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President Bush: don't go to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games

The approaching Olympic Games in Beijing offer an unprecedented opportunity for President Bush to urge China to help end the genocide in Darfur. For years, China has acted as both an enabler and protector of the government of Sudan. For example, China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil, providing funds for the government of Sudan to wage war against its own people in Darfur. Since 2004, China has supplied 90 percent of all small arms purchased by Sudan - weapons involved in the murder and forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Darfuris. And as Sudan's largest trading partner, China has repeatedly thwarted meaningful international action by the U.N. Security Council to address the crisis in Darfur.

The United States cannot stand idly by while one of its largest trading partners supports a genocide that is intensifying each day. The fact that China is hosting the Olympic Games provides the United States with a unique opportunity to demand changes in China's relationship with Sudan. Please join us in calling on President Bush not to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games unless all of the following conditions are met:

China ends all arms transfers to Sudan;
China strongly and publicly condemns the atrocities in Darfur; and
China demands that the government of Sudan comply fully with existing U.N. Security Council resolutions and rapidly facilitate the deployment of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

You have accepted an invitation from Chinese President Hu Jintao to attend the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. In 2004, your administration labeled the crisis in Darfur a genocide. Today, some 2.4 million people in the region are displaced, more than four million are dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive, and an estimated 450,000 lives have been lost.

Surely you are aware of the role China plays both directly and indirectly in supporting the government of Sudan and by extension underwriting the war that Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir is waging against his own people. As Sudan's largest oil customer, valued arms supplier and ally on the U.N. Security Council, China has thwarted international action to end the violence in Darfur and enabled the government of Sudan to get away with murder.

The Olympics represents an unparalleled opportunity to press China to help end this genocide. I urge you not to attend the opening ceremony of the Games unless China:

-Ends all arms transfers to Sudan; 
-Strongly and publicly condemns the atrocities in Darfur; and
-Demands that the government of Sudan comply with existing U.N. Security Council resolutions and rapidly facilitates the deployment of the United Nations-African Union peacekeeping force.

Your voice is critical to help ensure that China takes positive steps to bring an end to the killing in Darfur. Please do not let this exceptional opportunity slip by. Use your influence to realize these goals. And if they are not met, I urge you not to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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