Rudd urged to boycott Olympics due to 'genocide'

[Mid]

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

[Panda]

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.

[Bugs]

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.

[Panda]

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?

[Bugs]

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.

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.

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.

[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.

[Panda]

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

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

[Bugs]

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

Got what? - Fat asses?

[Panda]

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.

[Panda]

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

Got what? - Fat asses?

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

[momo8]

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.

[Carnwadrick]

^WTF!!!

[blackgang]

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...

[momo8]

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.

[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.

[blackgang]

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..

[momo8]

^ 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.

[Panda]

^ 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.

[Cujo]

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.

[Jet Gorgon]

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.

[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 with more Australian citizens born overseas than other developed countries. (about one in 4 I think).

BTW. Calling Australian Aborigines "Abos" is regarded very much as a racist remark. I happen to work mainly with Aboriginal people, some of them who are literally only a few generations removed from the stone age. Its not an easy task to integrate a whole social culture into the mainstream society in such a short time. Sure there was institutionalized racism in the past as there was in other countries like Canada and USA.

I am married to an Asian and she is VERY well accepted by my family, her workmates and the community generally.
You really don't know what you are talking about there lady.

I notice you start out talking about the white Australia policy pre 1976. Actually it was phased out in parts starting after WW2 and non existent by 1973. White Australia policy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Then you suddenly jump from something that happened 40 years ago to the present by stating --- "You lot are more racist than Americans". Note the sudden jump from pre-'73 to the present tense?

Get your facts right. If you want to talk about Australia back in the '40s to 60's just come out and say so, but don't try and mix and match Australian culture back then with now. Things have changed a lot since 1973, not just here, but in virtually all developed countries.

[blackgang]

MOMO8 is just a fuking Bigot so no one is really paying any attention to him anyway.
Only thing is he is a Bigot even towards his own family what with his momma being a darkie and his dad an abo, and his sister married to a Chinese,, well you know..

Seem to be talking about a very small part of aussie land there Panda, don't sound like the ones I know..

[blackgang]

I think you will find that Australia is one of the most culturally diverse developed countries on earth with more Australian citizens born overseas than other developed countries. (about one in 4 I think).

Is this because their parents can't stand to live there anymore or because they are getting hungry and come to another land to work??

[Panda]

I think you will find that Australia is one of the most culturally diverse developed countries on earth with more Australian citizens born overseas than other developed countries. (about one in 4 I think).

Is this because their parents can't stand to live there anymore or because they are getting hungry and come to another land to work??

Really? I recognize your reply is tongue and cheek, but nevertheless, please allow me to reply.

Mate I been around the world including USA, and I can assure you there is no other place I would want to live than Aussieland. We really are the lucky country blessed with bountiful natural resources that we can flog off to the rest of the world funding social system benefits that give a pretty good standard of living for the average working man/woman.

When I retire in a couple or few more years I plan to be splitting my time between Thailand and Oz. If it wasn't for the fact that the (Thai) wife wants to retire there I would probably only be an occasional tourist.

[blackgang]

Thats really cvool.
BTW, right now on Aljazeera news it is showing your Mr. Rudd in China with Bao or what ever his name is and Rudd is actually licking his nut sack right on international news TV.
So guess he ain't so much different than any other Lawyer/Politician.