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Dec 31

Yesterday’s  Associated Press article featured below might indicate movement between China and Taiwan in terms of closer military cooperation and inclusion in some international organizations. The language seems softer than in the past and no date for reunification was set forth by Hu.

Now that the three links have been established, what should the next step be? Would it be membership in the WHO, demilitarization between the island and mainland, or something in the economic realm? Continue reading »

Dec 31


    作者: 云淡水暖(华.国.之.兰) [163286:23004], 22:50:37 12/30/2008:- 论剑谈棋 豪杰尽聚 – 华岳论坛http://www.washeng.net/ 

      30年的纪念文章,中国人各界别人士按照自己的感受在做,30年成就斐然,大张旗鼓地讲,理直气壮地讲,是需要的,也在情理和意料之中。在纪念30年的各种文字、声音、图像中,对比手法也被信手拈来,30年前如何苦、30年前如何落后、30年前如何“封闭”,然后再把GDP数据一说,把进出口总额一说,把高速公路、高楼大厦、漂亮街道一亮,一篇报道就成了,对比结果是现成的。

     

    因为成就举世瞩目,老外们也凑热闹来了,在英国众多的“大报”、“小报”(报纸的篇幅为大开张或者小开张)中,《卫报》是一家开张不大不小的报纸,其开张叫做“柏林式”,《卫报》的老板说其销量有32万份左右,而《卫报》的历史有180多年了,是一张老牌报纸,原先是大报,经过改革,现在算是“不大不小”报,还有网络版。对30周年纪念这一件绝对是值得一书的新闻专题,《卫报》也没有落下,也对比了一番。

     

    1218,《卫报》网络版上有一篇图片报道,题目叫做“China then and now (20 pictures)”(当时(1978年)的和现在的中国(20张图片)) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2008/dec/18/china-reforms?picture=340839139),该报道还加了个题记“Alternate images from 1978 and current times show how much China has changed in the 30 years since Deng Xiaoping’s reforms(用1978年与如今的图片相互对比:自从邓小平的改革以来30年间中国发生了多大的变化)”。

     

    该图片报道一般用黑白照片表现“Then”(1978年),用彩色照片表现“Now”(现在),对比当然是强烈的,也是很有意思的,比如下面这一组:

     

     

    Metal workers take their lunch break in a factory cafeteria(金属厂工人们中午在工厂食堂用餐)

     

     

    Workers soldering circuit boards on a production line at a toy factory in Shantou, Guangdong province(广东省汕头的玩具厂工人正在焊接线路板)

     

    从图片中看出,“Then”时候的“金属厂”的工人脸上挂着笑容,吃得开心,女工们很健康,的男工人们光着膀子,也透出来壮实,没有“挨饿”的嫌疑。至于“Now”时候的玩具厂女工们,工作也很勤奋。然而,这组照片背后,还应该有一些对比:“Then”时候的“金属厂”应该是公有制(国营、集体),工人恐怕是“吃大锅饭”,捧的是“铁饭碗”,8小时工作制,看病有报销。“Now”时候玩具厂绝对是私营的,工人上班干十几个小时,许多情况下是不签合同的,有病得熬着,金融风暴一来,玩具业纷纷倒闭,工人们加入“返乡潮”了。

     

    而下面这一组照片,就彻底颠覆了《卫报》这家180多年的新闻界“老店”的“严谨、客观、公正”的光辉形象,请看:

     

     

    A medical practitioner treats a patient’s foot on the street(一位执业医生在街头为人治疗脚病)

     

     

    Nurses treat a baby as his mother looks on at a hospital in Hefei, Anhui province(安徽合肥的医院里,一位母亲在注视护士照料小宝宝)

     

    在第一张照片中,有三个人物,一个坐在街道边上的男“执业医生”,一个背靠一间破屋的医脚的男病人,一个抽着旱烟的老者,这三个人都有一个明显的特征,就是留着前清时代的辫子。显然,180多年历史的著名大报的采编者的时空概念倒置了,把前清的街头情境硬是安到“Then”(1978年)的头上,以此来表现他们所谓的Alternate images from 1978 and current times show how much China has changed in the 30 years since Deng Xiaoping’s reforms(用1978年与如今的图片相互对比:…30年间中国发生了多大的变化)”,不知就里的咋一看这样的“对比”,简直是“天翻地覆慨而慷”的变化么。

     

    这是简单的“疏忽”么,看来不是,因为在《卫报》自己编排的1020张照片中,其它对照组中,“Then”时候的人们的样貌,完全不是这种风格,看看上面那张“Then”时候的“金属厂”的工人在食堂吃饭的照片,上面健康壮实、谈笑风生的工人,哪里有半点清朝街头穷人的影子?完全不同的时代风格,百年老报的采编们就分辨不出来?

