Question for readers of this blog: Does anybody know if there are any planned boycotts or public demonstrations against sponsors of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing?
As you likely know, China continues to support Khartoum and its ongoing genocide against the 'Africans' in Darfur, largely through ties to Sudan's oil. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't aware of this. And China isn't going to use its (perhaps considerable) influence to worry about atrocities. It wants that oil; it wants money to fuel its economy.
But presumably it also wants not to be humiliated and for its Olympic Games to be a success. Meanwhile, corporations such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola don't want bad press -- people will switch to Burger King and Pepsi if they are sufficiently outraged. And a mass exodus of corporate sponsorship, along with strong public condemnation by those non-sponsors (ex-sponsors?) of China's record and failure to take steps to reduce the violence in Sudan (which could itself be a strong marketing ploy: free airtime on CNN and FOX!) -- well, that's not really what China wants for Beijing.
This makes too much sense not to be a topic of conversation (disclaimer: not my idea, at least someone is talking about it: Ronan and Mia Farrow in the 3/28/07 WSJ). So public pressure on the high-profile supporters of the Olympics -- who's talking about it, what's the plan?
Note: Sponsors of the Genocide Olympics include (you've probably heard of them): Johnson & Johnson; Adidas; Volkswagen; UPS; General Electric; Kodak; Coke; Omega; Panasonic; Visa.
Update: I haven't had the time to look through it yet as thoroughly as I'd like, but Olympic Dream for Darfur appears to be more or less what I had in mind: an informative website/organization attempting to disseminate information and pressure both the IOC (it's far too late for that now, of course) and Olympic sponsors.
The Olympic Dream for Darfur Campaign is a global advocacy and media campaign that is urging China, as the Olympic host and close partner of Sudan, to pressure Khartoum to accept a civilian protection force in Darfur. The campaign includes three main strategies:
•Symbolic Olympic Torch Relays – international and domestic – to call attention to China’s role in Darfur.
•Public education and grassroots mobilization – to urge leaders to intercede with the Chinese host.
•Private advocacy with individuals associated with the Olympics. This includes communication with Olympic corporate sponsors.
Please visit www.dreamfordarfur.org to learn more about China's role in Darfur, and to see what individuals can do to help bring the Olympic dream to Darfur. More information regarding efforts with Olympic corporate sponsors is available as well.
Posted by: Eliza | July 18, 2007 at 08:16 PM
Thanks Eliza!
Posted by: Joe | July 19, 2007 at 10:37 AM
This boycott is a good idea -- I hadn't really thought much about this issue before this post. Thanks Joe.
Posted by: Andrew Rosenblum | July 19, 2007 at 11:23 PM
The US is also close buddies with Saudi Arabia for its oil reserves. You don't need me to tell you that human rights (especially for women and non muslims) in Saudi are non existent. They have no democracy and the brutal religious police carry our their stone age punishments like flogging, amputations with ease. The US has never even criticised the total absence of religious freedom and human rights in Saudi Arabia. So I suppose oil-directed foreign policy is not peculiar to China.
Posted by: Madhurima | August 11, 2007 at 03:27 PM