Let's make a change! :D

Hey there, guys! :)

Have you already accustomed yourself to writing 2014 instead of 2013 now? I’ve not had the chance yet to misspell the date, but I’m sure I’ll have an opportunity soon… ;)

Since the new year just started, my email account is still swamped with reviews from last year and organizations thanking me for things I supposedly did (but mostly don’t remember). Though among all those dinky messages, there also was one by change.org telling me that 2013 was an extremely successful year and providing me the link to their review video. Nosy as I am I immediately had to check that one out.

You can watch the video here:

2013: A year of incredible victories for Change.org 

I don’t remember how or when I came across change. Most likely, one of my friends showed it to me or told me about it. I know lots of organizations that promise to “change the world”, and I don’t trust most of them because they’ll soon ask for your address, your phone number or donations for dubious projects.

Change is a little different, though.

Basically, it’s a platform for anyone who feels they really need to change something. 

Starting a petition is pretty easy: you fill in a form showing why, what for and whom you want to petition to. You can add pictures or videos illustrating your case. Then you hit the send button – that’s it.

Signing a petition is just as easy as filing one.

If you allow change to contact you by email, they will send you petitions they think you might be interested in (for example, those concerning your home country or specific topics you selected). On the platform, you can get more information about the petition in question and decide whether you want to sign it by adding your email address – that’s all. No awkward questions for phone numbers, address or donations. Just a brief thank-you.

If you want to, you can make them show your signature online, you can share it on facebook or twitter or forward the petition to friends in an email. Or you can decide not to.

Over the last few years, I signed several petitions regarding a wide range of topics. The key point, though, is: each and every one was successful! :D

All in all, several thousands of the petitions signed by about 50 million change members worldwide within the last year succeeded. Of course, it has to be mentioned that there are setbacks, too. Some petitions are just too small or too specific to raise enough attention and therefore to collect enough signatures. Others are simply rejected by the addressee no matter how many signatures were collected.

Still, by and large, change is one of the most efficient organizations I have found so far. It’s surprising that sometimes, you really can change something with just one mouse click!

If this sounds promising to you – go ahead, try it out! Just browse the website for interesting petitions (or if that is not enough world-changing for you, why not start one by yourself? ;). 

Let’s make a change! :D