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I Won’t Watch The Olympics
A Petition - 313 pledged

In the US we can see protests on TV all the time. If we live in metropolitan areas we may even see them on our own streets. Some of us are annoyed by them, some are disrupted by them, most of us are completely desensitized to the violent images of protesters clashing with law enforcement.

However, no measure of desensitization prepares you for images of Tibetan Monks being fired on while engaging in peaceful protest of the Chinese government. Nothing prepares you for the news reports of protestors being burned to death. As I watched those images I was both shocked and outraged.

As I tried to make sense of what I was seeing I found the Dalai Lama’s press conference on March 16 responding to media questions regarding the violent response to the protests. He did call for an international investigation. He did refer to it as genocide. However, what he didn’t do was rage, or threaten, or lose his place of emotional center.

So, after watching all hour and fifteen minutes of that press conference I decided if the Dalai Lama can keep his composure, and stay focused on solutions, so can I. With that it made a solemn and solid decision that I will not watch a Chinese sponsored Olympic games. I cannot support that government’s feeble attempt to bolster its public image while at the same time gunning down monks on the streets and burning protesters alive.

Please join me. Please sign our electronic petition below so we can let advertisers know that collectively we will not watch those games. Our goal is one million signatures. Let’s follow the Dalai Lama’s example and stay calm, but let’s also leverage capitalism and hit ‘em where it hurts….the pocketbook.

Peace,

Lisa

I DECLARE THAT I WILL NOT WATCH THE OLYMPICS HOSTED BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, AND I WANT THE MEDIA TO KNOW.

After you have added your name to this petition an e-mail will be sent to the given address to confirm your signature. Please make sure that your e-mail address is correct or you will not receive this e-mail and your name will not be counted.

