Safe Mode: On
Spielberg boycotts Beijing Olympics

US film maker Steven Spielberg said he was abandoning his artistic role in the Beijing Olympics, accusing China of not doing enough to press its ally Sudan to end devastating violence in Darfur.

"I have decided to formally announce the end of my involvement as one of the overseas artistic advisers to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games," Spielberg said in a statement.

"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" in Darfur.

"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."

The United Nations estimates that hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the western Sudanese region since 2003, when a civil conflict erupted pitting government-backed Arab militias against ethnic black groups.

China is a major economic partner of Sudan, and its ties with Khartoum have been regarded as a sticking point in international efforts to pressure the Sudanese government to ease the crisis.

"My conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual," Spielberg said.

"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."

AFP

http://www.theage.com.au/news/people/spielberg-boycotts-beijing/2008/02/13/1202760349844.html

Spielberg accuses China of not doing enough to end violence in Darfur.


Click to view image: '151463-spielberg_narrowweb__300x4540.jpg'

Added: Feb-13-2008 
By: Interloper
In: News, Other Entertainment
Tags: spielberg, boycotts, beijing, olympics, darfur
Marked as: approved
Views: 19557 | Comments: 30 | Votes: 0 | Favorites: 1 | Shared: 0 | Updates: 0 | Times used in channels: 3
You need to be registered in order to add comments! Register HERE
Sort by: Newest first | Oldest first | Highest score first
Liveleak opposes racial slurs - if you do spot comments that fall into this category, please report them for us to review.

  • Intervene: "
    Night_Owl49: "
    Intervene: "Why does the US do more instead idiot instead of sending troops to Iraq?"
    So you'd like troops in Darfur? Gee, if we did that everybody would be calling us the "world police" again. Yet who does everybody turn to? The United Fucking States of America, that's who. "
    You already act like the world police so what difference does it make?"
    Just shut up, you don't make any sense.

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    wptech (183.24)  

    (2)

  • Another fine example of Western celebrity hypocrisy. Suddenly all Hollywood superstars seem to want a hand in international politics. Why don't they start first in their own country, let's see how well that goes with the Americans.

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    UrMumChickenSoup (24.52)  
    UrMumChickenSoup
    View Channel
    Send Message

    (2)

  • Hey Spielberg...Save the drama for one of your bloated Hollywood shitshows. This is the real world.

    Posted Feb-17-2008 By 
    jb46_2 (10.16)

    (2)

  • Night_Owl49: "
    Intervene: "Why does the US do more instead idiot instead of sending troops to Iraq?"
    So you'd like troops in Darfur? Gee, if we did that everybody would be calling us the "world police" again. Yet who does everybody turn to? The United Fucking States of America, that's who. "
    BS. Tibet comes to mind, burma comes to mind and east timor once did too (these countries have no value).

    Interesting that spielberg doesn't feel the same way about the plig More..

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    Interloper (1007.52)  

    (1)

  • buhuu!! who gives a fuck about what he thinks..he just want to be on the "hate-china" wagon and trying to win some western respect...fuck him..wanker!! this world have so many problems but now China is so much in the news due to upcoming ol. he is a fake FUCK:.!!

    Posted Feb-17-2008 By 
    tunnelrat (11.02)  

    (1)

  • Oh and well done Mr Spielberg, however i would have held off doing this till even closer the event to really leave them in the shit..lol
    Ahahaha....I bet they feel like right effin goons for not demanding he sign his contract.....lol that'll teach ya for all that shite you've been producing and sending all over the world, ok maybe it wont but it'll hurt them where they hate it the most,in the eyes of the world.

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    alivethruluck (568.50)
    alivethruluck
    Send Message

    (1)

  • popehat: "Sad to see Spielberg politicizing sports. "
    Yeah but where he was this last 25 years of the war in south

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    UrMumChickenSoup (24.52)  
    UrMumChickenSoup
    View Channel
    Send Message

    (1)

  • Go on Stephen, Free Tibet!

    Posted Mar-25-2008 By 
    badworld1 (13.88)

    (1)

  • Fireguy8764: "Fuck Darfur...let some other country clean up that mess..."
    they already are! They're killing off, I mean cleaning up the people to make room for oil wells! Wonder who the lucky beneficiary will be?

    Should be all 'cleaned up' in a year or so!

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    nattyroots (486.36)

    (0)

  • nattyroots: "
    Fireguy8764: "Fuck Darfur...let some other country clean up that mess..."
    they already are! They're killing off, I mean cleaning up the people to make room for oil wells! Wonder who the lucky beneficiary will be?

    Should be all 'cleaned up' in a year or so! "
    Good news...

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    Fireguy8764 (26.56)  

    (0)

  • Intervene: "Why does the US do more instead idiot instead of sending troops to Iraq?"
    So you'd like troops in Darfur? Gee, if we did that everybody would be calling us the "world police" again. Yet who does everybody turn to? The United Fucking States of America, that's who.

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    Night_Owl49 (133.40)  

    (0)

  • where the hell is Darfur and why should I care?

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    MrDanger (49.14)  

    (0)

  • Hollywood lightweights like Spielberg are an embarrassment to the US.

    Here's a suggestion. Make up your mind BEFORE you accept the job. Got it?

    This jerk took the job while having the ability to fully research China's positions. Heck, he should have known about China's policies even before any research.

    I am not saying that he should quit or shouldn't quit. Just make up your stupid mind, lefty.

    Posted Feb-14-2008 By 
    PeaceThruStrength (26.40)
    PeaceThruStrength
    View Channel
    Send Message

    (0)

  • alivethruluck: "
    Night_Owl49: "
    Intervene: "Why does the US do more instead idiot instead of sending troops to Iraq?"
    So you'd like troops in Darfur? Gee, if we did that everybody would be calling us the "world police" again. Yet who does everybody turn to? The United Fucking States of America, that's who. "
    who asked you and that faggot Blair from my country to Invade Iraq.?? there was a genuine fight to be fought in afghanistan but the US troops dissapeared just as quick as a geeny appears from a magic lamp, you'd of thought after 9/11 that would have been p More..
    Well said ATL, I hope that c@cksucker j howard will be on that list.

    Posted Feb-13-2008 By 
    Interloper (1007.52)  

    (0)

  • PeaceThruStrength: "Hollywood lightweights like Spielberg are an embarrassment to the US.

    Here's a suggestion. Make up your mind BEFORE you accept the job. Got it?

    This jerk took the job while having the ability to fully research China's positions. Heck, he should have known about China's policies even before any research.

    I am not saying that he should quit or shouldn't quit. Just make up your stupid mind, lefty."
    if im lefty then u are P***y

    Posted Feb-19-2008 By 
    UrMumChickenSoup (24.52)  
    UrMumChickenSoup
    View Channel
    Send Message

    (0)