China and Darfur: let’s follow Spielberg’s lead

FILM director Steven Spielberg should be congratulated for his decision to pull out of his role as artistic director of the Beijing Olympic Games due to China’s involvement in the Darfur crisis.

Using their veto power on the UN security council, China has consistently blocked the delivery of an effective peacekeeping force to the region.

This is not to mention the fact that Sudan is a huge customer of China’s arms industry.

All this is resulting in horrendous misery for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people banished to refugee camps by the constant threat of assault on their homes.

By standing up to China, Mr Spielberg has shown tremendous courage. It is time for the international community to follow his example. We should threaten to boycott the Beijing Games unless China changes its stance.

China will only move on Darfur if the staging of the Beijing Games are put in doubt.

The Chinese see the games as their greatest ever opportunity to impress the international community. Threaten to take them away and they may listen then to the cries of Darfur’ women and children.

John O’Shea

GOAL

PO Box 19

Dun Laoghaire

Co Dublin