I"TALIAN ATHLETES CUT HAIR FOR TIBET
(ANSA) - Rome, July 17 - Italian athletes gearing up to
take part at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are cutting off
locks of their hair to show their solidarity with Tibet's
fight for independence from China.
Among those who have already picked up the scissors for
the 'A Wisp for Tibet' campaign is Olympic champion canoer
Antonio Rossi, who will carry the Italian flag at the opening
ceremony.
On a video posted on YouTube, Rossi is also shown
cutting a lock of armpit hair from bald teammate Luca
Piemonte, while another national kayaker, Alice Fagioli,
chops off two centimetres from her ponytail.
''We'll send all the locks collected to the Chinese
consulate,'' said Wisp campaign organiser Cinzia Pedrizzetti.
''It's an act that reminds people of the Tibetan monks, who
shave their heads completely to show that they have abandoned
material things,'' she added.
''We wanted to involve the athletes to show that the
sporting world supports peace, and that it's not true that
nobody is taking notice of the situation in Tibet''.
But Rossi was keen to point out that his participation
in the campaign was ''not political'', explaining that it was
a means of supporting Tibet without attacking China.
''Before and after the Olympics it's right to talk about
these issues, but during the Games athletes must concentrate
on athletics,'' he said.
''It's not fair to weigh them down with political
issues that should be resolved by politicians''.
Rossi, 39, has already taken part in four Olympic Games
winning a total of five medals, three of them gold, while in
the kayak world championships he has won three gold medals,
three silvers and one bronze medal.
China's crackdown in March on a Buddhist-monk-led
uprising in Tibet, which China invaded in 1950, has sparked
international calls for a boycott of this summer's Olympic
Games in Beijing.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Thursday
that the Olympics are ''a great sporting event'' that the
government did not want to ''politicise''.

Photo: Antonio Rossi.

KYG
17-LUG-08 19:12 NNNN"

I'm glad these atheletes are recognizing China's poor human rights' record with Tibet. it showers shame on those foreign leaders for their inaction, such as um, er, President Bush?

On the other hand, is Rossi being naive in saying he isn't politicizing the Olympics? After all, he and his fellow Italians are standing in alliance with the Tibetian monks by sending locks to Chinese leaders. If that's not a political statement, what is?

Can politics be truly excised from such an international venue?

I"TALIAN ATHLETES CUT HAIR FOR TIBET
(ANSA) - Rome, July 17 - Italian athletes gearing up to
take part at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics are cutting off
locks of their hair to show their solidarity with Tibet's
fight for independence from China.
Among those who have already picked up the scissors for
the 'A Wisp for Tibet' campaign is Olympic champion canoer
Antonio Rossi, who will carry the Italian flag at the opening
ceremony.
On a video posted on YouTube, Rossi is also shown
cutting a lock of armpit hair from bald teammate Luca
Piemonte, while another national kayaker, Alice Fagioli,
chops off two centimetres from her ponytail.
''We'll send all the locks collected to the Chinese
consulate,'' said Wisp campaign organiser Cinzia Pedrizzetti.
''It's an act that reminds people of the Tibetan monks, who
shave their heads completely to show that they have abandoned
material things,'' she added.
''We wanted to involve the athletes to show that the
sporting world supports peace, and that it's not true that
nobody is taking notice of the situation in Tibet''.
But Rossi was keen to point out that his participation
in the campaign was ''not political'', explaining that it was
a means of supporting Tibet without attacking China.
''Before and after the Olympics it's right to talk about
these issues, but during the Games athletes must concentrate
on athletics,'' he said.
''It's not fair to weigh them down with political
issues that should be resolved by politicians''.
Rossi, 39, has already taken part in four Olympic Games
winning a total of five medals, three of them gold, while in
the kayak world championships he has won three gold medals,
three silvers and one bronze medal.
China's crackdown in March on a Buddhist-monk-led
uprising in Tibet, which China invaded in 1950, has sparked
international calls for a boycott of this summer's Olympic
Games in Beijing.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Thursday
that the Olympics are ''a great sporting event'' that the
government did not want to ''politicise''.

Photo: Antonio Rossi.

