線上請願：塑造行動主義的力量和影響

超過 41,000 人簽署了一份請願書，反對法國的反跨性別立法，該法案由 LGBT+ 倡導組織 Le Coin des LGBT+ 發起。雖然簽名數量並不能保證請願書的有效性，但請願書有可能提高意識、動員支持者並影響政策制定者。儘管有人批評請願書代表了“懶惰主義”，但請願書可以成為組織與潛在支持者接觸並展示公共活動主義的寶貴工具。然而，請願平台Mes Opinions的執行長強調，即使沒有實現具體目標，請願也可以提高人們的認識並為更廣泛的社會變革做出貢獻。

The Power and Impact of Online Petitions: A Critical Examination

線上請願的力量和影響：批判性檢驗

In the realm of contemporary activism, online petitions have emerged as a ubiquitous tool for expressing support for causes and influencing public opinion. While their efficacy has been a subject of debate, the recent surge in such initiatives has sparked renewed interest in their potential impact.

在當代激進主義領域，線上請願已成為表達對事業的支持和影響公眾輿論的普遍工具。雖然它們的功效一直是爭論的話題，但最近此類舉措的激增重新引發了人們對其潛在影響的興趣。

A case in point is the petition launched by "Le Coin des LGBT+," a French LGBTQ+ advocacy group, which garnered over 41,621 signatures within five days of its inception on Change.org. The petition aims to galvanize parliamentary opposition to proposed anti-transgender legislation in France.

一個典型的例子是法國 LGBTQ+ 倡導組織「Le Coin des LGBT+」發起的請願書，該請願書在 Change.org 上成立後五天內就獲得了超過 41,621 個簽名。請願書旨在激起國會反對法國擬議的反變性立法。

Do Signatures Translate to Influence?

簽名會轉化為影響力嗎？

The significance of a petition's numerical support is a matter of contention. Thierry Libaert, a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), cautions against equating the number of signatories with a petition's effectiveness. He cites the example of "L'Affaire du Siècle," an environmental petition that garnered over 2.3 million signatures but yielded inconclusive results.

請願書的數位支持的重要性是一個有爭議的問題。歐洲經濟和社會委員會 (EESC) 成員 Thierry Libaert 警告不要將簽名人數與請願書的有效性等同起來。他引用了「L'Affaire du Siècle」的例子，這是一份環境請願書，該請願書獲得了超過 230 萬個簽名，但產生了不確定的結果。

Conversely, the petition to pardon Jacqueline Sauvage, who was convicted of killing her abusive husband, secured over 40,000 signatures and ultimately led to her release from prison under a presidential pardon granted by François Hollande.

相反，赦免杰奎琳·索瓦日（Jacqueline Sauvage）的請願書獲得了超過 40,000 個簽名，並最終在弗朗索瓦·奧朗德（François Hollande）批准的總統赦免下出獄。

Beyond Signatures: The Multifaceted Role of Petitions

簽名之外：請願書的多方面作用

While petitions may not possess direct legal force, they can serve as valuable instruments for raising awareness, mobilizing support, and placing issues on the agendas of decision-makers. Libaert emphasizes that petitions can influence public discourse and compel policymakers to consider their perspectives, even if the number of signatures falls short of expectations.

儘管請願書可能不具有直接的法律效力，但它們可以作為提高意識、動員支持以及將問題納入決策者議程的寶貴工具。利巴特強調，請願書可以影響公眾言論，並迫使政策制定者考慮他們的觀點，即使簽名數量低於預期。

Their ability to engage the public is another key aspect. Petitions provide a platform for individuals to express their concerns and contribute to the shaping of public opinion. The presence of a recognizable figurehead can further enhance a petition's reach and appeal.

他們吸引公眾的能力是另一個關鍵方面。請願為個人提供了一個表達關切並為形成公眾輿論做出貢獻的平台。知名人物的出現可以進一步增強請願書的影響力和吸引力。

Moreover, organizations leverage petitions to expand their base of supporters and mobilize activism beyond the digital realm. "They hope to engage them in other forms of activism, such as demonstrations," Libaert explains. "Petitions are part of a gradual process of citizen engagement."

此外，組織利用請願書來擴大支持者基礎並動員數位領域之外的激進主義。 「他們希望讓他們參與其他形式的活動，例如示威活動，」利巴特解釋道。 “請願是公民參與漸進過程的一部分。”

Slacktivism or Legitimate Activism?