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  • Mary DeFranco,
    "Human rights come before olympic games. Not only will I not watch the olympics, I will boycott the sponsors"
  • Kay,
    "Toxic manufacturers! Surpressing, Lying Government! DIRTY COUNTRY FOR ATHLETES!"
  • bettina ruepp,
    "we can't wait that someone change something, it must something be changed by us!"
  • Tom Phillips
  • Ken Hayashi,
    "China is wrong."
  • Gary Meddick
  • Sam Jung,
    "I love watching the Olympic Games too. But as painful as it is for me not to watch, I cannot do so in good conscience when I know of China's appalling behavior."
  • Zack Rizzo
  • Michael Murphree,
    "Screw the Chinese Government "
  • Tamás Kincses,
    "I will not watch the 2008 Olympic Games. Boycott the sponsors!"
  • Abby V.,
    "One world, one dream?"
  • Sarah Nelson
  • Frank Wang,
    "Instead of boycotting the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, I would advocate all people in the free world to refuse watching the Beijing Olympic. "
  • ??,
    "Those who have never come to China never have any say in defaming our country ,our people and our Party.So adult people should come and see instead of believing what you hear.As a Chinese college student ,that's what all I want to say to the world."
  • Dennis Sein
  • Thomas Myers,
    "Screw China, I'm not watching their "sham" olympics. Free Tibet first."
  • Gethin Jenkins,
    "China has a rich history and culture that the present government doesn't deserve."
  • vaani kapoor
  • Régis Guyonnet,
    ""China too crowded""
  • Megan Merchant
  • chris lynch,
    "THE CHINA OLYMPICS RESEMBLES THE 1936 GERMAN/NAZI OLYMPICS.THINK ABOUT IT."
  • Johnny B. Goode
  • Philip Heacock,
    "By not watching you strike the Chinese government in the two spots that they are the most vulnerable, their image and their pocket book."
  • Momo Hamamori
  • Linda Faigen,
    "Some people who sign this don't watch the Olympics anyway. But I do. I love the Olympics. But this time, I'm not going to participate in China profiting from them"
  • Tero Karvinen,
    "I will not watch a second of the olympic games nor will I spend a cent on the sponsors' product."
  • Kathy Heacock,
    "Besides their treatment of the Tibetan people, China has been tearing down whole villages of their own people to build Olympic venues, leaving them homeless. Dreadful."
  • cactus_spiky
  • Randy Martin
  • Dr. Shaker B. Srinivasan,
    "Please read Hu Jia and Teng Biao's letter, The Real china and the Olympics, available for download here: http://hrw.org/pub/2008/asia/teng_biao080220.pdf. "
  • Simon Patrick,
    "The promises made are not being kept, every time I hear the word "Olympic" I feel only shame. The flame was extinguished in Paris by the Chinese organisers. It remains extinguished for me."
  • Ryuuji Maeda
  • Janet Heierbacher,
    "human rights come before olympic games. i think its obvious..."
  • ajfoster,
    "Free Tibet!"
  • Frenette D.
  • G Martinello
  • Scott K,
    "Not only will I not watch the olympics, I will boycott the sponsors."
  • Doug Nixon,
    "The Olympics are "games". China's treatment of people is not a game. I will not be watching. "
  • lee baldwin
  • edward lin
  • Émile Cadieux,
    "La situation en Chine est tout simplement inacceptable à l'égard des droits de l'homme"
  • nol
  • Carlos Perez,
    "China both blows and sucks, and I never thought that was physically possible. (good one Bart Simpson)"
  • Katja Braeuer
  • Osmo hjjmp,
    "What a great site!Thank you compare trading software forex"
  • Victoria Hall
  • Niamh Breheny,
    "I think that the EU should look to it's population and understand that many people would be more then happy to miss out on this Olympics so as to give coverage to things that China is involved in that are against Human Rights"
  • Nelly Guerra,
    "Totally in agreement with this position."
  • Michela
  • Monica Martinez
  • Renée G. Gagnon
  • Vincent Peerlinck
  • Antony Masters,
    "I'm appalled by the Chinese government's disregard for human life, also appalled at the lack of a back bone of the British Government in not stopping the torch run in London."
  • kayne Jansen,
    "It's sad but everyone needs to start taking responsibility - including athletes; it'd be good to see them step up to the real challenge."
