“Social cleansing” This is not in reference to the Nazi’s, or any other dictator trying to bring about genocide - but a reference to the so-called “clean-up” operations taking place in Rio ahead of the Olympic games. 4,120 families have lost their homes and another 2,486 are threatened with removal, thousands of children have been displaced and many street kids have completely disappeared. The Olympics have long provided local developers and politicians with an alibi to steamroll already marginalised communities. But now is the time, in the wake of the FIFA scandal, to show that the IOC is not immune to people power, investigation and correction. It is time that the IOC lives up to the values declared in the Olympic Charter. Sign this petition to bring the Olympic charter back to life; make positive change the norm, not death and displacement.
Forced eviction, violence and even death have marred Rio’s preparations to this year's Olympic games. There has been a marked increase in police and military action against street children, resulting in injury and even death. Children who have witnessed this violence are left psychologically damaged - not what we have in mind when it comes to the Olympic games.
Entire communities have been destroyed, their residents displaced to make way for Olympic facilities - once again the opposite of the Olympic charter. Labour conditions, including the exploitation of children has been questionable, to say the least. In fact, the games thus far have brought nothing to Rio but fear, displacement and death. All for screaming fans and a few minutes of glory for a chosen few. If this is what the founders of the Olympics envisioned then we need to take a hard look at ourselves and question our motives.
How did it come to this? How did the Olympics become a tool for oppression and violence? A tool and a means for developers to take what they have always wanted: land. And a tool for the politicians to make money off of these developers, who care nothing for the people they displace.
It is our fault, that is why. Because we ignored the little transgression, then as they grew, little by little, Olympic game after game, we did nothing. Too small to notice at first, it has now become a monster that we are powerless to stop. A necessary evil as they wish us to believe. Or is it?
One of the Fundamental Principles of Olympism - The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
How far is this from what is currently happening? It is a disgrace how far we have slid into corruption and opportunism. It is time for change; we must not sit back any longer. The IOC is not untouchable and it must be held accountable for what is happening in Rio and we demand that they fall back on the principles of Olympism. To uplift communities, not break down.
Demand that Thomas Bach, head of the IOC stop evictions and other human rights abuse for purposes of a “good” Olympic games.
