Bahrain GP - FIA and Ecclestone
Discussion
Anyone else agree with Bernie's plea that "F1 can't be political"?
He states "They're not protesting about F1. If we didn't go, whatever problems there are... would they stop Monday morning? The answer's no."
It appears to me - he is somewhat missing the point. Did we stop buying oil from Libya as it would stop Gaddafi a week later, do we boycott certain nations as it will directly stop atrocities?
I rather think we do these things as it is initial steps to condemning actions, forces, regimes etc
SURELY the FIA must realise racing there is an indirect condoning of what the regime has and is still purporting?
Anyone fancy boycotting watching the race on BBC/Sky - who's with me?!
p.s. Sorry to get on my high horse on a Monday morning!
He states "They're not protesting about F1. If we didn't go, whatever problems there are... would they stop Monday morning? The answer's no."
It appears to me - he is somewhat missing the point. Did we stop buying oil from Libya as it would stop Gaddafi a week later, do we boycott certain nations as it will directly stop atrocities?
I rather think we do these things as it is initial steps to condemning actions, forces, regimes etc
SURELY the FIA must realise racing there is an indirect condoning of what the regime has and is still purporting?
Anyone fancy boycotting watching the race on BBC/Sky - who's with me?!
p.s. Sorry to get on my high horse on a Monday morning!
t of the highest order.Dan - I get your point - but it appears a little different to me.
China's Human rights are abhorrent - but Bahrain seems to be 'an event' happening at present - and there is present political, ethical and social focus on the event (not to say this isn't the case in China - note to self: mustn't disprove point when trying to make point)
To me it just feels different - there is a majority force across the country, the regime is not supported...
Vocal (if I may call you that?) - nice digression...but I have to say Sunday Bloody Sunday "What a great song. It really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday, doesn't it?"
China's Human rights are abhorrent - but Bahrain seems to be 'an event' happening at present - and there is present political, ethical and social focus on the event (not to say this isn't the case in China - note to self: mustn't disprove point when trying to make point)
To me it just feels different - there is a majority force across the country, the regime is not supported...
Vocal (if I may call you that?) - nice digression...but I have to say Sunday Bloody Sunday "What a great song. It really encapsulates the frustration of a Sunday, doesn't it?"
The issue for me is that when the GP was cancelled last year the FIA said 'We'll come back when everything is under control'.
This immediately put Formula One in a terrible position, IMO, because it meant that whatever the circumstances in that country are when sport returns are circumstances that are endorsed by Formula One and all the teams and sponsors who ar participating.
If you want to make an argument for not racing in countries with poor human rights records, you could make an argument for never racing anywhere. Ever.
The point here, for me, is that by cancelling because of political unrest, and saying the sport would return when everything was back to how it was, the sport is complicit in whatever is done to achieve a level of political stability that would allow it to return.
In this case, that is killing people. In droves.
This immediately put Formula One in a terrible position, IMO, because it meant that whatever the circumstances in that country are when sport returns are circumstances that are endorsed by Formula One and all the teams and sponsors who ar participating.
If you want to make an argument for not racing in countries with poor human rights records, you could make an argument for never racing anywhere. Ever.
The point here, for me, is that by cancelling because of political unrest, and saying the sport would return when everything was back to how it was, the sport is complicit in whatever is done to achieve a level of political stability that would allow it to return.
In this case, that is killing people. In droves.
DanDC5 said:
With the same argument though, if F1 doesn't go to Bahrain it shouldn't have gone to China either, their human rights atrocities make Bahrain look like a safe haven.
A worse example albeit with a different sport would be England and Sri lanka playing cricket recently. The Sri Lankan Government was implicit in the deaths of some 40,000 people mostly innocent civilians, never been any action taken, quite appalling.Quote from the following link:
"Sri Lanka's brutal 26-year civil war between the government forces and separatists from the Tamil minority ended with a government victory in May 2009. During the war, both sides committed gross human rights abuses, including war crimes, for which no one has been held accountable. Enforced disappearances and torture have continued to be reported since the war's end. Hundreds remain detained without charge or trial. Independent journalists and human rights defenders have been harassed and attacked. Draconian security laws inconsistent with international standards remain in place."
http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/asia-...
Could it also be that Bahrain has virtually no sporting event of world standing that matches the Grand Prix. It is a much bigger focus for unrest and violence than it would be in other countries.
And Bernie is the last person to accuse others of mixing sport and politics. Who was it who gave a £1 million donation to the Labour Party or who spends a large portion of his time and effort negotiating multi-million pound deals with political leaders and governments?
And Bernie is the last person to accuse others of mixing sport and politics. Who was it who gave a £1 million donation to the Labour Party or who spends a large portion of his time and effort negotiating multi-million pound deals with political leaders and governments?
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