My Fellow G List Members, As elections 2001 draws closer, I am suggesting that we begin to look in ways that we can contribute as a group. Participating in the selection of our leaders is not just a moral responsibility but a constitutional one. I have lived outside the Gambia for many years now and shameless to say, "never had the opportunity to vote." We should now form a movement to register every Gambian regardless of demographics to vote in this coming elections. During my short tenure in Eastern Connecticut, I was among a Group of Senegalese nationals. Although we stayed in a remote college town, these group of patriotic Senegalese were able to mobilize all of there people to perform and exercise their right to vote. They did this through chat rooms, publications, aggressive door to door meetings, involvement of various Government entities, websites and good old fashion "word of mouth." Today as they get ready to vote for the second time since my associations with them, they have helped to create a culture of Senegalese in Diaspora who have demonstrated that they are not only matured in the excise of their constitutional rights but have the ability to help steer a global media to serve as watch dogs for the smooth transition. (Although the results are yet to be measured) We have posted thousands of emails to this list. If all the postings were executed in a day I belief this list would shutdown (laugh).. My suggestion is that we start a list of volunteers Globally to begin initiating this process. For those of you on the list that have experience in this kind of work should lead the process. We must register all Gambian nationals that are of voting age and with the help of the electoral college identify designated voting venues. The process has to be nonpartisan. If you truly belief that the future of the Gambia is in our hands, we should start now because this kind of work requires time. We must also try to put our differences aside and realize that this is not a popularity contest but a call for a democratic process. In conclusion, I want to say that conflict arises whenever interests collide. We must really try to work on instruments of making this process work. I say this because many Gambians have the attitude that they don't want to get involve because they do not want to become "part of a dysfunctional force that can be attributed to some regrettable circumstance or cause" I am willing to render my minute time for the interest of some Gambians to vote. Please give this some considerations. Awaiting your comments. Best wishes From. Matarr Sajaw ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------