Extending your virtual hand is very easy and extremely meaningful to the world community. Please join this action before the commencement of the Olympic games. We can overcome the division of China and other countries who would ignore the need for real talk about global issues, with this symbolic act of unity.
Today also raises a very important question.
Where do we go from here?
There has been much uproar focusing on the host of this year's Olympic games, China. DreamforDarfur.org has worked hard to raise awareness and action for Darfur. Save Tibet.org has continued to strive for justice. Olympic sponsors have been boycotted (I still don't eat Mcdonald's or drink Coke right now... and will probably continue to boycott them).
But what next? The ICC has called for Bashir's arrest.
But there are still not enough peacekeeping troops deployed as promised.
Your ideas, and sentiments regarding where we go from here as a global village to take action even in the smallest of ways to cause magnificent ripples for our human siblings everywhere from Darfur to Tibet, to Haiti, to Burma to Uganda, To The Congo and so forth.
Email Rootsofhumanity@gmail.com and include a link to your 'Where Do We Go From Here' post before the 23rd of the month and we may print it in the next Roots of Humanity Ebook.
Shine on Freedom Fighters.
Crossposted at UltravioletUnderground
Watch Dream For Darfur's Opening Ceremony:
Alternative Opening Ceremony
Sign up For The Darfur Olympics
BEIJING GAMES 2008
Come and demonstrate outside Chinese embassies and online on 8 August
Reporters Without Borders is calling for demonstrations outside China’s embassies in London, Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Washington and Stockholm on 8 August, when the Olympic Games opening ceremony will be taking place in Beijing. Two demonstrations will be organized on 7 August in Rome and Ottawa. A rally is also planned outside the Olympic Museum in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
In Paris, those wanting to take part should meet at 1 p.m. at the corner of Avenue George V and Rue de la Trémoille in Paris’ 8th district. Reporters Without Borders will distribute “Beijing 2008″ T-shirts to participants, as well other material for a peaceful demonstration.
Here are the times and venues of the demonstrations in the other cities:
- Berlin: in front of the Chinese embassy (Jannowitzbrücke) from 1 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Washington: near the Chinese embassy (2300 Connecticut Ave) from 8 a.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Stockholm: outside the Chinese embassy (Lidovägen 
at 1 p.m. on 8 August.
- Lausanne: outside the Olympic Museum (Quai d’Ouchy 1) from 5 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Rome: outside the 4th district town hall at noon on 7 August.
- Ottawa: outside the Chinese embassy (515 St. Patrick Street) from noon onwards on 7 August.
- London: outside the Chinese embassy (49-51 Portland Place) from 1 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
- Madrid: outside the Chinese embassy (Calle Arturo Soria, 113) from 1 p.m. onwards on 8 August.
The aim of these demonstrations is to call for the release of Chinese journalists and human rights activists who have been imprisoned, and for an end to the harassment of those who been placed under surveillance or forced to leave Beijing. The Chinese government has not kept the promises to improve respect for human rights that it made in 2001, when Beijing was chosen to host the 2008 Olympics.
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Quitterie de Livonnière
Communication
Reporters sans frontières
47 rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
Tél :+33 1 44 83 84 56
Fax : +33 1 45 23 11 51
E-mail : quitterie@rsf.org
Sans une presse libre, aucun combat ne peut être entendu. Soutenez Reporters sans frontières.
Without a free press, no struggle can be heard. Support Reporters Without Borders.
It’s Been a Year: Where’s the Darfur Peacekeeping Force?
Dear Air Americans,
As you may know, in March of this year Air America’s Thom Hartmann traveled to Darfur to see firsthand the plight of the people of Darfur.
Five months later the question remains...
How long must the people of Darfur wait?
One year ago today, the UN announced that a peacekeeping force would finally be sent into Darfur to protect civilians and aid workers.
While not solving the crisis, the move was hailed as a ray of hope for the people of Darfur. At 26,000 strong, this force was planned to be the largest peacekeeping operation in the world.
However, a full year after its creation, the force has only 9,000 troops and is struggling to do its job. The world has failed to provide the troops and equipment that were promised. And the violence in Darfur continues.
We are asking the Air America community to help bring relief to those caught in the middle of this conflict by taking action with our friends at Oxfam America.
Tell President Bush to do all he can to fully deploy the international peacekeeping force in Darfur.
The troops now on the ground come largely from an existing African Union force that was unable to provide protection on its own. It’s not a recipe for success.
Worse, the troops lack proper equipment—from much-needed helicopters down to basics such as food, boots, and helmets. Some troops have resorted to putting blue plastic bags over their old helmets in order to make the helmets regulation UN blue.
Not surprisingly, many Darfuris say the force is unable to make a difference in their lives. The UN-African Union Mission UNAMID alone cannot solve the Darfur crisis—the world must pressure the parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and return to negotiations. But a full force of 26,000 could significantly improve the situation in Darfur by providing real protection for civilians.
Call on President Bush to keep his promises and protect the people of Darfur.
The people of Darfur have waited too long for protection. Thank you for taking action on this urgent issue.
Sincerely,
Tim Fullerton
Oxfam America Advocacy Fund
