When Beijing was selected as the venue for the 2008 Olympics, my esteem for the institution went way down. What should the Olympics stand for, if not the freedom to follow your dreams and be the best you can be? Giving China — one of the worst international human rights offenders — the opportunity to grandstand in front of the world as if it were just another global good citizen evokes shades of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
It’s not as though China’s abuses are minor or in dispute. Beijing’s victims include hundreds of thousands of Tibetans who have died as a result of China’s invasion of their country, thousands of dissidents and prisoners of conscience who have disappeared into prisons, organ harvesting from political prisoners, and the 400,000 Darfurians who have been killed in Sudan’s genocidal campaign backed by Beijing’s oil profits. China wants so much to control its population’s every potentially nonconforming thought and action that it has even banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission.
The Chinese government is also implementing a human rights crackdown in preparation for the Olympics, ironically to clean up its image prior to the games. According to Wikipedia:
The Beijing municipal authority has declared that more than 70 local laws and decrees would be made before the 2008 Summer Olympics which would banish local people who don’t have hukou (residency permits) of Beijing. It would also banish vagrants, beggars, and people with mental illness from the city. The Municipal authority also made it clear that it would strengthen border control, call for a “special holiday”, or forcible shutout, to make Beijing citizens stay at home during the Olympics. It also seeks to strengthen controls over Chinese and foreign NGOs and forbid any protests during the games. The government has also strengthened its laws relating to prosecution of those deemed to be disseminating material not beneficial to the state.The Geneva-based group, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions has claimed that 1.5 million Beijing residents will be displaced from their homes for the Olympics event. Beijing’s Olympic organizing committee and China’s Foreign Ministry have put the number at 6,037. As of May 2005, 300,000 residents have been evicted in preparation for the games. Police in Beijing placed many people under arrest for protesting against the evictions.
Just today, the news came out that China arrested activist Yang Chunlin, who gathered 10,000 signatures for an open letter calling for human rights and opposing the Olympics. Clearly the government is nervous about efforts to link the Olympics and human rights — as well it should be. Human rights groups have dubbed these the “Genocide Olympics,” with a number of advocates starting the Olympic Dream for Darfur campaign and others addressing China’s role in issues like freedom of speech, religious freedom, Tibet, child labor, and the environment.
So, should we boycott the Olympics? Some are calling for this, but I think this is not the most effective path. We tried this with the 1980 Moscow Olympics and didn’t make much difference. It would only punish the athletes who have been working so hard and had no say in the decision where the games would be held. Better, I think, to get in China’s face and make sure the world knows what is going on there. We need to focus attention on their human rights abuses and not let them escape the glare of the world looking beyond the glittering facade to the bodies of the 1.3 billion people that the Chinese government steps on as it holds up the Olympic torch. We need to make Beijing squirm, and this event offers the opportunity to create a PR nightmare for the regime. When the world unites to denounce China’s repression, that will truly be an Olympic victory.
Nedra helps nonprofits and public agencies create positive change on health and social issues through social marketing and transmedia storytelling strategies at Weinreich Communications since founding the company in 1995. She helps organizations make a difference for the populations they serve by strategically designing programs that draw on state-of-the-art behavior change techniques, digital media approaches and the power of stories. 
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Good post Nedra.
Actually it’s quite fortunate that China is holding the Olympics next year. As you pointed out, it gives a lot of different groups some leverage for the next 11 months. I hope they apply it wisely and productively.
Beijing will squirm in a PR dilemma. China’s promoting its “One World, One Dream” slogan while funding the Khartoum government. Sponsors of the Olympics should also feel the pressure. I hope that we will see change soon.
Amen!
Excellent points. Not sure I am in favor of boycotting or not. I’m leaning in favor of boycotting.
I boycott buying Chinese products. Its hard, but not impossible. Things might cost more money, so I just buy fewer things, like 2 jeans that are made in free countries versus 3 made in China.
They use virtual slave labor. The people are making your clothes and household items and computer for a bowl of rice.
I think athletes, especially pros who don’t HAVE to compete there, can boycott it individually. I would.
Slave labour, repressive government which limits movement & thought, egregious polluter which refuses to accept responsibilities like any other economic power (and even they can be criticized for not doing enough!), exploiter of the poor both internationally and domestically – SO WHY ARE WE CELEBRATING OLYMPIC IDEALS IN CHINA?
2008 Beijing Olympic Handcuffs Don’t boycott the 2008 Olympics at Beijing. Letting the Olympics proceed is a far better tactic for lettng the world know about the atrocities being perpetrated by the Chinese Regime. Consider what has happened at many of the torch ceremonies already. Protesters are making it know to almost all the world that something is rotten in the province of Tibet! I say almost all the world, because the Chineses people have seen none of this. When protesters for Tibet’s independence burst into a ceremony at ancient Olympia being held to light the Olympic torch for the Beijing Games, Chinese state television immediately cut its broadcast, and screened pre-recorded footage instead. Few Chinese will be allowed to hear of the protests that will buffet the torch relay for the 130 days it will take to reach Beijing. But the people of the world will see and hear of China’s atrocities. The more people that become aware, the more political and economic pressure can be directed towards those responsibile.
Even his Holiness, the Dalai Lama has stated that the Olympics should continue:
“…The hosting of the Olympic games this year is a matter of great pride to the 1.2 billion Chinese people. I have from the very beginning supported the holding of these Games in Beijing. My position on this remains unchanged. I feel the Tibetans should not cause any hindrance to the Games. It is the legitimate right of every Tibetan to struggle for their freedoms and rights. On the other hand, it will be futile and not helpful to anyone if we do something that will create hatred in the minds of the Chinese people. On the contrary, we need to foster trust and respect in our hearts in order to create a harmonious society, as this cannot be built on the basis of force and intimidation.”
— from “Statement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to All Tibetans” April 6th, 2008 (http://www.dalailama.com/news.222.htm)
So what can we do? Make sure that the world knows that while we support the endeavors of the atheletes around the world, we protest the use of the Olympic Games by the Chinese government to disguise its horrific track record of political and religious opression.
http://www.conalscorner.com
Together we can all make a difference. Lets make it a Switch off your TV DAY for the Opening and Closeing Olympic Ceremony.