Comments on: The dark side of the Olympics http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html Thu, 17 May 2012 15:30:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: PeaceBang http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-4305 PeaceBang Sat, 15 Nov 2008 22:22:49 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-4305 Thanks for this post -- I found you by googling the phrase "dark side of the Olympics," as I am working on a sermon on competition. I'm fascinated by the origins of Puma/Adidas!! That HAS to get in the sermon somewhere... and how sadly ironic that both sneakers are manufactured in (among other places) Chinese sweatshops. Thanks for this post — I found you by googling the phrase “dark side of the Olympics,” as I am working on a sermon on competition. I’m fascinated by the origins of Puma/Adidas!! That HAS to get in the sermon somewhere… and how sadly ironic that both sneakers are manufactured in (among other places) Chinese sweatshops.

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1843 alda Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:05:40 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1843 Babs, hi and welcome! That is an interesting angle and I do agree with you. However, there is a large portion of the population that does have a choice - the middle classes, who might buy something cheaper just because it's cheap, whereas they could conceivably buy something else. All that said, I'm not urging anyone to boycott all products made in China. But for me, personally, I'd like to steer clear of companies that use slave labour - such as, evidently, Puma. Bird watcher - very good point about Western democracy being imposed and it all going horribly wrong, and I completely agree that an organic sort of development is needed. And again, I'm not saying there should be no trade, but that I find it sickening that large multinationals are exploiting a very vulnerable section of the world's population to make huge profits for themselves. I personally would like to make the choice not to participate in that. And I really think China needs to be consistently reminded that much of the rest of the world thinks their human rights violations are not OK. Babs, hi and welcome! That is an interesting angle and I do agree with you. However, there is a large portion of the population that does have a choice – the middle classes, who might buy something cheaper just because it’s cheap, whereas they could conceivably buy something else. All that said, I’m not urging anyone to boycott all products made in China. But for me, personally, I’d like to steer clear of companies that use slave labour – such as, evidently, Puma.

Bird watcher – very good point about Western democracy being imposed and it all going horribly wrong, and I completely agree that an organic sort of development is needed. And again, I’m not saying there should be no trade, but that I find it sickening that large multinationals are exploiting a very vulnerable section of the world’s population to make huge profits for themselves. I personally would like to make the choice not to participate in that. And I really think China needs to be consistently reminded that much of the rest of the world thinks their human rights violations are not OK.

]]> By: Bird watcher http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1840 Bird watcher Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:10:19 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1840 I have not watched the Olympics either but that is because I hate the Olympics. The Chinese regime is pretty appalling, I agree, but they have to be allowed to develop at their own pace. Not trading with them will not help freedom and democracy it will ensure that it continues to be strangled. The world is littered with examples of Western style democracy being imposed on "unready nations" only for it all to go horribly wrong. I have not watched the Olympics either but that is because I hate the Olympics. The Chinese regime is pretty appalling, I agree, but they have to be allowed to develop at their own pace. Not trading with them will not help freedom and democracy it will ensure that it continues to be strangled. The world is littered with examples of Western style democracy being imposed on “unready nations” only for it all to go horribly wrong.

]]> By: Babs - beetle http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1839 Babs - beetle Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:30:17 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1839 I think, in truth that is is more likely to be people with lower incomes that look for, and buy the cheaper goods, therefore, out of need we fund China's sweat shops. I've no doubt there are many people that would prefer not to buy goods with 'Made in China' labels, but when finances are low, choices are fewer. Politics apart, I am actually put off by that label, because rightly or wrongly, I tend to think that the goods are inferior in most cases. I have watched some of the Olympics, but only the actual sporting events. I haven't watched any of the pomp and ceremony at all. Does that last remark give away the fact that I am British ;O) I think, in truth that is is more likely to be people with lower incomes that look for, and buy the cheaper goods, therefore, out of need we fund China’s sweat shops. I’ve no doubt there are many people that would prefer not to buy goods with ‘Made in China’ labels, but when finances are low, choices are fewer.

Politics apart, I am actually put off by that label, because rightly or wrongly, I tend to think that the goods are inferior in most cases.

I have watched some of the Olympics, but only the actual sporting events. I haven’t watched any of the pomp and ceremony at all.

