I'll skip the Olympics. You should, too.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/03/i-will-boycott-china-olympics-you-should-too/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletterI have never been a fan of the Olympics. Or, I should say, I have never been a fan of the International Olympic Committee.
An organization that rewards dictatorial regimes (Russia in 2014, and now China for the second time) with events that attract billions of eyeballs and sappy worldwide coverage — all while punishing athletes who stand up for human rights — is not apolitical or “promoting the Olympic spirit.” It’s making money off and providing cover for brutal regimes that use the Games to burnish their image.
To stage the Games in the midst of China’s genocide of Uyghurs and ongoing repression of Tibet and Hong Kong is an atrocity. To herald the spirit of sports in a police state that is clearly holding tennis star Peng Shuai captive — and worse, staged obvious PR stunts to clear China’s name — is simply grotesque.
In response to China’s hosting of the Games, the United States and several other nations are staging a diplomatic boycott. My colleague Josh Rogin reports some athletes will boycott the Opening Ceremonies, too. This is all welcome, but it’s hardly sufficient.
China should never have been able to host the Games, and the international community should have threatened not to participate if the IOC went ahead anyway.
Freedom House announced this past week that 243 nongovernmental organizations from around the world will boycott the Games. It also called on "athletes and sponsors not to legitimize government abuses,” adding that the IOC has “has not met its responsibilities under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights by carrying out human rights due diligence despite the well-documented abuses in China.”
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I always enjoyed the skiing events- downhill, ski jump, slalom, etc.
All the snow for this Olympics is fake, because there is no snow due to climate change. Hundreds of millions of gallons of water is being used to create fake snow for these events. Also, a tremendous amount of energy is necessary to power the snow blowers and snow generators.
It's very distressing, knowing how detrimental all this is to the environment.
Because I decommissioned the TV set 10 years ago.
I never saw one minute of the orange maggot.
Listening to classical music right now, after taking some glorious sunrise photos.
With a clear mind, I'll be sending "Jaime and Joe" a message of hope that they can share whether they want it or not. I think that they will.
Peace, everyone.
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