Register to run with Human Rights Torch in Toowoomba - News Release: 19 October 2007

News Release

For Immediate Release

19 October 2007

Register to run with Human Rights Torch in Toowoomba.

Making a stand is as simple as putting one foot in front of the other when the Global Human Rights Torch Relay comes to Toowoomba.

The torch was in Dublin on Wednesday and will be heading to Queensland in late October/early November to raise awareness of China's continued human rights violations that breach the Olympic charter even though Beijing will host the 2008 Games.

The global human rights torch relay is stopping in 25 countries and more than 100 cities in Europe, Asia, North America and Australia.

The Human Rights Torch Relay – Toowoomba Network are seeking expressions of interest from potential torch bearers when the torch visits Toowoomba on Thursday, 1 November 2007.

Spokesperson for the Global Human Rights Torch – Toowoomba Network, Emmy Pfister says Toowoomba is a vital stop on this World tour.

“Toowoomba is a major city, not just in Queensland but in Australia as it's the largest inland city second only to Canberra.

“People from the Toowoomba Region can be apart of something very big and yet so very grassroots.

“Together we can help raise enough awareness that world leaders will apply pressure on China's ruling regime to end human rights violations such as systematic organ harvesting against political and religious prisoners of conscience.

“Everyday Falun Gong followers, members of the underground Christian Church, Chinese defectors and pro-democracy activists face persecution, imprisonment and torture,” Ms Pfister said.

The torch has already been to over 20 European cities including Athens, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Geneva, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Copenhagen, with its next stop to be in London on 25 October.

“The Olympic charter actually states that any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement,” Ms Pfister said.

Anyone interested in running a leg of the torch relay in Toowoomba or being apart of the torch relay street team should call 0433 430 830 or visit www.humanrightstorch.org for more information.

---Ends---

www.humanrightstorch.org