  • Ruth Witte
  • Pan Yan,
    "Does anyone of you know what's happening in Tibet, Has anyone of you been to Tibet? Opening your eyes, stop fooling yourself......"
  • Hannah Lee
  • Romain Philippon
  • Thomas Graham
  • yolanda garcia,
    "I just would like to say to my coleges that they have power to say know, would you imaging no one media going over there? we would teach them how to respect human beings..."
  • Guy Dee
  • Nicky Davies
  • Tony Young,
    "The games are becoming a joke anyway. Too much money, politics and drugs have ruined the ideals. The Chinese agression is the last straw."
  • Randall Barish,
    "I won't waste my time watching this media farce which is just a promotion and photo op for the thugs who brought us the Tienanamen Square bloodbath and the Rape of Tibet. "
  • Victoria John,
    "..not watching & not purchasing any products produced by international sponsors...for Facebookers, a list is here:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35841465130"
  • Kurt Henderson,
    "on top of not watching, any product with the "proud supporter / sponser of the 2008 olympics" will go unpurchased by me as well. Olympic games are about freedom, not oppression."
  • rahul patil
  • Thomas Beck,
    "there should be peace not violence "
  • Kermit Walden,
    "Boycott the Chinese period!"
  • Benjamin Wagner
  • rhiannon murgatroyd
  • Tenzing G,
    "I'm appalled by the Chinese government's disregard for human life, human rights and freedom. They are fully deserving of a boycott."
  • Jigme,
    "I love sports but I will not watch this BLOODY Olympics in China. FREE TIBET "
  • Max Siekierski,
    "The human race is more important than any 100 meter dash."
  • Daniel Owen,
    "They were given the olympics on the condition that they improved their human rights record, they didn't honour the agreement."
  • Tsering Dolma,
    "I am boycotting this genocide Olympics to show my support for human rights and freedom in Tibet! FREE TIBET!!! "
  • Namtran Nguyen
  • Marco Curcio,
    "Free Tibet!"
  • Tom Jurstrom,
    "I will miss the javelin competition."
  • francesca varasano,
    "tibet libero!"
  • Alice R. Keiser,
    "Join in the boycott of the Chinese, their games and their corporate sponsors."
  • William Keiser,
    "Boycott the Chinese, the 2008 genocide olympics & their corporate sponsors. And be sure to let them know you are!"
  • Malcorps Caroline
  • Florian Wagner,
    "i won't watch the olympics in china! humantiy frist! to all: please visit http://nolympia.wordpress.com and get engaged! thanks."
  • Weber Jup,
    "no tv watch, no quota for the tv channels, no money from the advertising industry, no more interest from business, and the whole commercial build up for the games collapses"
  • Gabriel Freyria,
    "China is the biggest troglodite our generación has, and will ever see If we dont act now it will affect every country! DONT WATCH THE OLYMPICS, DONT BUY ANYTHING CHINESSE!"
  • Fátima Alvarado
  • Robert Szabo,
    "Enough. Tibet deserves better."
  • Tenkila J,
    "Free Tibet!"
  • Philip Malcorps,
    "No TV, No comercials, No money ! Pas de TV, pas de pubs, pas d'argent !"
  • misha
  • MARY RUTH PETERSEN
  • HervéSimonet,
    "Justice will prevazil : as Buddhists say, everything that has a beginning as a hand....including barbary."
  • Pierre Simonet,
    "Justice one day will prevail and as an Arabic saying goes : 'sooner or later the highest tree wille fall'."
  • Jaocb Beaty,
    "Free Tibet"
  • Roslyn Alexander,
    "I am disgusted by the inhumane manner the Chinese try to over throw a gentle people for 50 years"
  • Nathalie Tanguay
  • Courtney Maness
  • Rod Culp
  • Nicholas Candaele
  • michelle
  • Annabella Spagnut
  • Patti Robertson
  • Rod Fleming
  • Chisako Tsujino
  • Sheila Goddard
  • Hans Meyer,
    "Everyone should sign and honor this!"
  • irene sobkin
  • janet king,
    "the whole situation is appalling and the Chinese should feel ashamed."
  • Erica Scagliotti,
    "Business should not trump human rights, and China has proven that their assertion that the Olympics would improve human rights is false. The opposite is true."
  • Rae Bilash,