KYG
17-LUG-08 19:12 NNNN"

I'm glad these atheletes are recognizing China's poor human rights' record with Tibet. it showers shame on those foreign leaders for their inaction, such as um, er, President Bush?

On the other hand, is Rossi being naive in saying he isn't politicizing the Olympics? After all, he and his fellow Italians are standing in alliance with the Tibetian monks by sending locks to Chinese leaders. If that's not a political statement, what is?

Can politics be truly excised from such an international venue?


1stly, Sports and Politics should not mix especially with Olympic Games being mentioned here..

but we cannot stop people especially athletes to have their own say in politics right?

China's poor human rights record? To some extent, they do but why only look at China when even in the US human rights abuses does occur all the time?
*Note : Guantanamo, Positive discrimination of the black people, double standards policy on palestine while supporting israelians...

1stly, Sports and Politics should not mix especially with Olympic Games being mentioned here..

but we cannot stop people especially athletes to have their own say in politics right?

China's poor human rights record? To some extent, they do but why only look at China when even in the US human rights abuses does occur all the time?
*Note : Guantanamo, Positive discrimination of the black people, double standards policy on palestine while supporting israelians...

I so agree that my home country has one of the shoddiest records of human rights abuse, stretching back to the slaughter of Native Americans by invading Europeans. Certainly a thread should be started regarding human rights violations around the world, including Italy and the United States. (Villa, where are you when we need you?)

But since this particular thread does deal with Italian athletes empathizing with Tibetian monks, the focus is on China.

You can start the human rights thread yourself Stefanie - PS there was a news from ANSA yesterday that talked about abuse at the G8 meeting - ....I will start the thread
I tend to agree with Ronald however that the Olympics should be left out of politics - Too many times states used the Olympics as a tool -

You can start the human rights thread yourself Stefanie - PS there was a news from ANSA yesterday that talked about abuse at the G8 meeting - ....I will start the thread
I tend to agree with Ronald however that the Olympics should be left out of politics - Too many times states used the Olympics as a tool -

Are you referring to the G* meeting in Genova in 2001..

in TG2, they ran a documentary on it and it was really brutal, especially when the police uses the baton to dispersed protesters...and imagine raiding a school!

yes paolo, start the thread

I had the same reaction stephanie. The Olympics is supposed to be the one non-political venue for nations to come together in peace. I do admire the sentiment behind the gesture though. Certainly, independence for Tibet is a worthy cause.

Don't want to talk about politics...
There are some misunderstandings between China and the West, maybe the real history of Tibet is quite different from what you think of.
We shall not just believe what we are told.

Don't want to talk about politics...
There are some misunderstandings between China and the West, maybe the real history of Tibet is quite different from what you think of.
We shall not just believe what we are told.

I can see why no one would want to talk about politics - I see that as being akin to want to swim through a bog. In a word: Ugh. But can we truly escape it on an international scale? Should we turn away, pretend it's not happening? (I don't have the answer, btw, just the question.)

I agree we should never "just believe" what we are told, that 'questioning the answer' is our right, and our duty, something I think we don't do enough of. (And can be afraid of.)

You make mention of the "real history" of Tibet. Did you want to start a new thread with this intriguing teaser?

I so agree that my home country has one of the shoddiest records of human rights abuse, stretching back to the slaughter of Native Americans by invading Europeans. Certainly a thread should be started regarding human rights violations around the world, including Italy and the United States. (Villa, where are you when we need you?)
But since this particular thread does deal with Italian athletes empathizing with Tibetian monks, the focus is on China.


"The character of the Bush administration is such that the U.S. delegation to the United Nations will --
in practice -- indignantly refuse to recognize a single standard of human rights whenever such a standard
would put the U.S. record in a negative light," said Solomon, author of the recently-released book 'War Made
Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death."

The U.S.-based Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute at the University of California in Berkeley has detailed
some 180 alleged human rights violations by the United States, including 11 types of violations of individual
rights and 19 types of violations of government duties.

These violations include enforcement of the Patriot Act, and also allegations of killings, torture, detentions
and other "inhuman treatment" in Afghanistan and Iraq, and at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad
and the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Watch the movie "The Great Debaters" with Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker for a little bit of the history
of how Black Americans were treated in the U.S. It's based on a true story.
"A poor black man steals a chickern and he goes to jail. A rich white man steals a money bond and he goes to Congress."

