Friday, August 22, 2008

China blocks iTunes because of pro-Tibet Album

iTunes, the Apple online music store, has been blocked by the 'Great Firewall" of China after Olympic athletes downloaded a pro-Tibet album.

On Monday 18th August the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) announced that 46 athletes from America, Europe and even Beijing had used the site to download Songs for Tibet, The Art of Peace which had been offered to them free of charge.

The album, produced by the Art of Peace Foundation and promoted by the ICT, features 20 songs from high profile artists including Sting and Alanis Morissette.

The Foundation said that by listening to the music, athletes would communicate that "compassion and non-violence can overcome intolerance and oppression - beautiful ideals to be associated with the Olympic spirit".

The album was put on iTunes on August 5th, three days before the opening of the Olympics.