Dream for Darfur

China holds unrivaled influence with the genocidal regime in Sudan. As Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, join us in urging China to use its leverage to persuade the Sudanese government to allow into Darfur the full protection force outlined by UN Resolution 1769.

Headlines

Release: Human Rights Groups Call on McCain and Obama to Support Senate Resolution on the Olympics

Monday, 04 August 2008
Washington, DC – August 4, 2008: A coalition of nearly thirty human rights and anti-genocide organizations, joined by Mia Farrow and Olympians Joey Cheek and Nikki Stone, today issued an open letter to Senators John McCain and Barack Obama asking them to release a public statement announcing their co-sponsorship of Senate Resolution 632 and their support for an Olympic Truce for Darfur effective immediately. The letter also urges the two presidential candidates to support the Olympic Truce for Darfur in public statements in the coming week and during the Olympic Games. Click here to read the full text of the letter to Senator Obama and Senator McCain Click here to read the full text of Senate Resolution 632
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Statement: Dream for Darfur’s website is blocked in China

Friday, 01 August 2008

Prevents organization from holding its internet-based demonstrations: www.dreamfordarfur.org

NEW YORK – August 1, 2008: Despite assurances today from the International Olympic Committee and Chinese President Hu Jintao indicating that there would not be any internet censorship for Olympics reporters, Dream for Darfur confirmed today that www.dreamfordarfur.org is still blocked for journalists in Beijing.

The restrictions are particularly damaging because the campaign’s planned protests for the period of the Games are internet-based. Mia Farrow will be webcasting from a Darfuri refugee camp from August 8 to 15 – the first week of the Games. On August 8, Dream for Darfur will also hold a seven-minute online concert – an “alternative opening ceremony” with music from REM, Talib Kweli, Bette Midler and others.

“Beijing and the IOC should unblock our site immediately,” said Jill Savitt, Director of Dream for Darfur. “Right now, they are preventing the people of Darfur from being heard during the Games – an event that is supposed to represent global cooperation."

Article: Hu says China stands by Games pledges, web curbs lifted

Friday, 01 August 2008

Reuters: "President Hu Jintao said China would stand by pledges made when it was awarded the Olympics as Games officials deflected fire over Internet censorship on Friday by lifting restrictions.

...Advocacy group Dream for Darfur added to the political pressure on Beijing by calling on China in an open letter on Friday to use its sway with Sudan's leadership to stop the violence in the troubled Western region of Darfur."

Release: Dream for Darfur makes final plea to Beijing

Thursday, 31 July 2008
NEW YORK – July 31, 2008 – In a package sent today to 66 Chinese government and Beijing Olympic officials, Dream for Darfur made its final appeal to Chinese leaders to address the Darfur situation before the beginning of Olympic Games.
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Opinion: Peacekeeping on the cheap

Wednesday, 30 July 2008

International Herald Tribune: "The United Nations African Mission in Darfur, or Unamid, as it is widely known, is one year old on Thursday. Authorized on July 31, 2007, by a unanimous Security Council resolution, it was branded as the most ambitious peacekeeping mission ever. It is also one of the least supported. Unamid is an example of peacekeeping on the cheap, with disastrous results."