samkydd

China invaded Tibet in 1950 and since then has suppressed them as a race and also for their religious beliefs. The farcical Olympic torch relay through London yesterday and Paris today highlighted the strength of feeling against China, and despite their assurances when awarded The Games back in 2001, they have not improved their human rights record either in China itself or in Tibet. Last Thursday the Chinese authorities fired live rounds into a crowd of unarmed protesters, killing eight people.

In the 21st Century this sort of behaviour is not acceptable, especially a nation who relies on trading heavily with the rest of the world, especially with the UK and other EU members.

Apart from Human Rights they are also guilty of polluting the earth through unchecked industrial growth, dumping chemical waste into rivers which ends up in rural water supplies causing harm to local inhabitants and an unacceptable level of emissions of all sorts of pollution into the atmosphere.

The Olympics is an occasion for unity and peace and should not be seen by the world as public approval that the host nation is one of the good guys. Sports and politics should be separate but I suppose it takes a high profile event to highlight the problems in that country. I can’t help feeling a sour taste in my mouth and that China are taking the piss by flaunting their host status and sweeping their problems (self-inflicted) under the carpet in the hope that the world will ignore them as well.

Looking at many things you buy today e.g. largely electronics, the manufacturer’s trusted brand name is no longer relevant because they’re made or assembled in China. So whether it be a Philips MP3 player, a Sony DVD, trendy see-through vacuum cleaner, car parts and of course the Sunday market yellow plastic handled screwdriver set that crumbles and disintegrates the first time you use it they’re all Chinese imports and boost their economy beyond their wildest dreams.

So I will be boycotting the Olympics anyway (which is no hardship because many events are just so boring, the drug taking prolific and the upper middle-class commentary patronising), and also checking everything I buy and if it has that “Made in China” label it’s going back on the shelf.


Obviously I feel quite strong about this because I hate to see bullies get away with murder and everyone turn a blind eye to it, whether it's China, the USA, Zimbabwe etc but what do other members feel and does it really bother you?

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

nandywell

I've got to say, and this may sound a little ignorant of me but, I'm sick to the back teeth of hearing about these bloody Olympic games. The one thing I will say though is this, we should be the last country to condemn other regimes and be all indignant about foreign politics as we're fighting an illegal war ffs.

Frank63

I too am already fed up with hearing about the 2008 Olympics but just think , it's going to get worse when this lot's finished all we'll hear about is London 2012, we'll be eat'in, sleep'in and drink'in it.

Anyone got a rope I could borrow ?

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

GRAEME

Tibet was then and is now a part of China, so technically no "invasion" took place. No country on Earth recognised Tibet as a separate country - it was a more or less autonomous self-governing region.

The suppression of Tibet on racial and religious grounds is no less a crime for that, however.

China also carries out human rights abuses against other religious and politcal minorities throughout its territories. It also carries out tens of thousands of executions.

All men leak.

billy bentley

Does anyone know if there will be any Tibetans actually perticipating in the sports ?

batman

They are holding their own games as they are not participating in the Olympics.

Tibetan Olympics Home

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

DB7

I think these may become the most infamous since the 36 Berlin Olympics. For sure protesters are going to go to China for the games and on their own turf I can imagine those in blue tracksuits being quite forcible in dealing with them. It may make for some very ugly scenes.

billy bentley

Re Batters post, you can't really have your own Olympics can you ? It's like putting on your own World Cup, it's a bit ridiculous almost Pythonesque. I appreciate the concerns and politics involved, but still...

Marky B

Isn't it a bit late now protesting against China - shouldn't this have been done when they were competing to hold the Olympics,as their record on human rights isn't exactly new news.
As for yesterday's disgrace,I think politics should be dealt by the politicians and leave the sports to the athletes,never the twain should meet. I felt really sorry for Konnie Huq,who does not support China's involvment in Tibet,but believes the Games should go ahead.

BTW - the torch is in Paris now. Blimey - who carried that from London,Speedy Gonzales?

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Frank63

Apparently ( according to an online encyclopedia )

Tibet proclaimed its independence from China in 1911 on the eve of the fall of the Qing dynasty and the subsequent internal turmoil.

Tibet remained a defacto independent state until shortly after the conclusion of the Chinese civil war, when on October 1, 1949, the People's Republic of China was formally proclaimed in Beijing and the following year launched an armed invasion of Tibet.

So they have only been an entity for less than 100 years

The Chinese do have 'One China Policy' which is how come they wanted Hong Kong back and also want Formosa back in the fold.

Maybe those who are concerned about the olympics and Tibet should boycott the Chinese Chippies. Not much chance of that.

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

BristolUK

The world brought South Africa into line. It missed a chance with China.

Frank63

I don't know. The Americans have a WORLD SERIES in Baseball and there's only them and the Japs who play it to any degree.

" I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception" Groucho Marx

samkydd

But "The World" in that context was the name of the sponsoring newspaper.

One would suppose that Tibetan participants would be absorbed into the Chinese team.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

CaptainWaggett

I never knew that! You learn something every day! The Toronto Blue Jays won it a couple of times in the 1990s so the Yanks do have the occasional competition.

Lord Lucan

South Africa was never going to be superpower which made sanctions and eventual demise of Apartheid inevitable, China however will be the next superpower and world leaders are frightened of upsetting the Chinese because they all want Chinese trade. It's a bit like Saudi, we sell the Saudi's military hardware and turn a blind eye to human rights issues. If a government (any government) is going to make money out of another country human rights issues are forgotten about, and there are a lot of countries hoping to make a lot of money out of China as it opens up.

Personally, I think it was a mistake for the IOC to give the games to China, and I think they know it.