Reality check: A good reason to boycott the Olympic Games
Mikey 6 comments
Warning: This photo slide show contains graphic images that may offend some viewers.
If you need another reason to boycott the forthcoming Olympic Games, look no further. This is what happens when you oppose the Chinese-occupied Tibet.
Kim OJ
Wednesday 26th March 2008 | 05:36 PMBoycott might make us feel better about our selves, but it is not going to help one single Chinese or Tibetan. Increased relations and continual pressure is more likely to produce results.
Anders
Wednesday 26th March 2008 | 06:35 PM...in response to this comment by Kim OJ. While I agree in principal, the idea of a boycott is to send a message. Any country that participates in the Olympic games is essentially saying "we don't mind idly standing by while you abuse human rights".
Kim OJ
Wednesday 26th March 2008 | 07:56 PM...in response to this comment by Anders. China knows the West disapproves of their handling of Tibet etc. So why bother playing repeats when it will not do any good for the victims? The success of the Olympic Games is leverage we can and have used against China, as we should continue to do. A boycott would spoil that opportunity.
Rodney
Wednesday 26th March 2008 | 08:04 PM...in response to this comment by Kim OJ. Because China knows the West won't take any action if it stands to lose money, just like Iran knows. So if we play along and verbally complain but continue to send funds and respect to China, then China knows we're just a bunch of push-overs, who talk big but in reality only care about our mortgage repayments.
Which is exactly what we, as a collective society, are.
Kim OJ
Wednesday 26th March 2008 | 08:12 PM...in response to this comment by Rodney. I am not saying we should not continue to push China on human rights issues, but that a boycott will not do any good, except maybe make the boycotters feel good about them selves. I would far prefer actual improvements in China, and we will only get them by continuing relations with China.
andrew
Wednesday 26th March 2008 | 04:52 PMwhy boycott the olympics? this type of thing has not just happened over night. why not trade sanctions? but then china is a big country with a big army so will they really give a damn?