Leadership and The Olympics: The Dalai Lama's worldwide handshake

The Olympics are launched today. This caught my attention in my inbox this morning: 

Here's the inspiring clip, and below is the link to Avaaz where you can shake hands or just find out more:

"The Beijing Olympics should be a moment to bring citizens around the world together. But the Chinese government still hasn't opened meaningful dialogue on Tibet, or made progress on Burma and Darfur -- and global activists' messages are too often lost in a firestorm of accusations about being anti-Chinese.

"We've decided to take the moment back with a powerful, unambiguous message of peace, friendship and dialogue -- the Olympic Handshake. The handshake began with the Dalai Lama, passing through the streets of London, now it's gone online where all of us can join in -- help the handshake travel toward Beijing, where our message will be delivered through a big Olympic media campaign before the closing ceremonies. Join the handshake, and see yourself and others as it goes around the globe! "

If leadership is about high ideals, co-operation and competition, achievement, teamwork, engagement, motivation, vision and purpose...then it's all there, isn't it, in the Olympic ideal (put aside the grubbiness that tends to collect around the actual Olympics). But, how to reconcile that with the controversy over Tibet? By the cliche of formal ceremony versus street demonstrations that are quickly squashed? By the cliche of two opposing sides, open to the criticism of being 'anti-Chinese' and 'anti-human rights' respectively? Thanks to the leadership of the Dalai Lama and organizations like Avaaz, there is a different way to lead - rather than the cliche of confrontation over the Olympics, boycotts and a desire for them to fail, there's...the Dalai Lama's global handshake FOR the Olympics.

Don't choose a side: choose a position that reconciles both. Now, that's leadership.

SHAKE HANDS HERE >>>

www.avaaz.org