John, It’s being called The Genocide Games. And Airbnb is sponsoring it. Global outcry is growing over holding a sporting celebration in Beijing while the Government of China tortures and imprisons millions of members of the Uyghur community. China’s ruling party likes to host prestigious events like the Winter Olympics to whitewash its human rights record and project the image it wants to the world. And corporate sponsors like Airbnb are not only bankrolling the event. Because they talk a good game on social responsibility they're also lending credibility to a regime that is committing escalating abuses against Tibetan, Uyghurs and now Hong Kongers. The authorities like to tout a Winter Games that will be ‘open’ and ‘inclusive’, and will create a ‘harmonious world’ and promote ‘social progress.’ But as work continues in Beijing to ready the stage for the world’s athletes and media, in the country’s government officials are enacting a policy that is nothing short of a genocide. Uyghur survivors have bravely spoken up about the persecution, sexual abuse and torture they and their loved ones have endured. Untold numbers of people have disappeared without a trace, and children separated from their parents. The Winter Olympics is the opportunity China’s ruling party needs to clean up its image. But that only works if we -- and their corporate sponsors -- let them. Airbnb: don’t sponsor genocide. SumOfUs members working in solidarity with frontline communities of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers and Chinese rights activists have taken on Silicon Valley giants over human rights before -- and won. Just last year, together we made Apple publish its first ever human rights policy after raising concerns about how it was complicit with the government of China’s cybersurveillance programme. Human rights concerns have long been raised in the arena of elite sports. Athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos each raised a black-gloved fist for civil rights on the podium at the 1968 Olympics. Apartheid-era South Africa was excluded from the Olympics for 24 years because of a sporting boycott. More recently, Colin Kaepernick has inspired sports men and women around the world to take a knee against racism. Ask Airbnb to continue this tradition, live up to its values, and use its influence for good.  Thanks for all that you do, More information: Airbnb asked to drop Olympic ties over China rights issues, The Independent, 23 March 2021 |
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