Feb20Written by:Rev Jules
2/20/2008
Little Steve Van Zandt once got some of his buddies such as Lou Reed and Bono to pledge that they ain't gonna play Sun City. In the aftermath of Steven Spielberg's withdrawal from the Beijing Olympics, is it time to encourage Ireland's athletes to do the same to the Bird's Nest Stadium?
If there are three things that politicised me as a callow student, it was in no particular order a) the way that musicians around the world took a stand against Apartheid South Africa b) the music of Christy Moore, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen and c) a small paragraph on the liner notes for U2's 'The Joshua Tree' that encouraged fans to join Amnesty International.
Two decades later, artists such as Yoko Ono Lennon and Mia Farrow are again taking a stand against abuses of human rights and again they are mobilising popular opinion and boycotts, an Irish invention by the way, against the continuing crisis in Darfur. So Sound Waves, being a rather liberal blog asks, should Ireland boycott the Beijing Olympcs? To help you decide I have posted up some (very few) relevant links below and, should you then come to the conclusion, either yes or no, you can convey your support of or protest against Ireland's planned participation in these games, directly to Ireland's Olympians.
The Olympic Council of Ireland
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Official Site
Irish Defences Forces To Deploy in Chad
BBC: Q&A, Sudan's Darfur Crisis
Amnesty International (Irish Section)
China & Darfur: Washington Post
Tags:6 comment(s) so far...
Re: Should Ireland Boycott the Beijing Olympics Fair play and all that people are thinking about Darfur - but how come there was none of this boycott outcry years ago to protect the human rights being abused in China? Or Tibet? Or Taiwan?
By aidan on
2/18/2008 |
Re: Should Ireland Boycott the Beijing Olympics well Aidan, you have a chance now
By Rev Jules on
2/18/2008 |
Re: Should Ireland Boycott the Beijing Olympics? Jules, you're right: I'm officially withdrawing from the Olympic marathon.
By aidan on
2/19/2008 |
Re: Should Ireland Boycott the Beijing Olympics? I think that withdrawing athletes from the Games would be a pointless, and self-defeating exercise, going completely against the spirit of the games.
I am all for using the Games as opportunity to highlight China's abominable human rights record, and continuing involvement in Sudan (arguably genocide), as the fact that China is using the Olympics as its "coming of age" party provides the perfect opportunity for protest, but actually withdrawing athletes no way.
Would Jesse Owens have made any political impact if he had stayed at home in 1936?
(Aidan, no boycott cos there was no olympics...? :) )
By Daragh on
2/24/2008 |
Re: Should Ireland Boycott the Beijing Olympics? how can i joining the campaign to highlight the Chinese human rights atrocities in this Olympic year?
By tony on
7/31/2008 |
Re: Should Ireland Boycott the Beijing Olympics? None of the countries can be ideal. Realistic is we can only figure out the fault of others but not ourselves.
So you decide. But give the chance for others to think. But not think from you.
By Meggie on
7/31/2008 |