Steven Spielberg (I don’t have to tell you who that is, do I?) is resigning his role in the Beijing Olympics, because he believes China isn’t doing enough to end the violence in Darfur.

“I have decided to formally announce the end of my involvement as one of the overseas artistic advisers to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic Games,” Spielberg said in a statement.

Later in the article, he says,

“My conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual,” Spielberg said.

“At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur.”

I can’t fault him following his conscience, but I don’t think boycotting the Olympics is the answer. Information travels through filters here in China, and what’s considered a stand for human rights in the US, will likely be seen in China as an anti-Chinese or xenophobic Westerner (Or worse, a Westerner afraid of China’s rise to power).

Via Sydney Morning Herald