Beijingo: logic not essential

Apparently, it’s just who you are and where you’re from that determines what you know.

“Everybody in China knows that Tibet is an inalienable part of the territory of China. I see actually most of the people in these demonstrations are non-Chinese. So I would conclude they don’t really know very much about the situation.” — Olympic organisers condemning pro-Tibet activists (via ABC)

Uhhhhhhh. They clearly have lots of people enrolled in reasoning courses over there.

I am happy to accept the fact that the five activists detained for hanging up a pro-Tibet poster today are not Chinese. (They were Americans, Britons and Australia-Canadians, if anyone was wondering.) But can someone please explain this to me: how exactly does that alone lead to the conclusion that they don’t know much about the situation?

Um… Has anyone asked a Tibetan person about how they feel?

I encourage you all to check out the beijingwideopen blog, where Lhadon Thethong, Exec Director of Students for A Free Tibet talks about the issue:

I’ve traveled to the heart of the nation that has brutally occupied my homeland for over 50 years. Follow this blog, as I share what I see, feel, and experience… leaving Beijing wide open.

080808

Today is going to be a good day.

Just quickly, though, I got this email from GetUp and I wanted to share…

Dear Sunili,

If you watched the news last night, you would have seen the lead story – a new GetUp TV ad has hit the headlines as Kevin Rudd arrives at the Beijing Olympics, urging him to speak out on Tibet.

The ad, made with the Australia Tibet Council, is going to air either side of the Opening Ceremony, click here to watch it:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/OlympicSilenceIsNotGolden

We sent the PM a copy of the ad, and he has pledged to raise human rights issues in Beijing. We know this sort of diplomacy works – only last week the PM condemned the media censorship around the Olympics – and the Chinese Government eased the restrictions.

But there is one hurdle left to clear – the Seven Network, in response to the media interest our ad has generated is now denying the fact that we’ve booked the ad space. Unfortunately for them we have on our desks a confirmed booking sheet suggesting otherwise!

Whether or not Channel 7 decide to uphold the values of free speech, you can watch the ad for yourself here:

www.getup.org.au/campaign/OlympicSilenceIsNotGolden

It’s vital that after the Olympics the world does not ‘switch off’ on Tibet – that’s why we’re planning more ads for the closing ceremony and beyond. Stay tuned for opportunities to help get the message out soon.

Thanks,
The GetUp team

PS – Let us know what you think about the Tibet issue and free speech on our blog.

Iiiiiiiinteresting.  WTF is up with that, Channel 7?

I’m boycotting the Olympics, btw, just ’cause I like to be fussy and shit. I was gonna go the the gyme tonight, but they’re all Olymaniacal over there at the moment, and no doubt all the fancy little treadmill TVs will be on the ‘Lympics, so I will sit at home all peacefully and read my Dali Lama book or sommink.