I was just looking at the persecution of the monks in Tibet and of the Tibetan people and I was recalling all of the old black and white movies of the 1930's and 1940's, Lost Horizon was a classic, and I was thinking about the troubles of foreigners in foreign lands and about some of the hazards of attending Beijing, not that I was ever going to such a land myself.
Here's a short list...
1. the pollution, 2. the fact that security people will be everywhere (who knows doing what to foreigners), 3. the crime rates are high in a land where many are amoral, 4. food poisoning might be a troublesome thing, 5. the possibility of traffic deaths (several hundred pedestrians die each day in China just crossing the roads).
Most troubling of all is the destablisation of the "peace factor" in China caused by events like Tibet and by the Islamic extremists in the north...and where this might just lead, as the West responds with her criticism.
If the Chinese military took it upon themselves to have their long expected conflict with Taiwan, when the games were on, the United States of Amercia could do nothing about it because there would be so many westerners on Chinese soil, at the time.
All that they could do, would be to wait til the invasion of Taiwan was over and then help folks home again.
Im not saying that such an event would happen...but it is a concern for me that so many westerners will be there in China under what looks like some very poor conditions...you media people as well.
What might you be sending your reporters and tv folk into?

Gibo, in 35 years China has come a long way- the more visitors, the more exposure, the more to and fro, the better.

Think we should call the Awesome Foursome the Gang Of Four. Gentle mockery will do as much as serious protest against the psychotic Falun Gong and Tibet atrocities.

May a billion flowers bloom.

Ive got to admit Palimpsest China sure has come a long way in the last 35 years or so, though it is a sad fact that she still seems to be unable to throw a bucket of water on her aggression.
I could put this it into a simple Christian/Bible perspective and point to demon powers controlling the government and the general national worship as to why it is but I dont think all readers really grasp that particular concept...or are even willing to look at it.
I think what we are looking at is the beginning of a much bigger thing with China.
I think the games will be a fizzer because people will see what the Chinese government really is (again), and that they are not going to change, and they will either not buy tickets or will cancel them.
This will then stir up an anger in China that we have never previously seen and out of this many bad times will flow... maybe even an invasion of Taiwan.
My knowledge, as a committed christian who gathers in prophecies from The Lord to the christian churches, is that China and the USA are headed for a face to face conflict.
If you are headed to the Beijing games I would advise you to think about it. Its a long, long, long, long, long way from home if anything happens.

See my note in OLO - we need to act on the suggestion by KM Gunn in the Australian today (Tuesday) and relocate the Olympics even if it means breaking them up.
That is the only way that the majority of Chinese are even going to learn about what is happening in Tibet. The Chinese actions are cultural genocide and need to be acknowledged as such. Their claim to Tibet is shaky at best and, in reality, probably does not exist but tell people something often enough and they will believe it.
Our government is behaving disgracefully - kowtowing to the Chinese leadership for fear of economic reprisal.
The Dalai Lama would request a boycott of the Olympics if he were in a position to do so but he has the safety of the Tibetan people to consider.
May I humbly suggest that Forum participants use their letter writing skills and suggest some alternatives to giving legitimacy to the Chinese government's actions?

Fair points gibo, but you botched the one on crime.

China's crime rate is startlingly low. Might have something to do with the death penalty being so quickly applied and executions within hours of trials.

Good idea on that last request Communicat. Ive already been in parts like the Times Online suggesting that games travellers might like to avoid the games because of safety issues.
Imagine getting stranded on the Chinese mainland if things suddenly closed down if Islamic wildboys in the north wanted to plant bombs in Beijing or Tibetans likewise?
We can all do something about Chinas immorality in Tibet other than sigh and move on.