The Olympic Flame and Tibet Protesters

The Olympic Flame and Tibet Protesters
I was heartened yesterday (and today), to see the protests against the carrying of the Olympic Torch through London and Paris. For anyone to say that it doesn't affect them and that they aren't intereted in politics is a get out. China has illegally occupied Tibet since 1959, and for the world and the Olympic Committee to support China with the excuse that the 2008 Olympics will stop them persecuting their own people and Tibet, is naive. Well done Sarkozy and others for saying they will boycott the Opening Ceremony. If the West would only start an economic boycott, then perhaps China might make changes.

An economic boycott is probably out of the question given China's massive manufacturing power. However, a political boycott of the Olympics I would support. I am also pleased to hear that Sarkozy might refuse to attend the opening ceremony if the Chinese don't get their act together on human rights. I was also heartened to see the protests, but alarmed to see that the Chinese had supplied guards for the torch. Gordon Brown will probably come to regret that photo of him with those blue-suited Chinese guards. Next time something horrific happens in China and an image gets out, somebody is going to put the two side by side and print it. The meaning of that would be obvious: it would say that Gordon Brown condones the Chinese government's actions (the fact that he presumably does not isn't important, of course).

What made me smile was that Brown said he welcomed the torch but wouldn't touch it to make a point! He would have made a much better point if he hadn't welcomed the torch to Downing Street.

What made me smile was that Brown said he welcomed the torch but wouldn't touch it to make a point! He would have made a much better point if he hadn't welcomed the torch to Downing Street. Yes. Did you hear that in Paris the torch was extinguished and the torch was carried on a bus for safety? I'd say that that is symbolic of the death of the Olympic ideal. (Though the flame was kept going in a safety lantern, perhaps symbolising the fact that China won't win.) The Mayor of Paris apparently authorised a pro-Tibet banner on the Hotel de Ville.

What made me smile was that Brown said he welcomed the torch but wouldn't touch it to make a point! He would have made a much better point if he hadn't welcomed the torch to Downing Street. Yes. Did you hear that in Paris the torch was extinguished and the torch was carried on a bus for safety? I'd say that that is symbolic of the death of the Olympic ideal. (Though the flame was kept going in a safety lantern, perhaps symbolising the fact that China won't win.) The Mayor of Paris apparently authorised a pro-Tibet banner on the Hotel de Ville. That's fantastic! Why can't we do that? Brown seems scared of upsetting the Chinese. It was only after enormous pressure from within his own party that he agreed to meet the Dalai Lama when he visits soon.

That's fantastic! Why can't we do that? Brown seems scared of upsetting the Chinese. It was only after enormous pressure from within his own party that he agreed to meet the Dalai Lama when he visits soon. I can understand being afraid of upsettting the Chinese. They are, after all, a growing world power which almost deserves superpower status and probably will have it before long. Of course, that only makes it more important that their human rights policies are improved as soon as possible.

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