Save the USPS International Surface Mail Service for Humanitarian Projects

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On May 14, 2007 the USPS eliminated International Surface Mail which was used by many organizations and individuals to support meaningful, humanitarian projects around the world. I ask for your assistance to rectify this situation.

Many non-profit organizations, faith communities, schools and individuals used this method to ship books, professional journals and other educational materials to nations in need, expanding educational opportunities for thousands of students around the world. Now, the only postal option in reaching these communities is by airmail, which in most casts has tripled and even quadrupled the cost of shipping these vital materials.

These classroom, book and library projects have an important role in uplifting communities and supporting the education and advancement of young people. At a time when we should be taking advantage of every opportunity to connect with other nations in friendship, goodwill and positive collaboration, I am concerned these recent changes in overseas shipping rates will have damaging if not devastating impacts on many global service initiatives.

A one size fits all approach for overseas shipping is shortsighted and misguided. It is my hope that you can take action to reverse this recent change so the many good works of many American volunteer organizations can continue.

7523 Signatures

  • Erin E
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • US Peace Corps
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • South Africa
    • Comments
    • This service is invaluable for Peace Corps Volunteers and the communities we serve. Please do not eliminate it!
  • Autumn Notter, RPCV B
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • http://www.capca.org
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • United States
    • Comments
    • M-Bag rates are absolutely essential to be able to bring educational resources to devloping-world communities that would otherwise have none. Without M-Bag rates, the trend of building excellent school libraries in West Africa would be curtailed.
  • papy
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • congo
    • Comments
    • it's very important
  • Karen P
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Kulanu.org
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • The discontinuation of the M Bag will adversely affect literacy programs in developing countries.
  • Nancy G
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • www.ocpca.net
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I am asking that the new postage rates for M-bags be rescinded. I received many M-bags of books while I was a volunteer. It was the best/least expensive way to get books in Central Asia & I don't want to loose that capability because of the excessive postage rate now being charged.
  • Nathan E
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • Uganda
    • Comments
    • I am currently serving in the Peace Corps in Uganda, and the M-bags were a useful tool to allow books to be sent for schools and libraries that Peace Corps volunteers are trying to establish.
  • Nathan S
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Friends of Guinea (Guinea RPCVs)
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Stephanie R
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • I sent 5 boxes of math textbooks to Malawi only because I could afford the surface mail. Now, I can never help the school I taught at as a Peace Corps volunteer with textbooks again. This is a huge loss to the children of the village of Ngabu.
  • Jesse R
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Tanzanian Childrens Fund
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Sarah G
  • Christina A
  • Janet K. T
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Mazna P
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • David K
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • First Presbyterian church
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Liz M
    • Comments
    • I'm an RPCV from Namibia. M-Bags were extremely vital in our service work, and without them, some of our most successful and sustainable projects would not have been possible to create.
  • Michael A U
  • Paula S
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Maryann N
  • Liana R
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • Please reinstate the surface M-Bag. I used the M-Bag while a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia to send thousands of books to my village school where there were previously no library materials. It was an invaluable service.
  • Meg Z
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • Keep books going to poor countries to educate kids
  • Julie A
  • Bernard G
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Ellen B
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • It's critical that we can cost effectively send books and journals to people with limited access to them otherwise. Through organizations such as Books for Malawi, the education level of entire villages has increased. Not only does this improve life for millions, it increases the positive image of the US.
  • Kim
  • Kathleen L
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Peace Corps
  • Jessica M
  • Christopher B
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
  • Amanda B
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
  • Jim S
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Friend of RPCVs
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • You're hurting programs started by the best ambassadors the USA has.
  • Kelly F
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • RPCV
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • Malawi/USA
    • Comments
    • My community and I built a library for our village of Makuwa. Friends of Malawi as well as other organizations help send over 2,000 books using the MBag option. Please continue this option as it is the only affordable option for most people.
  • sharon d
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • US
    • Comments
    • We need lower overseas postage rates for Peace Corps volunteers and others engaged in educational/humanitarian efforts. These efforts are extremely important to help us win the "war" on terrorism.
  • Cynthia Jo I
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Former Peace Corps Volunteer
    • Comments
    • PLEASE reinstate this! I can't tell you how important it is for keeping international relations at a people-to-people level, which is so crucial in today's world. .
  • Thomas O
    • Comments
    • Hurts the poor around the world with out the M-Bag
  • Carver N
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Iowa State University
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • United States
  • J L
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Returned Peace Corps volunteer
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • United States
  • Helen D
  • Sarah G
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Peace Corps
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • Jamaica
  • Christoffer F
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • United States
  • Margaret Marek R
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Oak Park Council on International Affairs
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • We have raised money in support of the Peace Corps Partnerships. Students in our community have corresponded with students in the schools we have funded. This is an important educational process for students here in the USA. Students share cultural items and send educational materials as well. As a former Peace Corps volunteer I know the importance of cultural communications with people in many isolated places in the world.
  • Louise B
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • www.tanzanianchildrensfund.org
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • Please bring it back!
  • Robin K
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Concerned citizen
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • US
  • Louis B
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • sunil a
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • usa
  • Lindsey S
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Thomas E. B
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
    • Comments
    • Returned Peace Corps Volunteer - Dominican Republic
  • Chirag S
  • Iva B
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • post office
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • us
    • Comments
    • you people need to get a life
  • Elizabeth I
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Michelle B
    • U.S. Zipcode (or country if not U.S.)
    • USA
  • Ashley C
    • Name of Organization (if applicable); URL
    • Tanzanian Children's Fund