Beijing beware

International PEN is a group of global writers dedicated to human rights for other writers less fortunate than us. I am a Sydney member.

Its latest campaign is dedicated to highlighting the issues relating to the upcoming Beijing Olympics:

The poem ‘June’ by imprisoned Chinese poet and journalist Shi Tao is relaying around the world, country to country, language to language, until it reaches Beijing for the Olympics in August.

PEN Centres around the world have translated ‘June’ to over… 60 (and counting) of the world’s languages.

When the poem arrives at a new location, you can read and hear a new translation.

The PEN Poem Relay begins in Taiyuan, Shanxi, China, the poet Shi Tao’s hometown. On March 30, the poem arrives at Greek PEN Centre (at the same time the Olympic Torch arrives in Panathinaiko Stadium in Greece).

Text and images ©2024 Antony Loewenstein. All rights reserved.

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