Olympic Sponsor: Speak Out on Darfur

“Olympic Sponsor: Speak Out on Darfur” failed to tip before the deadline, August 9, 2008

I didn’t watch the ceremony even though the campaign didn’t tip – but I heard about this piece of news today: a little girl who sang “Ode to the Motherland” turned out to be lip-synced. By who? By the actual singer who Chinese officials determined to be not cute enough to be seen on television.

Video Clip and Blog post about this

Hi everyone,

There are only two more days until the ceremony. We all need to invite everyone we know if we want to reach our goal by then. This is a really small ask, just to not watch the TV for one Friday night.

To reiterate: This is not a condemnation of the Olympics. In fact, I think the Olympics serves as a great example of how nations should be interacting and competing with each other (versus, say, war). The issue here is that there is a huge celebration going on that people are making money from (from us watching) and a lot of that money is going to a country that is financially supporting a genocidal state. Boycotting the ceremonies doesn’t hurt the athletes or the athletics, just the sponsors and the Olypmic’s revenue.

Please spread the word.

Why the Olympics?

China provides arms and financial support for the Sudanese government, which is currently carrying out a genocidal civil war in the region of Darfur. China maintains this relationship in the interest of Oil. With the Olypmics in Beijing this year, China is now in the spotlight, asking for the world to come to Beijing, celebrate athleticism together, and spend a lot of money in China. In the midst of this, we must recognize that ultimately some of that money will be responsible for genocide, and have a moral obligation to do something about it.

Why the sponsor?

China is not going to sever its relationship with Sudan (and Sudanese oil) overnight, but we can send a message to the corporate sponsors, who’s only goal is to get some attention associated with their brand. The sponsors are spending millions upon millions for their prized spots and we need to hold them and their brand accountable.

Not a boycott of the games

This is not a boycott of the games, for many reasons. One is that we want to recognize all the positives associated with the Olympics wherever it is held. That unlike warfare, this is a good way for countries to compete with one another. Also, that a boycott of the games would have disastrous effects on the athletes. Boycotting the ceremony means we miss the spectacle, but mostly only hurts the sponsors, and not the athletes at all.

Other resources.

Last year Mia Farrow wrote and article criticizing Spielberg’s involvement in the opening ceremonies, and shortly afterward he withdrew. This proves this type of public criticism can work.

For more information, Mia Farrow’s organization, Dream for Darfur is a great place to start.