14 July 2008

thousands join human art event...

a global day of action this past saturday 12 july used human aerial art to call on the chinese authorities to ensure a positive human rights legacy for the beijing olympics...

thousands of amnesty international supporters from around the world teamed up with circle up now, to create large images on the ground which are only fully visible from above...

from delhi to bamako and asunciĆ³n, thousands of people in over twenty locations joined together to form words such as "freedom", "dignity" and "justice" representing the universal declaration of human rights – which turns 60 on 10 december 2008...

created on the eve of the anniversary of beijing being granted the 2008 olympics, this powerful "visual petition" was an appeal to the chinese authorities to honor the commitment they made in 2001 to improve human rights...said circle up now:
"We are circling up in solidarity with human rights activists in China who have been silenced and cleared out of sight as the Games draw closer. We urge thousands of people to join together across the world to remind the Chinese authorities of their promises. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Olympic values aspire to a world where the dignity and fundamental rights of all individuals are respected without discrimination. Seven years ago, the Chinese authorities promised the Olympics would bring improvement for people’s human rights but instead repression of activists and journalists has continued because of the Olympics."
watch this space for a gallery of photos and video footage taken around the world during the circle up now day of action...

peace out <3

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