China's Olympian Human Rights Challenges
June 11, 2008 6:45 PM   Subscribe

Beijing 2008: China's Olympian Human Rights Challenges. This website was set up by Human Rights Watch to monitor human rights issues in China during the run-up to the Olympics. "This is a historic opportunity for China to show it has the confidence to make tangible and sustainable progress in ensuring basic human rights for its 1.3 billion citizens."

More resources from other human rights groups:

Amnesty International: China: Olympic Legacy

The Committe to Protect Journalists has updated their report from last year: Falling Short: Olympic Promises Unfulfilled as China Falters on Press Freedom

Reporters without Borders: Beijing 2008

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
posted by homunculus (33 comments total)
 
Meanwhile, in today's news: Olympic torch arrives in Tibetan areas amid tight security

Beijing: A Harder Line on Tibet?

I have a bad feeling about this.
posted by homunculus at 6:47 PM on June 11, 2008


Every country in the world has had at some point issues with Human Rights Violations. I'm not saying this justifies the atrocities that are enacted against the various peoples, but everyone seems to think that China should be this perfect nation, as if countries like the United States of America, or Great Britain have never had issues with human rights violations themselves. Cheers.
posted by Fizz at 7:45 PM on June 11, 2008 [2 favorites]




There's also this post at the National Underground Freedom Center that is critical of the US's Trafficking in Humans Report and the Media's lack of coverage.

Disclaimer: I work on the Freedom Center's website.
posted by Mick at 8:10 PM on June 11, 2008




everyone seems to think that China should be this perfect nation

Really? I've yet to meet a single person who thinks that. Most just want them to make an effort, as per their promises when they were given the Olympics.

I've also yet to meet anyone critical of China who isn't also extremely critical of the US.
posted by homunculus at 8:57 PM on June 11, 2008


The window closes
posted by homunculus at 9:17 PM on June 11, 2008


We The People have of course done more than our fair share of human atrocities. I don't think there's a major political power in the course of human history that hasn't. However, China really rises to the challenge of human atrocity and on a semi-regular basis outdoes pretty much every other culprit. What happened to Tibet in recent years is just the tip of the iceberg. I mean their methods of population control alone (both official and unofficial) are enough to make this look like a fraternity prank. Yes, hazing is wrong, but I've yet to hear any evidence that we killed the prisoners. We humiliated them. That was wrong, but we didn't kill them.

The United States damn sure needs to take the planks out of its own eyes before trying to remove splinters from China, but I'm not aware of an American policy regarding how many children a family can have, or killing baby girls so you can try again and hope for a boy. That's pretty major fucked up right there.

So I'm not planning on spending a lot of time watching the Summer Olympics this year. I'm not saying I'm boycotting it, cuz I don't believe boycotting does jack shit. I just think I got better things to do with my time than watch any activity happening in a country that believes in killing its own women for being born the wrong gender. ...and the Tibet thing. ...and Tiananmen Square. ...and reverse racism due to extremist approaches to affirmative action. ...and Hukou. ...I like haiku tho...
posted by ZachsMind at 10:37 PM on June 11, 2008 [1 favorite]


...oh, and the lack of free press in China...
posted by ZachsMind at 10:38 PM on June 11, 2008 [1 favorite]


...oh. And how they treat migrant and rural workers...
posted by ZachsMind at 10:39 PM on June 11, 2008 [1 favorite]


...oh. And the crackdown on Falun Gong...
posted by ZachsMind at 10:41 PM on June 11, 2008 [1 favorite]


...oh. And organ harvesting...
posted by ZachsMind at 10:44 PM on June 11, 2008 [1 favorite]


What happened to Tibet in recent the last fifty years is just the tip of the iceberg.
posted by aught at 8:49 AM on June 12, 2008






Chinese soldiers execute Tibetan pilgrims at the Nepalese border.

I fully believe that we should begin our views of rest of the world by critically looking at our own. However, I also believe that conflict is inevitable and as much as I long for peace someone else will always long for conflict. Such is the ebb and flow of life.

I dislike that we (western hemisphere) can be so criticized for our distrust of China with the excuse that we're no better. I disbelieve that. We don't view our citizens as resources to be used and discarded, and really I think that's because we have the luxuries of space and money. While I don't think that we as a people are better than the Chinese, or that our system of government is not without its flaws--I think that China, and her citizens, have a long long way to go. Pot calling the kettle black? Perhaps, but I think that's taking the shallow view.

I am boycotting the 08 Olympics. I encourage everyone to do the same. I know nobody bothers to watch them now (What happened to the 80's when it was like our civic duty to watch Every Waking Moment?), but I sort of feel a little joy at the *concept* of the olympics---everyone coming together in the spirit of competition and good will. I realize that there are enough drugs that "Fair" doesn't exist, and I realize that the Olympics aren't the "final best" in most sports---but still, I like to think they have a social significance.

I think the Beijing 08 olympics have none of that, and that China hasn't kept her promises, and that too much will be done behind closed doors. No watching Phelps kick ass this year, sorry buddy!
posted by TomMelee at 9:25 PM on June 12, 2008












China Olympic crackdown grows
posted by homunculus at 5:14 PM on June 17, 2008














Tibetan Buddhism Under Guard
posted by homunculus at 12:03 AM on June 27, 2008










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