Comments on: We Don’t Want To Go To China http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charles http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/comment-page-1/#comment-116176 Charles Sat, 25 Jun 2011 07:52:07 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/#comment-116176 I'm against politicizing sporting events in any case. Having said that, there have been many, many countries with less than stellar human rights records being awarded the games. Brazil for example has one of the highest rates of disparity between the rich and the poor of any country. Why, political corruption in a system that breeds on itself. Do I think they should not be allowed to hold the Games. No. If anything, it puts the world's focus on that country for those 2 weeks. Perhaps something positive will reuslt. Same applies for China. You can't ignore 1/4 of the world's population. I’m against politicizing sporting events in any case. Having said that, there have been many, many countries with less than stellar human rights records being awarded the games. Brazil for example has one of the highest rates of disparity between the rich and the poor of any country. Why, political corruption in a system that breeds on itself. Do I think they should not be allowed to hold the Games. No. If anything, it puts the world’s focus on that country for those 2 weeks. Perhaps something positive will reuslt. Same applies for China. You can’t ignore 1/4 of the world’s population.

]]> By: joe http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/comment-page-1/#comment-110895 joe Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:56:34 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/#comment-110895 It's kind of nice how Tibet and Tibetians showed them up during the 2008 Olympics and exposed China's human rights abuses in that country. It’s kind of nice how Tibet and Tibetians showed them up during the 2008 Olympics and exposed China’s human rights abuses in that country.

]]> By: Iain Rowan http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/comment-page-1/#comment-108369 Iain Rowan Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:57:04 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/we-dont-want-to-go-to-china/#comment-108369 There's an irony in that the preparation for these games, which as you rightly say are an attempt to legitimize the current Chinese state, has itself lead to an increase in human rights abuses: http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/blogs_entry.asp?eid=603 (Besides, I think the games should have been awarded to <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=jqheysKKvDc" rel="nofollow">Stoneybridge</a>). <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Iain. I was aware of the Amnesty list and, it is, as you say, quite clear that the Chinese government has reneged on promises to improve its human rights record. As for Stoneybridge . . .well, they was robbed. There’s an irony in that the preparation for these games, which as you rightly say are an attempt to legitimize the current Chinese state, has itself lead to an increase in human rights abuses:

http://blogs.amnesty.org.uk/blogs_entry.asp?eid=603

(Besides, I think the games should have been awarded to Stoneybridge).

jb says: Hi Iain. I was aware of the Amnesty list and, it is, as you say, quite clear that the Chinese government has reneged on promises to improve its human rights record. As for Stoneybridge . . .well, they was robbed.

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