4/14/2007

China Gonna Push Sudan?

The Herald-Tribune reported that Beijing to do something about Sudan, a country it provides weapons and cash to in exchange for oil, to stop the genocide in Darfur. According to reports, this has a lot to do with Mia Farrow, and her calls for a boycott of the 2008 Olympics. In an op-ed letter to the Wall Street Journal, Farrow warned Steven Spielburg, the artistic coordinator for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, that he could "go down in history as the Leni Riefenstahl of the Beijing Games":

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/13/america/web-0413diplo.php
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According to Beijing, Farrow is only interested in this issue because she wants to make a name for herself. This seems a bit on the dubious side, though, especially considering that first, Farrow has been making great films for 40 years (see "Rosemary's Baby", "Hannah and Her Sisters", etc. if you don't believe me), and second, she's more or less retired as an actress.
It's like my friend Eric was saying: in the future, the world should give China more of what they want (the Olympics, for example) because it puts them in a position where they must protect their "face". In this position, they seem to be a more responsible and cooperative world-player.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

In describing Spielberg's decision to write to the Chinese leader, the filmmaker's spokesman said that while Spielberg "certainly has been aware of the situation in Darfur" it was "only recently that he became aware of China's involvement there."

During a news conference on Wednesday, Zhai called activists who want to boycott the Games "either ignorant or ill natured."

Spielberg was unaware of China's involvement in the Sudan? This is what is "dubious." In China's retort to Farrow, they have already "lost face." What credible government allows its people to speak in this manner?

Patrick Cowsill said...

I'm sure every government has a few jokers like this. Look at the States for instance, with Cheney (Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz et al before). Or, their joker-in-chief with his "Axis of Evil".

Patrick Cowsill said...

According to NPR, Sudan's government is making strikes on sites in Darfur now. They've painted planes and helicopters to look like they belong to the UN:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9682544

Anonymous said...

"China will lean on Beijing to do something about Sudan"

I'd like to see that!

Anonymous said...

"Farrow warned Steven Spielburg"

Iceburg, Spielburg, what the diff?

SpielbErg had no comment...

Patrick Cowsill said...

Dear Annonymous,

I think I need an editor.

Still, I don't think that Spielburg was totally unaffected by Farrow's comments. A Taipei Times editorial today suggested that the 2008 Olympics could go down as the "Genocide Olympics".

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/
archives/2007/04/28/2003358616

Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

Wonderful blog.

Patrick Cowsill said...

I wonder why I have so much garbage mail. Someone is spamming me because they don't like the content of this article. I've put on word verification, which seems to have put an end to it. I think I'll leave the spam up.

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