Thread: Rudd urged to boycott Olympics due to 'genocide'

Rudd urged to boycott Olympics due to 'genocide'
Wednesday Apr 9


Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to boycott the Beijing Olympics, as politicians and high-profile sport figures voice their opposition to the games.

Federal Liberal frontbencher George Brandis has called on Mr Rudd to boycott the Olympics to make a statement about the "genocide" taking place in Tibet.

"If the Rudd government wanted to make a statement about its concerns about human rights in China in general and Tibet more particularly, one very effective way it could do that would be to boycott the Olympics at the political level only," Senator Brandis told ABC radio.

"There is no reason why either Mr Rudd or the federal sports minister needs to be at the Olympic Games - there is no bearing on the performance of our athletes having politicians represented there.

"I hope the protesters do win. Let's remind ourselves what the protesters are protesting about, the protesters are protesting against genocide of their people."

Swimming legend Dawn Fraser also jumped on the boycott bandwagon saying she would not be attending the games because of China's record on human rights.

"As a spectator, I am making my own statement by not going," the four-time Olympic gold medallist said.

"I support the Tibetans (but) I don't support the violence that the protesters are creating."

Pressure to boycott the games comes as the global Olympic torch relay continues to be interrupted by pro-Tibetan demonstrators.

But Labor frontbencher Craig Emerson said a boycott would damage the spirit of the games.

Dr Emerson told ABC radio that Mr Rudd had not yet accepted an invitation to the opening ceremony.

"What Kevin is saying is that he hasn't made a decision because it depends on other commitments, but he certainly hasn't been saying we're interested in boycotting," he said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister voiced his concerns about Tibet in a Mandarin-language speech to students at Peking University upon arrival in Beijing.

"There are still many problems in China. Problems of poverty, problems of uneven development, problems of pollution. Problems of broader human rights," he said.

China has already raised its concerns about previous comments made by Mr Rudd in which he called for the Chinese government to resume talks with exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.

ninemsn.com.au

Don't hear any of them calling for a trade boycott against China.
I guess they don't feel THAT strongly about human rights abuses there.

Very brave people these ones who want to tell the PM what to do.

Originally Posted by Bugs

Originally Posted by Mid

Swimming legend Dawn Fraser also jumped on the boycott bandwagon saying she would not be attending the games because of China's record on human rights.

"As a spectator, I am making my own statement by not going," the four-time Olympic gold medallist said.

Was thinking about the ways athletes could show support for Tibet the other day. How about the athlete actually going to the games, showing up for the event, and then when time to preform they just stand there with a Tibetan flag in their hand?

Picture it - they line up for the 100m dash, the gun goes bang - one lone runner simply stands up and remains standing there holding a Tibetan flag. Poor camera guy would have to decide if he should follow the runners or keep the camera on the guy standing there with the flag in his hand.

WOT!
Train your whole life for this one event and then just stand there waving some foreign countries flag? You got to be joking mate!

Athletes want to compete, they are not interested in politics (generally speaking).

Why not you attend the Chinese Olympics and just as the opening ceremony starts you set yourself on fire with lots of petrol and run out in front of the worlds news cameras? Surely THAT would make a political statement. Not much good for you, but certainly good for those oppressed by the Chinese government.

May I ask, since you seem to feel so strongly about Chinese human human rights abuses, -- have you taken the high moral ground yourself and boycotted Chinese products?

Originally Posted by Panda

Athletes want to compete, they are not interested in politics (generally speaking).

While athletics might be the main focus of athlete's I doubt that most of them are not interested in politics.

Originally Posted by Panda

Why not you attend the Chinese Olympics and just as the opening ceremony starts you set yourself on fire with lots of petrol and run out in front of the worlds news cameras? Surely THAT would make a political statement. Not much good for you, but certainly good for those oppressed by the Chinese government.

Not sure what kind of political statement me setting myself on fire would make - how would anyone know why I did it? Besides with the cost of petrol now days not sure I can afford enough to light up me fat ass. Also might prove difficult to get such a large volume of petrol onto the grounds.

Originally Posted by Panda

May I ask, since you seem to feel so strongly about Chinese human human rights abuses, -- have you taken the high moral ground yourself and boycotted Chinese products?

I am not so devote in my feelings as to ensure that every product that I purchase is not made in China, but I do make an effort to not buy Chinese made goods or buy from Chinese based companies.

I think it is a bunch of shit to turn a long time athletic games into a political thing, now especially after Tibet has been under Chinese control for 50 fucking years and no one says a damn word about it until now.

Keep politics out of the Olympics.

Originally Posted by blackgang

I think it is a bunch of shit to turn a long time athletic games into a political thing, now especially after Tibet has been under Chinese control for 50 fucking years and no one says a damn word about it until now.