懶惰行動主義還是合法行動主義？

Despite the potential impact of petitions, Libaert cautions against regarding them as a substitute for more proactive forms of activism. He likens petitions to "slacktivism," a term coined to describe the tendency for individuals to express their support for causes through online gestures that require minimal effort. While petitions facilitate the channeling of discontent, they should not be viewed as a panacea for social change.

儘管請願具有潛在影響，但利巴特警告不要將其視為更積極主動的激進主義形式的替代品。他將請願比作“懶人行動主義”，這個術語是用來描述個人透過線上手勢來表達他們對事業的支持的傾向，這需要付出最少的努力。儘管請願有助於表達不滿，但不應將其視為社會變革的靈丹妙藥。

The Platform Effect

平台效應

Océane, CEO of Mes Opinions, a French online petition platform, acknowledges the concerns surrounding the efficacy of online petitions. "We regularly receive questions from our users about whether petitions are truly meaningful," she says. "It's understandable, considering the sheer volume of causes and the uncertainty of their outcomes." Mes Opinions alone hosts over 1,000 new petitions monthly, and the number has surged in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

法國線上請願平台 Mes Opinions 執行長 Océane 承認人們對線上請願的有效性感到擔憂。 「我們經常收到用戶詢問請願書是否真正有意義，」她說。 “考慮到原因的數量之多及其結果的不確定性，這是可以理解的。”光是 Mes Opinions 每月就會收到 1,000 多份新請願書，而且這一數字在 COVID-19 大流行後激增。

Impact Beyond Victory

超越勝利的影響

Nonetheless, Océane maintains that petitions serve a valuable purpose, citing cases where they have achieved their objectives, such as the discontinuation of the sale of live baitfish at Decathlon, the removal of an author accused of promoting pedophilia from the Angoulême comics festival, and the prevention of school closures.

儘管如此，Océane 堅持認為，請願書有一個有價值的目的，並列舉了他們已經實現目標的案例，例如迪卡儂停止銷售活餌魚，從安古萊姆漫畫節上除名被指控宣揚戀童癖的作者，以及防止學校停課。

Even in the absence of a clear victory, petitions can generate substantial impact by raising awareness and shaping public discourse. Océane points to the example of a petition highlighting the forced labor of Uyghurs in China, which failed to halt the funding of exploitative practices by major brands but nonetheless brought the issue to the attention of 70,000 concerned citizens. "Although it did not result in an immediate change, it represents an important step towards broader mobilization," she explains.

即使沒有明顯的勝利，請願書也可以透過提高意識和塑造公眾話語來產生重大影響。 Océane 舉了一份強調中國強迫維吾爾人勞動的請願書為例，該請願書未能阻止各大品牌對剝削行為的資助，但仍然引起了 70,000 名相關公民的注意。 「雖然它並沒有立即帶來變化，但它代表了邁向更廣泛動員的重要一步，」她解釋道。

Empowering Citizens

賦予公民權力

For Julia, a 27-year-old supporter of the "Le Coin des LGBT+" petition, signing the document was an act of solidarity and resistance against proposed legislation that she believes perpetuates transphobia. "It's the simplest way to express one's support and convey their position to elected officials," she says. "When petitions go viral, they can draw attention to important social issues, as evidenced by this very article."

27 歲的朱莉婭是“Le Coin des LGBT+”請願書的支持者，對於她來說，簽署該文件是一種團結和抵制擬議立法的行為，她認為該立法會導致跨性別者恐懼症長期存在。 「這是向民選官員表達支持和立場的最簡單方式，」她說。 “當請願書像病毒一樣傳播時，它們可以引起人們對重要社會問題的關注，正如這篇文章所證明的那樣。”

Conclusion

結論

Online petitions have become an integral part of the contemporary democratic landscape, offering individuals a means to voice their concerns, mobilize support, and influence policy decisions. While their effectiveness may vary, they provide a platform for citizens to engage in activism and contribute to the shaping of public opinion. Their true impact lies not only in numerical support but also in the ability to raise awareness, foster dialogue, and inspire further action.

線上請願已成為當代民主格局不可或缺的一部分，為個人提供了表達擔憂、動員支持和影響政策決策的手段。雖然其有效性可能有所不同，但它們為公民參與活動並為形成公眾輿論做出貢獻提供了平台。他們的真正影響不僅在於數量上的支持，還在於提高意識、促進對話和激發進一步行動的能力。