The good news and the bad news:

Most email users have received their fair share of email petitions -- on topics ranging from the support of Afghan women's rights to ending the dolphin slaughter in Japan. These types of messages are frequently revealed as hoaxes or campaigns, but the question remains: why are email petitions such a bad thing in the first place? The E-Petition website explains why you shouldn't use, or forward, email petitions (ever!), and provides lots of great links that will legitimately support advocacy work online: http://www.e-petition.org
[Source: ACTEW-L News on the Net (July 2001) http://www.actew.org ]

Available at http://www.e-petition.org is the following:

    * examples of email petitions that did not work
    * the bad news about email petitions, why "chain letter"-style e-petitions do not work
    * the good news about e-petitions, and suggestions on how to conduct effective e-petitions
    * examples of effective web-based petitions
    * examples of organisations that use e-petitions effectively

While the good examples listed at e-petition.org are web-based, you may sometimes need, or be constrained, to use email methods. Here is one way you can organise an email-based petition:

   1. discuss/describe your cause and provide contact information for interested people to learn more
   2. request all interested in the petition to send their name, organisation, country, or other pertinent information directly to you
   3. specify the kind of individuals, organisations, networks to whom the e-petition could be forwarded to
   4. if possible, include a deadline after which additions to the petition will be closed
   5. be prepared to potentially handle several emails a day

In conclusion, e-petitions can be a quick and easy way to drawing attention to one's cause, however, it is important to understand how to make effective use of this strategy.