One million-person global online Tibet petition takes to the streets on Monday in International Day of Action

The world's fastest-growing online petition—a call for China to hold talks with the Dalai Lama—will move to the streets worldwide on Monday, as part of a global day of protests, marches, and vigils organised by Tibet campaigners round the globe.

The petition, created by the international advocacy network Avaaz.org, broke through the one million mark after only seven days, and represents voices from every country on earth. We believe it is the largest global online petition in history, and the fastest growing internet petition ever.

Tibet groups have declared Monday, March 31 a "Global Day of Action," holding coordinated events from New Delhi to New York, and Berlin to Brisbane. In many countries, demonstrators will carry boxes representing the million-plus signatures of the Avaaz.org petition, stacking them in front of Chinese embassies and consulates to convey the magnitude of worldwide concern over the crackdown in Tibet.

"One million signatures in 7 days is unprecedented," said Ben Wikler, Avaaz.org Campaign Director. "If all the signers of this petition joined hands in a line, it would stretch from London to Rome."

"This is a clear message to the Chinese government that the Tibetan people have a vast amount of support around the world," said Ricken Patel, Executive Director of Avaaz.org. "The popularity of the 'Made in China' brand and the Olympics will be significantly affected by how China deals with Tibetan grievances."

About the Tibet Campaign:

1.25 million people worldwide have signed the call for Chinese President Hu Jintao to show restraint and respect for human rights in China's response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. The petition adds to pressure from a rising number of world leaders who have called for dialogue, and from grassroots organizations on every continent.

Details of the International Day of Action, which was spearheaded by the International Tibet Support Network (a coalition of Tibet related non-governmental organizations), can be found at http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_action/

The Avaaz Tibet campaign page can be found at http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/

The Avaaz Tibet campaign recognizes Chinese concerns about stability, but urges President Hu Jintao to see dialogue and not repression as the best path to stability and development in China.

Contact details:

Avaaz can facilitate interview opportunities and help provide video footage and photographs. We would ask that you make contact as soon as possible to help us best meet your requirements.

Please contact our team at: +1 866 394 2338

Or send an email to media@avaaz.org

Avaaz
www.avaaz.org
Please contact Ben Wickler and the rest of our team at: +1 866 394 2338
Or send an email to media@avaaz.org

Avaaz Foundation
260 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA

About Avaaz:

Avaaz, which means "voice" in several European, Middle Eastern and Asian languages, was launched in January 2007 with a simple democratic mission: to use the tools of online campaigning to help ensure that the views and values of the world's peoples shape the policies that govern them. The word Avaaz is pronounced "uh-VAHZ."

Avaaz has since grown to almost 3 million members from every country on earth. The Economist wrote last year of Avaaz' power to "give the world leaders a deafening wake-up call"; while the Indian Express heralded "the biggest web campaigner across the world, rooting for crucial global issues."

David Miliband, the UK foreign secretary who asked Avaaz to co-host his first major speech, calls the organization "the best of the new in foreign policy." Zainab Bangura, the foreign minister of Sierra Leone, describes Avaaz as "an ally, and a rallying place, for disadvantaged people everywhere to help create real change".

Avaaz's 'Stop the Clash' video recently won the YouTube political video of the year award, winning more votes than Obama Girl and other videos centered on the US Presidential race. http://www.youtube.com/ytawards07winners

This release was published on openPR.