Every holiday season so far you have gotten something: a new jumper, Joop!
perfume, the Matrix collector’s edition DVD, whatever. And, every season,
you’ve reciprocated in kind by buying for others pretty much more of the
same and shedding a few kopecks into various collection plates. “It’s ok,”
you say to yourself, “I’ve been blessed.”

But have you ever really given?

On December 26th, Ukraine will hold an election that will decide the life
for tens of millions of people for decades to come. It is a rerunning of
the recent PM runoff election that was marked by massive levels of fraud. A
popular, peaceful, pro-democratic movement has forced the rerunning and the
people of Ukraine are optimistic that this time around the democratic
promise which has been dangled in front of them for so many years will
finally begin to bear fruit. Optimistic as the populace may be, naïve they
are not. The election is scheduled to run mere weeks after the fraud marked
election and the same forces that perpetrated the fraud still very much
exist and still would very much like to seize power.

Independent Election Monitors are desperately needed. You can be one, and
ALL of your travel, lodging, and per diem expenses will be paid. You need
only give your time for a few days (probably Dec 22-29). Even your
transport costs to get to a London airport will be paid.
But, yes, it’s an inconvenient time – only a few weeks away and right over
Christmas, no less. Most can’t. But can you do it? Can you make the
sacrifices necessary to truly give this holiday season and help bring hope
to millions? This will be hard work, but you’ll be fighting the good fight
and it will surely be an experience of a lifetime.


For an application form and full details, visit Electoral Reform
International Services at  http://www.eris.org.uk/. The application only
takes a few minutes. Not all who will apply will be accepted, but because
of the large size of the country and the difficulty of getting volunteers on
such short notice, your chances may be good, particularly if you study in a
related field or speak a related language. Citizens of all countries are
welcome to apply.


If you have any questions about the elections or the political situation,
I’m happy to answer them. You’d have to ask ERIS if you have questions
about the programme as while my application is in as well, I know pretty
much only what they have written on their website.


Please feel free to forward this plea to other appropriate mailing lists.