    "I am appalled that that China and the rest of us who would watch the olympics would smile and pretend that all is good when it is so obviously not. "
  • jeffrey paijmans,
    "Even the sporters train years for their medals, but will consider their medalls not so valueable. because there are more imortant things in life and it are these things things taht are happening right there in China."
  • Cori d'Ambrumenil
  • June Swadron
  • Daniel Barre,
    "The Dark Dragon will fall!"
  • Lidija Martinovic
  • Filomena Ruggiero,
    "Their medals are worthless as far as I'm concerned. There is nothing more important than peoples' most basic human rights."
  • Kim Leslie
  • Nicole Chan
  • Zorro
  • Jaia Friesen,
    "Freedom for All..."
  • marco de la barrera
  • Aimi Primus
  • chanchal cabrera
  • Elyse Cregar,
    "I think the Chinese government's treatment of the Tibetan people is outrageous. Thank you for taking steps to address this serious human rights issue."
  • rhonda donnelly
  • Sheena Anderson,
    "China is a bully and all the world leaders are allowing the bully to continue its oppressive rule. I will not watch the Olympic Games in China and I will not buy Chinese products. "
  • mike johnson,
    "'there is no god higher than truth' -mahatma gandhi"
  • Sarah Duncan
  • Troy Turi
  • Saundra Thomas,
    "I choose not to put economic/entertainment considerations over human life. I can't continue to pretend"
  • Jane Charles,
    "Free Tibet now. Allow all human beings to live in peace. All countries should withdraw their commitment to attend these Olympics until the Chinese agree to allow Tibet to have autonomy and freedom of speech and religion."
  • Barb Franklin
  • Karethe Linaae
  • Connie Maute,
    "I will not watch the Olympics hosted by China. Not with the way they treat other humans and infiltrate our shelves with poisonous goods."
  • Freyda Isaacs,
    "Wouldn't it be refreshing / revolutionary if everyone just told the truth? "
  • claude gignac,
    "c'est une vraie honte!!!!"
  • Gavin Stairs,
    "May all humans awaken. May all beings cease suffering."
  • Penn Kemp,
    "If only we could emulate the Dalai Lama's composure and courage... Yes, and boycott Chinese goods. "
  • Pamela Graham
  • syra cowin
  • JessAnn Smith
  • Matthew Richards
  • Gary Bauder
  • Chris Fritzen,
    "No country perpetrating such horrendous human-rights abuses should be granted the privilege of hosting the Olympics"
  • Edward Smith
  • Eric Fauque,
    "Shame on any one who watches the olympics in 2008"
  • Anna Zach,
    "If I were an olympic athlete I would NOT participate in the Olympics in China!!!"
  • Robert Hegyes,
    "Isn't the Bank Of China the institution that holds nearly the entire debt/deficit of the USA? To buy oil from Saudi Arabia? Hummmm..."
  • Jaime De La Barrera,
    "I will not watch the olympic games and I will boicot whoever sponsors this charade JDLB"
  • J.Christian Gagnon,
    "Vive les humains libres !"
  • John Thompson,
    "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha !"
  • Skye Frank
  • Nan Wright
  • dianne korchynski
  • Bill Dougherty
  • Rachel Clark,
    "We are all one. Please embrace true peace."
  • Chris Caudill,
    "I urge all to avoid Chinese products too!"
  • Sarah B
  • Ann Dougherty,
    "It is time to FREE TIBET and stop all repressive tactics."
  • brennan
  • Amber Wade
  • james a. foster,
    "The olympics is being used as propoganda. I'll watch high school basketball first."
  • Guru Dorje
  • Jessica Turner
  • Jerry Gordon,
    "China represses Tibet and controls the Chinese people's and world's access to accurate news, revealing China's contempt for human rights. I will boycott products of Olympic advertisers unless they use their power to make China be responsible."
  • Jon Henson
  • Eileen Lynx
  • andrew wells,
    "all peoples deserve the simple freedom to live happily and on their own terms"
  • Soo
  • nicole martin,
    "wtf!?"
  • modamageo,
    "Down with the war machine!!"
  • Jonathan Williams
  • Kristen Miller
  • maripa Grieve,
    "it abut time the international community realises what is and has been happening in Tibet"
  • darcy henderson
  • Nancy Clemens,
    "We as freedom loving people cannot tolerate the cultural genocide of the Tibetan people."
  • Trudi Maaskant
  • Linda Bassingthwaighte,
