While the Western media hasn't paid much attention to the growing humanitarian crisis in this country, the people of Zimbabwe have been dealing with massive food shortages, the AIDS epidemic, crippling inflation, and harsh political repression.

Now, in anticipation of the country's 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections, it is essential that we inform and involve as many people as possible about situation in Zimbabwe. Past elections have been surrounded by violence and corruption -- such as the arrests, beatings, and torture of peaceful demonstrators last March -- and the upcoming votes will surely be no exception.

To raise awareness, OSI has created an online portal (www.eyesonzimbabwe.org) for individuals to learn about the crisis and to take action in support of the people of Zimbabwe. The centerpiece of the effort is an arresting video documenting the abuses of the government through the words and images of the Zimbabwean people.

We're also rolling out tools designed to help our online audience to take action as well. We've created both an online petition and a tool that allows individuals to send letters to the U.N. Security Council urging them to investigate human rights abuses, monitor the upcoming elections, and convene a UNSC meeting to address the situation in Zimbabwe.

Finally, Eyes on Zimbabwe (www.eyesonzimbabwe.org) contains these resources for newcomers to the issue:

1. The eight-and-a-half minute documentary video;
2. A 30-second preview video with embedding code;
3. A detailed summary of the crisis in Zimbabwe;
4. A timeline of events leading up to the current state of affairs in Zimbabwe;
5. Graphics with embedding code linking to our video;
6. Links to other sites with information on the Zimbabwe crisis.

That's where we'd like your help. As an online community member, you have the ability to turn your readers' and friends' attention to the crisis in Zimbabwe and encourage them to take action.

But more importantly, we want your input. We want not only your questions and comments, but your thoughts, as well. It's going to take all of us, and so we're looking forward to hearing from you.

For more information visit Eyes on Zimbabwe

Eyes on Zimbabwe is a project of the Open Society Institute

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