Regrettably it no longer surprises when the international community fails to show even a modicum of moral courage. When it comes to a choice between protecting the weak and vulnerable of the world or looking after its own narrow interests, the global community does not fail to disappoint.

Although the eyes of the world have recently been distracted by the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Burma, the conflict in Darfur still rages unabated. This tragedy has affected the lives of more than 4 million people, uprooting around 2.5 million and taking the lives of as many as 400,000. Despite superficial concessions, Khartoum continues to flaunt international law through indiscriminate attacks on unarmed civilians and refugees, raids on the AU/UN peacekeeping force and the wilful harbouring of war criminals.

The proposed Olympic boycott presented the international community with a golden opportunity to exert pressure on the Sudanese government through their political benefactors China. Unfortunately this opportunity has been largely squandered as politicians have allowed attention to slip from this crucial issue.

The sustained ineffectiveness of the international response to the suffering of the people of Darfur is motivated by nothing more than plain, ugly greed. China is becoming increasingly important as a trading partner for both the developing and the developed world and governments across the globe continue to run terrified at the prospects of displeasing the emerging Eastern giant.

Members of the UN Security Council are currently in Sudan pressing for a resolution to the crisis but as long as Western governments prioritise trading relations over moral prerogatives little will be achieved.

As it stands the games will go ahead as scheduled, trade will grow without restriction and the people of Darfur will suffer and die, sacrificed on the alter of our prosperity. Little surprise.

John O'Shea, GOAL

PO Box 19

Dun Laoghaire