When Iraq was destroyed, why the director didn't move back to Israel for protesting? Brain washing happens not only in China, but everywhere. Yes, CNN, BBC, NBC, keep your brain clean!

Is any connection between the two problems? For Iraq, we should boycott anything from USA? Should we move UN out of USA? Olympic game has its own sense for different countries to put down the contridiction to meet together? Why some buddies still do not understand?

One of my friends came back from Sudan after working there for 3 years, he felt so angry about the problem in nowadays. Why the people contributing most are regarded as the source of problem?

one of 5 people in the world feel exciting and warm to be hosts of the game, Spielburge really makes them deplore.

Maybe that's the price China has to pay when China such a "different" country wants to grow. But, I cannot fully understand, really.

ziyao, Ulm, Germany

Larry Li's sentiments are correct. World-famous Hollywood film director Steven Speilberg's decision to withdraw as an art director for the 2008 Beijing Olympics is - perhaps unconsciously - aligned with imperialist assumptions bred by living in the U.S.

Speilberg's stated reason for withdrawal from the Olympics is alleged Chinese indifference to the suffering - and human rights violations - caused by a civil war in the African nation of Sudan, which is a major trading partner of China.

Speilberg claims that China is not 'using its influence' with Sudan to 'end the suffering'. However, the notion that a 'great power' should 'use its influence' to control the internal affairs of other sovereign nations arises from U.S., and not Chinese, assumptions.

Eric Sommer, Beijing, China

This principal of non-interference is precisely why the leaders of 45 African nations convened a year or so ago in Beijing for joint high-level talks with China's leaders.
This meeting was notable as the first-ever meeting of the African union outside of Africa. Non-interference is precisely the reason that African leaders felt warmly about coming to China, and why China is warmly welcomed in Africa in a way the U.S., and the former European colonial powers, are not.
I personally saw various African heads of state on T.V. during the meeting here asked about their relationships with China. The response was 'We are happy to work with China economically and otherwise because (unlike the western powers) they do not come to Africa to give us lectures'.
Western Media is out of line.

Eric Sommer, Beijing, China

Recent western media portrayals of the China-Sudan issue are distorted beyond belief. To begin with, it is frequently stated that 'China provides diplomatic cover' for the Sudan in the UN security council.

In reality, however, China, Russia, and - crucially - the African Union representing all African states have *all* taken *the same position* at the UN- i.e., that dialogue and use of African Union troops and limited numbers of UN troops should be used in Sudan, and that economic sanctions should not be imposed.

So it is China's position- and not that of people like Speilberg or the U.S. government - that represents the real perceived interests of Africa.

Moreover, it is China, and not the U.S.or Speilberg, which has the moral high ground on Sudan, via its consistent approach of using dialogue and non-interference rather than using military or economic force to coerce other nations.

Eric Sommer, Beijing, China

Sadly, while Speilberg professes concern about the human rights of Sudan, he was not so concerned about the human rights of the people of Iraq, where an estimated 100,000 or 200,000 or more people have died since the U.S. invasion.

In reply to questions about the then-impending attack on Iraq, Speilberg told journalists, "Bush’s politics has been solid, grounded in reality, willing to uproot terrorism wherever it may be found...if Bush, as I believe, has reliable information on the fact that Saddam is making ‘weapons of mass destruction,’ I cannot not support the policies of his government."

Eric Sommer, Beijing, China

In 1936 many western nations refused to boycott the Nazi Olympics in Germany. The Nazi's pretended to be tolerant, world citizens and non-aggressive. Three short years later they invaded Poland and started the Second World War. With the abominable record of human rights abuses not only in Sudan but in China, Burma, Tibet, Taiwan... we should learn from history.

Mr. Spielberg has taken important action to disassociate himself from the totalitarian minority rule government of China. Those courageous souls that refuse to participate in a regime that supports genocide - will have the last word.

Ea Ti, Vancouver, Canada

«He boycott China's Olympics, we will boycott his films in the future. OK?»

Well, it's your loss, Larry Li. Steven Spielberg is one of the most brilliant filmmakers of our time and now he showed he's also a concerned citizen of the world. His decision will cost him dearly in the future, but he did the right thing.

Flavio, Lisbon, Portugal

I don't know and don't really care what you Americans think of this Spielberg's action. Who does this Spielberg think he is? The God? What does Spielberg do is hypocritical and it could do no harm to this year's Olympic Games held in China. We could do much better without him. He boycott China's Olympics, we will boycott his films in the future. OK?

larry li, beijing, china

Now I know what's American's so called democracy. Your web only show what you like. How hypocritical you are!

larry li, beijing, china

this is not about the united states, nor is it about what is going on in iraq - this is about human rights violations being so heinously executed and our responsibility to make a change - sacrificing something as insignificant as the olympics in order to make some sort of stand is both moral and effective.

