June 2008

Tracy is teaming up with several hundred athletes on Team Darfur, an international coalition of professional athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

A campaign leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Team Darfur aims to educate the global public through the unique voice of elite athletes. Team Darfur brings together the world's Olympic and professional athletes to put international pressure not only on Sudan, but also on those countries that support the policy of inaction in the face of this dire humanitarian crisis.

China's Olympic Slogan = "One World, One Dream"

China's government holds enormous leverage over Sudan. They purchase two thirds of Sudan's oil, and they sell Sudan the weapons that are used by the Janjaweed to carry out their attacks. If the Chinese government really wanted to, they could end the genocide. Their economic relationship with Sudan is just that powerful. Team Darfur is tremendously excited about the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing. However, it has become clear to us that China's lack of action with regard to Darfur is not in line with its professed motto of "One World, One Dream."

Since last year, Team Darfur has been working to put pressure on China in the lead-up to the Olympics. And it has been working! China has responded by appointing a diplomatic envoy to Darfur, sending engineers to the region, and making vocal statements about their commitment to helping the victims of the conflict. We commend them for all of this. But it is not enough!

Team Darfur Founder Joey Cheek

The team only has until August 8th to use its influence with the Chinese government. "It is an exciting time - if we keep it up, we could see an end to the suffering in Darfur by the end of this year." says Team Darfur founder Joey Cheek, "We need athletes, Olympic and non-Olympic, from around the world to join us in calling on China to seize this historic opportunity."

Tracy is one of these athletes and she says it feels good to be part of such a worthy cause.

"I am proud to be part of Team Darfur. Its time to put an end to the horrible suffering the people of Darfur have been experiencing for way too long. With the biggest sporting event in the world as a platform, there is small window of opportunity here to persuade the Chinese government to do the right thing and to improve the lives of millions by doing so. I will do everything I can to support and help this team achieve that goal. With so many good people trying to help this cause, I truly believe that by uniting everyone together, this will create a powerful force strong enough to make the changes that need to be made."

(You can view Tracy's Team Darfur page at http://teamdarfur.org/node/372)

Team Darfur does not support a boycott of the Olympics under any circumstances. To the contrary - according to Cheek, "we believe in the spirit of brotherhood and international cooperation of the Games. We wish to see China live up to this spirit. We see it as their responsibility and their duty as Olympic hosts."

Visit the Team Darfur Official Website at http://teamdarfur.org

Donate to Team Darfur at https://teamdarfur.ngphost.com/crmapi/contribute

May 2008

Tracy explains to High School students why boycotting the Beijing Olympic Games is not the answer.

    

When recently asked by hundreds of young high school athletes, who are following closely, the news and hoopla surrounding the Olympic Games in Beijing, what she thought about the campaign to get America to boycott the Olympics in Beijing, Tracy spoke quite candidly about her thoughts on the subject. Here are few excerpts for that speech.

      

Tracy what do you think about a campaign to get America to boycott the Olympics in China?

"I truly don't believe a boycott is the answer. I believe education is the answer.

"As a former athlete I have a great empathy for the athletes who have the opportunity to compete in China. First of all, they are going to the Olympics to focus on representing their countries with honor and giving their greatest performance in their sport. For them, this is a lifetime dream, years of work and sacrifice, and for many, perhaps their one and only chance to compete in an Olympic Games. Of course they don't want a boycott and the reality is, they should not be penalized.

"But on the other hand I don't buy all the sugar coated PR and arguments that we shouldn't politicize the Olympics. There has been no conscious decision here to all of a sudden bring politics into the Olympics as if it just fell out of the clear blue sky. The Olympics have always been political. Its probably one of the most political events there is. And no one understands that better than China, which, like every host city before them, is counting on the Games as a political platform to advertise their achievements and to promote their country as a channel for bringing the world together in peace. What they didn't count on is having their Human Rights record also being advertised around the globe.

"This awareness and education to the rest of the world is where the power lies to bring about change."

"At the Winter Olympic Games in Torino, when American speed skating gold medalist Joey Cheek donated his medal to help the people in Darfur, it grabbed the attention of millions of people, who were formerly completely clueless of the horrific events going on there. His actions made them sit up and notice and educate themselves on the issue. One of the results of that action was Team Darfur, hundreds of Olympic athletes from around the world who have now dedicated their time and money to helping end the crisis. That is powerful."

