Person of 2008: cast your vote!

For the third year, OneWorld launched the “People of 2008” competition, and urged readers across the world to submit their nominations. The criteria was deliberately left vague, with the only requirement being that the nominees embody the values of OneWorld: “human rights for all; a fair distribution of the world’s natural and economic resources; simple and sustainable ways of life; the right of every individual to inform and be informed; participation and transparency in decision making; and social, cultural, and linguistic diversity.”

The finalists have finally been announced, and it’s now time for you to cast your vote and choose which person/group should be honoured as the “Person of 2008″. The prize doesn’t come with any material reward, but the winner receives additional publicity for her/his cause.

I’m certain that most would find it difficult to cast a vote as all the finalists are truly worthy of the title. Finalists this year include:

• The courageous women of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where tens of thousands of women fall victims to sexual violence annually.
•  Waseem Mahmood, founder of the Pakistani Yeh Hum Naheen (this is not us) Foundation that aims to tackle terrorism and promote tolerance
• Patricia Smith Melton, founder of Peace x Peace, an organization that uses the Internet to connect women across the world
• The 1 million signatures campaign, a grassroots movement led by Iranian women’s rights activists that demands equality for women

After giving it a considerable amount of thought, I opted to vote for the the 1 million signatures campaign, and not simply because their cause is one that I can relate to. Iranian authorities have clamped down on the campaign’s organizers, indimidating and arresting many, and it has even warned local media against covering the group’s work. If the award came with a cash prize, I might have voted differently, but when it comes down to publicity, I believe the 1 million signatures campaign needs it the most.

How about you - who would you vote for?