I Won’t Watch The Olympics

The blogosphere is full of surprises. The idea of organising some sort of grassroot boycott of the Olympics in Beijing is getting more and more popular. Actually it is quite amazing how many initiatives and opinions are being developed right now. Especially the idea of a private ‘TV boycott’ is spreading rapidly.

“I won’t watch the Olympics” declared Lisa Hayes and launched this e-petition! (Lisa, Thanks a lot for letting us know! It is great to see similar initiatives!) Of course we wholeheartedly support this petition and signed it instantly. We also invite all our readers to sign and forward it!

Here is the full text of the petition:

In 2001, the International Olympic Committee elected Beijing, China as the host for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Amidst all the controversy, such a decision could have been an opportunity for the People’s Republic of China to improve their world image.That opportunity has been missed.

Despite claims by the PRC that they are achieving economic and social stability, the actions of that government within and outside its (disputed) borders have put any notion of progress to shame. According to the 2004 US State Department report on China’s human rights situation,

“Citizens did not have the right to change their government, and many who openly expressed dissenting political views were harassed, detained, or imprisoned…Abuses included instances of extrajudicial killings; torture and mistreatment of prisoners, leading to numerous deaths in custody; coerced confessions; arbitrary arrest and detention; and incommunicado detention.”

These practices have not changed. On the 49th anniversary of Tibet’s failed attempts to free themselves from oppressive Chinese rule, protests turned to bloodshed. The PRC is doing everything in its power to keep details scarce, but collective eyewitness reports indicate that around 200 monks and citizens have been shot, beaten, and even burned to death during the Chinese government’s attempts to end the demonstrations. The violence has not ended, and it is now spreading to neighboring regions.

In the wake of such atrocities, we call on you to take action. We are not asking for much. Please, join us in the pledge that when the 2008 Summer Olympics begin, you will change the channel or turn your television off. As numbers rise on the petition below, we hope advertisers hesitate or abstain from economically supporting the People’s Republic of China. With minimal commitment, we can bring change.

Thank you. Peace.

I DECLARE THAT I WILL NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS HOSTED BY THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND I WANT THE MEDIA TO KNOW.

Sign the petition here.