It seems that the relatively new Avaaz.org has decided to launch an ad campaign for a China-Tibet dialogue. Avaaz bills itself as:
a new global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want. [“Avaaz” means “Voice” in many Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European languages.] Across the world, most people want stronger protections for the environment, greater respect for human rights, and concerted efforts to end poverty, corruption and war. Yet globalization faces a huge democratic deficit as international decisions are shaped by political elites and unaccountable corporations — not the views and values of the world’s people.
Technology and the internet have allowed citizens to connect and mobilize like never before. The rise of a new model of internet-driven, people-powered politics is changing countries from Australia to the Philippines to the United States. Avaaz takes this model global, connecting people across borders to bring people powered politics to international decision-making.
Precisely which model are they talking about? Well, one of Avaaz’s co-founding organizations is MoveOn.org. MoveOn does not exactly have a reputation of making ads that encourage dialogue between opposing sides, probably most famously for the polarizing “General Petraeus or General Betray Us?” in the New York Times. Avaaz also won an award at the Progressive Source Awards for its video “Stop the Clash of Civilizations!”. I have no idea what the Progressive Source Awards are, but it sounds suspiciously like self-congratulations amongst the like-minded.
Avaaz describes their campaign this way on their front splash page:
After decades of repression, Tibetans are crying out to the world for change. China’s leaders are right now making a crucial choice between escalating repression or dialogue that could determine the future of Tibet, and China.
We can affect this historic choice — China does care about its international reputation. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get the government’s attention. The Dalai Lama has called for restraint and dialogue: he needs the world’s people to support him. Sign the petition below–It has been delivered at Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide, and will continue to grow and be delivered until talks begin.
and then on the campaign page:
The Beijing Olympics are a crucial chance to persuade China’s leaders to support dialogue and human rights in Tibet, as well as Burma and Darfur.
The Olympics are about humanity and excellence. We want to celebrate them, but we can’t while Tibetans and others suffer. Let’s call on China to save the Olympics for all of us — on billboards and ads in major cities, in Chinese overseas community publications, even through a Chinese language internet team.
Our campaign aims to reach out to China and Chinese people to show that we’re not anti-China but pro-humanitarian, and that our desire is to save the 2008 Olympics, not ruin them.
Click on the link at right to see draft ad concepts, and Donate now!
They have a Chinese language internet team! Hey, that’s something I’ve suggested! Unfortunately, this doesn’t sound like a message that’s going to carry well. Starting off with saying the Tibetans have suffered “decades of repression” (What about the rest of China?), which sounds like an accusation, is not good. Moreover, the premise they’re working on doesn’t seem realistic: “China does care about its international reputation. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get the government’s attention.” Actually, China cares far more about how its own population feels than “an avalanche of global people power”, and right now people are defensively supporting the government. Protests against China have been a PR bonanza for the CCP.
And it gets worse. Check out their draft ads:
OK, all the ads have the same text. This is the only draft ad with Chinese in it. Presumably their translation team will tackle this text. If they produce a different text in Chinese, Chinese viewers will compare it to the English one and if they have any complaints about the English version, the Chinese version will look deceptive. The text is:
As citizens around the world who believe in the Olympic spirit of humanity and excellence, we want to enjoy the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. We welcome a prosperous and dynamic China into the global community. But with power comes responsibility, and we are concerned that we cannot celebrate the Olympics in good conscience while ignoring the suffering of others. We ask China to Save the Olympics for all of us through three reasonable steps: 1: A meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. 2: Securing the release of Burmese and Tibetan prisoners. 3: Supporting a robust peace mission to Darfur.
OK, Avaaz, I’m gonna give you some free advice on why this isn’t going to fly for Mainland Chinese, or alot of overseas Chinese to boot. Pro-China supporters have made themselves very clear about four things: 1: the Olympics should not be politicized. By saying you can’t “enjoy” the Olympics without certain political concessions, you are ignoring or dismissing what they’ve already told you, not to mention making it sound a bit like “or else!” 2: The Dalai Lama is more persona non grata in China than ever before, and to get a dialogue is going to take alot more than an ad campaign. Your previous effort on Tibet, a petition that garnered 1.6+ million signatures, was received briefly on Anti-CNN with the words “is this a joke?” Meanwhile, 5.6 million people have signed the petition on Sina condemning perceived Western media bias regarding Tibet. If there’s an avalanche of people power in China, does it make a sound? 3: Tibetan prisoners are, in the eyes of the Chinese government and many of its citizens, criminals who are justly imprisoned for committing crimes. 4: Darfur is not China’s fault. Now, there is absolutely a need for a dialogue on these issues. The thing is, your ads are not going to open one. Especially this next one:
“Dear China. You’re Almost There. Don’t Blow It.” That just sounds like a threat. Nice one.
why on earth did they use that photo?
is she supposed to represent China?
it’s like they just couldn’t help themselves, one more jab to get in:
‘china you’re fucking up, you tripped
don’t do it again’
China’s like, ‘what did we do wrong? fuck off!’
Yup no dialog, same old “talking down at chimps” stuff:
“Stand with Tibet – Support the Dalai Lama”
Not suprised, it’s the same old Soros/OSI money/agenda.
