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I just joined a global handshake, beginning with the Dalai Lama in London and going all around the world to the Beijing Olympics -- I thought you might like to join in too. Read the email below if you want to see what this is about, and get involved!

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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/?CLICK_TF_TRACK

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/

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THE OLYMPIC HANDSHAKE - JOIN IN NOW!

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