China is feeling the wrath right-about-now. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, Steven Spielberg announced he would not be involved with the Beijing 2008 Olympics due to China’s influence in Sudan and its non-responsiveness to the suffering in Darfur.
Spielberg was planned to be the art director for the opening-and-closing ceremonies of the Olympics.
Spielberg said he could not consciously invlove himself in the Beijing Olympics because China has not done enough to help end the crisis in Darfur.
“At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on the Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur,” Spielberg said in his statement.
“Sudan’s government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes, but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more.”
And this is what President Bush had to say about it:
“That’s up to him. I’m going to the Olympics. I view the Olympics as a sporting event,” Bush said in an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. television.
While Bush makes his stand on his two feet, and that’s about all, Spielberg has made a humanitarian decision. He has put aside money and fame for the support of human lives.
When China discovered Spielberg’s pull-out on the Olympics, Chinese government officials denied that Spielberg’s decision had ties to Sudan. China also believes its just a sporting event and will continue to buy two-thirds of Sudan’s oil and supply the Khartoum government with military weapons.
Spielberg joins Mia Farrow, actress, and other activist groups to pressure the Chinese government to use its influence and end the continuing suffering in Sudan.
“China’s economic, military and diplomatic ties to the government of Sudan continue to provide it with the opportunity and obligation to press for change,” Spielberg said.
With Spielberg’s position and other rights groups pressuring China, I am just wondering if its a matter of time. Or will the suffering continue in the hands of politics.
My friend actually sent me an article on Spielberg bailing on the Olympics. Check it out at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7242016.stm
2 Comments
It is unfortunate that instead of focusing on the root cause of Darfur – the negative consquence of American power, something Mi Farrow should absolutely do something about, instead she blackmail the Olympics and denigrate a billion people.
Is that any way to ask for help? Espeically after we have repeatedly failed Darfur over the years?
Here’s a commentary Mia Farrow’s narcissism and subliminal racism:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/21/opinion/edcunningham.php
It is truely sad when it’s no longer about Darfur, but spotlight for Mia Farrow’s misguided effort to blackmail the Olympics and denigrate a billion people.
Is that any way to ask for help? Especially after repeatedly failing
Darfur ourselves over the years?
The root cause of Darfur is the negative consquences of American power
in Africa, and Darfur Dream people ignored that completely.
Charity begins at home Mia Farrow.
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