The front splash page tells it all. It’s a joke.
Just another bunch of self-righteous pretend to be mediators, but in fact, nothing but self-appointed lecturers.
It seems they’re trying to bridge a gaping divide by offering their services as a severely biased mediator. Great..
‘release Burmese prisoners’?? Since when did China keep burmese prisoners? These new age Hollywood airheads are seriously confused. Yes, China imports oil from Sudan and Burma. So what? The world runs on oil. The US imports oil from Nigeria and Saudi Arabia too. Saudi Arabia still practices slavery, treat their women as second class chattel, keeps political prisoners, discriminates against other religions, and is an undemocratic monarchy. Using Avaaz’ logic, I guess we should all boycott the Super Bowl in the US to protest these Saudi injustices.
Does China have a great number of profound political and social problem? Of course! No rational person can dispute that. However:
1. Contrary to common public perception in the West, life in today’s China is not nearly so unbearable that almost anyone with an adequate opportunity would automatically prefer to live somewhere else. Otherwise there wouldn’t be a significant – and growing – number of people who’ve studied abroad and choose to go back to China.
2. Contrary to the views of Western critics, continuing improvement of political and social freedom has been so obvious and in the last decade that it’s actually impossible to miss. Both the Chinese themselves and foreigners who know China a little are constantly looking back somewhat bewilderedly, asking: “Who would’ve imagined this being allowed in China five years ago?” On the other side, practically nobody is saying: “This isn’t allowed anymore, thought it was five years ago.”
3. Contrary to the opinions of many politicians and political activists in the West, none of their – mostly well minded, I’ll willing to concede that – suggestions is likely to further accelerate the aforementioned improvements in China. Even though they may look good on paper, all those suggestions bear significant side effects whose negative consequences could very well outweigh the positive ones.
So, in summery, though the overall situation in China is far from good, it’s still “good enough”, and improving as fast as it is realistic. Giving the fact that interference from the West isn’t well regarded in the first place, it’s really not useful at all.
Of the many languages to which the word “avaaz” belongs, Uyghur is one of them. The “Thar She Blows,” is perhaps even more fitting then you yourself thought it would be, Dave. Why? Because we’ve just spotted the iceberg tip of the vast Tibetan/Uyghur/Dalai Clique/Rebiya Kadeer conspiracy, obviously. Everybody duck!
Olympics is almost dead. A Olympics a bomb. Atlanta ring a bell?
Follow your logic, British for Ireland and Scotland;Frensh for Corsica. Germany for Bayern; U.S for the new Mexico.
Put your Iraqi refugee on your newspager, let the US police search the massive destruction pig in your house
If the Olympic games shouldn’t be politicized, why does Chinese media portray the torch relay as a “political fait”, I mean, instead of reporting on the sport world and figures of the relaying country, it is a report and presentation of political figures from both sides coming together due to the relay… Torch as an “OK stamp” seems to me.
I think that’s a clear politicized way of doing things… or for example when they included Taiwan labeled as “China” in the first planning of the torch relay; of course Taiwan protested… isn’t it politicizing? Why Taiwan can not use its flag in the olympic games or its anthem? If the IOC were really a “non-politcal” body it should stand for Taiwan’s people right… Is Taiwan China? may be, but not PRC’s China, so until that day, they should be respected and acknowledge in who they are.
I am not for bashing China, but I am also against a “angelical” view of the olympic games… though the flag is white, there is a lot of gray soot in it.
About Propaganda War, this is a very good reading from DailyKos:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/15/224155/744/780/492483
LOL, I like it. They’re bound to get a lot of traffic, I think we can all agree. A clever ploy to rake in the ad money?
This whole China Bashing is a total “Propaganda War” – “West Vs East”!! With the finely developed West’s Distribution of Information all over the world against a still developing China. Just another “power play” by those “bullies” who want something from China and holding the Olympics hostage – “If you want a peaceful Olympic, you better do what we say …”.
“Countries have always boycotted the Olympics when it was in their political interests to do so. America and the West boycotted the Moscow Olympics when the Russians invaded Afghanistan. Then the Soviet bloc states boycotted the Los Angeles Games in retaliation. China completely boycotted the Olympics from 1948 to 1976, because of Taiwan’s participation in the games. In 1979, the International Olympic Committee, under pressure from China, declared that Taiwan athletes could only participate as representatives of “Chinese Taipei”, and not Republic of China or Taiwan. If this isn’t politicizing the Olympics, what is?”
http://www.jamyangnorbu.com/
now it doesn’t want to be politicized because that fits CCP`s agenda? When is this bullying stop? They talk about biased Western Media, what about it`s own China Daily? 100% censored ?
#14 Dave has a point and China has its faults, but I side with the “underdog” when it comes to deliberate slandering with US conspirators England, France, Germany, and Japan all ganging up on a country that is trying to develop on the right path. The West has already brainwashed their masses into believing that the Dalai Lama’s a “living God” character – all they need to do is create an incident/riot and blame everything on the Chinese. What is not right is the collusion these developed countries have taken to embarrass a country of proud people and expect something good to come out of it for themselves – this is not good for the anyone and underscores how dangerous the Bush Docrine is today.