Jerry - clearly artists like Bjork are not the same as Joe Ordinary. Had you shouted 'Tibet! Tibet!" nobody would have paid the slightest attention. She is using her fame to promote a cause in which she believes, where is the crime?
David - erm, actually she did play here, in Bilbao, sang the song and made the verbal protest at the end too!
As far as I'm concerned she's showing the kind of courage which the world's muti-nationals might do well to emulate instead of bending and crawling to the repressive regime with which they do business.
Principles for sale? You bet!

Kostakis, Bilbao,

To the people who point out western history (and current events). Remember that we try to learn from our history, and not repeat our mistakes. He study our history so that we can learn from it. The UK has given back the vast majority of the "empire" over the years. Recently there was the devolution of Scotland, power sharing in Northern Island. Compromise and admittance of guilt. Australia apologized to the Aboriginals. Over the past hundred years we have set lofty goals for human rites issues, and while we may not always live up to these ideals, the vast majority of the populations of Western Nations believe in these ideals.

Bjork is ideally placed as an artist to have her voice heard. Un-restrained by politics, she has spoken out for what is right, and I have a good deal of respect for that.

To invade a country, that has no means to defend it's self is morally wrong. Tibet is/was one of the most peaceful nations on Earth and China exploited that.

Alpha_Geek, Nottingham, UK

Why doesnt bjork go perform in spain, and shout "basque !basque!" or russia and shout "chechnya ! chechnya!" or even the uk and shout "gibraltar!" that would make her political stance a lot more credible

David Dou, weymouth, Dorset

How about if she expressed her opinion on the independence of Scotland which was a independent country during her performance in London?We support freedom of speech,but please repsect others and condiser others' feeling.

Alex, DY,

Why does the Times continually refer to what happened to Tibet in 1959 as an uprising, it was an invasion of an Independant country by the Chinese. At the time Tibet appealed to the U.N and the heads of various powerful states and all replied ' we feel sympathy but there is nothing we can do,sorry. ' Since then China has systematically tried to destroy and control Tibetan culture. Peaceful monks and nuns were tortured, murdered and even forced at gun point to fornicate in the streets, Also the Chinese forced many many Chinese to relocate to Tibet so the Tibetans became a minority in their own country. So if anyone out there thinks that is ok and there shouldn't be any protest, whatever the format then shame on you ! Now the Western governments don't want to upset the Chinese because of investment opportunities. Björk just did what was obviously the right thing to do !

Simon M, Oxford,

Manifest Destiny my foot. The chinese have murdered civilians, supressed human rights, and forcibly changed the demographics of a once independant country.
Kudos to Bjork. I wish the Rolling Stones had more balls.

anup, Brookeville, MD,

Jerry - surely everyone has the right to their opinion and to say it where and when they like. Is that not freedom of speech? I am sure she will face whatever consequences she is due be that fans stopping buying her records or a ban from performing in states where free speech is not allowed.

Adam, Edinburgh, UK

A couple of comments given above are absolutely ridiculous and laughable, e.g. one of them mentions westerners should read their own history to see what they have done in the past. So does that mean we should continue maintaining the inhuman and cruel deed-keep torturing people and suppressing individual rights, simply because they did in the past? Most people learn from the mistakes and trying to make better history, caring for civilians and protecting each others rights. But those Chinese who gave comments above seem to be still barbarian, having no concept of caring for others and how to make the world better! Well done Bjork! Every single person in the world has the responsibility to make the world better to live, supporting the truth, protecting other people’s welfare and rights for all.
Richie, Manchester, UK

Richie, Manchester, UK

I think some people need to check out the world map before commenting on the geography of China. Educate youreself first.