Keep politics out of the Olympics.

Most of the dopey shits didn't have a clue about the plight of Tibet, or rather didn't give a dam about Tibet, until these Olympics and the riots in Tibet made it a current event. After the Olympics Tibet will be a forgotten cause as it was before. They all get on their high moral horse when its a popular media subject, then lose interest when the media stops reporting on it.

Originally Posted by blackgang

I think it is a bunch of shit to turn a long time athletic games into a political thing, now especially after Tibet has been under Chinese control for 50 fucking years and no one says a damn word about it until now.

Keep politics out of the Olympics.

Totally agree.The power of the media and all.Propaganda at the max generated by the US who is terrified of China who will be the next superpower.

I for one ban all American products,TV channels and don't condone Australia for getting involved in wars that are not anyone's business.The Olympics is a sporting event,let the athletes compete and leave it at that.Bloody American government stirring up trouble everywhere in the world.

Originally Posted by momo8

I for one ban all American products,TV channels and don't condone Australia for getting involved in wars that are not anyone's business.The Olympics is a sporting event,let the athletes compete and leave it at that.Bloody American government stirring up trouble everywhere in the world.

55555555555
Let's not forget East Timor, shall we?
Oh, and Australia is so multicultural now, after ending its white policy in what, 1976? You lot are more racist that Americans when it comes to Asians and Abos.

Bugs, ---- please tell me you are NOT an Aussie?

But then again, I guess every country has got em.

Originally Posted by Panda

But then again, I guess every country has got em.

Got what? - Fat asses?

Originally Posted by Bugs

Originally Posted by Panda

But then again, I guess every country has got em.

Got what? - Fat asses?

Yea, yea, thats right mate.
Now off you go.

^WTF!!!

Originally Posted by momo8

Totally agree.The power of the media and all.Propaganda at the max generated by the US who is terrified of China who will be the next superpower.

What the fuck are you talking about?? What are you smoking??
The US has nothing to do with it, I get no US news except Bloomberg Financial, and it is on every channel I can see, which is Chinese, Japanese, Aljazeera, Brit, Thai, Singapore,but no American.

Seems like your Ameriphobia is getting the best of you, I know that you want to go there to live the good life, but you are just shit out of luck..Suck it up and live with it...

Let's think about what China can do to the world if it banned the US from this sporting event.

Without China the world would be nothing,without the US the world would be something.

^ Not another one.

Leave it to the current group of pansy Aussie politicos to get their panties in a twist. If Rudd ain't a pole-smoking, tutu dancin' queen, nobody is.

China wouldn't miss Australia for six months if it sunk tonight.

Originally Posted by Texpat

^ Not another one.

Leave it to the current group of pansy Aussie politicos to get their panties in a twist. If Rudd ain't a pole-smoking, tutu dancin' queen, nobody is.

China wouldn't miss Australia for six months if it sunk tonight.

I lost all my respect for Australia when the government chose to follow the US into Iraq and other wars which were nothing to do with our island continent but hingend on 'pleasing' the US.

Sydney has a 10% Chinese population so,what do you think?

20 years from now,when the US has hopefully died and has been forgotten,the Chinese will be on top.

Originally Posted by Texpat

^ Not another one.



China wouldn't miss Australia for six months if it sunk tonight.

Yes agree there. Australia is little more than a flea on an elephant to China.
USA however, is a very convenient milking cow.

Unlike our "me, me, me, now , now, now" western consumer society, China has longer term plans.

He is something ain't he,,
He wants to go to USA and live off welfare, but he had to come here and teach english, well he thinks he speaks it, sort of, and this is the best he can do at 8k a month.
But he got a little better gig now in HK, he playing a piano in a cat house there and works extra counting tail towels..

20 years from now,when the US has hopefully died and has been forgotten,the Chinese will be on top.

I hope not, but back on topic.
Free Tibet?
Ok, what's next free Australia? Free New Zealand? Leave Canada to the Eskimos and The U.S. to the Indians?
I don't think people living in colonised countries should say too much.

Originally Posted by Panda

^What are we not to forget about East Timor exactly?
Do you think its funny that Australia among other UN member nations sent troops to suppress pro Indonesian militia so the East Timorese could establish democracy in their own country which had been invaded by Indonesia in 1975?

I think you will find that Australia is one of the most culturally diverse developed countries on earth...