Do a search on the Trail of Tears to see how Native Americans were treated unfairly by the U.S. government.

The U.S. has had a history of so called "Sundown Towns" that kept out blacks (and sometimes other groups)
((had to be out by 6:00 P.M.) for decades. Believe it or not this is still going on today in some places.

"The character of the Bush administration is such that the U.S. delegation to the United Nations will --
in practice -- indignantly refuse to recognize a single standard of human rights whenever such a standard
would put the U.S. record in a negative light," said Solomon, author of the recently-released book 'War Made
Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death."

The U.S.-based Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute at the University of California in Berkeley has detailed
some 180 alleged human rights violations by the United States, including 11 types of violations of individual
rights and 19 types of violations of government duties.

These violations include enforcement of the Patriot Act, and also allegations of killings, torture, detentions
and other "inhuman treatment" in Afghanistan and Iraq, and at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad
and the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Watch the movie "The Great Debaters" with Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker for a little bit of the history
of how Black Americans were treated in the U.S. It's based on a true story.
"A poor black man steals a chickern and he goes to jail. A rich white man steals a money bond and he goes to Congress."

Do a search on the Trail of Tears to see how Native Americans were treated unfairly by the U.S. government.

The U.S. has had a history of so called "Sundown Towns" that kept out blacks (and sometimes other groups)
((had to be out by 6:00 P.M.) for decades. Believe it or not this is still going on today in some places.

The USA Why is it such a great country?
After world war 11, all the great minds came to America from Europe. “The Land of Opportunity” and I believe it still is… America was the first country in the World to accept all nationalities to come together and develop the most powerful country in the World. It is a country that still offers its citizens the opportunity to control their own financial destinies. Its total concept is Capitalism “the all mighty dollar”! Hated or Love it... but let us face the reality. The greatest business minds are in America.
We can not make a total judgment on the USA for people who have made the wrong financial decisions, poor planning and blame the Government for their misfortunes. That is a democratic mind set which keeps you poor. The choice of path to financial success has always been in the control of the individual.

@Villa...Life is really not that complicated!

Here is my simply view on Governments in all Countries of the World:
Government is a “Landlord”
Its primary role is to collect taxes (Rent) balance the national budget and distribute the necessary tax funds collected to pay for the operating costs of the Country and at the same time hopefully fulfilling their responsibilities by providing the necessary and adequate national services required for people to be satisfied and live a comfortable life so they can keep their Government “Landlord” position.

The question is how do we break free as Tenants (Citizens) from a Government System acting the role as a “Landlord”? You try to become a “Landlord” and collect your own rent (taxes).
Government, Corporations, Insurance Companies, Banks, Doctors, Lawyers, Scientist, etc... They take their surplus and invest in Real Estate they develop a portfolio. Not only are they owners of companies or professionals they are “Landlords”.
The majority of us have not had the great fortunes of become professionals or company entrepreneurs and are labors, but if you want to break free from any Government System in any Country of the World and really be free and don’t give a shit how Government role plays or effects your life that is what own must try to accomplish! We can not escape from “Taxes or Death” but your only battle in life will become “Greed” and Health.
We just have to sometimes forget about trying to live off Government and step outside their box. All Governments want us to stay in the box and remain poor that how they make their money. The poor and middle class pay most of the taxes. It’s not easy but it can be done...I did it as a construction worker (bricklayer) with a small business college education. Others much smarter than me can make it happen!


@villa in respect to being Canadian/Italian

Canada's health care system is a group of socialized health insurance plans that provides coverage to all Canadian citizens. It is publicly funded and administered on a provincial or territorial basis, within guidelines set by the federal government. It’s not perfect but for the second largest country in the world with only 38 million people the system works. Here is a website and you can compare it to the American Health care systems being offered in the US and make your own judgment.
http://www.canadian-healthcare.org/
Canada Education System
Canada is a world leader in education. Both publicly-funded and private Canadian education institutions are highly regarded in business, government and academic circles around the world. As well, tuition fees in Canada are very competitive when compared to Europe, the United States and Australia — making Canadian education a high quality, affordable choice for international students.
http://www.agentfair.ca/education.html

God Bless America

God bless Italy. God bless the whole world!

