Beijing Olympics, Commercial TV & School Projects

I was watching the 7 Network's (my old employer) morning news show, Sunrise, this morning and was taken by the "big sell" they are doing on China. Of course it's all because of the Olympics.

The show was broadcast live from Beijing and all the presenters and guests were sprouting praise for China; it's military precision in everything from street cleaning to flag raising and the wonderful way in which the country had embraced the "Olympic spirit".

I don't know if I'm alone in this, but I am finding the way in which our commercial media is going gaga over China infuriating. Tienanmen square is only mentioned in terms of it's value as a tourist destination, attempts at cleaning up the place only talked about in terms of aesthetics and no mention whatsoever about China's atrocious record, past and present, on the human rights front.

You could be forgiven for thinking (my tongue's in my cheek) the media had sold-out (or been bought out) by the Chinese regime and were now working for the Chinese equivalent of Orwell's "Ministry for Truth".

For the record, I think anyone who says China's record on this front has nothing to do with sport has their head up their arse. No matter how well the Olympic opening ceremony goes off or how many gold medals our athletes win (or how much money our commercial networks make from selling out to a Communist regime) it will not change the fact that people are living and dying under the oppressive control of one of the worlds worst human rights offenders. Only a few months ago the world was up in arms over the Chinese governments sale of a shipload of weapons to Mugabe's tinpot regime in Zimbabwe. How soon we forget!

My kids are all doing projects at school on the Olympics. I sat down and talked with them about all of this the other night and we are working out a way in which they can make sure they include the truth (in a kiddie way) about China's treatment of its people and minorities in their class presentations.

Please visit Amnesty International's website and check out some of the things you can do to help raise awareness of the situation in China. I would like to propose a synchroblog on this, but as this blog doesn't get many visitors that's not going to work - but if you do read this and own a blog, please consider blogging about it and encouraging your blogging friends to do the same.

Let's not let sport (and the genuine good-will the Olympics generates) become a mask for China to hide behind!

Chinese Weapons Ship leaves South Africa

Chinese cargo ship carrying arms shippment to Zimbabwe, anchored off South African coast (picture stolen from Sky News)

A Chinese ship reportedly carying arms and ammunition to Zimbabwe has left the South African coast after port workers refused to unload its cargo and the South African courts blocked its passage through the country.

It is believed the arms were sold to the Mugabe led government by the Chinese government. Opposition parties in Zimbabwe have said the arms would be used against the Zimbabwean public, especially those opposing the Mugabe regime.

Sky News have reported that South African newspaper, the Beeld, has published details of the ship's inventory which includes 3 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition and 1,500 rocket propelled grenades.

While China's human rights record in relation to Tibet has been in the news a lot lately, it's also worth remembering the Chinese governments ongoing involvement in violating the rights of other minority groups within China - including millions of Chinese followers of Jesus - and their continued involvement in supporting oppressive foreign regimes such as those of Mugabe in Zimbabwe, through the supply of arms and ammunition. Weapons which almost undoubtedly will used against innocent civilians.

I think we (Australia and perhaps the rest of the Western world) should be boycotting the Beijing Olympics. I can't think of a more current and internationally significant way of letting China know that we want nothing to do with their oppressive political system and oppose their involvement in and support of other oppressive regimes elsewhere in the world, not to mention the role they have to play in the persecution of minorities within their own boarders.

Some links to news sites with information on the Chinese ship and its cargo. You can also congratulate the South African dock workers by emailing them from the website of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union website.

BBC News

All Africa.com

Sky News