The
Olympics are at our doorsteps, but I can't resist the urge to take position.
Because I can...
The
International Olympic Committee roles states, among other things:
- to cooperate with the competent public or private organizations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace;
- to act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement;
- to encourage and support the promotion of women in sport at all levels and in all structures with a view to implementing the principle of equality of men and women;
The IOC, governments and corporations are closing their eyes on obvious human rights abuses.
Lost a son in a earth quake: shut up!
Today, the
CBC was reporting they wanted to interview a mother who lost her son in the last earth quake. Just when they were to meet her, the journalists got stopped by police and the women is now in curfew. China wants to show one face to the world, and it looks they are ready to go to any extent.
...China's government-controlled media have largely ignored the topic, and parents and volunteers who have questioned authorities have been detained and threatened...
...It's a subject local Communist leaders have seemed anxious to suppress....
You are Tibetan: no longer!
Last night I watched the movie "
What remains of us", a documentary about
Tibet, the ongoing cultural extermination of an entire society and countless cases of human rights violations. A Canadian citizen with Tibetan roots took great risks in smuggling a message from the
Dalai Lama and secretly using a camera to film their opinions. An amazing lesson of humility.
You are Black: no party!
Even if you are a top world athlete, it looks like you might not be "good enough" to party like the others, as reported by numerous papers around the world.
Chinese police officials have forced some Beijing bar owners to sign secret pledges promising to prohibit blacks from entering their bars during the Olympics next month, a Hong Kong newspaper says.
Join the cyber demonstration: August 8th
Liberty of press is the first step toward improved human rights and liberty of opinion. On August 8th, when we will be billions watching the Olympics opening ceremony, think about what is currently going on behind the scene. More info at
http://www.rsfbeijing2008.org