Speilberg 'boycotts' Beijing 2008 Olympics

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7242016.stm

Steven Speilberg has decided not to be an artistic adviser to the Beijing Olympics because China hasn't done enough to stop the Genocide in Darfur.

Good on him I say, I'm always a bit cynical about these so called celebrities who constantly harp on about Human Rights, but any of them who step up and put their money where their mouth is gets my respect. I only wish he'd raised the subject of Tibet as well. Bet there's some angry faces in the Chinese politburo today :D
 
I'm lost. What exactly do China have to do with Sudan? Why should China take more of an interest than the international community?

Sudan, with its vast oil reserves, sells some two-thirds of its oil to Beijing.

In turn, Beijing sells weapons to the Sudanese government and has defended Khartoum in the UN Security Council.
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That's all I can find. However, Spielberg is American. Is he boycotting US products? Who is worse, China for buying oil they're desperate for that no-one else will buy, driving the price down, or the US for ignoring the entire international community regarding their international policies, their emissions cuts, etc...
 
Dogoid said:
expect Spielberg feature length (Genocide in Darfur) starring tom hanks to be announced.
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lol :D

Gilly said:
I'm lost. What exactly do China have to do with Sudan? Why should China take more of an interest than the international community?
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I think some countries in the west are just trying to take pops at China whenever they can and put as much pressure on them as possible. Maybe supplying weapons for oil isn't right but then again if any other country had been in their position would they not do the same?
 
As in the link provided, China has a major influence in Sudan, it buys Sudan's oil in exchange for weapons, and has defended the Sudanese government's actions in the UN Security Council.
 
Kyle009 said:
china shouldnt have the olympics in my opinion.
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Why?
Jazz said:
I think some countries in the west are just trying to take pops at China whenever they can and put as much pressure on them as possible. Maybe supplying weapons for oil isn't right but then again if any other country had been in their position would they not do the same?
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Couldn't agree more.

Have the US not provided countries in the ME weapons in the past, stirring up tension in the entire area?

An American spouting off about other country's policies ought to not be too outspoken. Those in glass houses.
 
I didn't realise the issue until I read that BBC item:

I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual," he said in a statement.

At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on 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
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Good work Speilberg :)
 
Hail Chairman Mao!

on serious note, if I remembered correctly this isnt the first time Speilberg refused to do something for China, for Olympics. The first time was because something about human rights.
 
Gilly said:
Why?.
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I just dont think a country should be rewarded with an event like the olympics that has such horrendous human rights. Im not one for saying criminals etc. deserve basic human rights but to build the Olympic village they had to move a massive community of poor people and instead of relocating them, they just said, off you go.
 
Ahhh, the sweet smell of moral hypocrisy from Mr. Spielberg. Mind you, I suppose he has to maintain the status of 'good guy' in the U.S. its not like they buy oil or sell weapons to other countries with questionable human rights records now, is it?
 
Kyle009 said:
I just dont think a country should be rewarded with an event like the olympics that has such horrendous human rights. Im not one for saying criminals etc. deserve basic human rights but to build the Olympic village they had to move a massive community of poor people and instead of relocating them, they just said, off you go.
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I could be wrong, but didn't they get paid to move into new flats from their poor old nearly destoryed houses

The thing with China and Communist is that, everything are working towards to the greater good, which is completely against the idea of "human rights".

But then again, a lot of people in China are actually willing to make such sarcrifce, willing to relocate because of the need for Olympic
 
Gilly said:
Why?

Couldn't agree more.

Have the US not provided countries in the ME weapons in the past, stirring up tension in the entire area?

An American spouting off about other country's policies ought to not be too outspoken. Those in glass houses.
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So what if they have? Just because the rest of the world's population is apathetic towards perceived human rights abuses doesn't mean that everyone else should be.

I guess the reason that no-one boycotts the US Olympics is because no-one would really care. Everything is blamed on the US by some people so it would be water off a duck's back to the organizers, whereas with China I guarantee you those people who have backed Sudan will be deeply embarrassed by this.
 
Gilly said:
I'm lost. What exactly do China have to do with Sudan? Why should China take more of an interest than the international community?
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Buy their oil (£8bn invested last year alone), subsidise their manufacturing and spend a lot of money there, interest free loans, using its security council Veto to help Sudan, paid for the Sudanese oil pipeline (from Heglig to the Red Sea), and so on. But I agree it's more likely this is just the west seizing an opportunity to lambaste China.


I think the bigger question is..why the hell was Steven Spielberg an artistic advisor to the Olympics?!
 
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Gilly said:
Couldn't agree more.

Have the US not provided countries in the ME weapons in the past, stirring up tension in the entire area?

An American spouting off about other country's policies ought to not be too outspoken. Those in glass houses.
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I think you could say America and the Western world are just protecting their own interests. Russia re-emerging as a super power, China and India's boom is putting their dominance at threat and they will look to do anything they can to keep them in check. Obviously war isn't a viable option but they will try politicly and economically to do what they can. I don't blame them if I'm honest and in the same position I'd do exactly the same.

But like you say I do think it is ironic to see an American have a pop at China for this. Every country in the Western world has been guilty of doing some shocking stuff for their own benefit but when another county does it then they are the bad guys.
 
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