Giving peace a chance?
Trip Start
Jan 30, 2007
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163
638
Trip End
Dec 31, 2011
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Beijing,
China
Sunday, August 17, 2008
This seems unlikely at the moment, given China's posturing about the DL and Tibet. But then stranger things have happened: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the end of aparthied.
What do you think??
Dear friends,
As the Beijing Olympics begin, the world looks on with mixed
emotions. This is a moment which should bring us closer together, and
Chinese citizens deserve their excitement -- but the Chinese
government still has not opened meaningful dialogue on Tibet, or
changed its stance on Burma, Darfur and other pressing issues.
Riots and disruptions of the Olympic torch relay have only helped
nationalists whip up Chinese anger. But we cannot stay silent -- so
what can we do? The answer comes from the Dalai Lama himself, in an
unambiguous gesture of Olympic spirit and friendship: a handshake.
It began in London, passed hand to hand by thousands of us -- now the
handshake has gone online, and is criss-crossing the globe on its way
to Beijing. All of us can join, Chinese and non-Chinese, and it comes
with a promise: to hold ALL our governments accountable where they
fall short, in Tibet, Iraq, Burma or beyond. We will deliver our
message in a bold Olympic media campaign before the closing
ceremonies: Click below to see how the handshake started, sign up to
join in, and watch it circle the globe --
http://www.avaaz.org/en/handshake/98.php/?cl_tf_sign=1
The worldwide outcry has produced some progress, but much resistance
from Chinese officials so far. If we are to see advances not setbacks
after the Games, we need to show both that our voices will never fall
silent, and that our challenge is a positive one.
We have one last chance to reclaim the spirit of the Olympics with
the message of friendship and dialogue we share with the Dalai Lama.
The more people join the global handshake, the more powerful our
message will be when it hits the Chinese and international media. So
forward this email on, encouraging everyone to join in. One World,
One Dream is an ideal bigger than the Olympics -- it is time for
citizens around the world to take it back.
With hope and respect,
Paul, Ricken, Ben, Milena, Graziela, Iain, Pascal, Veronique and the
whole Avaaz team
PS For a report on Avaaz campaigning so far, see
http://www.avaaz.org/en/report_back_2
There is a lot of disinformation about the Dalai Lama -- for more
about his support for the Olympics and positions on Tibet and China,
see:
http://www.dalailama.com/news.229.htm and
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2008/05/chinese-student-interviewing-the-dalai-lama/