I guess this is an example of what kind of bugs me. (Yes I know someone told me not to read posts that ruffle my feathers, but I thought that I was reading about athletes that are making a statement, so here goes...)

This thread was inteded to highlight athletes making a statment with their hair. Which personally, I have no problem with. However, ultametly, I agaree that politics and sports should not mix. So with that said how is it that threads on this fourm have a way of making the ugly slide into critisizm of the U.S., its past, its policies and its president?

I am terrible with computers and so I will have a hard time with the direct quote thing....sorry again y'all.

We need to realize that human rights have been an isseue since time began. Since one group of cave men fought the next group just for survival. Right or wrong that is just the history of this planet. There is not one country, or ethnic group that has ever avoided persecution of one kind or another. Nor has any one ethnic group been inocent of the same crime that was committed against them. Every country that exists today is the direct result of some kind of invsasion and believe it or not...war.

If you would like spcifics, just ask, but I really don't think that it is necessary. If we have read world history at all we should know it. I find it irritating that we keep on pointing out how horrible the policies of the past have been in the U.S.. Yes they have been horrible, but they have been changed.

This country for all of it's faults, should be applauded because instead of hiding our mistakes, we make them public and point out how wrong they were..and then we make an effor to fix them. There is nothing we can do about the past except to forgive those who have offended us and to learn from their mistakes. Unless of course you want to live angry.

Yes, prejudice still exsists...it always has, it always will. It is alive on this forum...I see it every time the isseue of Nothern and Southern Italians comes up...(guess what, I'm Sicilian.) We are all guitly.
No, we as a planet will never all see eye to eye on every topic but it sure would be nice if we could approach topics on an even keel, instead of blasting with full guns afire. We need to be willing to start change where change matters most...in our hearts.

Remember, it you shoot, someone will shoot back, it you give a little honey, you might just attract some (heaven forbid) conversation.

Ciao Theo
Welcome to the forum,
I sorry you feel so much hatred and displeasure towards your Great Country of the USA. At this time, I wish I had a magic wand to eliminate some of the economic struggles Americans are facing. Although, these hard economic times are also shared in most major countries around the world. Americans can not put the total blame on the Bush Republican Administration. You have a democratic congress that is pathetic, with no business solutions for the economy and in reality has prolonged the war in Iraq and at the same time created the largest political divide and most Anti American Sentiment ever around the World by acting hypocritical of the War. Your democratic congress has in fact prevented the stimulation needed in a economic down swing. We must also consider the fact that this Bush Republican Administration has been the most challenged than any other administration in American History. It has had to overcome the financial & economical effects from the Terrorist Attack, “mother nature at its most extreme” and the justified war in Iraq has no effect on the economy's real estate collapse nor should it be their responsiblity. Not even the Canadian or any other government would assist in this situation. Government can not be held responsible for poor speculation or control the bank institutions on who they want to sleep with and pay for there careless prostitution of loans and credit cards.

Quote :After world war 11, all the great minds came to America...according to you Frank. That's hyperbole, Frank. There are great minds all over the world; they can't possibly all come to the US. Ernest Rutherford, perhaps a greater scientist than Einstein never came to the US. That's just one example.

The list is too long for me to post but before the war many wealthy and intelligent Europeans fled Europe to America.


Quote: HOW MUCH IS THE CANANDIAN MINIMUM WAGE OR DO YOU HAVE A MINIMUM WAGE? HOW MANY CANADIANS WORK FOR AS LITTLE AS $2.55 AN HOUR?

Min wage on average in Canada is 8.00 but we pay the most taxes per capta than any other country in the world average home property taxes is 3000 per year. These monies also go towards a federal Health Care System besides our pay deductions and for the reconstruction of our national infrastructure. An average 2000 sqft home sells for 350,000. Its also very expensive to live in most major cities in Canada. Like the USA, Both husband and wife must work in order to make ends meet 80,000 per year is required to live a middle class life. Like the US we are really not a Unified Country from one coast to the other but we don’t have such a wide range of law and tax structures as do all your States, This I agree must be changed in the US and also your health care system, thats if the two political parties can finally come to an agreement.

