Human Rights, China

I think the whole "boycott Olympics" thing is worthless. I LOVE the disruption of the torch though! Everyone is jumping on the boycott wagon because its an easy target right now. 90%!o(MISSING)f the people who right now seem to care about whats going on in China will not be heard from again after the Olympics. Its like we care only enough to make noise when there's an easy opportunity to shout "China is bad boycott the Olympics!" Groups that seek to help Tibet, like the ones who hung the flags from the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, are the true heroes as they fight year round, Olympics or not, to help Tibet and the other human rights abuses CHina has under its belt.

Currently countries like my own (USA) are abusing just as many if not more Human rights than China- does that mean those in attendance at the games should boo and jeer the USA athletes as they walk out in the stadium? Will that really accomplish anything other than showing a transient lack of respect for the Olympic Games, who's spirit is to bring the nations together regardless of ideology and human rights record?

Falun Gong has about 70 million followers in China. Canadian Viking is right on in posting that article, because the core issue is that a group Like Falun Gong has many millions more followers than the Communist Party itself- a true threat to Communist Control.

For me, the international competition that breaks down political boundaries to show we are all the same is the apogee of physical human potential, personal struggle and aesthetic athleticism not seen but every 4 years. A gold medal by a Tibetan athlete, competing on behalf of another country perhaps, would do more to shame the Chinese than any boycott would- Much like when African-American athlete Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in Nazi Germany in 1936. What a slap in the face to Hitler and direct proof of the the lies that Aryans are superior. And to think if everyone boycotted these Olympics this situation would have never happened. And now we have come full circle- when Germany is now considering boycotting the Olympics?!?!

Boycotting the Olympics does get a word out of "We aren't interested" when it comes to China. But real change will only come through sustained effort, donation of time and money to groups making a difference, and most importantly strong and consistent international pressure on China.

If anything in your house says "made in China"... Congratulations! You have done more to support China and its human rights abuses than any boycott will offset.

-- Steve Reply to this

With the world media spotlight on China at the moment, it seems like a good opportunity to bring attention to the Human Rights situation there.

Mel Reply to this

I don't agree with give china pressure by not buying 'made in china'. most of china's problems are rooted in poverty. it's a developing country just recovering from the pain of last century. unemployment, no future, these problems can only solve by economic growth. and peace and 'look good' is the very important for investors. i can understand the government try to depress the potential riots and threatening voices, since even those be spoken out, the problem is still there, the economic may even go worse and more people join them.
if people really care about china, definitely should buy more and travel, ironically they think boycott is for their good. Reply to this

This year's Nobel peace prize could be awarded to a Chinese dissident to highlight China's human rights record in the wake of the Olympic Games, according to experts who closely follow the workings of the award.

A likely candidate to receive the prize, the winner of which will be announced on October 10 in Oslo, is Hu Jia, a Chinese activist who has campaigned on democracy, the environment and the rights of HIV/Aids patients. Hu is serving three-and-a-half years in jail for "inciting to subvert state power".

From: Chinese dissident tipped to win Nobel peace prize

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