Amy, Rockville, MD

It's good to have someone actually confront China. And for you twerps who compare the U.S. to China in terms of it's human rights record, it would probably do you some real good to live for a few years without benefit of the U.S.influence in international affairs. You might wise up and begin to have a clue about who the real heroes and villians actually are. Just remember this: we don't really need you over here, but you really still need our backing over there, not to mention our markets and tourist dollars.

Annaburdy, Atlanta,

Excuse me, David. You dont live here in America. You dont see what happened to the Iraqi people before we came there. We took down Saddam. And now Iraq is on its way to a democracy. So dont judge something any other country is doing besides your own.
God Bless America.

Lea, Cincinnatl, Ohio

China's stance on Darfu and the Sudan is no less dramatic
than the ban of vidio cameras and the Bible. They want oil at
a cost to lives, and they don't want impromtu junior jurnalism
at the olympics. Anything China's Communist Government
doesn't want they sensors. America needs to renig on the
Olympic Games and renig on it's long overdue debt that China
fueld in the Viet Nam conflict. There again lives were shed be-
cause of hate for individual freedoms, and China's belief that
all asians are their people.. Sudan is not asian and there are
over 260 million christians in China. How many refugees from
the Sudan, Darfu conflict have been allowed into China? Now
is the time to firmly stand up - And Ban The Olympics in China.
China can use the new facilties for a refugee camp to allow
any refugee access from around the world. By renigging China will realize her censorships and closed door policy only
will hurt her where it counts, $1,000,000,000.00 Ban the Olympics..

Gary Hern, San Diego, USA/CA

Darfur problem has nothing to do with Beijing Olympics, Mr.Spielberg is not being responsible by relating these two things together. After all, when he accepted to be an artistic advisor for Beijing Olympics, he must have already known what happened in Darfur, why did he still accept China's invitation? He is not being consistent here.

In addition, if he really is conscientious about human rights, why didn't he protest America's invasion into Iraq? To be consistent, he should have stopped shooting any film in America, and have relinquished his US citizenship. Don't tell me this is too much, a famous pop star in Taiwan actually did so. Mr. Spielberg should follow him.

Thomas Zhang, London, UK

China is reportedly not the only nation which invests in Sudan's oil industry. There are no sanctions against Sudan. Trading with Sudan cannot be condemned because economic wealth for Sudan is more likely to enable positive developments in all areas, including the ability of the
Sudanese Govt to deal with renegade forces in Darfur. Reading the above article one can detect the attempt to associate China's investments in Sudan with its poor human rights record at home. These are separate issues & efforts to encourage an end to the abuse of political dissidents in China should confront these issues directly & elicit a response. To attempt to discredit China for its legitimate investments in Sudan can only impair the Sino-Western relationship. Reportedly, China's investments in the Sudan have no political strings attached whatsovever, since China's policy is not to link economic investment with political expansionism & the West and China are equably capable of dictating to Sudan.

Joan Moira Peters, Whangarei (UK citizen , temporarily overseas in NZ)

"The Olympic Games is THE event for hard-working sports people, not a weekend orgy in Holywood's beautiful people. "

I don't think there has been any "hard working sports people" at the olympics for the last 20 odd years. It's all about sponsors, the IOC's money buffers and PR.
The only reason China got the Olympics is for PR and for the IOC to get their hands on the income of over a billion people. Whoever in China thinks that they should be honoured for getting the Olympics they should look into it more closely!

China has a lot to answer for regarding their human rights agenda and the support to an, obviously, genocidal government. The US is not perfect but at least Mr Spielberg helps making the point obvious to the world. At least he is doing one good thing, what are we doing about anything?!

Alex K, Manchester, UK

Its good to know that someone has a conscience and is unwilling to make money of the back of the suffering not money will.
Thanks Mr Spielberg
More respect to you.

Anon, Manchester, England

I see this as double standards. If Steven Spielberg and Mia Farroware are so against human rights atrocities, why didn't they speak up against the illegal invasion of Iraq and the tens of thoudands who have died there ? They shouldn't be even living in the US. Why don't they protest about those being tortured at Guantanamo Bay ?

I'm sure The Olympics will still be a great specatacle without Spielberg's contributions.

