Steven Spielberg Pulls Out of Beijing Olympics Because of Darfur

[Speciesamused]

Source: Forbes.com

Steven Spielberg today made the following statement regarding Beijing Olympic Games and Darfur:

After careful consideration, I have decided to formally announce the end of my involvement as one of the overseas artistic advisors to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games.

In anticipation that this day might one day come, I left unsigned the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games contract presented to me nearly a year ago. Since that time, I have made repeated efforts to encourage the Chinese government to use its unique influence to bring safety and stability to the Darfur region of Sudan. Although some progress has been made along the way, most notably, the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1769, the situation in Darfur continues to worsen and the violence continues to accelerate.

With this in mind, I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual. At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur. Sudan's government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these on-going crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more to end the continuing human suffering there. China's economic, military and diplomatic ties to the government of Sudan continue to provide it with the opportunity and obligation to press for change. The situation has never been more precarious - and while China's representatives have conveyed to me that they are working to end the terrible tragedy in Darfur, the grim realities of the suffering continue unabated.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/businesswire/feeds/businesswire/2008/02/12/businesswire20080212006450r1.html

[provis99]

1. are you sure this isn't from TheOnion?

Either that, or Spielberg totally lost me on the chain of logic, here.

[DCKit]

2. Read it s l o w l y.

He's attempting to use his celebrity to embarrass the Chinese into doing the right thing. I'm hoping there will be further boycotts and even alternatives to the official games set up elsewhere that will enable athletes to make the right choice, but that's asking a lot of young people who have worked their entire lives to get to the Olympics.

[GeniusLib]

3. Thank You Mr. Spielberg for once again speaking up for those who can't themselves

[happygoluckytoyou]

4. THERE IS ONLY ONE AN$WER.... BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS

ok... there are two answers....

boycott the olympics......

and

send the troops from iraq where they are beating their sandpuppets to the region where they could be useful


go bama go bama yo mama
go bama go bama yo mama
go bama go bama yo mama
go bama go bama yo mama
go bama go bama yo mama
go bama go bama yo mama
go bama go bama yo mama

[WCGreen]

5. Why are we going to the Bejing Olympics....

It's ridiculous...

We are putting commerce over humanity...

One of these days, someone has to say stop...