Leading up to the Olympics: Take Action Now!
In order to effectively pressure Coca-Cola, GE, Volkswagen and Swatch, we must ensure that we are taking meaningful steps in contacting them using whatever outlets available. Each week we will have a different action that students could take in order to urge corporate sponsors to put pressure on China to stop the genocide. We urge you to host letter writing and call-in days within your community anytime you can this summer. Each of these actions will give you the opportunity to express your thoughts and beliefs on the appropriate role corporate sponsors should be taking because of their unique positions with China. STAND has defined a number of goals and actions corporate sponsors should take in order to use their power appropriately, as well as actions STAND members can take to put pressure on these companies.
Letter Writing * Phone Calls * Write an Op-Ed
Letter Writing
The letter writing aspect of our campaign consists of form letters, petitions, and personal letters from individuals and organizations urging corporate sponsors to act. Each of the letters should clearly define STAND’s asks and include any personal remarks you have. Please remember that these letters should not be polarizing towards the company, as we are trying to have positive discussions with them.
Instructions for Sample Letters
- Download the Sample Letter
- Go to the Corporate Sponsors Information pageand look for the address of the sponsor representative in your respective region. If you do not have one in your region, send the letter to the headquarters location.
- Insert the address for corporate sponsor location to your letter.
- Insert the name of the respective representative.
- Insert your name and address.
- Insert any personal thoughts or comments you would like to make.
- Mail to respective sponsor.
Sample Letter
This template was created by staff at Dream for Darfur and was delivered to representatives of VISA and Coca-Cola in April. We encourage you to incorporate your own personal reflections and ideas in this petition.
Download Sample Letter
Phone Calls
The call-in days of the campaign consist of STAND members making phone calls to representatives, CEO’s and comment lines regarding the companies inaction on Darfur. The phone calls need not be an extensive conversation, unless you feel inclined to have one. You can simply state who you are and why you believe that corporate sponsor should act on Darfur However, if you feel confident it would be great to go over our advocacy asks in depth.
Sample Script
A STAND member initially used this script to call the CEO of Johnson & Johnson, William Weldon during a demonstration held in New Brunswick, New Jersey, home to the J&J headquarters.
Download Sample Script
Write an Op-Ed
The use of the media in our campaign will allow us to bring significant light to the issues at hand. The letters to the editor can range from an advocacy based ask list to a more personalized letter explaining reasons why you feel the corporate sponsor has the responsibility to act.
Sample Op-Ed
The follow sample letter to the editor comes from a student who participated in our Staples Rally in Boston on April 27th, 2008.
Download Sample Op-Ed
We are asking that Olympic Corporate Sponsors:
- Voice their concern —publicly or privately— that China’s role in the Darfur genocide is contradictory to the Olympics mission. They can contact following organizations or individuals, but are not limited to this list alone: The UN Security Council, Adolf Ogi- Special Advisor to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, President Hu or the Beijing Organizing Committee.
- Work with other corporate sponsors on the issue of Darfur. Corporate sponsors should meet together to discuss what they could be doing to actively engage China into the issue of Darfur. They should sign a collective statement of concern in order to demonstrate to China that they are united on the issue.
- Corporate sponsors set up meetings with STAND members to discuss why we believe it is important that they act on the issue of Darfur, as well as specifically outlining what more they could be doing in order to help stop the genocide.
