Shame!

And more business news that you can use (to get ill) - Sharon Stone made some remarks critical of China (suggesting the recent earthquake was their punishment for actions in Tibet) at the Cannes Film Festival last week, and now she and the company she's a spokesmodel for, Christian Dior, are scrambling to apologize to the Chinese. Kind of sickening to watch otherwise reasonable concern for human rights to be completely bulldozed by business interests. Shame on all of them.
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/29/dior_apologies/

Sharon Stone had suggested the Sichaun earthquake was the result of bad karma. She implied the Chinese were being punished over Tibet. The remark provoked outrage in China.

And Christian Dior is bearing the brunt. The company uses the Hollywood actress as the face of its Capture Totale skincare line. Its Chinese headquarters has been indundated with complaints. The company has now dropped Stone from its Chinese ads and has apologised profusely. And so has she.

Geoff Dyer of the Financial Times in Beijing says Dior is clearly worried: "Like a lot of luxury groups Christian Dior have invested heavily in China. They now have over 60 stores here. So it is very important for them not to alienate lots of Chinese customers."

Here's a more detailed account:

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYMs8IJwj_FL1Mdbf2cF6jjGYPUQ