Dream for Darfur

As the genocide in Darfur enters its fifth year, there is still no meaningful protection for civilians. More than 200,000 people have died, and 2.5 million have been displaced; survivors live in inhumane conditions in refugee camps.

The international community has stated clearly its desire to address the crisis, but Khartoum, due to the support it receives from China, is able to continue defying the United Nations. China is Sudan's largest and closest business partner, importing two-thirds of Sudan's oil, supplying most of its weapons and providing diplomatic protection to its government.

China is also host of the 2008 Olympics. Dream for Darfur believes it is unacceptable for China to effectively underwrite the genocide in Sudan while enjoying the prestige of hosting the preeminent symbol of international cooperation.

Dream for Darfur, launched in June 2007, uses advocacy and strategic communications tactics to mobilize citizens, policymakers and the Olympic community worldwide to encourage China to "Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur." These include:

• Symbolic Olympic Torch Relays - The "Darfur to Beijing" Symbolic Torch Relay began at the Chad/Darfur border and travel through countries that have experienced genocide. In each country, advocates call on China to "Bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur." Other countries have launched similar events in solidarity with the international relay, including the US, Italy, Canada, China (Hong Kong), South Africa, the UK, France and Sierra Leone.
  
• Public education and grassroots mobilization: Through its advocacy, particularly the torch relays, Dream for Darfur is helping build the global anti-genocide movement. The campaign is coordinating international grassroots advocacy, offering technical assistance for events and media outreach, and providing effective online advocacy tools.
  
• Private advocacy with Olympic stakeholders: Dream for Darfur has been meeting and corresponding with Chinese officials, leaders of the national and international Olympic Movements, Olympic corporate sponsors and others associated with the Games to press China to help create peace in Darfur before August 2008.

Dream for Darfur does not advocate a boycott of the Olympics or the withdrawal of any nation from the Games.

For more information about the project and its work, visit the Dream for Darfur website.