Saturday, August 30, 2008

Chinese Displaced for Olympics?

A friend forwarded this article to me yesterday - I haven't heard anything about this before, but living in China there are many things I don't hear about so that really doesn't mean anything.

The article states that according to the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE),
The Beijing Olympics has displaced 1.5 million people since 2000.

They also go on to say that "I
nternational Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to award the Games to Beijing has been a catalyst in increasing forced evictions and displacements in Beijing. COHRE’s new report holds the Chinese government guilty of widespread forced evictions along with other human rights violations during preparations for the Beijing Olympics"

I am not at all surprised to learn about this report - mainly I'm saddened by the lack of information in China. It's easy to forget as I go about my everyday life here how much of a stronghold the government has on it's people.

To download the whole report and come to your own conclusions click here:

http://www.cohre.org/beijingreport

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with you,after the Olimpics chinees were quite happy

Emily said...

Hi Josly,

Thanks for your comment.

I don't think you read my posting correctly. I never said that the Chinese people weren't happy after the Olympics. :-)

My post is regarding the displacement of residents of Beijing. It's up to you to read the report and come up with your own opinion.

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

If you truly believe what western media said, you just another brainwashed, ignorant westerner. I feel sorry for you. This is what distorted media can do to its people, pathetic. Misunderstanding arising from ignorance breeds fear, and fear remains the greatest enemy of peace.

Emily said...

Hi Anonymous,

It's pretty clear from your post that you did not take the time to actually read the report nor even click on the link.

Before becoming so defensive and angry, I suggest you actually read the report (not published by "western media") and come up with your own educated response.

In this case, you are quite obviously the ignorant party.

Good luck.

Anonymous said...

when a country pursues 'perfectness' immoderately, the 'perfectness' itself will lose its value. i also feel sorry for millions of chinese migrant workers. they deserve people's care and respect.