Avaaz’s current petition, calling on China to begin “meaningful dialogue” with the Dalai Lama, looks set to pass has now passed the one million signature mark some time later today, which will make making it comfortably the largest petition ever organised on the internet. Sign it here.
[Update: and they’ve also just won political video of the year on the 2007 YouTube video awards. Quite a week.]
Still, you have to wonder (again) at the breathtaking incompetence of the Chinese at public diplomacy. For heavens’ sake: the Dalai Lama has been calling for people not to boycott the Olympics; he’s arguing for autonomy rather than independence for Tibet; he called on rioters to halt, and maintain a nonviolent stance. As the Economist noted on Friday, opening talks would boost China’s image around the world. Instead, China “seems intent on using the Olympics to flaunt its control of Tibet, as the flame is paraded in Lhasa”.
‘Course, that same torch is coming through London a week on Sunday. Expect fireworks…
