Blue Peter sails into China Crisis.

renton Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 09:15:51 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Bear in mind I that I watch far too much children's televison with 3 children under 10 years old - but this seemed prescient on a number of levels.  Should Blue Peter be running a competition for children to win a trip to the Beijing Olympics?  I'm not so sure.



Blue Peter has been citicised recently for 'Socksgate' (you may recall the misfortunate cat - or mercifully, not.)

Why then, in the current socio-political climate would they be heatedly be pushing a smiley faced competion to win a trip to China? Far better surely to revisit the glory years of this BBC stalwart and raise children's awareness of humanitarian issues?

Even my 9 year old knows the unrest in Tibet and China is wrong.  He certainly won't want to visit any time soon.  Other children may not be so aware, in which case why should we let them unwittingly endorse a revolting, undemocratic situation?

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Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. | 7 comments (7 topical)

Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#1)

by red flagger on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 11:42:40 AM GMT

I think that the upcoming olympics need to be treated as what they are: an international sporting event, something which should be above politics. The Chinese government have long disgusted me, and I fully appreciate that the current situation in Tibet should not be ignored, but if having many other cultures in China during the games shows Chinese citizens what the outside world is like and helps them to engage, that could be far better for the democracy movement in China than just not going there at all.


Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#2)

by Sensible Comrade on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 11:59:27 AM GMT

The alternative interpretation, of course, is that a successful Olympics will be a massive propaganda coup for the Chinese government.


[ Parent ]

Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#3)

by red flagger on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 02:31:25 PM GMT

True, but I think in the current climate they won't be able to claim a victory because everyone is well aware of the continuing situation in Tibet.


[ Parent ]

Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#5)

by furberworld on Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 02:22:57 PM GMT

When people say sports should be above politics they seem to talk as if we are talking about issues around expense accounts, or party donations. No, we are talking about the murder and suppression of a group of people by another much larger group of people and I don't think anything should go above that.


[ Parent ]

Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#4)

by renton on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 03:54:37 PM GMT

Wouldn't your [putative] children dislike being used as propaganda when they come of age?


Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#6)

by Letters From A Tory on Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 05:48:29 PM GMT

It does seem a little weird, I admit.  Perhaps Blue Peter is trying to distance themselves from Konnie Huq's recent comments?


Re: Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. (#7)

by jkitleft on Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 08:49:41 PM GMT

'Sport above politics'

When South African teams were boycotted, it drew attention to the repugnancy of the apartheid system within that country. Sport is not the most important thing, in fact I find it quite unimportant. Dignity is probably the most important thing.


Blue Peter sails into China Crisis. | 7 comments (7 topical)