Olympic Torch

[G]

Originally Posted by timwilky

They achieved a lot. It got a comment from the Chinese. They saw it and didn't like it. It upsets their well ordered propaganda machine.

A protest outside their embassy wouldn't make world news. This did.

And there are promises of more to come in Paris.

Albeit the propoganda machine was working on overdrive. There was a 2 minute mention of the Torches progress on the Chinese state news saying it was making good progress none of the protests were even mentioned in the chinese news.

The bbc did a report on it, nobody in china had the faintest idead that anything bad was happening, the goverment made sure of that.

Originally Posted by timwilky

They achieved a lot. It got a comment from the Chinese. They saw it and didn't like it. It upsets their well ordered propaganda machine.

A protest outside their embassy wouldn't make world news. This did.

And there are promises of more to come in Paris.

But no-one in China other than the government knows it's going on. Other than anoying a very powerful government I can't see it's achieved anything. If they won't bow to pressure from international governments, they sure as hell aren't going to listen to a bunch of protesters.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

If they won't bow to pressure from international governments,

Government won't apply pressure because of trade, any sort of embargo would stuff both countries.

I personnaly beleive that the protest was generally a good thing. We as human beings should stand up and be counted when we see that fellow human beings are being controlled and for all intense and purpose, culled for their political views. Shame on us if we do nothing and simple except this. The olympic games are a political event and always have been regardless of what the news might say. China will not give a crap if a few countries decide to boycott the games. The only way we could really make an impact would be by boycotting chinese goods and by refusing to watch the games.

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

Other than anoying a very powerful government I can't see it's achieved anything

Unlike you to worry about annoying governments

Actually they have achieved an incredible amount. The Chinese government are obsessed with 'face' and now they've lost it big time, and the whole of the world (with the exception of their own people) have seen it.

My congratulations to the frogs, as it appears they have managed to put it out

[G]

Originally Posted by Mr Toad

My congratulations to the frogs, as it appears they have managed to put it out

Twice Always have to go one better than engerrrland lol

[timwilky]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

But no-one in China other than the government knows it's going on. Other than anoying a very powerful government I can't see it's achieved anything. If they won't bow to pressure from international governments, they sure as hell aren't going to listen to a bunch of protesters.

Of course joe bloggs in the street in Beijing, knows nothing about these protest. However, they send a message to those in power in China that whilst we lucky enough not to be under their control can do little about their abuse. We do know of it. We do not like it, and have the right to shout about it.

Will it change anything in China? Of course not. Will it change anything at all. Well maybe force the IOC and their fat cat corporate sponsor to think in future, do they want an olympic event marred by politics by thinking rogue governments may change if they sign upto the olympic ideal. Or should hosting the olympics be a reward to those countries that provide freedom of choice, freedom of speech, freedom of expression etc. to their people.

Personally I see hosting the olympics as a punishment on the tax payers of a country and perhaps the best thing to do would be scrap the damm things in their entirety.

Originally Posted by Mr Toad

Actually they have achieved an incredible amount. The Chinese government are obsessed with 'face' and now they've lost it big time, and the whole of the world (with the exception of their own people) have seen it.

They've achieved nothing unless it results in change. Can't see that happening.

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

The protesters should have protested outside the Chinese embassy rather than ruining the event.

Er, they have been. Remember when the Tibetan monks were being massacred a few months ago?

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

They've achieved nothing unless it results in change. Can't see that happening.

And if no-one does anything nothing will change - that's why I'm a big fan of democracy. The German Chancellor's already stuck two fingers up to the games. We know the Chinese people are being led to belive nothing's up and that makes a lot of people feel uneasy. This is only the beginning....

Originally Posted by Flamin_Squirrel

They've achieved nothing unless it results in change. Can't see that happening.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step