Word: darfur
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Which also means that for one night, he became the most visible, and influential, Sudanese man in the world. And in the run-up to these Olympics, China has faced fierce criticism for its support of the Sudanese government, which has sponsored atrocities in the Darfur region. Before war tore the Sudan apart, Lomong says he loved his native country. "I was the happiest kid in the Sudan," says Lomong. Will he take the moment to stand up for those Lost Boys left behind, the ones still coping with war, starvation, and death back home in Africa? Will he call...
...modern Olympics, politics was not far away. Protesters of everything from China's role in Darfur to the continuing repression of Tibet had tried to use the Games to highlight their causes. But long ago, loose talk of an Olympic boycott had fizzled. On opening night, sitting in the splendor of the Bird's Nest Stadium, were two men who have at times been among China's most vocal Western critics: George W. Bush and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. They knew this was China's moment. Back in the Middle Kingdom's heyday, dignitaries from elsewhere in the world would...
Last week, Joey Cheek was pumped. Over lunch in New York City, I talked to the wide-eyed Olympic champion about his upcoming trip to Beijing, where the ex-speedskater and Darfur activist planned to rally athletes to raise awareness of troubles in Sudan. He wanted to outline the steps that China, which has close ties to the Sudanese government, could take to stop the atrocities in Darfur. I half-jokingly asked him how he managed to get his hands on a visa, since the Chinese government was notoriously begrudging to let potential nuisances step foot in the country during...
...image hit is likely to cost China more than any activism Cheek would have done during the Games. Although he's the co-founder of Team Darfur, an international coalition of athletes pushing for reform in the Sudan, he's not exactly rabble-rouser. In our interview, Cheek said he was not planning any organized protests, and he had yet to set up any meetings with government officials. He's extremely sensitive to the fact that many Olympic athletes have trained their whole lives for this brief shining moment, and if taking up the Darfur cause is a distraction...
...China, given its history of cold war demonization and Charlie Chan caricatures. But the news media covering the Olympics don't have the luxury of ignoring it. Broadcasters have found their access restricted by China, which promised freedom to get the Games but is under scrutiny over Tibet, Darfur and internal human rights. Beijing is keeping Tiananmen Square, site of 1989's democracy protests, off limits to live TV for 18 hours...