April 11, 2012 – Chicago and Washington, D.C. – The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is proud to announce a new component to its ongoing campaign in the lead up to the NATO Summit in Chicago – a dedicated “Macedonia in NATO” website – www.macedoniainnato.org.
“The idea of the site is to present a complex issue in an effective way that will resonate with the international community, and educate them about the facts,” said UMD’s U.S. Chair of Generation M Dimitar Popov, the developer of the site. “We also present people with some innovative ideas on how they can get involved, and show their support for Macedonia at this crucial moment, in advance of the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago.”
By using a variety of images, text and multimedia, the website makes the case for why Macedonia’s NATO membership is long overdue, including an informative video presentation. The site content clarifies Macedonia’s fulfillment of the NATO criteria for membership and outlines the reforms Macedonia has undergone to fulfill NATO’s stated membership criteria. It also stresses the contributions Macedonia has made for the NATO Alliance in missions such as ISAF in Afghanistan, and how Greek obstructionism on the issue is not in the interests of regional security.
Furthermore, the website suggests a variety of possible ways for people to contribute to the cause. Site visitors can sign a petition to President Obama, send a letter to U.S. Representatives and Senators, or purchase a limited edition t-shit to support the campaign.
Donations collected from the sale of t-shirts ($20 each), go to UMD cultural and educational events, developmental programs, scholarships and humanitarian efforts and administrative costs. The website also encourages everyone to take a photo wearing the Macedonia in NATO shirt in different parts of the world, to later share the photos by uploading them to the website, and show widespread support throughout the global Diaspora.
“We strongly encourage you to share the website and video with your email contacts, as well as post it on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks. Your support and involvement will undoubtedly strengthen the cause, and raise awareness about this important issue facing Macedonia,” concluded Popov.
The “Macedonia in NATO” campaign was created and managed by the UMD in collaboration with Blackboard Media.
Founded in 2004, United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is a leading international non-governmental and non-profit organization advocating for the interests and needs of Macedonians and Macedonian communities worldwide. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., UMD has built an advocacy and operations network throughout the U.S., Australia, Canada, and Europe. To learn more visit www.UMDiaspora.org
Blackboard Media is a marketing strategy and execution firm that specializes in digital media.