Who here watched the Olympic Opening ceremony???

Pre-College Issues High School Life
41

<p>It doesn't matter how much is bought by China -- the fact that China buys it at all means it needs it. Most of what is bought is energy goods (oil, natural gas).</p>

<p>"THE ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP. The basis of China’s interest in Sudan, and Africa more broadly, is principally oil. China became a net importer of oil in 1993, and its consumption has grown exponentially since then. China surpassed Japan as the world’s second largest consumer of oil, after the United States, in 2004. Its oil imports continue to grow. By 2025, it is estimated that China will import as much oil as the United States currently does.</p>

<p>Africa holds nine percent of the world’s proven oil reserves, modest compared to reserves in Saudi Arabia and Russia, but important as an alternative source of reserves, nonetheless. Sudan, in particular, provides unique opportunities and advantages for China and others because many western governments and firms have withdrawn from the country for political or security reasons. " (TPMCafe</a> | Talking Points Memo | China and Sudan) I apologize that this source is a blog, but the information seems a pretty neutral summary, and I can't imagine why anyone would lie about statistical facts.</p>

<p>Now 1/4 of of China's oil comes from Sudan.</p>

<p>I don't understand this: how is that NOT a huge amount?</p>

<p>"Amount of U.S. oil consumption that comes from the Middle East: 2 mbd -- 12 percent, only three percent from Iraq and Kuwait. The rest of our imported oil comes from places like Canada, Venezuela, Mexico, Nigeria, Algeria, Ecuador, and England." Basic</a> Facts About Energy and the Middle East</p>

<p>Now, only 12 percent of our oil comes from the Middle East, and we're in an oil crisis partly due to OPEC an partly due to speculation and partly due to our gov't being a pain. And you're thinking possibly cutting off twice that amount from China isn't a big deal?</p>

42

<p>You might disagree with China's policies, but that's completely unrelated to the Olympics. By boycotting them, you're just withdrawing your support from, and hurting, the many athletes who have trained their whole lives to get this far only to be overshadowed by the host country's regime. That's ridiculous, IMO.</p>

43

<p>Hm. Actually "Today, China gets 7 percent of its oil imports from Sudan. Roughly two-thirds of Sudan’s oil exports go to China." TPMCafe</a> | Talking Points Memo | China and Sudan</p>

<p>But my point still stands.</p>

44

<p>Obviously they do need Sudan, but Sudan needs them more. They do have influence over Sudan, and you can't argue against that.</p>

45

<p>GO ASIAAAAAA</p>

<p>Me: Where is Tibet?
Tibet person: In China?</p>

<p>enough said</p>

46

<p>Yes, but you also can't argue that Sudan has influence over them, and it is part of a larger picture in staking a Chinese foothold in Africa for further (untapped, may I add) development. There is a delicate balance to be reached here.</p>

<p>The developed Western countries can full out go against Sudan and yell about what blasphemy it is for someone else to not go against Sudan simply because they have little to no stake in it. It doesn't matter to them what Sudan does. For China, the situation is wholly different. They have something to lose.</p>

47

<p>no point in boycotting the olympics
it's already happening
president bush is even there
what are you gonna do? not watch it? <em>gasp</em>
why does everyone all of a sudden care about Tibet now that China is hosting the Olympics?</p>

48

<p>I didn't. My boyfriend wanted to watch a movie, so we did that instead. I caught a couple bits when I got home because my mom was watching it, but she was watching it upstairs and I was mostly downstairs last night, so I only saw stuff when she called me up.</p>

49

<p>
[quote]
....what the does genocide have to do with the Olympics?</p>

<p>Mikep3 is absolutely right. They are two separate events. The fact that China's hosting the Olympics is absolutely irrelevant to what the Olympics represents.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>We give China hundreds of millions of dollars, which they in turn use to continue the Genocide is Sudan.</p>

50

<p>^ Thank you, finally somebody agrees with me :]</p>

51

<p>You not watching the Olympics doesn't change anything - this is supposed to be the one time when countries come together regardless of their feelings about each other and simply celebrate the great young athletes of the world. I don't understand why people insist on taking the spotlight away from those who have trained all their lives for this moment just because you don't approve of the host country.</p>

