August 8, 2008

THE OLYMPIC HANDSHAKE - Join in NOW!

This is so wild. I was just talking about this today with a friend at work. He was sharing his excitement about the Olympic opening games. I was not able to reciprocate the same excitement. He immediately noticed that I didn't respond in my usual cheery self. I told him that I am committed to boycotting the Olympics being held in China. He said what about supporting our atheletes. In my mind all I could think was, the few 1000 atheletes will understand, I'm doing this for the MILLIONS of people who have been or are being harmed by this OPPRESSIVE Chinese government.

This conversation did stayed in my spirit for the rest of the day. I was driving home from work and just started asking God if this was the best way for us to make an impact on China. Something didn't sit well with me. When I arrived home, I checked my email and what do you know, I have an email from Avaaz.org about this very subject and a very special message from the Dalai Lama. WOW! Thank you God... Click here to read "China Can Change" written by Dalai Lama. I have copied the email message I received from Avaaz.org. PLEASE click on the handshake link and add your name to the GLOBAL list of 97,969 people that have already signed. Cheers!

I AM confident however, that the DICTATORS of the World WILL Reap as they have sown. They WILL receive the due KARMA they DESERVE! God ALMIGHTY always has the last WORD. My wish, my dream, my desire is that every HUMAN BEING be allowed to live in TRUE FREEDOM ~ body, mind and soul!

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Dear friends,

As the Beijing Olympics begin, the world looks on with mixed emotions. It's a moment which should bring us closer together, and Chinese citizens deserve their excitement -- but the Chinese government still hasn't opened meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama, or changed its stance on Burma, Darfur and other pressing issues.

Even worse, extremists in China are promoting the view that Olympic activism like ours is anti-Chinese. We can't stay silent, but we also can't let our efforts be abused to divide people. 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'll deliver our message in a bold media campaign in Hong Kong and around the world: Click below to see how the Olympic handshake started, sign up to join in, and watch it circle the globe --

http://www.avaaz.org/en/handshake

The worldwide outcry has produced a little 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 let's forward this email on, encouraging everyone to join in. "One World, One Dream" is an ideal that's bigger than the Olympics -- it's 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

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