"When Hollywood director Steven Spielberg withdrew as an artistic adviser to China's opening and closing ceremonies in February because of China's involvement in the crisis in Darfur, it grabbed the world's attention. Millions of people asked "why did he do that?" That made a profound statement and started getting people to look into what role China plays in the crisis there and what exactly their human rights record was. Again the result was awareness and positive action being taken to help Darfur."

"When the Dalai Lama asked that the U.S. engage China in a conversation about human rights and cultural tolerance, and called for an international investigation into the violence in Tibet, people start to read and research what is going on over there. The result was people asking how they can help."

"When protestors snuff out the Olympic flame during the torch relay, people want to know WHY?"

"How many in-depth news stories do we now see on a daily basis about China, human rights, the selling of arms and the oil connections between China and Sudan? How much more educated is the world now on these issues? How much aid has been raised as a result of people being informed?

"I truly believe that had it not been for the Olympic Games, millions of uninformed people around the world would have absolutely no idea that China had anything to do with the crisis in Darfur or Tibet. Now they do, and many are taking action because of it. That is the result we should be looking for.

"Making the entire world aware of what is going on and making people step up to help find a solution is a powerful thing. And as we can see from the daily news, it doesn't require a boycott to make that happen. It takes education, awareness and communication."

April 2008

On April 8th, Outward Bound proudly launched its first course in Monaco

"We've reached the Top!!"

Outward Bound Participants during the climb

Tracy lends her time as a board committee member (http://www.outwardboundmonaco.com/committee.php) of Outward Bound Monaco, a youth program aimed to help young people face challenges so they can realize their ability to overcome obstacles and thereby build confidence in themselves.

After a long road of planning, fundraising events and awareness building, Outward Bound Monaco hosted its first adventure course for a group of young people from the region on April 8th.

"It's was great to see the course take place," says Tracy. "We've been preparing for it for more than two years. So much goes into pulling this off in terms of planning, training, set-up, safety, insurance, and we've had to overcome a lot of obstacles along the way, so it was a big victory for Outward Bound Monaco team. This is the first of many to come and a lot of young people's lives are going to be touched by it. I am very proud to be a part of it."

     
Participants hiked for miles and scaled the Mountains

For 4 days, youth from the region left the comforts of city life behind to become pioneers in the Riviera's hinterland. The chosen teens, aged between 15 and 18, were the first to embark on an Outward Bound outdoor adventure on the Cote d'Azur.

Tracy and Judy look for potential courses

View from the Top

Over the past year Tracy and Outward Bound Secretary General, Judy Churchill, have spent many a long days scoping out potential hiking and climbing courses for the Outward Bound kids in the jagged mountains that stretch along the Mediterranean coast. As you can see in the photos, it makes for some breathtaking views of from the Riviera to the Alps.

     
Tracy & Judy logged miles along dozens of stunning hiking trails in search of the perfect Outward Bound course

The inaugural course came off a tremendous success. The participants received some extra special attention as HSH Prince Albert II, Outward Bound Monaco's Patron, took time out of his busy schedule to drop in and give the kids a pep talk before they set out on their course.

While commitments in the United States kept Tracy from being present on the days of course, she says just seeing it happen and come off so successfully is really exciting.

"My schedule can get pretty hectic at times and I can't be in all places all the time, but just to see the looks on these kid's faces and read their diaries about their experiences makes all of the work and time we put into this all worthwhile. Judy Churchill, Steve Howe, Mike Peagram and all the leaders did such a fantastic job, I am really proud of them. I look forward to our future courses, and hope that these experiences will really make a difference in the lives of these kids. It's so great to hear a story of a young person who comes to you says, 'I never thought I could do that, but I put my fears aside, I tried and I did it.'"

"It's a good feeling to have played a tiny part in making that happen."

You can read more about Outward Bound Monaco and see more photos and videos of the courageous young people who conquered the Outward Bound Monaco course at http://www.outwardboundmonaco.com/about.php.

HSH Prince Albert greets the participants

The participants get ready to row

February 2008

Tracy attended the UNEP 10th Special Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum February 20-22nd. Tracy was head of the delegation for the UNTWO ST-EP Foundation.

More than 1200 representatives from 145 countries participated in the Forum which focused on Globalization and the Environment: Mobilizing Finance for Climate Change International Environmental Governance and the United Nations Reform

      

http://ip21st.tripod.com/unepmc2
http://www.unep.org/gc/gcss-x