P.H.Chan, Liverpool,

Have we all forgotten the thousands China has killed in Tibet
and their total support of money and weapons to the military generals in Burma to use in their own killing ? What is wrong with you people who find sport more important than the lives of human beings?

dan mccoyd, san pancho, mexico

No country in the world has a moral standing to say to other country that what they doing is wrong. Individual selfishness translated into individual countries selfishness. Atleast now create a new UN with power to police and implement changes. Spielberg's gesture is publicity grabbing in my mind. Darfur atrocities is going on for sometime now. All this time he was still sitting in the committee. What changed the situation for him just weeks before Olympics?!

Mr.S.Muthusamy, Colwyn Bay, UK

This has nothing to do with human rights. What has Spielberg ever done to support the Palestinians who are being oppressed by the Jewish state, which only exists because of uncritical US support? I expect 98% of Chinese have never heard of him anyway, lucky them. What a poser.

Barry Pickup, Dublin, Ireland

Nice one Steven.

At least someone has the balls to make a moral stand- at last.

Jez W, Leeds,

Not in our name!!
A total boycot on the Olympics Games in Beijing by all nations who promote moral concsience and human rights and consider the attrocities in Darfur as totally unacceptable is the only way to make the Chinese authorities understand that they simply can´t behave in this way and that doing so carries serious concequences in the world court of public opinion.

Johannes Coolen, Barcelona, Spain

mia farrow needs to drop what i only see as a pathetic personal vendetta against china. She has no rights to ruin the olympics for us. She says how chinas the only country responsible for sudan, What about America. Theyre not helping the world in any way. Just look at what theyve done to Iraq

david, Weymouth, Dorset

Bravo Spielberg - I think the UK should boycott the Games altogether in protest at the human rights (not to mention the pollution) abuses of this great Crouching tiger hidden dragon country!

Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK

D. Buchanan should know it is the time to tell the truth or study the truth: weapons was supplied to the Dalai Lama by MI6 and CIA back in the 1950s for the uprising before Chinese troop moved in to crash the armed terrorists. Making abusive and shallow comment on a political issue such as Tibet serve only to expose the hidden political agenda, and that will never be effective with the Chinese government and the 1.3 billion Chinese. Tibet is never a religion issue nor it has anything to do with freedom of religion, it is merely a political platform for some in the West. People should bear in mind the policy of China will not be influence by a famous Hollywood director

SHAUTONG CHIN, Waterbeach, UK

I have no issues with the Chinese people but I do with the human rights record of their leaders. I agree with hs shu's comments - I would say the USA regime is equally attrocious and only get involved when it suits - it didn't suit when China invaded Tibet nor has it at any time throughout the continued occupation of Tibet. Other examples are abound. Boycotting the Olympics I suspect will do little but sometimes cutting our nose off to spite our face can make us feel a little bit better. Good on you Mr Speilberg!

D Buchanan, London, UK

Hello, yolanda.
Your remarks make me think if you imply that China is like Nazi Germany.
And I think I can't agree with your comparison. Others who read your comment may be misled over the objective understanding toward China.
While I admit that one person cannot avoid bias in the course of recognising the world.

xirik, Chengdu, China

Mr. Speilberg is a man of conscience, I like him. As a chinese, I'm glad to see a lot of people from free world offered their help in different ways in improving China's human right situation.

howard, beijing, china

US government simply don't have a reputation for being righteous. There is a long list of "bad" governments and groups who got support from US in history. US did nothing to prevent the genocide in Rwanda in which more than 800,000 people were killed. US was even reluctant to name it as a genocide. I don't know what our "good man", Speilberg, had done to push the US government to stop the genocide in Rwanda.

hs shu, ottawa, canada

I commend Mr Spielberg for his actions in withdrawing from invovement in the Beijing Olympics. However, perhaps he might like to give some consideration to protesting the ongoing support of his own country for the apartheid actions of the Israeli government against the Palestinians. The US has a great deal to answer for when it comes to the suffering of those in the occupied territories of Palestine.

Clive Kitchin, Port Augusta, South Australia

Dear Haav,

If you really believe that these Games are a simple sporting event, then I suggest that you focus your attention elsewhere or - better - take some time off to come and have a look over here.

Yours looks like a very superficial and biased point.

Like him or not, Spielberg has made a very clear statement and one that shouldn't fail to hit hard, at this stage.

Luca, Beijing, China

So what's this 'great and good' man planning to do to remonstrate with the US Government over their trade and war policies? Isn't it time he just quit the US altogether?

sam, Shanghai,

Bravo to Steven Speilberg!
Have we so easily forgotten our history lesson of the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany?
If we keep turning a blind eye to the Chinese Government's policies against human rights, we may be destined to repeat it!

yolanda marin, Detroit, Michigan

The Olympic Games is THE event for hard-working sports people, not a weekend orgy in Holywood's beautiful people.

So who cares if Spielberg wants to contribute in it or not?

Haav Bline, Atlanta, USA