Olympic Corporate Sponsors
As the L in STAND’s SEAL campaign explains President Bush must reinforce Congress in using all economic and political tools available to encourage positive and meaningful Chinese engagement with the government in Khartoum. China, as a powerful and influential country has a significant and important relationship with Sudan. This year, China will host the 2008 Olympics, many viewing this event as their coming-out ceremony. However, China has not used their economic and social leverage to speak out about the genocide in Darfur to the UN Security Council or to the government of Sudan. Sponsors of the 2008 Olympics have the special opportunity to use their own economic leverage with the Chinese government in order to make significant change in Darfur. However, sponsors of the Olympics, which include GE, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, and Swatch, have refused to speak out to China and have stayed virtually silent on the issue of Darfur.
About the Campaign * Leading up to the Olympics: Take Action Now! * 8/8/08 Actions * Information on Corporate Sponsors
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.
