We mounted a dramatic 3-mile-long "human chain handshake" in London this Thursday 22 May. The Dalai Lama's handshake on leaving the Royal Albert Hall was passed along a human chain of over 2000 activists who took to the streets of the city, shaking hands with each other right up to the Chinese Embassy. The activists wore T-shirts saying "Give Real Talks A Hand" and, in Chinese, "One China -- Talks on Tibet". They joined a procession behind the handshake, led by three children, culminating in the delivery of Avaaz's 1.67-million global petition for meaningful dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama at the embassy.
Avaaz spokespeople are available for interview - email media@avaaz.org.
"There's a lot of public anger in China right now about the world being anti-Chinese, and we feel it's mistaken," says Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz. "We hope that today shows our support for respectful, meaningful dialogue as the way forward for China—both with Tibet, and the world."
"Chinese and Tibetan officials say they are ready to talk, and the world supports them -- if these talks prove to be in good faith," says Paul Hilder, Campaign Director of Avaaz. "People around the world believe that this moment of tragedy in Asia, and the Olympic Games in Beijing, should lead to reconciliation instead of division."
