Tibet petition.
Via Justin:
Personally I feel China should never have been given the Olympics in the first place, and that a full boycott is now the right way forward, if only because they'll probably respond in kind, meaning we might not have to spend £9 billion (and the rest) on a two-week long glorified sports day in four years' time.
After decades of repression, Tibetans are crying out to the world for change. China's leaders are right now making a crucial choice between escalating brutality or dialogue that could determine the future of Tibet, and China.
We can affect this historic choice -- China does care about its international reputation. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get the government's attention. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has called for restraint and dialogue: he needs the world's people to support him. Fill out the form below to sign the petition--and spread the word.
Personally I feel China should never have been given the Olympics in the first place, and that a full boycott is now the right way forward, if only because they'll probably respond in kind, meaning we might not have to spend £9 billion (and the rest) on a two-week long glorified sports day in four years' time.
My initial view is that boycotts are not the answer; in 1980 and 1984 it just enabled the 'bad' powers to gain more kudos.
I agree that China should never have gained the games but given the commercialism of the US Games, principles are less important these days. Quite frankly, Athens should hold them every 4 years.
Thatcher, who did not want sanctions against S. Africa, wanted Seb Coe et al to boycott Moscow. I remember being happy that Seb and Steve Ovett won. Strange that the Tory became Labour's golden runner.
Posted by eric the fish | Friday, March 28, 2008 12:56:00 AM
Oh quite. Now that Athens has all the facilities it's ludicrous that we don't go back with tradition and have it there every four years, instead of the lunacy of the host country spending huge amounts of money that would be better spent on genuine regeneration and economic development, rather than building white elephants that'll be used once and never again.
Posted by septicisle. | Friday, March 28, 2008 1:46:00 AM
Well Well Well! - I am surprised. I really didn't think you were that gullible. Funny how things like this have a habit of flaring up at times soooo convenient to Western interests don't you think?
I suggest you and Justin take off your rose-tinted Dalai Lama spectacles; rein in your understandable need to see the West in general and the UK in particular as the perennial goodies; do a little bit of historical digging, then find a more clear-cut and pressing cause for your petitions - The Palestinians for example.
You could start with these two recent Global Research articles.
The Tibet Card
Tibet, the 'great game' and the CIA
PS For info, I've posted this to Justin's site too
Posted by Sabretache | Friday, March 28, 2008 11:09:00 AM
I've posted on the plight of the Palestinians on a large number of occasions.
Posted by septicisle. | Friday, March 28, 2008 3:49:00 PM