs on Aleppo in whichever way they can. Ask them to #StopPutinsBombs and denounce Russia’s grave human rights violations because #NeverAgainIsNow. Use and adapt the text available here:
http://actnow.space-org.no/mp

SECOND - Facebook check-in:
Check in on Russian embassy’s Facebook page in your country and post a picture from Aleppo. Find the Facebook page of the Russian embassy in your country and pictures to use here:
http://actnow.space-org.no/check-in

THIRD - Contact the Russian Embassy:
Call and write to the Russian embassy in your country and ask them to stop the bombing. Find the phone number and email of the Russian embassy in your country here:
http://actnow.space-org.no/call

FOURTH - Tweet to politicians:
Tweet to politicians around the world. All you need to do is click on "TWEET NOW" next to the politician's name on this page:
http://actnow.space-org.no/tweet

FINALLY: share this call for action with your friends and family, invite everyone you know to this event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/554406311411786/

Using the political instruments to which we have access - local politicians, ambassadors - is a sure-fire way to draw attention to the cause.

And contacting ambassadors can initiate dialogue: last week Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko explained that Russia's bombing was meants to prevent Isis from entering the area from Mosul, Iraq.

The UK's special representative for Syria, Gareth Bayley, responded: “How is that geographically sensible … that’s 400km from the border with Iraq?”

Getting politicans in dialogue is better than badmouthing Putin, talking vaguely about situations on which we have plenty of detailed information (Trump on Putin: “We have to end that craziness that’s going on in Syria,”) or 'liking' updates and then getting back to our Netflix binges.

This is the time for action. Join the movement.