If the government isn't putting enough pressure on them..
Let's do it ourselves..along with boycotting the olympics.

I agree.

Trying to persuade China by moral means is a waste of time. We have to hit them in the only way we really can, in the pocket.

Hey guys,
I don't know if this idea died...but if anybody cares to keep the discussion going, let's throw some ideas around in here!!! Discuss your opinions-nobody has the answers-but if we all put our minds together maybe we can come up with something to help more!!!

Personally, I feel that boycotting goods from China in order for them to encourage Burmese to peacefully handle this situation, wouldn't be a bad idea.... I understand that doing this could threaten lots of Chinese factory jobs-however-their government is violating human rights, and enabling Burma's junta military to keep these acts of violence against innocent civilians and monks going....I think the pros of doing this would outweigh the cons....

I know many of our products do come from China..but in worst case scenario..if nothing comes out of peaceful protests in Burma, hopefully we all learn a moral lesson from it. Life isn't about money, or power...lets live to meet our NEEDS rather than always having those WANTS and temptations... maybe we could all show our respects by letting go of some of our greed... (even if the whole boycott idea doesn't go over)...

I am not Buddhist nor do I follow any religion, but I know I feel inspired and moved by the genuine peacefullness of Buddhist people and Monks, and I know that what is going on today, will have a lasting affect on many people!!

Boycotting lead-tainted products may be possible, since they're all getting recalled anyways, but boycotting everything Made in China: ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND? Especially in the US, try avoiding everything Made in China and see how long that lasts. The keyboard you're typing on is probably made in China.

Yeah it is.

Doesn't mean you have to get rid of everything you have thats made in China..it's really NOT that difficult to do.
Just don't buy anything from them until something happens...
even if it's as simple as starting with clothes made in china.

Hi guys,

Definitely don't let this discussion die. It may be difficult for people to understand but as protesters we can be ignored. Protesting can do no harm to China as the UN / World has no legal right to interfere without consent. However as consumers and petitioners we definitely have power as individuals to affect change.

China has played a role in Tibet, Darfur, and Burma - honestly, why do are they still allowed to be hosting the games if the whole point was to encourage them to give them a incentive to improve their human rights record? I suggest we e-mail International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge to reconsider Beijing 2008 in lieu of China's recent Security Council veto on Burma: pressoffice@olympic.org

I'd also suggest - in addition to boycotting Chinese products - boycotting stores that operate in China. It may not be the best idea since it is indirect but economically speaking if these stores see their profits drop at home [Australia, U.S., E.U., Canada, etc.] then they may put pressure on the Chinese governments on behalf of their customers in an effort to restore consumer confidence.

But definitely the games is a big advantage:

"China is the puppet-master of Burma. The Olympics is the only real lever we have to make China act. The civilised world must seriously consider shunning China by using the Beijing Olympics to send the clear message that such abuses of human rights are not acceptable." Edward McMillan-Scott, vice-president of the European Parliament

Im pretty sure most of the world's supply of toilet paper, like everything else, is made in China. Are we suppose to hold it until China finally sanctions Burma? This isnt like Ghandi burning imported cotton.

Sorry - forgot one point:

I know people are apprehensive to consider an option like boycotting a product or place because it seems absolute. The reality is it doesn't have to be. Just lessen [in hopes of cutting out entirely] purchase of products related to China. If lots of people are doing this it registers in a significant way. IE: If you bought 25% less from a store with a large presence in China or that is Chinese itself they don't notice. If a million people bought 25% less - it will make an impact even though each of those million people is only buying 25% less stuff related to China.

It's a good point. I'm all for bocotting Chinese products, but think of how that could be made possible?

More realistically, what we really need to do is hit the companies supporting the regime really hard. When I say really hard, I mean REALLY hard.
That means not only boycotting their products, but urging other companies not to deal with them, keeping other people away from them and getting the bbc behind our cause.

I suggest hitting oil companies such as Total hard, and mining industries. Flood them with emails. Flood their servers, make them crash. If oil and coal companies are stopped supplying to China through protests, Chinese industry will have to grind to a halt, as without these materials, China cannot function. Then, they will HAVE to do something.

Nobody go to Total garages. Nobody deal with Total. Put signs up in your local communities advertising what is happening and what Total for one is doing.

Awareness is everything. Without people realising what is really happening, nothing will be done.

I'm only 14 but I'm going to be putting signs up everywhere, telling my parents not to buy from Total garages, sending hundreds of emails to my friends and to the companies on the blacklist.
The blacklist can be found here: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_details.html

Flood frequently used sites such as Youtube with your protestation videos!
Write to Tv/Radio/Newspaper companies. Not just the tabloids, but the big ones like (in the UK) The Times, The Guardian etc.

Organise protests with your friends! Go to supermarkets and talk to people. Make leaflets.

If you're at school, get your head/principal to talk about it. Try and get people to protest there aswell.

