Fry's open letter / Anti-gay policies in Russian olympics

[NickUndercover]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stephen ... _hp_ref=uk

Didn't keep an eye on the evolution of anti-gay policies in Russia, is it really that bad ? Anyway props to Fry for stepping up.

[particle-jim]

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/stephen ... _hp_ref=uk

Didn't keep an eye on the evolution of anti-gay policies in Russia, is it really that bad ? Anyway props to Fry for stepping up.

Yes it really is, been reading quite a bit on this and it's completely fucked up

[NickUndercover]

There doesn't seem to be a lot of options at this point though. moving the olympics would be logistically very difficult and no one wants to anger mother Russia and Putin. A boycott wouldn't be a good solution either as it would punish the athletes as much as the organiser...

[particle-jim]

When russian lawmakers are implementing policies that legitimise things like this (http://www.thegailygrind.com/2013/08/06 ... ies-video/) then something needs to be done to make a bold statement against it, none of the men involved in that kidnapping/attack have been prosecuted, however gay rights activists in russia are arrested and abused by the police all the time

I shan't be watching the Winter Olympics nor shall I be buying any russian products for the forseeable future

[particle-jim]

No arrests have been made and no charges were pressed. Putin’s law enforcement seems to fully condone these actions. Moreover, Dr. Degtyarev’s numerous written complaints to the authorities only resulted in his own persecution and threats directed at him and his 72 years old mother.

In the official correspondence from the local District Attorney office and Governor’s office it was explained that Russian authorities do not see any wrongdoings in the video clips or photographs posted by Neo izan group “Occupy Pedofilyaj.” Actually, the authorities referred to this group as one of the “civil movements fighting the sins of the society.” Dr. Degtyarev diligently collects every piece of evidence and correspondence and records all phone conversation with direct threats to him and his mother.

[magma]

These things often get a bit overblown, but the entire world should currently be boycotting Russia wherever possible. It's disgusting.

Fuck this whole situation and every Russian that supports it.

[nousd]

An Olympic boycott would be less difficult than an economic boycott (of their gas)
but I doubt it will happen...it's not as if bashing gays is a new thing there
& the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics went ahead when there was an partial boycott over Afghanistan.
It will be largely up to individual competitors.

[hubb]

Submit to the combat elfman

[mIrReN]

it's as bad as racism over there, really won't ever understand why they're being held there.
Olympics ffs shouldn't be about money fucking shitworld all about money

[jorge]

I agree with the sentiment and what happening there is terrible but are you boycotting oil from arab countries aswell?
Dont think things are much better for LGBT people there.

[Genevieve]

I agree with the sentiment and what happening there is terrible but are you boycotting oil from arab countries aswell?
Dont think things are much better for LGBT people there.

Yep, if we're boycotting things based on human rights violations, we should all just be growing our own food. Not just Arab countries, but the EU, USA, South America, Asia. You'd also be hurting the non-bigots there as well by not buying their shit. What you want to do is keep the information and trade (of good and ideas) going. Gay Russians will know there's more accepting places for them to live and more Russians in general will have more access to anti-homophobic information.

FUCK, let's be honest. Jamaica is pretty bad at institutionalized homophobia and lotsa folks here buy and support reggea music out the ass.

When you think about it, just like a lot of Russians don't think this is a human a right violation. A lot of westerners might be supporting policies in their own countries that they don't see as rights violations themselves because they grew up with it.

But the Olympics never meant anything. It's a little show where people pretend to be all about BEING CONNECTED AND ONE AND EXCHANGING CULTURES, but when they're not watching the Olympics, then they're calling people 'Pakis', vote for racist politicians. It's just a stupid show, it stops being 'culturally relevant' when you stop putting caring about it.

Reading about this and seeing the pictures did make me sick to my stomach though.

[magma]

Russia are Europe's biggest and most powerful neighbour; it's perfectly natural for people from both territories to attempt to influence each others' policies. Whether it'll have an effect is another matter, but of course people are going to comment and campaign. That's humanity.

This über-idealistic world where we must have everything or nothing must get tiring, Gene.

[Genevieve]

Russia are Europe's biggest and most powerful neighbour; it's perfectly natural for people from both territories to attempt to influence each others' policies. Whether it'll have an effect is another matter, but of course people are going to comment and campaign. That's humanity.

This über-idealistic world where we must have everything or nothing must get tiring, Gene.

What you want to do is keep the information and trade (of goods and ideas) going. Gay Russians will know there's more accepting places for them to live and more Russians in general will have more access to anti-homophobic information.

While we're at it, we should also boycot everything from the UK for their privacy violations btw.

[magma]

I think that's largely the idea of picking the biggest global sporting event to take a stand. Nobody can miss that transfer of information. The world does not approve Russia. This isn't how civilised humans act in 2013.

I don't boycott my own country, I campaign to change things and vote. That's how you act within a democracy. I don't have a vote in Russia, so boycott is a perfectly viable alternative. It certainly beats chatting about it to people online.... I mean, that's done loads of good for Pussy Riot, hasn't it?

I also see a fair old moral distinction between a government being a bit too nosey and a government essentially legalising the kidnap and murder of homosexuals. I know that they both fall on the "BAD" side of your ethical Berlin Wall, but other people manage a slightly more granular approach to morality.

[Riddles]

I really annoys me whenever something like this comes up, for example with the world cup in Qatar, the authorities say: "It won't affect the supporters going to the country to watch the games" That's not the fucking point, the fact of that matter is these games are supposed to be about peace and acceptance, if a country doesn't wanna follow the rules set in by the bodies responsible, why are we associating with them. Fucking annoys the hell out of me because it's just blatant corruption....

[wolf89]

This sounds a bit more sensible
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cyd-zeigl ... gay-voices

[HamCrescendo]

Plans to open 83 'concentration' camps were announced last weekend.
Mass round ups of migrant populations in Moscow suburbs.
Key opposition leader Limonov detained by security forces, along with 20 other protesters for an unsanctioned rally. (Waiting eagerly for the English translations of the Limonov biography here, huge hit in france)

Ed Snowden: (Russia has) my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless.’

[hugh]

Shit like this really makes me angry, I mean, how did all the decent people let this just slide and slide? Why do good people sit and do nothing as bad people tear the world apart?
I'm fucking sick tbh

[wub]

Seriously. It's coming.

[Muncey]

Ed Snowden: (Russia has) my gratitude and respect for being the first to stand against human rights violations carried out by the powerful rather than the powerless.’

Lol he has to say that.