Its still the greatest country in the World! Cheer up.. when McCain and the Repbulicans win in Sept things will get better. :D

I guess this is an example of what kind of bugs me. (Yes I know someone told me not to read posts that ruffle my feathers, but I thought that I was reading about athletes that are making a statement, so here goes...)

This thread was inteded to highlight athletes making a statment with their hair. Which personally, I have no problem with. However, ultametly, I agaree that politics and sports should not mix. So with that said how is it that threads on this fourm have a way of making the ugly slide into critisizm of the U.S., its past, its policies and its president?

I am terrible with computers and so I will have a hard time with the direct quote thing....sorry again y'all.

We need to realize that human rights have been an isseue since time began. Since one group of cave men fought the next group just for survival. Right or wrong that is just the history of this planet. There is not one country, or ethnic group that has ever avoided persecution of one kind or another. Nor has any one ethnic group been inocent of the same crime that was committed against them. Every country that exists today is the direct result of some kind of invsasion and believe it or not...war.

If you would like spcifics, just ask, but I really don't think that it is necessary. If we have read world history at all we should know it. I find it irritating that we keep on pointing out how horrible the policies of the past have been in the U.S.. Yes they have been horrible, but they have been changed.

This country for all of it's faults, should be applauded because instead of hiding our mistakes, we make them public and point out how wrong they were..and then we make an effor to fix them. There is nothing we can do about the past except to forgive those who have offended us and to learn from their mistakes. Unless of course you want to live angry.

Yes, prejudice still exsists...it always has, it always will. It is alive on this forum...I see it every time the isseue of Nothern and Southern Italians comes up...(guess what, I'm Sicilian.) We are all guitly.
No, we as a planet will never all see eye to eye on every topic but it sure would be nice if we could approach topics on an even keel, instead of blasting with full guns afire. We need to be willing to start change where change matters most...in our hearts.

Remember, it you shoot, someone will shoot back, it you give a little honey, you might just attract some (heaven forbid) conversation.

Twila, welcome to the thread and thank you for sharing your thoughts. So many powerful statements here. I took the liberty of bolding my fave. And don't worry about the computers. They tease and taunt with every keystroke but you'll get the hang of it. (I did! ;))

(Regarding what's happening to the conversation here, it's called a 'derail', as in how a train can hit bumps and jump the tracks. Well, this dialogue (I hope it's still a dialogue) has kinda taken off in a new direction. Maybe we can get it back on its original track?)

Like you and others have said, I wish sports would just remain clean of all other distractions, whether they be political or personal. I don't think a player's nationality, their party affiliation, their steroid use or their impending divorce should enter into the game. But nothing's that pure, is it?

Are sports legitimate venues for making statements? Is it a statement when a Cuban baseball player defects to America? Is it a statement when America beats Russia in hockey, and then makes a feel-good movie about it? When Israeli athletes are slaughtered by terrorists? When Iraqui athletes are turned away?

Are sports - especially the Olympics - ever just about the game anymore? (And was it ever?)

stephaniealexis8
Thanks! It is just after 5am and I am nursing my frist cup of coffee so please forgive me if my details are fuzzy.

As far back as I can remember, people have been using what ever platform they are given to make what ever statement is important to them. If I get a little time this weekend I might just look up some good examples. (I work a lot)

The olympic games should be, but have never been just about sport. There for a while just allowing certian nationalities to participate was a bold statment. Off hand in my morning fog, Jim Thorpe(sp?) comes to mind. What a hero he was to so many Native Americans and others.

