Dalai Lama calls for dialogue with China-They need our help. Action links

[Kajsa]

This from Avaaz.org this morning,

Please spread the word and
thank you for your help.

Dear friends,

After decades of suffering, the Tibetan people have burst onto the streets in protests and riots. The spotlight of the upcoming Olympic Games is now on China, and Tibetan Nobel peace prize winner the Dalai Lama is calling to end all violence through restraint and dialogue--he urgently needs the support of the world's people.

China's leaders are lashing out publicly at the Dalai Lama--but we're told many Chinese officials believe dialogue is the best hope for stability in Tibet. China's leadership is right now considering a crucial choice between crackdown and dialogue that could determine Tibet's--and China's--future.

We can affect this historic choice--China does care about its international reputation, and we can help them choose the right path. China's President Hu Jintao needs to hear that the 'Made in China' brand and the upcoming Olympics in Beijing will succeed only if he makes the right choice. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below now to join 250,000 others and sign the petition--and tell absolutely everyone you can right away--our goal is 1 million voices united for Tibet:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/21.php

China's economy is dependent on "Made in China" exports that we all buy, and the government is keen to make the Olympics in Beijing this summer a celebration of a new and respected China. China is also a sprawling, diverse country with much brutality in its past, so it has good reasons to be concerned about stability -- some of Tibet's rioters killed innocent people. But President Hu must recognize that the greatest danger to Chinese stability and development today comes from hardliners who advocate escalating repression, not from those Tibetans seeking dialogue and reform.

We will deliver our petition directly to Chinese officials in New York, London and Beijing, but it must be a massive number first. Please forward this email to your address book with a note explaining to your friends why this is important, or use our tell-a-friend tool to email your address book--it will come up after you sign.

The Tibetan people have suffered quietly for decades. It is finally their moment to speak--we must help them be heard.

With hope and respect,

Ricken, Iain, Graziela, Paul, Galit, Pascal, Milena, Ben and the whole Avaaz team

Here are some links with more information on the Tibetan protests and the Chinese response:

Crackdown in Tibet, but protests spreading:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/19/tibet.china
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/crackdown-on-protests-widens/2008/03/17/1205602289349.html

Dalai Lama calling for dialogue and restraint, and an end to violence:
http://www.dalailama.com/news.216.htm
http://www.agi.it/world/news/200803191258-pol-ren0032-art.html

Leaders across Europe and Asia starting to back dialogue as the way forward:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7300157.stm

Chinese Prime Minister attacks "Dalai clique", leaves door open for talks:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/18/content_7813194.htm

Other Chinese signals:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/China_looks_at_India_to_talk_to_Dalai_Lama/articleshow/2875142.cms

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[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Done

kicking so more can see

[Kajsa]

2. Thank you, Ayeshahaqqiqa!

Thank you for your help.

:)

[Echo In Light]

3. K&R

[Kajsa]

5. Thanks, Echo.

:-)

[Norrin Radd]

4. kr

[Kajsa]

6. Thanks, Progs.

:-)

[Norrin Radd]

15. Any time. Hey! I kicked it again...

[Kajsa]

7. 'China says opened fire on Tibetan protesters'

Update from Reuters,


http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSPEK26733920080320

[LeftishBrit]

8. k&r

[Kajsa]

9. Thanks,Leftish.

:-)

[scarletwoman]

10. Signed the petition -- k&r (nt)

[Kajsa]

11. Thank you, Scarletwoman!

I appreciate your help and everyone here who has helped
and kept this kicked.

:)

[scarletwoman]

12. You're welcome. (kick)

[agent46]

13. Tibet Test Case for the World?

The way the Tibet situation has played out over the years, leading to this confrontation now seems necessary. More people are recognizing we're at a collective flash-point in history where species and eco-system survival are in question. It's arguably become a matter of Humanity versus Authoritarianism. If anyone has the capacity to represent Humanity in such a match, I'd put my money on Dalai Lama. We're all facing the same questions now.

[Kajsa]

17. Yes we are, hard rains.

We haven't reached the level of totalitarian oppression we see in China,
but the BA has strayed far away from our Constitution and our rights
guaranteed within it.

Humanity vs. Authoritarianism is right!

Thanks for your help.

:)

[bobbolink]

14. K&R, in thanks for your help, and concern for those of us on the bottom rungs!

:loveya:

:yourock:

[Kajsa]

18. Aww, Bobbie- You're so welcome!

;)
and Thank You! for
your help here.

:loveya: :pals: :yourock:

[SpiralHawk]

16. signed and kicked

rec

[Kajsa]

19. Thanks, SpiralHawk.

Thanks for your help.

:)

[bobbolink]

20. Let's get this back to the top!

Because Mr. Dalai Lama has such a sweet and infectious smile.

:hi: