ecorazzi.com :: the latest in green gossip

February 13th 2008

Spielberg Severs Ties With China Over Darfur Crisis

Filed under: campaigns — michael @ 12:59 pm

Well, you can’t say the guy didn’t try.

After writing personal letters and making impassioned pleas to the Chinese government to help stem the worsening crisis in China, director Steven Spielberg has decided to withdraw as the artistic advisor to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Spielberg said of his decision:

“I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue business as usual. At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur. Sudan’s government bears the bulk of the responsibility for these ongoing crimes but the international community, and particularly China, should be doing more.

Actress Mia Farrow was particularly pleased that Spielberg decided to back out. “I’m delighted by his decision and it’s a desperate time for Darfur so this is a shred of good news in a very bleak week. Through his participation with the games it was clear that he was giving his moral cover to Beijing at a time when they’re underwriting genocide in Darfur. So I hoped that he would discontinue his participation with the games.”

China currently receives two-thirds of its oil from the Sudan. As of 2006, more than 2.5 million people have been displaced and over 200,000 killed in the conflict. To get more involved with the relief efforts in Darfur, visit Dreams For Darfur or DarfurGenocide.org.

January 22nd 2008

Cambodian Officials Tell Mia Farrow To, “Talk To The Hand”

Filed under: campaigns, events, green and famous — parrish @ 10:06 am

This weekend, dozens of Cambodian police denied Mia Farrow and the members of Dream for Darfur-an American advocacy group- access to a Tuol Sleng prison, the Khmer Rouge’s main torture centre during its genocidal rule in the 1970’s.

Farrow and the group had planned to light an Olympic-size torch as a form of protest to pressure China into using their influence to help end the genocide in Darfur. They also planned on delivering a handful of white lotus flowers, a traditional Cambodian offering, in remembrance for the victims of all past and current genocides. Farrow was stopped by the guards, and eventually backed down and left peacefully. She released this statement: “”My heart - our hearts - are breaking for what happened in Cambodia today, especially for the survivors of all genocide.”

What’s crazy is that although I know at this very moment genocide is happening in Darfur, it so rarely ever affects my life. I mean, I think about what I’m going to eat for lunch (lemon-pepper tofu and carrots) way more than I think about Darfur-and that totally sucks. So Mia, while you may not have made it past the barricade, you’ve convinced this boy to  think less about possible meal options, and take some time out everyday to reflect on the horrors of this wasteful genocide. Hopefully, this article will do the same for some of our readers!  

To get more involved with the relief efforts in Darfur, visit Dreams For Darfur or DarfurGenocide.org.

photo credit: associated press