Olympics & China Options

[Alexander]

I just found myself speaking to Stargelman in the chat, and we were talking about the revival of the marijuana thread. And I remarked I was surprised there weren't any more threads popping up about politics and such. As always, Stargelman made an excellent remark "Start one!"


Why not.

Ok, I'm sure either all of you, or most of you have been following the recent events surrounding the upcoming Olympics. Just about every news site out there, newspapers, radio and tv has all had their say what they think should happen. What participating countries should do, what the Olympic committee should do etc.

I'm very interested to hear what you think should be done.


I'll start with myself.
Frankly, I don't think China should have been awarded the Olympics in the first place. I see it as some type of reward, the honor of being allowed to host the Olympics and all the benefits and such that brings with it. I'm very much against it being given to a country who violates human rights, and so much more, especially when it's done on the level on which China is doing it.

But that's in the past, China does have it. So now what? Well a boycott is one option obviously. It would send a very clear signal to China, especially in light of the recent events in Tibet and the way the protests have been put down. But perhaps the best way IMO that is, is by combining it with some basic demands. A demand for reforms both regarding Tibet and human rights and the likes with the consequence for non compliance being a boycott, either a total one or a partial one of the Olympics.

While I realize this would be quite a drastic measure, with many consequences, many of which likely can't be overseen on a short term basis, I also find myself leaning towards the saying "Drastic times call for drastic measures".

This might be the best chance the International community has in many years to really influence China, and if they pass up on it, I feel it was be a great shame and perhaps even an aid to injustice.
I'd like to quote my own signature for this "All that is needed for evil to triumph, is that 'good men' do nothing." While the quote deals with more total ideas then might be involved in this case, I do feel it accurately describes how I feel about it.


Well, that's my opinion, please, discuss, disagree, agree. I look forward to reading it

[Olen]

Interesting issue. The arguments both ways are quite convincing - on one hand china is a fairly oppressive and unpleasant single party rule which has done some unpleasant things in tibet (with a good few open violations of the geneva convention): torture, forced sterilisations, ethnic dilution, culture disembly, extra judical executions etc. Not nice. (I was an english teacher in a tibetan refugee school in north India last year so I know a fair bit of their side of the argument).

But on the other hand without something happening they aren't going to change, perhaps offering them the olympics also offers a place among the more civilised countries as their economy rapidly grows. Such acts could well help catalyse change.

The protests are inevitable and probably nessesary, a boycott, however, is probably best avoided. The chinese government is a strange and unpredictable creature but such an insult would likely make things worse for the tibetans both as a sort of revenge and a reverse reaction to the potential improvments the olympics could bring. Equally well perhaps a boycott would send a stronger message.

Tibet (and the lower profile Xinjiang and occupied section of Mongolia) aren't the only issues with China. As well as civil rights abuses against its own people its an environmental disaster - currently it opens a new coal fired power station every week. But then are we in a position to lecture them? Perhaps not.

To be honest the arguments of the olymics are so divided because both sides have strong points and so it probably doesn't really matter. I doubt whatever happens over the olympics can make much if any difference. The only way to truely bring about change in China would be trade sanctions, its just a pity we require their cheap labour to keep our own economies going and can't afford any sanctions.