Editor’s note: Mia Farrow and Ronan Farrow, who were instrumental in starting up the "genocide Olympics" campaign, have offered these words.

Without question this is a a defining moment for each of us, and a deeply consequential one for the people of Darfur and eastern Chad. Responsible leaders and citizens alike should think carefully as to how they might best use their leverage with China. The successful staging of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games have proven to be a lone point of leverage with a country that has thus far been impervious to criticism. Those who have Peking’s ear in the lead-up to the Games and those underwriting the ceremony–the corporate sponsors–must step up and do their part.

McDonalds, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, General Electric, Visa and Microsoft should join the ranks of responsible individuals protesting the Games. These companies should publicly express concern, and do their utmost to persuade Beijing to actively seek security for the people of Darfur.