Chris De Burgh-Lonely Sky

2009 Dakar Rally crosses the Atlantic Ocean to Argentina and Chile and avoids terror threat

The Dakar Rally has been one of the highlights of the January Sports Calendar for almost thirty years. It was the brainchild of Thierry Sabine who got lost on his motorbike in the Libyan desert during the Abidjan-Nice Rally.The Paris to Dakar Rally is open to amateurs and professionals, men and women.The three major competitive groups in the Dakar are the bike class, the car class, which ranges from buggies to small SUVs, and the T4 truck class.

Thierry Sabine's saw his plans come to fruition on 26 December 1978, as 182 vehicles turned up in the Place du Trocadéro (Paris) for a 10,000-kilometre journey to Dakar (Senegal).

Each year the rally travelled through Spain crossed the Mediterranean to North Africa and took in large sections of the Sahara Desert in countries such as Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal. From time to time the route changed and it has also taken in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Burkina-Faso.

Unfortunately in 2008 the rally was cancelled because of terrorist threats emanating from organizations operating in Mauritania and Mali- believed to be linked to Al Qaeda.

To combat the terrorist threats the organizers -in a stroke of genius-have decided to move the rally across the Atlantic Ocean to South America. It will take in stages in Argentina and Chile. Africa's loss is South America's gain. Eighty TV channels in 189 countries will relay news of the race. The first stage commences on 03/01/09 in Buenos Aires.

From the Dakar homepage:

An extreme adventure between two oceans
The Dakar 2009 is off to discover a new continent, South America that offers unlimited possibilities to amateurs of wide open spaces. The round trip to Buenos Aires, via Valparaiso is a challenge in which the most enduring competitors will find their way and have the opportunity to distinguish themselves. With close to 6,000 kilometres of specials and difficulties scattered on the whole course, the battle for the title will remain wide open until the finish.

Olympic Flame Arrives in San Francisco -Huge protests anticipated

Tibetan activists have been protesting outside San Francisco City Hall since the crackdown in Tibetan areas began in mid-March. On Monday, three members of Students for a Free Tibet scaled the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl banners. On April 1, having been pressurised by human rights groups, city authorities released details of the torch route and the mayor publicly assured protesters that they would have access along the entire route. Hopefully as many people as possible will come out to vent their spleen at the jackboot tactics of the Chinese authorities in Tibet. Indeed Darfur and human rights abuses in China itself must not be forgotten

"Just because we have a very large Chinese population in San Francisco doesn't mean we support actions abuses committed by the Chinese government," San Francisco Board of Supervisors Member Chris Daly has said. The torch relay has triggered protests in previous host cities, including Athens London, and Paris. The next city stops are Buenos Aires and Dar es Salaam.

Kevin Rudd, the newly elected Australian Prime Minister has shown moral leadership by warning that he would not allow Chinese officials to provide their own security for the Olympic torch when it is carried through Canberra this month.
Mr Rudd referred to the outrageous behaviour of Chinese Olympic officials who were involved in unsavoury clashes with demonstrators in London and Paris- “All security, repeat all security, is provided by Australians,” he told The Times during a visit to London.

The Olympic torch is due to be carried through Canberra on April 24. As many Australians as possible must come out to show solidarity with Tibetans and Darfurians.

Paris: Olympic Protesters demonstrate against Chinese policy in Tibet

Thousands of Free Tibet supporters from all over Europe gathered today in Paris to protest against the heavily guarded passage of the Olympic torch as it passed through France's capital. About 3,000 French police were part of a security effort to shield the procession route.
The last section of the Olympic torch run through Paris was cancelled after the protests had repeatedly prompted officials to stop the procession, extinguish the flame and put the torch aboard a bus.

Following closely on yesterday's protests in London this has been an unmitigated public relations disaster for the Chinese Government.
Pictures flashed across television screens throughout the world displayed the intensity of the protests and have awakened public opinion to Chinese repression in Tibet. The Chinese Government has endeavoured to hide the reality of the protests from its own people.

In Beijing today, IOC president Jacques Rogge said he was "very concerned" about unrest in Tibet.

The Olympic torch's relay around the world arrives on Wednesday in San Francisco. Protests are planned here also against China's human rights record in both Tibet and Darfur.

The Chinese Government may also face protests at the Olympics. This will serve to keep the issues of Tibet and Darfur alive. However Chinese foreign policy lacks a moral basis and it is doubtful if embarrassment engendered by demonstrations is sufficient to bring about fundamental change.