"Cures" for homosexuality, removing convicted rapist Ched Evans from the Professional Footballers’ Association 'team of the year list and protecting the original Watership Down are campaigns being targeted by Change.org as it launches in the UK today.
The "YouTube of social action campaigns" has 500,000 users, and 14 million worldwide, and its founder says "We’re radically changing the way in which people can influence those in power."
The site which champions change for social good gained attention when it was used by Trayvon Martin’s parents, who campaigned to bring their son’s killer to justice.
The US site already has 500,000 UK users and the organisation says that 300 campaigns a month were already being started in the UK prior to the UK site launch. The site sees 15,000 campaigns start up every month.
Brie Rogers-Lowery, UK campaigns director, told The Huffington Post via email why it's worth launching a separate site in the UK: "The UK site will be identical to Change.org sites across the world but will focus on campaigns taking place in the UK, making it easier for users to see UK-specific campaigns. This means that users will see UK victories and read about campaigns taking place across the country which they can join right now."
Change.org allows anyone in any location to start online campaigns on issues close to them.
Change.org claims victory for Elizabeth Plank’s campaign to stop boxing bosses forcing female boxers to wear skirts, and a campaign by cabin crew against Ryanair using 'sexist' staff images in advertising.
Rogers-Lowery says that technology now plays a crucial role in change for good. "Technology has become absolutely crucial to delivering this type of change - not just in the UK but globally. It's worth remembering though, that we're taking age old techniques: petitions; sharing; offline campaigning and bring the tools altogether online for people to use. Its about using technology to democratise the kind of power that the internet offers," she told The Huffington Post.
Change.org is working towards mobile sites for all phones, and is building a hyper-local function so that if you log on in Scotland, you'd see Scottish campaigns, or those nearest your postcode.