China 0

I am officially boycotting China. I will no longer knowingly purchase any goods manufactured there including plastics, foods, clothing, cosmetics, anything. And yes, this is going to be a difficult boycott. I will also be boycotting the summer Olympic Games to be held in Beijing. What's the deal, you ask? I'm so glad you did.

First, China is the chief weapons provider, diplomatic sponsor and largest foreign investor and trade partner to Sudan. The Sudanese government, as I'm sure many of my readers are well aware, is responsible for abominable acts of genocide in Darfur. And yet China continues to strengthen its economic and military ties with Sudan when the Chinese government, single-handedly, has more power than any other nation to convince the Sudanese government to halt the slaughter and stop blocking UN Peacekeepers. China must act to end the genocide in Sudan.

Second, unless you were on another planet, you have heard about the extensive recall of tainted pet foods that originated in China. While the country does appear to be making progress on this particular issue, I can't help but feel that it's only because it has blown up to be such a disgusting mess. It has been widely reported that Chinese manufacturer’s frequently evade US border standards trying to push the same contaminated shipment into the US from several different entry points after being turned away. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. They take that advice to heart - KNOWING that they are breaking the law and endangering lives.

Third, China's blistering economic and industrial growth is having potentially irreversible impacts on the global environment. Everything is dirty. Seriously. Air and water supplies are so foul that a health crisis in that country is impending. And it won't stay "over there" for long. China's environmental problem is OUR environmental problem - we must require them to do more.

I'm sure you remember all the "Axis of Evil" BS spun by the President during his 2002 State of the Union address. While I don't allow myself to use the word "Evil", I certainly feel that China is contributing more than its fair share of negative vibes into the planet's ethos. For that, I give you NO STARS, China. No love. No money. Get your shit together.