I hope you caught this gem of an article from the NYT: No Spitting on the Road to Olympic Glory, Beijing Says.
It discusses the city's efforts to improve manners and curb what may be offensive behavior to foreigners. One of the biggest obstacles, spitting in public.
Want to talk about night and day. The attention to detail by the Beijing Organizing Committee puts Athens to shame. I am looking forward to moving there in May, and I promise to post as much as I can during my two month stay.
Showing posts with label Beijing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beijing. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Saturday, April 14, 2007
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:
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.
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.
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