Amy, Beijing,

A couple of comments given above are absolutely ridiculous and laughable, e.g. one of them mentions westerners should read their own history to see what they have done in the past. So does that mean we should continue maintaining the inhuman and cruel deed-keep torturing people and suppressing individual rights, simple because they did in the past? Most people learn from the mistakes and trying to make better history, caring for civilians and protecting each others rights. But those Chinese who gave comments above seem to be still barbarian, having no concept of caring for others and how to make the world better! Well done Bjork! Every single person in the world has the responsibility to make the world better to live, supporting the truth, protecting other people’s welfare and rights for all.
Richie, Manchester, UK

Richie, Manchester, UK

Simply because Western - and other countries - have, in the past, used force to bring terrorites under their grip, doesn't mean one has lost the right to criticise such actions when performed by the Chinese.

To say one cannot raise doubts regarding Beijing's claim over Tibet and Taiwan because of the West's imperialist past (and present), is to give moral sanction to any crime just because everybody else is doing it.

Federico Lafaire, Amsterdam,

Bjork did the right thing. Everyone of us has a duty to speak out about injustice regardless of whom it offends. Our governments here in the West and China have a terrible record on human rights. No governments serve the greater good of the people they claim to serve. They simply serve themselves. Free Tibet, Free Palestine, free the world from Corporate Imperialism.

Ian, London, England

Way to go Björk. Independence for all people, I agree with her.

Im not suprised by americans speaking against freedom of speech, the US is increasingly resembling the new USSR, but in a "softer" version.

Alle, Europe,

Some westerns should observe their own country's histroy, what did their people do to the NATIVE people?
Observe your self before commenting on others

luyi, Chengdu, China

Bjork's music may be as dull as dishwater these days and completely stuck in a rut but at least her heart is still very much in the right place.
Funny how comments here by some Americans seem to be against free speech. Bizarre and sad.

Kieran , Leeds, UK

To say that western people have no right to demand for Tibet's independence is absurb. History have been so unjust with Tibet and it's people that almost all of the countries in the 1950's had turn a blind eye at the on-start. The main difference is that Tibet was an independent country when it was invaded. Almost all of these Tibet Support Groups are mainly supporting what the Tibetans in itself are asking ... to get back their indepence from China. Tibet has it's own language, culture, tradition, religion and even had it's own Tibetan passport. Tibetans both inside and outside of Tibet are the ones spearheading this demand. Any group of people or race has the right to self determination and should not be force with a foreign policy, specially if it is in conflict with it's religious practice. If somebody just watches a big bully intimidating somebody smaller and weaker, then something is not right and one needs to re-evalute oneself.
Tibet will never be a part of China

L. Padriga, Cebu, Philippines

Matthew, Salt Lake City,

Let China occupy USA and USA is part of China.
What do you think.

John, New York

John, New York,

Artists don't have any more right to say anything they want than
anybody else. They arrogantly think they are 'entitled' to
say whatever, but they aren't.

They need to think about what they say or sing or whatever
and/or pay the consequences like the rest of us.

Sorry Andy, but they aren't as special as you may wish.

Jerry Scroggin, Phoenix, Arizona/USA

I am not Chinese, but I disagree with any western organized movements in favor of formal Tibetan independence. Given our European and American respective histories with colonialism, on what basis do we criticize China's "manifest destiny", at least with a strait face?

Yes, the Chinese government has much to improve when it comes to Human Rights -not a "western" right, but a human one. HOWEVER, we have no right to challenge established PRC sovereignty and territorial integrity, no matter how nasty their history with Tibet has been. This would be tantamount to Chinese demanding the return of western U.S. territory to its rightful owners, the Native Americans... of course, such a notion, while morally and historically justified, would be today, ridiculous.

Our criticisms of Chinese autocracy in favor of Tibetan Buddhist theocracy is also hypocritical on our part. BOTH are undemocratic. BOTH suppress the inherent rights of individuals, be they Tibetan, Han, etc.

Matthew, Salt Lake City,

Artists have the right to say what they feel ; when they feel . Bravo Bjork . I think Celine Dione should have no problems but the Chinese may find her music very boring .

Andrew ex pat, Paris , France