The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #109636   Message #2315636
Posted By: Shanghaiceltic
14-Apr-08 - 06:32 PM
Thread Name: BS: Avoiding The Olympics
Subject: RE: BS: Avoiding The Olympics
Sorry Q you sound like you are spouting the Party Line.

The 3 Gorges Dam is going to be an environmental disaster. Few cities and town behind it have proper water treatment, that and the problem of silting are already affecting the area. The relocation of the people there has been a big problem and many have been relocated hundreds of miles away from the area. Some to areas where they cannot farm.

The Olympics will go ahead but it is going to be very nationalistic. Especially given the Tibet protests, The boys in Beijing will roll out a media frenzy to prove how good they are and how much they have done for the country. While that may be true in many areas they still control all media, so unless you are an educated Chinese with good language skills so you can read what is on the internet outside of China you will never be able to read anything but happy stories.

I have just left China and there was no mention of the protests over the torch on Chinese media. While I disagree with the violence of the protests, it is a case of you reap what you sow.

The work done in Beijing for the Olympics has been incredible, but at a cost to many people forcibly removed from their houses to make way for the sites.

I will watch the Olympics, or should I say I will watch what the Chinese Department of Media and Propoganda allow us to see.