Global Consumers' Boycott of Beijing Olympics 2008

Why should global consumers boycott Beijing Olympics 2008?

A human right writer, Demetrius Klitou, has listed the following ten reasons for boycotting Beijing Olympics 2008:

1) Human rights are practically non-existent in Communist China
Religious persecution, imprisonment and murder of non-violent political dissidents, torture, organ harvesting and sentences to hard labour are widespread.

2) The lack of freedom of the press and safety risks for foreign reporters
Many foreign websites are banned from being visited within China, foreign reporters are prohibited from interviewing anyone without previous permission from the government, and the content of all broadcasting is severely restricted. Foreign news media reporters have been arrested and sentenced to prison under vague and wide-reaching security laws.

3) The 1980 Olympic Games in Communist Russia were boycotted by 64 states, under the leadership of the U.S.
Beijing is not any different from Moscow in 1980, which was also the capital of a Communist police state.

4) Communist China constantly threatens to attack Taiwan
China's government passed a law that explicitly calls for military intervention in response to any intention by the democratic government of Taiwan to declare independence. Military manoeuvres indicate that the Communists' military is preparing to enforce this law.

5) Beijing has the most polluted air in the world
Studies and satellites photos have proven that Beijing suffers from extremely high nitrogen dioxide levels, vitally dangerous to the health of the athletes.

6) China is plagued by widespread social, political, and economic unrest
A surge in huge land grabs and forced evictions by the Chinese government for reasons of economic expansion and Olympic Games preparations have sparked thousands of protests. The government has murdered hundreds of protesters.

7) The Chinese have been bribing and threatening large numbers of members of the International Olympic Committee
A number of U.S. Representatives, for example, Congressman Tom Lantos, have stated this on national television.

8) A boycott has some potential to serve as a strategy to encourage human rights in China
Only the greedy and foolish global elite think this is true the other way around.

9) Holding the Olympic Games in Communist China contradicts the Olympic
Charter The Olympic Charter defines the philosophy of Olympism as the "respect for universal fundamental ethical principles" and its goal of promoting "a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity."

10) Don't repeat the errors of 1936 when Nazi Germany was allowed to host the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games will give Communist China the same propaganda tool Nazi Germany
enjoyed. Not since 1936 have the ideals of Olympics been so trampled upon.

The following is a list of additional reasons that are similar, if not more important, for boycotting Beijing Olympics 2008:

11) Ignorance of safety of exported food
Ingredients of pet foods contain toxic substances that have never been checked by the Chinese communist government before their exports. This results in the deaths of many cats and dogs in the U.S. Ingredients of a toothpaste sold in Panama contains a toxic ingredient that killed over 100 people. Every year, Chinese food and medical items have killed or injured human beings and animals all over the world. The Chinese communist government has been indifferent and has ignored these issues.

12) Disrespect of the value of human lives in China
Every year thousands and thousands of coal mine workers die because of explosions in unsafe mines. The Chinese Communist government has known the situation for a long time. In the name of economic growth and because of the corruption of local officials, most of the illegal coal mines still exist.

13) Providing weapons to Sudanese government which are directly related to the systematic genocide of the civilians in Darfur
In exchange for oil, Chinese communists have been providing lethal weapons to the dictatorial Sudanese government to carry out systematic genocide in Darfur.

14) Providing weapons to Burmese government which are directly related to the systematic genocide of the civilians in Burma
In exchange of the natural resources in Burma, Chinese communists have been providing lethal weapons to the dictatorial Burmese government to carry out the current ethnic cleansing in Burma.

15) Ignorance of Chinese laborers work and living conditions
Many owners of privatized once-state-own companies go bankrupt so as to avoid paying pensions to the retirees. Sweat shops violating labor laws in China are allowed to operate without facing any penalties from the government due to corruption and non-action of local officials.

16) Total absence of animal right laws
Thousands and thousands of dogs and cats are eaten and their fur exported. There are solid evidence that many state-own fur farms skin animals alive in some inhumane ways.


How can global consumers boycott Beijing Olympics 2008?

1) Divest in any funds, investment accounts, stocks of companies that are related or have involved in the Beijing Olympics 2008.

2) Do not participate in Beijing Olympics 2008 either as an individual athelete or as a tourist.

3) Do not buy any souvenirs or reject any gifts from any friends that are products related to Beijing Olympics 2008.

4) Tell your friends and family memembers about the dark side of Beijing Olympics 2008.

5) Boycott any products that show the Beijing Olympics logo.

6) Boycott the companies that are partners, suppliers, or sponsors of Beijing Olympics 2008.

The following is a list of China and international companies that are either partners or sponsors of Beijing Olympics 2008:

Worldwide Olympic Partners:
Coca Cola (USA)
Atos Origin (France)
GE (USA)
Johnson & Johnson (USA)
Kodak (USA)
lenovo (China)
Manulife (Canada)
MacDonalds (USA)
Omega (Switzerland)
Panasonic (Japan)
Samsung (Korea)
Visa (USA)

Beijing 2008 Partners:
Bank of China (China)
China Network Communications (China)
Sinopec (China)
China National Petroleum Corporation (China)
China Mobile (China)
Volkswagen (Germany)
Adidas (Germany)
Johnson & Johnson (USA)
Air China (China)
State Grid (China)
People's Insurance Company of China (China)

Sponsors:
UPS (USA)
Haier (China)
Budweiser (USA)
Sohu (China)
Tsingtao (China)
Yanjing Beer (China)
Uni-President (Taiwan)
Yili (China)
Heng Yuan Xiang (China)
BHB Billiton (Australia)

Exlusive Suppliers
Greatwall (China)
MengNa (China)
Beifa (China)
Ya Du (China)
Snickers (USA)
Technogym (Italy??? and worldwide; Technogym UK Ltd.: Doncastle House, Doncastle Rd - Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 - Tel: 01344 300 236 - Fax: 01344 300 238)
Royal (Hong Kong)
Staples (USA)
Schenker (Austria)
Vantage (China)
Synear (China)
Two other company with unknown English name

Suppliers
English First (International, Sweden ???)
Crystal CG (China)
Yuanpei Translation (China)
Der Floor (China)
Aokang (China)
Liby (China)
Price Waterhouse Coopers (half US/half UK)
Mondo (Italy? Spain?)

References:

The Human Rights Blog: 10 Reasons to Boycott the Olympics
http://www.humanrightsblog.org/archives/002878.html

AZplace: 10 reasons to boycott the 2008 Olympic Games in communist China
http://azplace.net/index.php?itemid=858

Official website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/90/53/column211995390.shtml