I heard this Olympian's story on the news this morning while I was straightening my hair. This is the genre of newstory that I perk up, stop and watch...Africa, humanitarianism, philanthropy, genocide, international African relations. I am very interested.
So, there are a group of Olympians, former and present, who have come together to form "Team Darfur". Their goal is to bring awareness to the current Chinese-Sudanese relations, oil interests mainly, because basically, the Chinese are fueling 2 sides of a war, including genocide, and the international community isn't doing enough to stop it. (Here's what I've studied, learned, read, and think about this subject.)
Former Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, planned a trip to Beijing this week to promote the effort of Team Darfur during the Chinese-hosted World Olympics. He was denied a visa by the Chinese government, the night before leaving on a jet plane. He isn't allowed to go into China and speak encouranging China to help make peace in the war-torn Darfur section on the Sudan. Now, I say that they didn't allow him into the country becauase of his plans to speak against the government's relations with the Sudan, but that's not the reason the Chinese government gave Joey. They claim to have denied his visa and they are not required to give an explanation. But what better explanation for a formally closed country to deny someone acess into their capital city at such a time as hosting the World Olympics than to shield themselves from potential protest in the streets. It just wouldn't look good. And governments don't want to not look good when the whole world is watching. And that's what they're worried about, themselves looking good...not the millions of people dying in Darfur. Their proiorities are screwed up.
But not being able to plant his feet on Chinese soil this week isn't stopping Cheek. He is speaking in the US to as many venues as he can to keep his cause out in the open and in the public eye as they public watches intently the happenings in China this week.
So, there are a group of Olympians, former and present, who have come together to form "Team Darfur". Their goal is to bring awareness to the current Chinese-Sudanese relations, oil interests mainly, because basically, the Chinese are fueling 2 sides of a war, including genocide, and the international community isn't doing enough to stop it. (Here's what I've studied, learned, read, and think about this subject.)
Former Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek, planned a trip to Beijing this week to promote the effort of Team Darfur during the Chinese-hosted World Olympics. He was denied a visa by the Chinese government, the night before leaving on a jet plane. He isn't allowed to go into China and speak encouranging China to help make peace in the war-torn Darfur section on the Sudan. Now, I say that they didn't allow him into the country becauase of his plans to speak against the government's relations with the Sudan, but that's not the reason the Chinese government gave Joey. They claim to have denied his visa and they are not required to give an explanation. But what better explanation for a formally closed country to deny someone acess into their capital city at such a time as hosting the World Olympics than to shield themselves from potential protest in the streets. It just wouldn't look good. And governments don't want to not look good when the whole world is watching. And that's what they're worried about, themselves looking good...not the millions of people dying in Darfur. Their proiorities are screwed up.But not being able to plant his feet on Chinese soil this week isn't stopping Cheek. He is speaking in the US to as many venues as he can to keep his cause out in the open and in the public eye as they public watches intently the happenings in China this week.
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