This post by David Hembrow in the Netherlands captures my feelings on the geopolitical, moral and environmentalist importance of cycling at this moment:
When driving a car means funding a country which is attacking Europe, riding a bicycle should be seen as a patriotic act. Insulating homes and other projects to reduce energy consumption should be viewed similarly, as should projects to generate sustainable energy in our own countries.
Interesting to note:
Vladimir Putin once reportedly praised the sexual prowess of Israeli president Moshe Katsav, while Katsav was under investigation for rape and sexual assault.
Today, Katsav is serving a 7-year term in an Israeli prison. He is due out in 2018.
This reminds me of Trump.
From a comment I made to Anne:
“If we LGBTs and Allies go, we’re excusing and abetting “business as usual”. If we stay home and boycott, Russia will still go ahead with “business as usual”. Either way LGBT Russians are screwed in some way. Plus, with far-right assholes from churches, think tanks and political parties abroad (including here in the US) who have confederated themselves (or twisted themselves and each other in angry anti-liberal knots) in “pro-family” material and rhetorical defense of the Russian, Ugandan and other anti-LGBT bills, how does one counter this industry and its bitter product? The only thing I can see as effective is forming an “underground railroad” for LGBT Russians and Eastern Europeans.”
I’m not arguing against a civilian boycott of the games. If moralistic and symbolic, it will at least keep people aware of what is going on. But don’t count on it to be effective beyond that, or in the short term. #lgbt #russia #sochi #olympics #ЛГБТ #России
