Tonight is the biggest night of the year in Hollywood, and more than a few celebrities will mix politics into their acceptance speeches. And while cynics will suggest that no one cares what movie stars think about international relations, one star who took a stand recently might actually have made a difference: Steven Spielberg.
Two weeks ago Spielberg pulled out as an artistic adviser to the Olympic opening ceremonies to protest China's support of the government of Sudan, making him the highest-profile person yet to link the Beijing Olympics to the genocide in Darfur. And the New York Times reports that it may be working:
China's ridiculous claims that Spielberg violated the principle of non-politicization of sports aside, it sounds like the Olympics are so important to the Chinese government that it will bow to the whims of the international community on Darfur if that's what it takes to make sure the Olympics go off without a hitch. That's why more celebrities -- including American athletes -- should put pressure on China.China has begun shifting its position on Darfur, stepping outside its diplomatic comfort zone to quietly push Sudan to accept the world's largest peacekeeping force, diplomats and analysts say.
It has also acted publicly, sending engineers to help peacekeepers in Darfur and appointing a special envoy to the region who has toured refugee camps and pressed the Sudanese government to change its policies.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-24-2008 @ 8:43AM
Heather Dillard said...
Hurray(!!), for Steven Spielberg! I truly admire his values upon life and for sticking to them!
Darfar needs immediate intervention, and if that took Mr Spielberg to resign from the Olympics for China to WAKE UP, then more power to him. Thank you Mr Spielberg!
And China(?) you've got work to do.
Reply
2-24-2008 @ 10:06AM
Malka Tischler said...
Despite years of so-called diplomacy and huge amounts of publicity, Sudan's bombs continue falling on civilians in Darfur. In coordinated raids, janjaweed thugs come at people on the ground while planes bomb from above. Still! Sudan is conducting a major offensive against villages in West Darfur right now; just google "Darfur" for details. So yes, all the people not normally involved in politics should speak out; celebrities, athletes, anyone. Because this is another Holocaust, and it's just not stopping.
I don't understand companies being Olympic sponsors as usual as though there were no Darfur-China connection. The wealth of sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Microsoft, etc. allows them to walk away from the Olympics to make a statement, if only they had the guts to do so. I hope Spielberg will not be the only courageous person here.
Useful sites re Darfur: http://www.dreamfordarfur.org (Olympics)
http://www.darfurstoves.org (protect women from rape)
http://www.sudandivestment.org (divestment)
Reply
2-24-2008 @ 12:12PM
carl said...
1. Hurray(!!), for Steven Spielberg! I truly admire his values upon life and for sticking to them!
Darfar needs immediate intervention, and if that took Mr Spielberg to resign from the Olympics for China to WAKE UP, then more power to him. Thank you Mr Spielberg!
And China(?) you've got work to do
HELL YEA!!! The fact that he ignore Tibet,The crack down on Falon Gong,The thousands killed in the square,The killing of prisoners and stealing of their organs to be sold on the black market,the massive censorship,the murder of babies to maintain the one child per family system,and of course one of the most oppresive dictorship ever and so much more and not to mention the fact he signed up knowing about darfur to start with..lets just ignore all that and pat him on the back for finally getting a backbone..WAY TO GO STEVIE BABY!!!
Reply
2-24-2008 @ 12:41PM
carl said...
Lets hope China is finally learning but I doubt it..lets hope though
Reply