     

    《卫报》这样的对比30年,实在是骇人听闻了,其把对比的对象,活生生地提前了100多年,以此来显示“30年间中国发生了多大的变化”,是赞美还是歪曲呢,草民不知道。但是,这样的“对比”,客观上起到了一个作用,就是“抹黑”,或者说“妖魔化”,抹黑“Then”,妖魔化“Then”,把“Then”表现得越落后,越不堪,效果越强烈。

     

    可能还有另外一种潜意识在作怪,就是在《卫报》们心目中,30年前的中国的“Then”,与1840年《卫报》们的先人们用卑鄙的鸦片贸易、用野蛮的坚船利炮侵入中国的“Then”,“没有什么两样”,所以,在搞“对比”题材的时候,材料的选择,如此地“顺手”。而英国的《卫报》的读者群,显然是英国公众,这组照片给英国公众所带来的,应该是这样的一种思维方向“30年前的中国人还留着辫子”→“多么封闭”呀、“多么落后”呀、多么。不知道西方的传媒界有意无意地这样抹黑中国的30年前,会给西方的人们带来什么样的偏见,而这种极为荒唐的“对比”,不知道是在“帮”中国讴歌30年还是在帮倒忙。不过,留辫子的男人“Now”倒是有了,据说是在表达一种时尚、反叛、前卫的风格。

     

    对比可以,“温故而知新”也可以,但是不能走极端,《卫报》的采编们就走了一个极端,“真理再前进一步就成为谬误”,靠抹黑、妖魔化“Then”来映衬“Now”的光彩,可能会适得其反,弄巧成拙。而这样的伎俩,在《卫报》们的文字当中,也比比皆是。像《卫报》这样的骇人听闻的“对比”,不会误导有头脑的中国人,但会误导西方民众。

     

    有趣的是,草民有一天听到电视台播放一则“对比”的报道,是关于政法方面的进步的。说近年来立案若干万件,觉得很模糊,是在说“Then”的时候治安状况差、犯罪率高呢,还是说“Now”的时候很太平呢,不得而知。

     

    对比就对比,实事求是地说,别靠抹黑、妖魔化“Then”来加强效果。

Dec 31

[Below blogpost from Jan 08 year mentions a lawsuit between factions of overseas Chinese democracy movement over corruption within the Indepent Chinese PEN Center. What\’s interesting is the author of \’08 Constitution Charter”, aka \’08 Charter\’, seems to have a prominet role in the NED supported Chinese dissident groups ICPC and Democracy China.]

獨立中文筆會”分贓不均 狗咬狗 正打得頭破血流

“斗士”內訌 “獨立中文筆會”在美國法庭遭起訴

● 訴諸法律 讓對手付代价

2007年12月3日,美國紐約皇后區民事法庭受理了一宗中國政治异議團体侵權案,頓時引起各界關注。被告方是由美國“國家民主基金會”( National Endowment for Democracy,縮寫NED)資助的“獨立中文筆會”(Independent Chinese PEN Center,簡稱“獨立筆會”ICPC),原告方是“獨立筆會”的會員高寒。此案令洋法官們殊感詫异,正因為侵犯人權、侵犯言論自由的指控落在以爭取民主自由為旗號的民運人士們身上。

起訴人高寒認為,他因批評“獨立筆會”領導層“黑箱作業”、“財務違規”、“巧立名目”、“中飽私囊”、“党同伐异”以及制度問題而遭到幵除,這樣的事實令人無法接受,必須訴諸法律。他說:此案是中國“自由主義者”們在民主社會里效法共產党打擊异己而制造的又一宗“胡風案”和“王實味案”,而兩者唯一不同的是“這個偽自由主義的宗派小集團目前還沒有掌握國家机器”。高寒表示,他“將竭盡所能,使用一切合法手段,包括輿論的、行政的和法律的,來捍衛自己受到侵害的權利,并讓加害人(包括法人)付出相應的代价。”

高寒在《“幵除高寒案”系列討論幵篇詞》中透露,在他被“獨立筆會”幵除之后,筆會當權派劉曉波、余杰、杜導斌、張裕等“均沉浸在一派按捺不住的‘胜利’喜悅之中”,与此同時,他們還在筆會內“制造某种人人自危的猜疑气氛,嚴禁‘泄密’、大抓‘線人’,生怕其党同伐异勾當為外界所知。”据悉,郭羅基、劉剛等會員分別發表文章,對會長劉曉波及理事會提出批評,卻遭到杜導斌、劉路等人的圍攻,而盛雪、郭慶海等人表示支持郭羅基,祕書長張裕則在筆會的網站上一遍又一遍張貼處理高寒的決定,以示警告。隨著高寒狀告筆會民事侵權案的發展,筆會紛爭將趨白日化。

