Pete Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Is it me or can anyone else sense an interesting time in Beijing coming? When I was over there last year it was very apparent that the authorities are keen to paint a rosy picture of China with various things censored from us as tourists. They're working like nutters to get everything ready for the games to ensure they put on a good show of Beijing and China itself, they really have the whole world to impress at this crucial time of their rising economic growth. It's a HUGE deal to the people of the city as well as the government. Earlier in the week there was mention of China building into Olympic agreements that there were to be no demonstrations of any kind - like protests over their poor human rights record. Then now Spielberg comes out with this - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7242016.stm I'm sure this will be just the tip of what's to come. It's going to be really interesting to see the clash of free liberal Western thinking in the East as hundreds of thousands of westerners are over there en-mass. They don't take any crap over there believe me! What will be especially interesting is the media over there. Everything is still very tightly controlled over what is/isn't allowed to be known by the public and the rest of the world. How they will cope with attempting to censor the slime gutter press will be amusing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 At the end of the day, China is going to be the world power in a few years, the way Americas economy is going at the moment, so they can probably thumb their nose at anyone who says stuff they don't like. So some Hollywood director has "snubbed" them (yes, I know it's Speilberg). Big deal, there's plenty more where he came from. I bet he wasn't involved with the display at the end of the Greek Olympics, and that was still awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewOW Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 How they will cope with attempting to censor the slime gutter press will be amusing. That's if their Visa's are approved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I doubt his 'snub' will make any difference. Although I agree with his principles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hogmaw Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 It's the old Money vs Morality issue, and for Spielberg morality has won. He has plenty of money anyway. Good for him though, I do wish those in power would do more to Do The Right Thing like him, rather than chase celebrity, money and even more power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 There was a story recently where the British Olympic Committee had asked the athletes to sign a contract stating they would not make any political protest etc. This was then rebuffed by the athletes and the BOC had to retract and say that it was just a "draft" proposal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 There are plenty of others backing Spielberg today and the media is jumping on the bandwagon. (The Independent full front page) all doing their best to embarrass China. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexJames Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Thats quite interesting, where I work we have many problems as a result of China tightening everything up... things are getting quite bad out there for us... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobSheffield Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Recently iv been reading more of the BBC news webiste at work, and i thought this asnd the diplomatic positions in Kosovo and Serbia and Russian military flexing in the last few days were all 'interesting' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uzthedentist Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 It's the old Money vs Morality issue, and for Spielberg morality has won. He has plenty of money anyway. Good for him though, I do wish those in power would do more to Do The Right Thing like him, rather than chase celebrity, money and even more power. a hypocrite like spielberg which supports israels apartheid with millions of dollars every year has no right to take the moral standpoint on anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 a hypocrite like spielberg which supports israels apartheid with millions of dollars every year has no right to take the moral standpoint on anything. Can you explain the post to me as I am confused. Are you saying Spielberg donates millions of dollars to Israel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uzthedentist Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 yes he donates to the New Israel Fund which supposedly is a relief organisation but also comically has shares in west bank construction firms . So his 'moral' sentiment is completely and utterly hollow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted February 15, 2008 Share Posted February 15, 2008 I strongly suspect that with a name like Spielberg he has a right to send money home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted February 15, 2008 Author Share Posted February 15, 2008 More related news. Monsters and Ghosts are being filtered from the Internet. http://www.smh.com.au/news/unusual-tales/china-bans-ghosts-from-the-net/2008/02/14/1202760469180.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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