    "I will not watch the Chinese Olympics. The Chinese government's repressive and violent campaign against the Tibetian protestors cannot be tolerated."
  • Nancy Brown ,
    "There is no way I will have anything to do with the olympics given the situation in China/Tibet. Please lets have communication, compromise. May all beings have happiness, joy , compassion and equinimity. "
  • Carly McMacken
  • Susan Brown
  • misty barros
  • Chris Fortune,
    "I'm not certain answering punishment with punishment is what's needed here. My highest wish would be to see the entire world arrive in China, and do a massive group meditation generating waves of Loving Kindness. OM MA NI PE ME HUM"
  • Chantal Dery
  • Deanna Wells,
    "Bill said it best: "The Olympics are all about achieving our highest potential as humans. This aspiration should begin with human rights. Any country who does not honor that committment should not be honored with an audience on the world stage." "
  • dale voss,
    "China should put their money where their guns are and realize the actions of this crackdown has possibly more ramifications than Tienamen did given their place in the world today. I will not watch Olympics orbuy anything from SmallMart."
  • Carol Mathison
  • Brian Gardner
  • Janet Pinkham,
    "I will alos boycott any products made in China at Walmart or any other store, until the Tibetan's are liberated. I urge others to stop buying Chinese products of any kind."
  • Bill Wells,
    "The Olympics are all about achieving our highest potential as humans. This aspiration should begin with human rights. Any country who does not honor that committment should not be honored with an audience on the world stage."
  • Bridget MacKenzie,
    "i will not be watching"
  • Malika
  • Phil Druker,
    "The Chinese are wonderful people, but they suffer with bad leaders."
  • Lori Batina,
    "The Olympic Games are a symbol of peace between nations. For the Chinese to host these games while engaging in a violent campaign against basic human freedoms is an outrage and a horrible insult to all the athletes and their supporters around the world."
  • Penny Joy
  • c Benson,
    "totally inappropriate behavior. I will not be watching."
  • Patricia Maarhuis
  • GARY BAUDER
  • Stacey Nievweija
  • Cynthia Dyrnes
  • Amber Kolln
  • Sharon Gretzinger
  • Martha Foster,
    "Athletes! Join our protest and don't go to the Chinese Olympics!!"
  • Debra Cummings
  • Oya Yansa,
    "Human Rights violations will not be tolerated anywhere in our global community-"I am a woman therefore the world is my family""
  • M. Dow,
    "Basic human rights, including safety, are far more important than business, sports and international prestige - and must be properly addressed FIRST."
  • eric stary
  • Hannes Stender
  • Kim McCullough
  • Michael Bucheler,
    "Countries should sort out civil rights as a pre-requisite not as a promise of hosting the olympics"
  • Scott Duncan,
    "Shame on the great nation of China, brutal force will never work. The whole world is watching what China does, not what they say"
  • Barbara Stennes-Cox
  • Barbara Matteri,
    "We must focus on PEACE to bring about the changes needed. Our focus will manifest. Not watching the games is powerful, imagine if we combine it with a meditation on peace in Tibet. The power of change is within us. raven-dream@hotmail.com"
  • jessica,
    "I am continually horrified by the actions of humans...but continue to have faith and vision for our future."
  • Meta,
    "We should take the time to distinguish violence and oppression wherever they occur, televised or untelevised, in our lives and in our country as well."
  • Faith Ramirez,
    "We must be the change we wish to see in the world. Not an exact quote but close, from the Dalai Lama. Inspirational."
  • Shaye Watson,
    "China must make a choice; if I have to refrain from watchin the Olympic Games on T.V. in order to help them make that choice, so be it."
  • Lynne Pulizzi,
    "I will not buy any produts from China till the vilonance has stoped in Tibet and Napal."
  • Brian,
    "I have a featured Internet radio show and would love to interview someone about this to help get the word out."
  • Lisa Forgacs
  • R Hill,
    "Free Tibet!!!!"
  • Aaron Baxter,
