The 2008 Summer Olympics are set to begin on Friday. Four activists from Britain and the United States - representing Students For A Free Tibet - were detained in Beijing Wednesday August 6 after unfurling Tibetan flags and two 140-square-foot banners outside the Olympic stadium. The first read, "One World, One Dream: Free Tibet" in English, and the second read, "Tibet Will Be Free" in English and "Free Tibet" in Chinese. The audio is a bit rough on the clip, because activist Ian Thom is calling in from the scene.

Tonight at 8pm EST on GRITtv we discuss politics and human rights in China with Helen Zia, The Nation's Christian Parenti and John Pomfret author of Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China.