It is unfortunate that we can't all just play the game. Sometiems I wonder though if maybe God gives us a platform so that we can use it. A peaceful demonstration, done in good taste, might not effect a change today, but in a few years it might do just that. (I hope that I'm making sence...I think I need more coffee)

It is unfortunate that we can't all just play the game. Sometiems I wonder though if maybe God gives us a platform so that we can use it. A peaceful demonstration, done in good taste, might not effect a change today, but in a few years it might do just that. (I hope that I'm making sence...I think I need more coffee)

lol, you're making perfect sense to me, Twila, but then, I'm already on my second cup. :)

So I wonder if putting aside our political feelings 'in the name of the game' isn't really just denial. I mean, if I truly believe a country is in gross violation of human rights (and yes, I include my home country of The United States) should I gift that country with all the attention - and money - that the Olympics bring? :confused:

I think that ultimately it might be good for China. Not just in a monetary way, think about how encouraging it will be to all of the people who are being miss treated, that for a brief period, everyone will be paying attention to them. You know with out doubt that human rights in China will be a major topic of discussion in every free country. And China in order to 'save face' will have to allow every opinion to participate, hair cuts and all. In a way they will be forced to allow freedom of speech weather they like it or not. Who knows what will come of it?

I think that ultimately it might be good for China. Not just in a monetary way, think about how encouraging it will be to all of the people who are being miss treated, that for a brief period, everyone will be paying attention to them. You know with out doubt that human rights in China will be a major topic of discussion in every free country. And China in order to 'save face' will have to allow every opinion to participate, hair cuts and all. In a way they will be forced to allow freedom of speech weather they like it or not. Who knows what will come of it?

I think this is a great point-of-view, to use positive actions to help foster change. Will it happen? Who knows, but hopefully it's a good start...

Let's keep our eyes on what develops and see.

I come from a family of athletes. My father (my greatest inspiration btw) always said that you never practice today for tomorrow, a great athlete practices today for next year. In other words change takes time. Anyway lets watch and see.

I think this is a great point-of-view, to use positive actions to help foster change. Will it happen? Who knows, but hopefully it's a good start...

BAD START :(


The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a ban on Iraq from competing in the Beijing Games in a major blow to seven Iraqi athletes who had hoped to travel to China.

"Those who misled the government and gave incorrect information to the Iraqi government will be beholden to history - they will be the responsible for denying Iraqi athletes the chance to participate internationally." :confused:

What effect does this decision have with respect to the humans right issue notably that the games are being held in China? :eek:

BAD START :(


The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a ban on Iraq from competing in the Beijing Games in a major blow to seven Iraqi athletes who had hoped to travel to China.

"Those who misled the government and gave incorrect information to the Iraqi government will be beholden to history - they will be the responsible for denying Iraqi athletes the chance to participate internationally." :confused:

What effect does this decision have with respect to the humans right issue notably that the games are being held in China? :eek:

A good question. Can you provide any link or at least details to the story?

BAD START :(

The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a ban on Iraq from competing in the Beijing Games in a major blow to seven Iraqi athletes who had hoped to travel to China.

"Those who misled the government and gave incorrect information to the Iraqi government will be beholden to history - they will be the responsible for denying Iraqi athletes the chance to participate internationally." :confused:

What effect does this decision have with respect to the humans right issue notably that the games are being held in China? :eek:

Frank, The Iraqis were banned because the Iraq government got rid of the committee appointed by the IOC and replaced them with people not approved by the IOC in Iraq. The 4 athletes are now made to suffer because of the actions of their government. The IOC had offered to negotiate with the Iraqis to find a solution for this problem and the Iraq government ignored the requests.

Here is a link to the story about the Iraqi ban.
http://www.comcast.net/olympics/story.asp?i=20080724164530440000101&ref=hea&tm=&src=OLYMPICS_PREMIUM

Frank, The Iraqis were banned because the Iraq government got rid of the committee appointed by the IOC and replaced them with people not approved by the IOC in Iraq. The 4 athletes are now made to suffer because of the actions of their government. The IOC had offered to negotiate with the Iraqis to find a solution for this problem and the Iraq government ignored the requests.

I pity the athletes!
all those days of training and hard work and then be told BANNED from competing in Olympics...
i am sure these athletes symbolizes something to the normal Iragi people..maybe peace, hope to a better life of maybe the feeling of not being in war...

Just saw on the news the Iraqi athletes are back in the Olympics. Non e vero?

E vero, Villa. I am happy to see it. Here is a link to an article about it. http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/story/8392354/IOC-reverses-ban,-says-Iraq-can-go-to-Olympics