Global Torch Relay for Human Rights in China Arrives in Australia
Posted by chinaview on October 27, 2007
Press Releases, CIPFG, Australia & NZ, October 26th, 2007-
The Global Human Rights Torch Relay (HRTR) will arrive in Australia on Saturday 27th October 2007, with Sydney the first stop in the national tour. The Torch will be handed over from the UK, the last destination of the two-month European passage.
Inspired by the Olympic torch, the HRTR is an international campaign that seeks to put human rights on the Beijing Olympic agenda. The 12-month global relay calls for an end to all human rights violations supported by the Chinese regime. It highlights the persecution of Falun Gong, the most severely persecuted group in China today, the plight of Tibetans, Christians, democracy campaigners, outspoken lawyers and reporters, as well as the fueling of oppression and slaughter in Darfur, Burma, Zimbabwe and North Korea.
During the run up to the 2008 Olympics, the HRTR will visit more than 100 cities on five continents to publicise its founding premise: The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist in China.
Date: Saturday 27th October
10:00 am Town Hall, welcome ceremony with Australian Torch Ambassadors
10:30 am (estimte) George street, Sydney City relay from Town Hall to Circular Quay
11:00 am Circular Quay, live performances, speeches, waiting for the torch’s arrival
12:30 pm Walk relay to the Opera House
13.00 pm Opera House, photo shoot
13:30 pm Man O’ War steps, Sydney harbour relay
16:00 pm Manly, welcome ceremony and relay
The HRTR flame was first lit in a torch-lighting ceremony in Athens, Greece on August 9, 2007.
Important media information: A full media briefing will be held next week.
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:
Selected Australian Torch Ambassadors
Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Human Rights Commissioner (2000-2005)
Noel Everson, world champion rower. Mr Everson was chosen to be a torch bearer for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and has now chosen to step forward personally and as an athlete to express his concern with the human rights situation in China in the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics by supporting the Global Human Rights Torch Relay.
Torch Australia MEDIA CONTACTS: Teresa (02) 9712 1096, Colleen 0410 562 499
Website: http://www.HumanRightsTorch.org
Main organisers:
The HRTR is initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) which consists of over three hundred legislators, religious leaders, lawyers, medical doctors and human rights advocates from Europe, Asia, North America and Oceania.
Established in 2006, its aim is to go into China to independently investigate the persecution of Falun Gong, especially the reported crimes of organ harvesting:
http://www.cipfg.org
The HRTR is sponsored and supported globally by Asia-Pacific Human Rights Watch Charitable Trust and All-China alliance for protecting human rights & opposing violence, and in Australia by Free China, Darfur Australia Network (DAN), Democracy for Burma (D4B), Tibetan, Vietnamese and many other community groups and organisations as well as the Chinese pro-democracy movement.
- Original report from HRTR website
Brian Summerfield said
Dear organizers, just a short email to show my dismay at not including Tasmania in the relay run. You have managed all the other states but not us. I contacted your people in Melbourne and it was to be set down for the 24th Nov. I was going to travel down to Hobart to be a part of it, but I never even received a phone call to say it was on/off. Would like an explanation why it never took place. Next year I hope to organise a bicycle trip from here to England over an 18 month period and would like some help from your organization as I will be doing it to help awareness to human rights issues around the world, how much help could I depend on. Perhaps you could give me a call, my number here is 03-64272001, or just email me, yours sincerely Brian Summerfield.