Write on your blogs!

If you're at work, threaten to go on strike along with the rest of your offices unless your company starts taking action as a whole aswell.

Whatever you do- MAKE PEOPLE AWARE!
DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER!

We take our democracies for granted, but imagine living in a country where you couldn't go out of your home to express your power of freedom of speech without being shot and all outbound communications being blocked.

THIS IS DISGUSTING!

Nope ;)

Kimberly Clarke,
Procter and Gamble
Scott.

How'd we survive before all this stuff anyways!!!!!!!?????
If we put enough effort and care into it it can be done.

And if it's that difficult for some people- it doesn't have to be EVERYTHING..just being more consumer cautious will help (everything starts small!!)..for example-if you're Canadian...start buying your clothes at ZELLERS (made in Canada baby!) haha. Don't go out and buy some costly new piece of technology from China... think if you really need things before buying them...

Seb!!!!
GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! :) It's so awesome to see someone younger trying to make such a big difference !!!!

Thank you for your ideas. :)
I'm in Canada and I've never heard of TOTAL until I joined this group (I guess we don't have them here)! But I'm going to send E-mails right now :)

Keep doing what you're doing Seb!!!!

Bonjour Jacklynn
You are right, that's our only powere, but a very powerful weapon as this is the only language they will understand if it affects their business !
best
Gerard

Does anyone know if China was hit hard by the whole Mattel debacle? Was it mostly because of recalls or did people actually stop buying toys (or bought less)?

I'm curious.

Maybe we could focus the boycott of specific products? Suggestions?

I think boycotting all clothing from China would be effective even..
and probably the simplest for people- since it only takes a second to look at a tag and see where it comes from...!!!!!
Avoid buying clothes from China inparticular...but try to buy clothes locally...or from a countries that do not support inhumane working environments!!!!!

Thanks for your reply!

I'm really going to try everything I can, but without what you guys are all doing, I don't think it could be done. Well done and thank you for all you're doing!

Total are a HUGE oil company (well, huge in Europe- they're everywhere in the UK) I guess they're like BP- do you have BP?

Thanks again, and good luck!

I think there's a few BP branches in Western Canada. Not sure about Ontario.

I agree. China needs to take a stronger stance, even though they are communist bastards, against this totalitarian Junta. China is the main trading partner with Myanmar (Burma) and as such bears the majority of the responsibility for imposing economic sanctions aimed at curtailing the Burmese Junta's violent tactics.

The change we in the west must do is to put presure on companys like H & M, Nike. They must put more presure on the company that produces their products pay better salarys to their empoyes and getting them better working conditions. We in the west wont pay the "right" price for our clothes. There are no longer any production of clothes in europe, why? We are paying less and that´s giving the people in these countries bad working conditions. All sneakers are made in China....

In the past I've supported Chinese and other countries who have labourers working in factories that do not enforce Human Rights by buying their goods...is this not sending them a mixed message??????
"We do not believe in Child Labour, or what your government stands for .. HOWEVER........you have these goods that we want......"

It's contradicting...by buying their goods, we are funding these governments that are practically using their citizens as slaves, for the select ones in power to get rich..

I refuse to buy any clothes from now on that are made in China and other countries with similar conditions...

Hey Susanne!
Conditions may be different in Europe..here in Canada it is very possible to do this!
All we can do is the best that we can, everything starts small! :)

Thanks Jacklynn for starting this discussion.

I think even being aware of the situation going on will (hopefully) make someone be more conscious about buying products made in China. It's not an easy task...but as you've said, starting small does make a difference.

boycotting is not the best solution...
if only those have moral standard control the Chinese government, we have hope to end it once for all

Don't purchase, and don't use their products,....I'm IN....and so are my family members..
Cheers..

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! boycott CHINA!!!! HAHAHAHAHA
too bad its way too kate for that ...wed have to restructure the whole global consumer and market system and not to mention government and business structures. hahahaha

i love it when ppl are all againsst or for some cause they dont even remotely understand

A bunch of cowards! Stop pointing fingers!! If you so do care about the Burmese people, then buy some weapon and go to Burma to fight the military!

Same for us. There are some very good Buddhist companies in the UK that I will be supporting instead.

Looks like im not the only one laughing

Great argument. I seriously think it is a gold opportunity for the Chinese to intervene in Burma. First is to get international fame, secondly to control even more resources.
Yeah! haha, and then people would start to regret why they pushed China so much...

totally agreeor if china support a regime like junta, we cannot go to pekin hands in pocket! i think athletes must go to pekin play the game and manifest ! with messages on their t-shirts, perhaps a little bit like the black in 1936 games in berlin! this event would be a great opportunity to mediatise these horrors!
use them facilities against us!

Ahnee, you are french, perhaps you should start boycotting Total first, thats a french company. Oh no, perhaps Total pays a lot of tax to the French government which also pays for your pensions.