Follow the progress of this important petition on twitter Here
A Personal Message from Leah McGrath Goodman:
Sign The Petition Here
Just wanted to send a quick note of thanks for signing Trevor's
petition this week -- and, crucially, for passing it on to others.
Because of you, we have heard from people on every continent, from the
UK to Australia to Hong Kong to Brazil. Many of you have offered
personal messages of support to Jersey -- and Jersey hears you and
thanks you.Few people on the island are brave enough to speak out because those who have done so have been punished. By signing this petition and offering your words of support, you have given these people a voice. Most importantly, you have given a voice to the many victims of abuse and violence who have suffered for decades unheard. Above all, we do this in honor of them.
Before midnight tonight, we have set a goal -- ambitious though it may be -- to hit 1,000 signatures. If you do just one good deed today, pass this petition on to a friend, colleague or family member and let them know this tiny island needs our help. Here is a shining example of how the power of the Internet can trump the power of unlimited wealth and riches – especially in a place like Jersey, which happens to be the largest offshore financial center on earth. (Yes, really.)
Some good news from this week:
We have already heard from the UK Border Agency -- no resolution yet, but that means you are being heard and you are making a difference!
UK Member of Parliament John Hemming tabled a motion Tuesday in support of this petition and called into question the motives behind the UK travel ban:
Early day motion 504
LEAH McGRATH GOODMAN
- Session: 2012-13
- Date tabled: 11.09.2012
- Primary sponsor: Hemming, John
- Sponsors:
That this House notes that an American journalist and author, Leah McGrath Goodman, has been banned from the UK Common Travel Area and refused a visa to visit Jersey; further notes that her objective was to investigate allegations of a cover-up following well-founded charges of decades-long child abuse at Jersey care home Haut de la Garenne; further notes that she had a clean immigration and travel record as a former Tier-1 visa holder and resident of the UK; further notes that there were no problems with the immigration service until she told them what she was intending to write about; and further notes that a Jersey-elected politician, Trevor Pitman, has tabled an electronic petition on Change.org calling for her to be granted a visa by the UK Border Agency so that she might continue her research in Jersey and write about matters in the Crown Dependency.
Nicholas Shaxson, best-selling author and Vanity Fair contributor, also boosted the effort:
An S.O.S. from the people of tax haven Jersey
I appeared on Keiser Report (known for its global audience) on the one-year anniversary of my getting the heave-ho: http://bit.ly/RLynmsLastly, the BBC interviewed both Deputy Trevor Pitman, the Jersey member of parliament who initiated this petition, as well as Jersey blogger, Neil McMurray. While the interviews were blocked from international airing on the BBC's Web site ('due to technical difficulties or for contractual reasons') it is a start.
Once again, YOUR signatures and YOUR messages can stop the de-democratization of this island. One thing is clear from your comments: all of you realize that issues of truth, justice and free speech effect us all. In the end, a country that calls itself a "democracy" must act like one. Send a clear message to the UK that blocking freedom of expression cannot be tolerated -- and please urge others to do the same.
Thank you!
Leah
Leah McGrath Goodman
P.S. CNN had a special report today about how free speech is increasingly being targeted all over the WESTERN world. An expert stated that while this trend is alarming for many (obvious) reasons, the biggest one is that, historically, when people are robbed of their right to speak out, it is only a matter of time before their other rights are taken away too. We can make sure that doesn't happen.
Jersey Blogger's there are more however it is felt that these are of note.
Voice For Children
(Investigative Reporter Based in Jersey)
Rico Sorda
(Investigative Journalist Based in Jersey)
The Right Of Reply
(Independent Reporter)
Stuart Syvret
Ex Member of the State of Jersey and former father of the house.
Investigative Journalism – Incisive Commentary. Thoughts on the Microcosm: Looking out at Reality from Within a Rich Island. The "Quite Vile Blog"! (C. Frank Walker).
Liberal England