Fearing Olympic backlash, China pushes Sudan's government

In recent news, China has finally decided to pressure Sudan's government for change in Darfur and help end the continuing genocide. The government had previously been able to resist American and European efforts because of the Chinese blind support. If you happened to miss the news, it is a good example of how the Olympic Games can, and should, be used as a tool for promoting humanity and democracy.

Some insist that the Olympics should completely rid itself of politics. In our interconnected, globalized world this is pure foolhardy and it's good to see efforts being made. The time has come for China to start acting like the global superpower it inspires to be.

Back in December of 2006 the Washington Post was the first major news sources to tie the two issues. The editorial, China and Darfur: the Genocide Olympics? asked, "Doesn't China feel qualms about propping up this ogre?"

The former actress, Mia Farrow, in particular, has taken up the cause of pressing China on this front. In her recent Wall Street Journal editorial, editorial, she writes:

"One World, One Dream" is China's slogan for its 2008 Olympics. But there is one nightmare that China shouldn't be allowed to sweep under the rug. That nightmare is Darfur, where more than 400,000 people have been killed and more than two-and-a-half million driven from flaming villages by the Chinese-backed government of Sudan.

Finally, the New York Times piece, Darfur Collides With Olympics, and China Yields, updates on the political results.

However, if I were a major NGO, I would be hesitant to persistently use the slogan, "Genocide Olympics." I believe China will do what it must, but continually offending something they hold so dear could be problematic.