Letter to President Hu Jintao sent six months before start of Beijing Games; Coincides with Global Day of Action

On February 12, 2008, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Olympic athletes, government leaders, and public advocates around the world sent an open letter to President Hu Jintao of China, asking that the country stop aiding the mass atrocities and ethnic cleansing in Darfur and instead support peace in the region.

To read the full letter to President Hu, click here.

To view the full list of signatories to the letter, click here. 

The letter, coordinated by the Nobel Women's Initiative, coincides with a series of protests taking place at Chinese embassies and consulates around the world organized by the Globe for Darfur coalition.

Hollywood director Steven Spielberg made news by announcing he would resign as Artistic Director of the Beijing Olympic Games, citing concerns over China's policy on Darfur. 

The open letter outlines specific actions by China that have aided the atrocities in Darfur, as well as actions China should take to bring peace to Darfur and clear its own name in the international community.

The organizers of the Day of Action aim to use the upcoming Olympic Games in Beijing as leverage to pressure China to use its influence over the Government of Sudan to push for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Darfur. The signatories to the letter pledge to remain vigilant and active between now and the Olympics this August if China fails to act responsibly.

The Nobel Women's Initiative is continuing to collect signatures to the letter from parliamentarians, athletes, organizations, and public advocates in the months leading up to the Beijing Olympic Games.

If you are interested in adding your name to this important letter, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• In Olympic year, China urged to use its influence in Darfur, The Independent, 14 February 2008

• Spielberg, luminaries press Olympic China over Darfur, AFP, 13 February 2008

• Olympics - Nobel laureates join pressure on China over Darfur, Reuters, 12 February 2008

• Dutch lawmaker calls for boycott of Olympic opening ceremony, Associated Press, 19 February, 2008
  

• High Hurdles, The Economist, 14 February, 2008

• China defends Darfur policies, CNN, 14 February 2008
  

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