FREEDOM FIRST, OLYMPICS SECOND COALITION
A call to boycott 2008’s Beijing Olympics
absent freedom, democracy, and human rights
WHO? The Chinese democracy movement is back – with friends! It turns out that there is a massive amount of support for boycotting the Summer Olympic Games of 2008, which are slated to be held in Beijing, China. This coalition specifically includes the Free China Movement, the China Support Network, Dictator Watch, the Montagnard Foundation, and a series of prominent groups and individuals in the human rights community.
WHAT? In the mechanical sense, this coalition is a hub to plug together like-minded groups and individuals, to aggregate support, to facilitate coordinated action, and to upgrade and enhance the effectiveness of political advocacy by focusing a groundswell of support in the service of freedom, democracy, and human rights for Mainland China.
In the political sense, this coalition is opposition to the 2008 Olympics of Beijing, China. The opposition is based on the absence of freedom, democracy, and human rights in Mainland China, but some coalition members are present with other issues and concerns, e.g., Chinese support of dictatorships and human rights violations in Burma, East Turkestan, Laos, North Korea, Sudan, Tibet, Vietnam, and threats against Taiwan.
WHERE & WHEN? The efforts of this coalition are worldwide, and will aim to pressure the IOC (International Olympic Committee), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and governments, corporate sponsors / advertisers, and other enablers of these Olympic Games, to which we object. The time frame for operation of this coalition is from 2007 – 2008, through to the end of the Olympic Games, scheduled for August 24, 2008.
We continue to call for the IOC to move the venue of these games – to select a different host city. Absent that, we call for national governments to pressure their NOCs to boycott these Olympics. In addition, we call upon consumers to boycott the products and services of the corporate sponsors / advertisers associated with these Olympics. We will facilitate the activists; pressure the targets; and inform the general public, raising awareness and promoting dialogue.
WHY & HOW? Please see an adjacent flyer or web page: ‘Ten Reasons Why the Free World Must Boycott the 2008 Olympic Games in China,’ written by Demetrius Klitou, a director of the China Support Network. The coalition’s methods will vary, but will remain non-violent at all times.