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Free Tibet ads to be screened during Olympics
Wednesday, 6 August, 2008
Get Up's Free Tibet advert (AAP)
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Activists will screen an advertisement urging Kevin Rudd to speak to the Chinese leadership about finding a solution for Tibet during his visit to the Beijing Olympics.
Political action group Get Up and the Australia Tibet Council have sent Mr Rudd a copy of the ad, which will be aired on the Seven network before and after Friday's opening ceremony, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
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It features an Australian-Tibetan woman in traditional dress sitting in a meditation pose, pleading with the prime minister.
"Please, Mr Rudd, do not leave Beijing without speaking out about Tibet," she says.
Get Up executive director Brett Solomon said the advertisement would not be screened during the opening ceremony "out of respect".
Poignant plea
He said the poignant images of the woman's plea would effectively communicate the message to the prime minister that seven out of ten Australians supported speaking out about the oppressive regime in Tibet.
"We think this is the opportune time, when he's directly face-to-face with people who can change this, to actually speak out," Mr Solomon told reporters.
Australian Tibetan Council officer Paul Bourke said China was going through the motions and appearing to address the Tibet issue without coming up with a solution.
"Nothing's changed in Tibet, in fact it's worse," Mr Bourke told reporters.
"If Mr Rudd and other world leaders attending the opening ceremony remain silent, the Chinese government will interpret this as acceptance of the current situation in Tibet."
Source: AAP/SBS
Political action group Get Up and the Australia Tibet Council have sent Mr Rudd a copy of the ad, which will be aired on the Seven network before and after Friday's opening ceremony, costing tens of thousands of dollars.
VIDEO: Watch Get Up's Free Tibet advertisement
VIDEO: Olympic torch arrives in Beijing
IN DEPTH: Visit our Beijing Olympics minisite
RELATED: Tibet campaigners arrested in Beijing protest
RELATED: Spain to hear Tibetan lawsuit against China
It features an Australian-Tibetan woman in traditional dress sitting in a meditation pose, pleading with the prime minister.
"Please, Mr Rudd, do not leave Beijing without speaking out about Tibet," she says.
Get Up executive director Brett Solomon said the advertisement would not be screened during the opening ceremony "out of respect".
Poignant plea
He said the poignant images of the woman's plea would effectively communicate the message to the prime minister that seven out of ten Australians supported speaking out about the oppressive regime in Tibet.
"We think this is the opportune time, when he's directly face-to-face with people who can change this, to actually speak out," Mr Solomon told reporters.
Australian Tibetan Council officer Paul Bourke said China was going through the motions and appearing to address the Tibet issue without coming up with a solution.
"Nothing's changed in Tibet, in fact it's worse," Mr Bourke told reporters.
"If Mr Rudd and other world leaders attending the opening ceremony remain silent, the Chinese government will interpret this as acceptance of the current situation in Tibet."
Source: AAP/SBS