Does that last remark give away the fact that I am British ;O)

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1838 alda Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:20:20 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1838 Bibil - I lean towards the latter. That, and a purposeful evasion. :-/ Joe - alas, I think that's all too common, that you go to buy something and just about all of it is made in China. That said, athletics companies seem especially bad. Cassie - done! :) Ásta - takk fyrir kveðjuna og falleg orð! - as for your theory, I suppose I'm too much of a cynic to believe that. The International Olympics Commission (or whatever it's called) is notoriously corrupt, I wouldn't be surprised if there had been some serious bribery taking place. Bibil – I lean towards the latter. That, and a purposeful evasion. :-/

Joe – alas, I think that’s all too common, that you go to buy something and just about all of it is made in China. That said, athletics companies seem especially bad.

Cassie – done! :)

Ásta – takk fyrir kveðjuna og falleg orð! – as for your theory, I suppose I’m too much of a cynic to believe that. The International Olympics Commission (or whatever it’s called) is notoriously corrupt, I wouldn’t be surprised if there had been some serious bribery taking place.

]]> By: Ásta http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1837 Ásta Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:53:14 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1837 I was having this very same conversation at work today over coffee. I can not by the life of me understand why the Olympics are being held in China. But then one of my coworkers said something that made me think; how many conversations about China and their communism did you see on the internet or on a blog site before the Olympics? To be honest, I had to say none... Maybe, just maybe (and this might just be naive) the reason they chose China was to make the world notice how people are treated there? As I said, it might be a naive thought, but it could be right? Anyway, always a joy reading your blog Alda, it is on my "bloggrúnt" which i take every two days or so. I'm sad to say I'm not very good at commenting, but that might be for the reason that I don't really see the point of commenting, just to comment - know what I mean? :) Kveðja frá Selfossi I was having this very same conversation at work today over coffee. I can not by the life of me understand why the Olympics are being held in China. But then one of my coworkers said something that made me think; how many conversations about China and their communism did you see on the internet or on a blog site before the Olympics? To be honest, I had to say none… Maybe, just maybe (and this might just be naive) the reason they chose China was to make the world notice how people are treated there? As I said, it might be a naive thought, but it could be right?
Anyway, always a joy reading your blog Alda, it is on my “bloggrúnt” which i take every two days or so. I’m sad to say I’m not very good at commenting, but that might be for the reason that I don’t really see the point of commenting, just to comment – know what I mean? :) Kveðja frá Selfossi

]]> By: Cassie http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1835 Cassie Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:34:49 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1835 Amen. (And remind me to email you some pictures that my daughter took when she was in the Himalayas last week, of people from the Tibetan expat community in India protesting at the start of the games.) Amen.

(And remind me to email you some pictures that my daughter took when she was in the Himalayas last week, of people from the Tibetan expat community in India protesting at the start of the games.)

]]> By: JoeInVegas http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1834 JoeInVegas Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:09:40 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1834 Our president Bush is there, looking as abnormal as ever, complaining about all the countries that are bad while ignoring what he is doing here. It's the same all over, so what difference does it make? I wish it did - but when we went out for sneakers there was nothing but China on all of the labels, no choice any more. Our president Bush is there, looking as abnormal as ever, complaining about all the countries that are bad while ignoring what he is doing here. It’s the same all over, so what difference does it make?
I wish it did – but when we went out for sneakers there was nothing but China on all of the labels, no choice any more.

]]> By: Levitra http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1833 Levitra Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:39:09 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1833 personally I have no vested interest in the Olympics this year. I was skeptical about the games being in China for many reasons and my concerns have come to fruition. personally I have no vested interest in the Olympics this year. I was skeptical about the games being in China for many reasons and my concerns have come to fruition.

]]> By: Bibil http://icelandweatherreport.com/2008/08/the-dark-side-of-the-olympics.html/comment-page-1#comment-1832 Bibil Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:10:51 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=962#comment-1832 Honestly, did politicians really believe that the human rights situation would have changed because of the Olympics? ... Or did they just say that to appease the people who vote for them? Honestly, did politicians really believe that the human rights situation would have changed because of the Olympics?
… Or did they just say that to appease the people who vote for them?

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