Many of you would have known that China would be holding the Beijing Summer Olympic Games between August 8 and August 24, 2008 but do you know why many countries are planning to boycott the Olympic Games? There are just too many reasons the world leaders have voiced out ranging from human rights, animal rights up to pollution.
Just look at how China’s brutal treatments to the Tibetans as reported by the National Post. It has becomes more overt as the regime's rhetoric becomes more shrill and paranoid. Most cities are under martial law. Roadblocks have been set up to prevent internal travel as well as to keep Western journalists from reporting the truth on the protests and hundreds of deaths and arrests made. Even the Epoch Times reported countless of news on the repression faced by the Tibetans.
On top of the human rights problems faced by China, there were also outcries on animal cruelty from animal lovers throughout the world. As reported by the Daily Mail, “Thousands of pet cats in Beijing are being abandoned by their owners and sent to die in secretive government pounds as China mounts an aggressive drive to clean up the capital in preparation for the Olympic Games.”
The cull comes in the wake of a government campaign warning of the diseases cats carry and ordering residents to help clear the streets of them. Can you imagine how pitiful those furry animals are being crammed into a small cage and sent to some secret death camps? Paranoia is so intense that six stray cats including two pregnant females were beaten to death with sticks by teachers at a Beijing kindergarten, who feared they might pass illnesses to the children. Even doctors are advising their pregnant patients to get rid of their cats as these cats will bring illness to the babies.
About more than a year ago, dogs have fallen victims to the country’s “clean-up” massacre. Now cats become the victims. There were even reports stating that hundreds of cats were sent to infamous restaurants in Guangzhou, southern China to be served in their exotic animals menus.
Although the Beijing government is eager to show the world the city in a good light during the Olympic, but the way the government dealt with animals especially cats in such an inhumane way will seriously tarnish the image of Beijing and the Games.
The concern on the public’s health due to endless pollutants in China is another factor the world’s environmentalists are not happy with. Even ABC News reported a “lost” Beijing National Stadium in haze. China has been ordering polluting factories in and around the city to shut down or relocate during the Games to ease Beijing's choking smog. Drivers are allowed out on to the roads only three times a week. This is just a temporary measurement. What will happen after the Games? Will these factories stop polluting the air? No, they will not. The air would still continue to be bad to the health of the residents surrounding those polluting factories.
China may be the most populated country in the world. It does not mean that killing a few thousands by poisoning them will help in the over population problems. The people deserved the right to live in a cleaner and safer environment. Now you have a clearer picture of the reasons behind the boycotting of attending the Games, reading, viewing and even purchasing products from the Games.
5 comments:
i think this is the problem for a nation who failed to control her population... who thought the more ppl they have, the stronger they are... typical chinese thinking. now they are trying to correct that but unfortunately, the damage is done, the people who are around needs to survive and they will do just anything to achieve that.... very sad indeed.
it's really unfortunate that the olympics will suffer becos of china.
i saw those dog pics in chain mails too...sigh
China although guilty of some atrosoties to mankind, the environment and animals...they are not alone...it's happening in Africa, Mexico,Afghanastan(sp?)human rights issues are being violated throughout the world...what one countries sees as just and a means to an end another finds appalling....where do we find balance? Good post....
Criz, There are some very terrible things going on in China. Other bloggers have written about animal cruelty...Do you think the U.S. should boycott the Olympic Games? :(
As much as I wish to see the Games being held successfully, there are way too many issues for China to deal with. The human rights issues, the separatist movements in Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang, the cruelty towards animals, religious freedom, minority rights etc.
And I'm so regret that China indirectly contributes to the Darfur crisis in Sudan because the Chinese party continue to back Sudan in economic terms and do not wish to boycott or exert pressure on the Sudanese regime using its influence on the continent.
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