The very fact that a chain letter e-petition can generate such enormous volumes of e-mail that accounts end up blocked shows that a lot of people are concerned about various issues. The question is how can this concern be expressed in a way that doesn't cause havoc and can actually make a difference?
An e-petition is often seen as a quick and easy way of getting attention for a cause. It is probably the very fact that they can be so easily forwarded (with a sense of feeling good for having "done something") that makes them so "popular". Would you send out 50 letters by post about that issue? Apart from the cost, the main difference is the time it would take. But then perhaps that time would let you ask some questions: is a petition the best approach?; is the campaign well organised?; who is the petition actually going to be presented to?; are there organisations that are already campaigning on this issue? I'm not saying you should forget e-mail and use the post - the Internet has amazing possibilities for communicating ideas. It's just that sometimes it is perhaps wise to stop and think rather than being "hooked" into doing something on impulse.
Instead of forwarding a chain letter e-petition, why not do a bit of research yourself and then forward a short e-mail with links to relevant organisation's web sites. When you do this, it is wise to send it To: yourself and BCC: (Blind Carbon Copy) to everyone else - this avoids your private list of contacts being used by others. That way you share your concern with your friends while providing useful avenues for them to find out about the issue and perhaps take some real action. But first, think about the following:
If you really think that an e-petition is the best option then don't even think about creating or forwarding chain-letter style one (see The Bad News). There are some free services that avoid the problems by keeping a central record on a web site and all you do is forward a direct link to the relevant page:
They may make you wonder (when you see the things some people are concerned about) but they do provide a mechanism for collecting names in a sensible fashion. Check their privacy policy carefully to make sure they don't release captured details to anyone - the above seem OK but all rely on banner adverts for support.
Another possibility, to take things beyond an e-petition, is to set up an e-group with something like Yahoo. This has a mechanism for registering people's names and addresses (in the Database section in a Contact List) which could then be used as a printed petition. You would invite people to join the e-group and ask them to add their name to the above Conatact List. However, it is probably better suited to coordinating a longer term campaign with a committed group of people - it is too involved to simply "collect signatures". The benefit is that it provides a discussion space, links to relevant sites, space for related documents, a diary to organise meetings and events etc. In short you can raise your concern to a level of practical action - if you put in the effort...