Yep, and, um, who stepped into East Timor after that so it could get its hands on its natural resources, like all that offshore oil?
I lived in Oz for a year in the 70s. Racist as they get. So, it's changed? Ah yes, end of the White Policy and now multicultural. New foods. How many aborigines live in your neighbourhood, Panda? How many oz-abo marriages are there? How many abos in corporate jobs or govt positions? 555 You point the finger at the US and refuse to see the crap going on in your own country.
And ya, Ruud speaks some Mandarin. (You know the diff between Cantonese and Mandarin, Panda? You're supposed to be a smart guy.) I speak, read and write Mandarin, but not like when I studied at HeiDa. Give me a prepared speech in putonghua and I can deliver it like a native.
Stick to eating Szechuan takeout, Panda, and you'll do just fine.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Originally Posted by Panda

^What are we not to forget about East Timor exactly?
Do you think its funny that Australia among other UN member nations sent troops to suppress pro Indonesian militia so the East Timorese could establish democracy in their own country which had been invaded by Indonesia in 1975?

I think you will find that Australia is one of the most culturally diverse developed countries on earth...

Yep, and, um, who stepped into East Timor after that so it could get its hands on its natural resources, like all that offshore oil?
I lived in Oz for a year in the 70s. Racist as they get. So, it's changed? Ah yes, end of the White Policy and now multicultural. New foods. How many aborigines live in your neighbourhood, Panda? How many oz-abo marriages are there? How many abos in corporate jobs or govt positions? 555 You point the finger at the US and refuse to see the crap going on in your own country.
And ya, Ruud speaks some Mandarin. (You know the diff between Cantonese and Mandarin, Panda? You're supposed to be a smart guy.) I speak, read and write Mandarin, but not like when I studied at HeiDa. Give me a prepared speech in putonghua and I can deliver it like a native.
Stick to eating Szechuan takeout, Panda, and you'll do just fine.

Well seeing as I live in a remote community, yea, there are a lot of Aborigines in my community. And a lot of them I count as my friends. There are a lot of mixed marriages here where I live and there are a lot of Aboriginal and Islander people in both government and private jobs. We all get along pretty well most of the time.

So you lived here for a year in the '70s. That was half a lifetime ago lady. The world has changed since then. Still a lot of work to be done though.

So you can speak Mandarin. Big deal. I met a guy in Peru who could speak 4 other languages and he never even went to high school. A lot of people can speak a second language. It doesn't make you smarter than anyone else. Stop blowing your own trumpet. It only makes you look small.

And it wasn't oil that the Aus Government ripped off East Timor it was gas. I was, and still am, against moving the international boundaries to steal a poorer countries resources. Got to concede that one. If you know anything about south east Asian geopolitical movements over the past few decades you will know that Indonesia is an expansionist military power in the region and Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal sent troops into East Timor under a UN security Council resolution to free the people from Indonesian backed militia and establish democracy.

BTW, the year now is 2008. You need to stop living in the 1970's.

Originally Posted by Panda

Well seeing as I live in a remote community, yea, there are a lot of Aborigines in my community.

Ah, so you sequester them hideous beasts out in remote communities. Starting to understand now.

We all get along pretty well most of the time.

So says the white guy. I'll bet most abos doln't share your kumbaya sentiment. Especially those in jails and detention centers. Or the ones being kicked out of hotels in their own neighborhoods for being abo.

Still a lot of work to be done though.

Yeah. A lot.

It only makes you look small.

Better small and smart than big and dumb with a Texas-sized chip on your shoulder. Glass houses and all...

And it wasn't oil that the Aus Government ripped off East Timor it was gas.

Ahhhh. All is forgiven then.

I was, and still am, against moving the international boundaries to steal a poorer countries resources. Got to concede that one. If you know anything about south east Asian geopolitical movements over the past few decades you will know that Indonesia is an expansionist military power in the region and Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal sent troops into East Timor under a UN security Council resolution to free the people from Indonesian backed militia and establish democracy.

You're a hypocrite of the highest order.

Originally Posted by Texpat

Originally Posted by Panda

Well seeing as I live in a remote community, yea, there are a lot of Aborigines in my community.

Ah, so you sequester them hideous beasts out in remote communities. Starting to understand now.

We all get along pretty well most of the time.

So says the white guy. I'll bet most abos doln't share your kumbaya sentiment. Especially those in jails and detention centers. Or the ones being kicked out of hotels in their own neighborhoods for being abo.

Still a lot of work to be done though.

Yeah. A lot.

It only makes you look small.

Better small and smart than big and dumb with a Texas-sized chip on your shoulder. Glass houses and all...

And it wasn't oil that the Aus Government ripped off East Timor it was gas.

Ahhhh. All is forgiven then.

I was, and still am, against moving the international boundaries to steal a poorer countries resources. Got to concede that one. If you know anything about south east Asian geopolitical movements over the past few decades you will know that Indonesia is an expansionist military power in the region and Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Portugal sent troops into East Timor under a UN security Council resolution to free the people from Indonesian backed militia and establish democracy.

You're a hypocrite of the highest order.

I think you lost the plot there a bit Tex. I happen to be the one living in an Aboriginal community and what you imagine it to be like from another country doesn't really count or interest me.