2008 Woodie Awards
Celebrity boycotts highlight Chinese rights abuses
Elizabeth Miller
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: OpEd Page
But the country's irresponsibility doesn't end with Sudan. Reports are continuously surfacing about China's crimes and injustices against its people. Recently a journalist was unlawfully kidnapped and detained for expressing his opinion in an overseas Web site. The writer had been alerting international journalists about a new breakout of social instability in China. He was forcibly transported thousands of miles from his home while his house was unlawfully searched and his possessions confiscated.
These are the issues that are silenced in China. These are the circumstances under which journalists must try to still report the news. Undoubtedly, incidents like these make Chinese journalists hesitant to speak about the realities of China's involvement with Darfur and the upcoming Olympics. Events like the Olympics-when nations of the world gather-must be used to create dialogue and progress for problems like China's involvement with Darfur.
The question remains, though, whether Spielberg's resignation was effective or merely theatrical. Well, it hasn't caused China to revamp its oil policy towards Sudan and it hasn't stopped the genocide in Darfur-yet.
But Spielberg has made people think. Making such an influential statement about his convictions has sent waves of movement towards resolving the suffering in Darfur. And when one person steps up, others will follow. Already the press has been buzzing about Spielberg's action and the controversies surrounding China as the host of the Olympics. People are talking, discussing and debating, and even writing columns about it. Spielberg got people talking, and when people are talking, the thousands of journalists who are covering the Olympics certainly can't ignore the buzz. For the hundreds of Chinese journalists who face persecution for reporting the truth, the rest of the world must be their voice.
Spielberg has begun a cycle of awareness and activism that will surround the political and social climate of this year's Olympics. His stand should be an example for all celebrities who could use their name and fame to create progression towards improving global crises.
Perhaps this is the momentum needed to start turning things around for global involvement with Darfur. Perhaps Spielberg's peaceful, yet profound, resignation is just the pressure needed to make others realize that this problem cannot be ignored. China's involvement in Darfur cannot be ignored. As Spielberg said, "business as usual" is not an option when this business is costing lives.
These are the issues that are silenced in China. These are the circumstances under which journalists must try to still report the news. Undoubtedly, incidents like these make Chinese journalists hesitant to speak about the realities of China's involvement with Darfur and the upcoming Olympics. Events like the Olympics-when nations of the world gather-must be used to create dialogue and progress for problems like China's involvement with Darfur.
The question remains, though, whether Spielberg's resignation was effective or merely theatrical. Well, it hasn't caused China to revamp its oil policy towards Sudan and it hasn't stopped the genocide in Darfur-yet.
But Spielberg has made people think. Making such an influential statement about his convictions has sent waves of movement towards resolving the suffering in Darfur. And when one person steps up, others will follow. Already the press has been buzzing about Spielberg's action and the controversies surrounding China as the host of the Olympics. People are talking, discussing and debating, and even writing columns about it. Spielberg got people talking, and when people are talking, the thousands of journalists who are covering the Olympics certainly can't ignore the buzz. For the hundreds of Chinese journalists who face persecution for reporting the truth, the rest of the world must be their voice.
Spielberg has begun a cycle of awareness and activism that will surround the political and social climate of this year's Olympics. His stand should be an example for all celebrities who could use their name and fame to create progression towards improving global crises.
Perhaps this is the momentum needed to start turning things around for global involvement with Darfur. Perhaps Spielberg's peaceful, yet profound, resignation is just the pressure needed to make others realize that this problem cannot be ignored. China's involvement in Darfur cannot be ignored. As Spielberg said, "business as usual" is not an option when this business is costing lives.
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