With the humanitarian crisis in Darfur provoking indignation from around the world, a group of students have organised a campaign to add their voices to the global slanging match between China and western countries. Led by Heather Lynn Pickerell, a Year Ten student from German Swiss International School (GSIS), the young campaigners set up STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur) last year to raise local students' awareness of the genocide.
As the death toll from the ethnic conflict mounts, socially-conscious celebrities from around the world have intensified their condemnation of China's involvement in the crisis.
Among the celebrities leading the charge is Oscar-winning director Stephen Spielberg, who gave up his role as an Olympic Games consultant over Beijing's policy on Sudan last week.
In spite of the vast cultural and geopolitical differences between Africa and Asia, the young activists from GSIS still believe the massacre is relevant to Hongkongers.
'Genocides have long been a scourge on humanity. The Holocaust during the second world war and the genocide in Rwanda remain etched in our collective psyche,' said Heather.
'The Darfurian issue has also provoked heated debates across the globe. As senior students at our school, we think we should bring the issue to the attention of junior-form students.'
The controversy about China's role in the conflict also makes the topic more relevant for the students.
