Does China deserve the games?
by Sam Mickell 
This week the Chinese government ordered 1 million cars off the road in Beijing to try and reduce smog for the millions of visitors expected for the Olympics.
They must be wishing it was only that easy to hide traces of their despicable human rights record from the visitors and the estimated 20 – 30,000 journalists who will descend on China to cover the games.
Whether giving China the games will improve their respect for human rights, or validate it as a ‘respectable’ country despite their shameful record remains to be seen.
But there are already examples of protest groups taking advantage of the media spotlight on China for the games.
It’s not entirely surprising that the games’ slogan, “One world: One dream” has already been employed by dissidents of the regime. A group of activists recently hung a 450sq foot banner from the Great Wall of China reading “One world: One dream; free Tibet 2008”. They were arrested.
A selection of high profile Chinese dissidents – including some associated with the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre – have written an open letter to the Chinese government urging them to respect basic human rights entitled “One world; one dream; universal human rights”.
Human rights atrocities still occurring.
The fact is China has a somewhat chequered human rights record. As the west goes goo-gaa about its stratospheric economic growth and huge potential as a trading partner, have we conveniently forgotten that in China there is no such thing as free speech? Where those who have the courage to speak out are imprisoned and tortured, and where the genocide of a peaceful faith - the Falun Gong - is occurring as you read.
Watch out China, because the world will be watching closely.