You are absolutely correct about the need for the international community to actively intervene in order to make sure that China keeps the promises that it has made to the international community for hosting the Olympic Games. Our governments (in the US & in Australia) have been unwilling to confront China over its human rights record, citing fear of upsetting trade opportunities. So it is very much up to us, citizens of the world who are concerned about cases of religious persecutions, media censorship, corruption and a general lack of rule of law in China, to bring our concern to political leaders in our own countries and to urge them to act on our behalves.

Signing a petition is an effective way of bringing your concern about China to your government and to other international organisations. I agree with Ned that at the moment targeting the Olympics (or even the Torch Relay) is the most effective way of putting pressure on China to stop persecuting dissidents. You may want to consider signing a petition at Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The RSF petition targets the Olympic Games. Here is the link.

Alternatively, you can also write directly to legislators or congressmen in your region to lobby for their support. In my experience it works. I contacted senators in my electorate last week about my concern of what’s happening in Tibet. Consequently their Federal colleaques in Canberra issued a joint statement to warn China about the need to resolve ethnic conflicts in Tibet in a peaceful way.

I read this morning that the Green World Foundation (GWF) in Bangkok has decided to withdraw from torch-running at the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games as a way of condemning China’s ongoing crackdown in Tibet. GWF is invited by Coca Cola to join the torch-run as a way of boosting the image of a green Beijing Olympics. A “green Olympics” is another promise that Beijing has made to the International Community. I’d like to thank members of the GWF from the bottom of my heart for their moral courage.

Catherine would know more about such petitions and their likelihoods of effectiveness than I, as she is ethnic Chinese and I am not. She will probably answer your question in her own way when she’s available.

Meanwhile, as a general rule I can tell you that the Chinese government – and in particular the Central Propaganda Department which is especially instrumental in harassing designated “dissidents” and shutting down access to foreign information – fears loss of “face” more than it fears loss of money. A boycott of the Olympics, or even boycotts of Olympic ceremonies such as the Torch relay, frighten China’s Central Propaganda Department much more than boycotts of Chinese products.