8/8/08 Actions

STAND will support the following action sponsored by Dream for Darfur to ensure that during the Olympics the world does not forget about Darfur.

Alternative Opening Ceremonies

Dream for Darfur is organizing an “alternative opening ceremony” for the 2008 Olympic Games.  This ceremony will be a “virtual” online concert, combined with a video report from Mia Farrow at a refugee camp, to coincide with the propaganda portions of the Beijing opening ceremony (not the marching of athletes from each country).

This will be a 20-minute Internet broadcast on August 8. The broadcast will feature eight videos and include some existing feature packages for interstitial material. Carly Simon and Taking Back Sunday have agreed to donate videos and we are continuing outreach to a range of musicians. For more information please visit www.dreamfordarfur.org.

The Darfur Olympics

To keep the spotlight on Darfur during the Games, we are highlighting Dream for Darfur’s webcast of the "Darfur Olympics:" daily alternative programming during the first week of the Games.

The "Darfur Olympics" will include exclusive video footage and reports by Mia Farrow from a Darfurian refugee camp, and exclusive clips about the conditions there and the desperate need for action. In addition to this powerful video footage, there will be background reports and daily opportunities for action.

To kick off the week of action, Dream for Darfur is airing an "Alternative Opening Ceremony" on August 8 featuring musicians like R.E.M., Talib Kweli, Carly Simon, and many more who have donated music videos to Darfur.

To watch the "Darfur Olympics" and the "Alternative Opening Ceremony," sign up for the webcast by visiting www.darfurolympics.org.

In an attempt to ensure that the media keep its eyes on Darfur during the Games, we are asking that STAND members write letters to the editor— to let the world know that the situation in Darfur is deteriorating, but China can still help fix it. As we cheer our athletes on, want to make sure the world does not forget about Darfur.

Here are a few points we would greatly encourage you to use:

• Be concise! Letters should be between 150 and 200 words. Longer letters are unlikely to be printed. Since this isn’t enough space to give a lot of context, you should quickly establish the context and get to making one or two basic points. For example, “As billions of people tune in to the Olympics, millions of people will be suffering in Darfur.”
• Establish urgency: this crisis has a solution! China can still be encouraged use its leverage with Sudan to help bring security to Darfur.
• The world and media must not forget about the Darfur during the Games. China is Sudan’s protector, both diplomatically and economically, we must use the Olympics as a leverage point for the Chinese government to act on Darfur.
• Thus far world leaders have failed the people of Darfur. China and many others could and should be working to end genocide in Darfur
• 2.5 million people continue to live in impossible conditions, the more we raise our voices for Darfur, the more lives we will be able to save.
• Know your audience: people just like you will be reading your letter, and they will want to know what they can do to help. (In this case, joining in a week of Darfur advocacy, the Darfur Olympics.)Make your letter personal: letters to the editors are compelling because they’re from people like you who have been moved to write about their opinions.
• Make your letter topical: letters are more likely to be printed if they reference recent coverage by the newspaper receiving your letter.
• Include your contact information: the editor will need to confirm your identity.
• Submit the letter in the body of an email, not as an attachment.