Beijing 2008: A Triumph for Human Rights Abusers Everywhere (Part 2)

In my last article I discussed China’s legacy of human rights abuses up to on July 14, 2001, when the Olympic Committee agreed to have Beijing be the sight for the 2008 Summer Olympics

By Ccandysuzie

Following that decision, German Interior Minister Otto Schily stated, “I am convinced that the Olympic games will have a positive effect on China’s democratic development.”

My dearest Otto, sorry to disappoint you, if anything, preparations for the Olympics are only increasing human rights violations in China.

In my last article, I introduced Freedom House’s measures of democratic freedom as a tool of comparative politics. (based on a 7 point scale with 7 being totalitarian and 1 signifying fully democratic) This measure is also a helpful tool when looking at a single state’s record over the course of several years.

China’s Freedom House ranking in 2001, was 7 for Political Rights and 6 for Civil Liberties, in 2008 it remains the same.

In 2007, moreover, in an effort to stabilize Chinese society, the country’s restrictions against media were tightened and human rights activists, civil rights lawyers, and other dissidents were detained.

Housing

In order to construct Olympic facilities, approximately 1.5million residents will be evicted by the beginning of the Olympics.

The Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), notes that such housing evictions are often carried out using brute force and usually end in the total demolition of the houses. The forced relocation of these individuals often moves them further away from their jobs and social centers meaning that their transportation costs increase, which, if you’re already poor, is no joke.

One such example is Sun Rou Yu, whose restaurant unforgivably is in the path of the Olympic marathon trail. She told the BBC,

“They follow me wherever I go – even to the hospital […] “I tell them: ‘You’re violating my human rights, now you’re harassing the people I speak to.’”

Right to Water

Beijing has a water problem. In 2004, water resources per capita (person) are less than 300 m3/ person. The recognized lowest level of the world average per capita is 1000 m3. Ok so Beijing has a MAJOR water problem.

The demand for water with Beijing during the Olympics is projected to be 30% more than average.

This has placed a tremendous toll upon the surrounding provinces. In Chicheng county, farmers may only grow corn—it uses less water than rice or other vegetables but it also is worth less. The government has offered $30 in compensation but, as the AP reports, farmers say that not everyone received it.

Hebei province, another local supplier of water, is currently facing intense drought. It is still being asked to provide an additional 300m3 of to Beijing for the Olympics. Already, 33,000 km of farmland has been affected by the drought and a quarter of a million residents lack enough drinking water.

Pollution

The Olympics Committee has pressured the Chinese government to reduce pollution before the games stating that it is concerned for the players’ health.

In response to this, the Chinese government ordered the five provinces surrounding Beijing to reduce industrial activity for two months before the games. The capital city Beijing and nearby Tianjin will also reduce car use by drastically restricting private car use leading up to the Olympics.

If this sounds like a great triumph for environmental rights, take a minute and think about what this really means:

1. People who commute into work using their own cars will be incredibly hampered.

2. A reduction in industrial activity means the potential for job layoffs

3. Moreover, such a solution merely ensures a superficial compliance to pollution regulations. It does nothing to east the plight of the average Chinese person. Note that such pollution-reducing measures will only occur in the region around Beijing.

Perhaps the Olympic Committee had grandiose visions that hosting the Olympic Games, dedicated as it is to international harmony, would have a positive effect upon the harsh Chinese government.

What little good this will do in the long run is far outweighed by the harm being done right now.

Stay tuned: for the final part of this trilogy, we’ll examine China’s impact upon international human rights.