    "No one watches the olympics anyways, I do not see how boycotting them will solve anything. And I like how you'll do this, but you'll still consume mass amounts of Chinese goods on a daily basis. You guys are all ******* hypocrites"
  • Lovisa,
    "It is simple. Let Tibet and its people go."
  • Sasha,
    "This is in protest of the GOVERNMENT, not the Chinese people."
  • Jennifer Rosendale
  • Robert Wedel,
    "Just say "No" to the 2008 Olympics and to the government of The People's Republic of China... is that an oxymoron? Some day the Chinese people will get their country back."
  • amy Howell,
    "Nothing good can come out of trying to control others."
  • Elizabeth Loudon
  • Nicole Waite
  • ckohler
  • Neal MacFarlane
  • Tim Jenkins,
    "I do not believe these actions reflect the true character and will of the Chinese people and this signature is a protest of their government's actions only and not the people of China. "
  • Joseph taubitz
  • B. Buchanan,
    "I cannot fathom WHY China was even chosen. The government's disregard for their people and the rest of the world is disgusting."
  • Cristina Potmesil
  • Steve Shaw,
    "We should also boycott all Chinese products"
  • Liz LaCoss
  • Kelly Smith,
    "No country that treats its people this way DESERVES the honor of the Olympics!!!"
  • Serenity Hallgren,
    " "
  • Bonita Cubow,
    "China has done NOTHING required to host the Olympics.Human rights & pollution are worse than ever; even food is going to be imported because no one wants to eat their tainted crap. I WILL NOT BE TUNING IN!"
  • Angel Gregory,
    "Free Tibet!"
  • Aimee Bancroft
  • Timothy DeBusk
  • Val Jon Farris,
    "Human(kind)ness is something all of us must stand up for. I stand for compassion and decency."
  • CRAIG STEWART
  • J. Daniel Dusek
  • helen heronheart dusek,
    "violence in support of politics OR religion is unconscionable... violence of this nature is a crime against the entire world. my tv will remain off or on another channel for anything sponsored by china until these policies cease. helen dusek"
  • layne powell
  • Matthew Shough
  • Sam Givens
  • Linda Buffy,
    "I will in no way whatsoever support any Chinese products or the olympics now.The genocide, torture and suppression of the Tibetan peoples and their spiritual leaders is not at all acceptable or humane.Boycott the Olympics Now! "
  • Ximena Lemoine
  • Adam Goodman,
    "I support any type of peaceful protest"
  • John Donovan
  • Karmen Naccarato,
    "Another thought to make a point is not to buy ANYTHING from China. Just think of how much of our so called cheap merchandise comes from China. Perhaps the price is too high."
  • christina
  • Wendy L
  • Ivy McCanta
  • Sara Archer
  • Niko Birbilis,
    "Man, I can't believe that they expect us to want to go and watch the Olympics while we watch them kill monks."
  • Will Quartermain
  • Jeanette Heidt
  • Sheye Blaze
  • Taryn Gerhardt
  • Katherine A. Farr
  • Siobhan AW
  • keith bertrand
  • patty
  • Kinsey Shough
  • Graham Klym
  • JoAnn Fox,
    "We should pull our atheletes out of the games in protest, as should all countries who oppose genocide and torture."
  • Patricia Hamilton
  • Jennifer Cole
  • Lynne Bly
  • E. M. Blake
  • Todd Ulbrich
  • James
  • Duane Gatewood
  • Danielle Westbrook
  • Leo Page
  • Laurie Byres,
    "i refuse to watch Chinese-hosted oplymics, not because i do not like the Chinese, but because I believe that Chinais not doing anything to help the enivornment, and killing monks is just wrong on every level."
  • Carolyn Maddux
  • Shenelle King
  • Phyllis Rhyan
  • Brenna,
    "Free Tibet!"
  • Emily Wilson-Hoss
  • Charlene Weber,
    "HORRIBLE!"
  • David Howell
  • LINDA NEEL
  • Eric Brown,
    "Honestly, what the hell is wrong with the Chinese? Seriously."
  • Beulah Neel
  • Morgan Smith
  • Christopher Ahlin
  • Kayleigh Fleeman
  • Kara Donnell
  • Lacy Wesland
  • Jessica Eskelson
  • Chris Henson
  • barbara
  • amanda speer
  • Sarah Gates
  • Selena Kilmoyer
  • Steve Barnell
  • Brita Fosse
  • jason,
    "Basic Human Rights should not be overlooked in the event of competition. "
  • steve barnell
  • Carleen C. Coker
  • Lois Sage
  • Allison Zelman
  • Caleb Hayes
  • Lisa Hayes
  • Robert C. Gale

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