Shake my hand

Despite my life-long aversion to sport of any kind even I know that the Olympic Games begin in Beijing today.

We can protest all we like about China’s appalling human rights record, but maybe what we need to do is connect.

The Dalai Lama on his way through London connected. He shook hands. Now the Olympic Handshake is making its way around the world as part of an awareness campaign organised by Avaaz, who say:

With this handshake, we reach out to one another as citizens round the world in the Olympic spirit of friendship and excellence, committing to hold all our governments to a higher standard of peace, justice and respect for human dignity wherever they fall short – be it in Tibet, Iraq, Burma or beyond. Dialogue is the best way forward, for China, and the world.

I’ve just exchanged a virtual handshake with Lammy from Oklahoma City.

Why don’t you sign up today and shake hands with a stranger? It’s quick and easy, just click here to do it and help us get to 500,000 handshakes by the end of the Olympic Games.

Here’s a short video explaining how it all started:

Image above by A National Acrobat