Genocide Olympics
March 30, 2008 5:30 PM Subscribe
The Genocide Olympics. The human rights group Dream for Darfur is trying to use the Olympics to pressure China to change its policies on Sudan and the genocide in Darfur.
Here's Mia Farrow's original editorial.
Here's Mia Farrow's original editorial.
"Citius, Altius, Fortius?" More like "Moribundus" if you are from Darfur.
I'm not watching anymore.
posted by francesca too at 6:21 PM on March 30, 2008
I'm not watching anymore.
posted by francesca too at 6:21 PM on March 30, 2008
(from another thread)
I feel I should mention that while this thread about a concert has 100+ comments, there's a thread trying to draw attention to what's happening in Darfur that has 2.
the brutal truth is that no one's going to do anything about darfur - it's not really in our national interest, our troops are committed elsewhere, we've pretty much pissed away our moral standing and the chinese are going to interpret any attempts to disengage them from sudan as a ruse to grab oil resources for the west, a belief that they are not necessarily wrong about
it's not a nice thought or a moral one, but it happens to be true
posted by pyramid termite at 9:09 PM on March 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
I feel I should mention that while this thread about a concert has 100+ comments, there's a thread trying to draw attention to what's happening in Darfur that has 2.
the brutal truth is that no one's going to do anything about darfur - it's not really in our national interest, our troops are committed elsewhere, we've pretty much pissed away our moral standing and the chinese are going to interpret any attempts to disengage them from sudan as a ruse to grab oil resources for the west, a belief that they are not necessarily wrong about
it's not a nice thought or a moral one, but it happens to be true
posted by pyramid termite at 9:09 PM on March 30, 2008 [1 favorite]
Where do we begin? I volunteer with a "Darfur coalition" and its hard. Most people dont know about whats happening in Darfur and when they find out they are shocked... Then they grab their latte and go back to their lives. With everything thats going on all over the world, its hard to draw people's attention to one more thing bad. Especially in America, people have short attention spans and Britney and Paris seem to be occupying that span most recently...
posted by subaruwrx at 11:07 PM on March 30, 2008
posted by subaruwrx at 11:07 PM on March 30, 2008
I think one sticking point with Darfur is that there's very little that can actually be done to stop the genocide. The ruling government refuses to stop. Protesters in western countries don't effect or impress them. Sanctions are unworkable; the Chinese, among others, won't support them. The UN peacekeepers can't do anything without a mandate from the Sudanese, which they won't get. Even if the US wanted to invade, and even assuming that invasion wouldn't just make things horribly worse (which it undoubtedly would), it hasn't got the available man-power at the moment. So, let's say we make everyone aware of what's going on in Durfur. What can we really do to stop the genocide?
posted by unreason at 4:09 AM on March 31, 2008
posted by unreason at 4:09 AM on March 31, 2008
Boycott the murderous Sudanese regime!
What's that? They have oil!
I mean support the Sudanese regime in making the right descisions through constructive economic engagement. Or let them do whatever they want. Genocide is just a frame of mind.
posted by asok at 6:30 AM on March 31, 2008
What's that? They have oil!
I mean support the Sudanese regime in making the right descisions through constructive economic engagement. Or let them do whatever they want. Genocide is just a frame of mind.
posted by asok at 6:30 AM on March 31, 2008
Activists ready to protest Olympic torch: Demonstrators against China's human rights record to converge on S.F.
posted by homunculus at 9:26 AM on March 31, 2008
posted by homunculus at 9:26 AM on March 31, 2008
I'm sorry, as tragic as it is, we shouldn't be leaning on the Chinese about Darfur when there is a conflict that would be easier for the West to stop that is killing at least as many civillians, and has left more displaced: Iraq.
posted by [expletive deleted] at 10:13 AM on March 31, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by [expletive deleted] at 10:13 AM on March 31, 2008 [1 favorite]
"When [most people] find out they are shocked... Then they grab their latte and go back to their lives." -subaruwrx
What can they do?
I remember during the Gulf War a commentator questioning George Bush playing a round of golf. I passed this argument on to my mother, who turned it around on me and asked what I was doing about the war. I was in middle school; what could I do about the war?
So what can I do about Darfur? Seriously.
posted by Monday at 11:39 AM on March 31, 2008
What can they do?
I remember during the Gulf War a commentator questioning George Bush playing a round of golf. I passed this argument on to my mother, who turned it around on me and asked what I was doing about the war. I was in middle school; what could I do about the war?
So what can I do about Darfur? Seriously.
posted by Monday at 11:39 AM on March 31, 2008
What can I do about Darfur? Seriously.
Sending money to a relief organization helps. Money always helps, money for food, health care, clothing, education. Making someone life a little better is better than doing nothing at all.
posted by francesca too at 2:18 PM on March 31, 2008
Sending money to a relief organization helps. Money always helps, money for food, health care, clothing, education. Making someone life a little better is better than doing nothing at all.
posted by francesca too at 2:18 PM on March 31, 2008
In San Francisco: Torch route published; Supes critical of China
posted by homunculus at 12:04 PM on April 2, 2008
posted by homunculus at 12:04 PM on April 2, 2008
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posted by homunculus at 6:02 PM on March 30, 2008