Have Your Say… Get Loud And Make Them Listen

The build up to these Olympics has been a real disappointment. While I want to watch the games, and let’s face it I will… I know I will feel a real sense of disappointment in the Chinese Government and the state of human rights in China. As someone who feels free to post, blog, email and access content on the internet I feel a real sense of empathy to those people who have to fear for their freedom for expressing their opinion. Lets just hope that post the games in China human rights improves. I guess we need to keep watch and not forget about it after the games are over.

i have to agree with craig. i definitely will be watching the games, how couldn’t you. i also feel a really sense of sadness for Chinese people who are in prison for expressing an opinion online.  i never think about telling people the way i feel. i would hate to think of what it would be like if i did thats why i think we should show our support for people Shi Tao and Hu Jia. i will definitely be joining the day of protest.

I am sure that the Chinese will do an amazing job of hosting the games however this for me will be overshadowed by the countless Chinese people evicted from their homes to make way for the games. I also hope that when all the fuss of the games is over and the world is no longer focusing on China we wont forget that we need to continue to fight for human rights for the Chinese people.

Yes and it gets worse…

When rural Chinese decide to migrate to the cities to work in the markets etc, they lose their right to work the land, which is fine as long as the Olympics doesn’t come to town.

Markets closed to make way for - one in particular, the Dongjiao market - causes displacement of these ‘economic migrators’ - and they have no place back home, so they must just wait till the rest of the world clears out…

the factories - closing to reduce pollution - yes we did say we wanted a “Green Games” and not just the amazing amounts of algae where the yachting needs to take place! But - most of these factory workers salaries are based on a salary reward scheme directly connected and dependent on productivity. If they can’t get in the doors, they can’t produce, and their salaries start to look like a commission salesperson who makes no sales - apply that to an already struggling socio-economic strata and you have the current situation.

Sorry i hate to go on but....At a higher level even there is complete disruption of middle level business, or anyone not authorised or directly supplying/connected to the “olympic effort” (yes pun on war effort intended). At a base day to day life level, life is looking much more grim.

I know how much people love the games and i do get the history, culture and diplomatic ramifications of it - but really - should all else cower in its shadow??? really???

I was disgusted when China got the Olympics. With such an apauling human rights record which continues it just shows how economy plays such a huge part in the selection process. When sydney got the games reports said Coca Cola were not happy as they already had a significant market there and wanted the games in china as they could increase their market in china. It is these sort of reports that I find so sad.  The world is truly becoming an economic driven society where no amount of profit is ever enough and the humanitarian costs to achieve these profits are not even considered.
Having the Olympics, which have been a symbol of good will and a testament to the human spirit, held in a country that spits in the face of human rights is an absolute travesty.
It is time the world measured its people not by the money they have or make but by the way they treat each other. Maybe then we could become a more caring and considerate society where we help each other rather than supress each other.

I was at a conference over the weekend and a fellow delegate raised an interesting question. “when is it enough” He raised this to an Indian Taxi Driver who had come out here to go through business school and whose aim was to support the growing economy in his homeland on his return. Indian economics and the country’s economic relationship to the global community, ramifications of developments in other countries and areas of growth. Then came the question, and he was dumbstruck - so was I - so yes - when is it enough??? Perhaps this is the question that should inform a unit economics curricula - but at the risk of sounding cynical - how on earth would it pay for itself? And God forbid - what if they found an answer…

Twelve years ago my husband and I traveled to China to adopt our daughter. After all this time, it still amazes me that the world, including the IOC, is surprised that censorship is still occuring.  A country that forces their people to give up their children is capable of many things.  I thank God every day for the joy my daughter has brought into my life, and pray that when she chooses to visit the land of her birth, she will see a different China.

Berlin 1936 - Beijing 2008 any similarities? You bet!

As a citizen of a free nation (one of the few on the planet) I’m ashamed our governments allow a corrupt system of murderers in Beijing to shine. Also to deliberately just closing their eyes in front of the overwhelming facts of a never ending row of human rights abuses. It seems greed will abolish good intentions like: “Never again”. On my part, ‘I will avoid from here on buying “Made in China” thus support our own industries, who deserve it.’ I hope these games will be a nightmare for the government in Beijing and a triumph for humanity. Why do mass murderers like the ones in Beijing do not end up in front of a Tribunal like the Nazies in Nuremberg? Are they any better? You do the math!

I can understand your outrage, China’s human rights record is appalling and it’s upsetting to think about the suffering some people are going thro.
But perhaps boycotting Chinese made products might not help, the people most likely to suffer are the workers and those all we are trying to help. Maybe there are other things we can do, like lobbying politicans to speak out and educating the public.
I don’t mind China having the Olympics, it at least means that the world’s attention is on the country and it’s an opportunity to get the spotlight on these issues ... becos without i reckon there won’t be any real change.