52

<p>who cares about africa???
their civilization is far behind
i mean, c'mon, they're living in straw huts!!!
why is every other continent in the world more technologically apt and civilized than them?
they need to do something with themselves! like borrow technology or implement running water!! geeeez
and they have basically ALL the natural resources at their disposal!!</p>

53

<p>


</p>

<p>Hold up: where are you getting that the US is "giving" China money?</p>

<p>Not to mention: Their objective is not to continue the genocide, but rather, to sustain their growth. If they had somewhere else to get the means to sustain their growth, as well as establish a foothold in Africa, they wouldn't care about Sudan.</p>

<p>
[quote]
In November China will achieve a new milestone in its economic development when its total foreign exchange reserves reach $1 trillion.</p>

<p>As of 1 October, China's central bank announced that its reserves were $987bn - and they are growing by $18bn each month.

[/quote]
BBC</a> NEWS | Business | China's trillion dollar surplus</p>

<p>If you have an understanding of basic macroeconomics, you'd know that the US is in some pretty deep debt, and has taken to selling bonds, which China has bought up. What this means is that our lovely Bush Administration has overspent the people's tax dollars, and basically, China is funding his current spending.</p>

<p>Should China decide someday to drop its dollar holdings, well, the market would be flooded with dollars, and the US would suffer quite a bit.</p>

<p>
[quote]
The presence of US$1 trillion of Chinese money has a direct impact on keeping U.S. interest rates down. It has lowered rates by 1.5 percent. In other words, when a consumer walks up to a bank in the United States, part of the lower mortgage rate or line of credit or credit card loan he is offered is financed by Chinese cash.

[/quote]
China's</a> financial clout over United States - upiasiaonline.com</p>

<p>None of this giving is out of altruism.</p>

54

<p>oohhh yay i will take macroeconomics next year=]</p>

55

<p>
[quote]
who cares about africa???
their civilization is far behind
i mean, c'mon, they're living in straw huts!!!
why is every other continent in the world more technologically apt and civilized than them?
they need to do something with themselves! like borrow technology or implement running water!! geeeez
and they have basically ALL the natural resources at their disposal!!

[/quote]

Please give me a source that says they have all the natural resources at their disposal.
There is SUCH an overpopulation problem that they hardly have enough to eat.</p>

<p>
[quote]
every other continent in the world [is] more technologically apt and civilized than them

[/quote]

Antarctica? I know that's nitpicky, but it's true.</p>

56

<p>^ I think she was being sarcastic (although I honestly don't know).</p>

57

<p>I'm not even gonna get into this...</p>

<p>in short, I watched the Olympics and thinks that it's absolutely ludicrous that people are getting politics involved with the Olympics. And everytime I hear about the Olympic Torch Relay... god, I get so sad and annoyed at all the random protestors who honestly, should just worry their little heads over something else. As if China would just randomly let Tibet go because of the protestors...</p>

58

<p>^ The Chinese were the first to get politically involved. They kicked out people who dared to speak about Tibet, even when they weren't speaking IN China.</p>

<p>Besides, people are protesting about things BESIDES Tibet.</p>

59

<p>jesus christ
Africa:</a> the race to extract natural resources The Coffee House</p>

<p>Africa's</a> natural resources are a potential gold mine - Invest & Save, Money - The Independent</p>

<p>pshhh Africa is not overpopulated
are you joking?
compare it to china, with the highest population in the world
china has effectively built a nation and civilization, even though there is room for improvement</p>

60

<p>"The Chinese were the first to get politically involved. They kicked out people who dared to speak about Tibet, even when they weren't speaking IN China."</p>

<p>I don't see them throwing out Sarkozy...</p>

<p>It honestly took me a couple of tries before I got that you meant they didn't DO the speaking in China. Before that I was in some confusion wondering how people got kicked out if they weren't there in the first place.</p>

<p>But it makes sense. The last thing they need is a riot in Beijing where there are a lot of people who are liable to get hurt.</p>