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NEWS: 5 things that happened on change.org this week

1. Police Tasers petition heads to Home Office

Jason Jackson who launched a campaign after the tragic death of Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson on Monday (Aug 15) took his petition to the Home Office.

Taser review: Jason Jackson hands in his 62,000 strong petition Taser review: Jason Jackson hands in his 62,000 strong petition

Over 62,000 people signed the petition in just four days before it was handed over to the government department on Friday (Aug 19).

Speaking outside the Home Office, Jason said he had been “overwhelmed” by the support and stacks of media attention on his campaign and felt “determined” to continue until the government responds.

2. Joint campaigners call for law reform over drink driving sentencing

Lorraine Allaway’s husband Bob was killed in October last year while riding his motorbike. When given a roadside breath test, the other driver was more than twice over the legal alcohol limit.

Bob was 46 when he died and the couple were married for a decade. He left behind wife Lorraine, five children and seven grandchildren.

Justice: Miriam was killed in October 2014 by a driver who had been drinking Justice: Miriam was killed in October 2014 by a driver who had been drinking

Ceinwen Briddon’s daughter Miriam was killed by a driver who had been drinking. She was 21 at the time. Her killer was found guilty and sentenced to five and a half years and banned from driving for five years. He will only serve two and a half years in jail and will be released next year.

Both Lorraine and Ceinwen are campaigning for a review of sentences for people who kill while driving under the influence. For more information about Lorraine’s petition go to change.org/drinkdriving and Ceinwen’s is at change.org/moment4miriam

3. Birthday cards for Iranian prisoner Kamal Foroughi

After spending almost 2,000 days in an Iranian jail, Kamal Foroughi was promised his release last month.

Jailed: Kamal Foroughi has been held in Iran's notorious Evin prison for over five years Jailed: Kamal Foroughi has been held in Iran’s notorious Evin prison for over five years

But he’s still locked up for a crime his family say he didn’t commit. On August 27 he will have served the longest prison term a European citizen has undertaken in Iran.

On September 3, Kamal will turn 77, and this week his son Kamran who is fighting for his release has this week asked signers of his 216,000 petition to send a birthday card for Kamal to their nearest Iranian Embassy.

4. Call for global effort on Syria conflict

A Syrian doctor wants world leaders to do more about the conflict in Syria.

Dr. Hamza Al Khatib  is one of the last serving doctors to the remaining 300,000 residents of the city of eastern Aleppo.

Help: Dr Hamza Al Khatib has gathered over 150,000 signatures on his petition Help: Dr Hamza Al Khatib has gathered over 150,000 signatures on his petition

Over 150,000 people have signed his petition calling on President Obama and Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel to speak out on the issue.

Writing on his petition Hamza said: “What pains me and my fellow doctors the most is choosing who will live and who will die. Young children are sometimes brought into our emergency rooms so badly injured that we have to prioritise those with better chances, or simply don’t have the equipment to help them.

“We have seen no real effort from President Obama or Chancellor Merkel to prevent the criminal attacks against civilians and our hospitals. That is why I’ve started this petition”.

5. Lucy launches third petition to ban caged hen eggs

Animal welfare champion, Lucy Gavahan who took on Tesco, Morrisons and Asda – and won – is now on a mission to see eggs from caged hens banned from the UK.

Banned: Lucy is on a mission to see no more caged hen eggs sold in the UK by 2025 Banned: Lucy is on a mission to see no more caged hen eggs sold in the UK by 2025

Tesco was the first to agree to stop selling caged eggs by 2025 following Lucy’s 280,295-strong petition, a meeting with the retailer’s bosses and stacks of media coverage. Asda and Morrisons soon followed suit after the 14-year-old’s 185,000 petition calling on them to do the same.

Inspired by her previous victories – Lucy now wants to see an end to caged hen farming by 2025. Check out her petiton at change.org/nomorecages

Written by
Change.org
August 19, 2016 2:39 pm