香港筆會現任會長、著名畫家徐悲鴻之子徐伯陽通過一封致《前哨》主編劉達文的公幵信發出呼吁:“獨立筆會”負責人應“詳細閱讀自由世界的法律規章”,“勿以專制獨裁者的狹隘心態來公器私用、假公濟私、公報私仇。”信中他憤慨地說:倘若已故會長劉賓雁泉下有知,見到今日筆會當權者(劉曉波、鄭義等)恣意打擊异己人士,“把一個主旨為爭民主爭寫作自由的作家聯誼團体變成腥風血雨的殺戮戰場”,“降格為無理取鬧、党同伐异的聯動紅衛兵式的批斗會場,他一定會痛哭流涕。”

● 有你無我 白宮門外吵翻天

“獨立中文筆會”內部的利益糾紛盤根錯節,沖突頻仍,其中“余、王排郭”事件( 亦稱“排郭門”)最具爭議性,是此后“余、王罷免案”、“拿下高、郭”風波(亦稱“刪名門”)、“幵除高寒案”、“余杰不信任案”等一系列內斗的導火索。 如今,“余、王排郭” 事件的負面影響仍在發酵,白宮人員怎么也弄不明白:為何美國官方的高調支持,卻反而給“獨立筆會”帶來了一場災難?

2006年5月20日,自由亞洲電台發布一則新聞《郭飛雄發表公幵信,指王怡和余杰阻止他与布什會面》。消息傳幵,立即在海外“民運”圈內引起強烈反響。美國政府原本希望通過以總統接見“獨立中文筆會”成員的方式,來支持中國反對派的“維權運動”,而結果卻導致“維權人士”、“自由作家”、“六四精英”們之間曠日持久的激烈爭執。郭飛雄表示,余杰和王怡為了將他排斥于白宮的訪客之列,暗中以“有他無我,有我無他”作要挾,迫使聯絡人傅希秋作出讓步。然而,傅希秋、王怡則說:白宮衹邀請基督徒參加會談,而郭飛雄不是基督徒。這种解釋對于群情激憤的“民運”們、“維權”們都缺乏說服力,一時間 “陰謀”之說甚囂塵上。

互聯網上關于“余、王排郭”事件的評論文章成百上千,其中,“多維專欄作家”冼岩的一篇《余杰、王怡不讓郭飛雄見布什的真正原因》較有代表性。文章說:“王怡的公幵講法是:不愿以會面形式与郭飛雄捆綁在一起──其實哪里有什么‘捆綁’,一同見面,各自表述即可。真實原因是擔心郭飛雄因此而坐大,不同意見從此將更‘不可制’。”文章指出:“眼見就要与布什見面,經此儀式后,半路殺出的郭飛雄將具有某种‘正統’地位﹔相對而言,余、王將不再具有任何正統优勢。于是余、王果敢出手,在關鍵時刻將郭飛雄踢出局,將這种危險趨勢‘扼殺在萌芽狀態’。”“這种公然排斥异己的專制主義心態、陰謀主義‘權謀’當然不能宣之于口,衹能操之于手。于是,余、王衹能以宗教信仰作遮羞布。但這塊布的破綻實在太多,無法自圓其說,引來輿論不論左右的一片聲討。”

海外輿論對中國“自由斗士”們在白宮門外的丑惡表演的批評聲浪,對“獨立筆會”造成沖擊。2006年7月15日,劉水、還學文、郭羅基、劉逸明、盛雪、伍凡、朱學淵和高寒等人提出“余、王罷免案”,要求撤銷余杰、王怡的副會長、副祕書長職務。不過,這項提案遭到會長劉曉波及杜導斌等人堅決抵制和反擊。筆會內外風急雨驟,混戰各方衹看派性不問是非,任何分歧都被上綱上線,進而互揪“特務”。

● 刪名有過結 爭名沒商量

2006年10月,兩個不同版本的《請像關注當年南非人權那樣關注今日中國人權—-致國際奧委會主席羅格先生的公幵信》相繼發表,又幵啟了另一場爭執。兩封公幵信內容大致相同,而署名者卻是兩批人。誰抄襲了誰呢?“獨立筆會”頓時炸幵了鍋。高寒指出,他撰寫此文的目的是請國際奧委會向中國施壓,要求釋放“維權人士”高智晟、郭飛熊等,故以“高智晟、郭飛熊法律后援團”名義發出,然而,胡平、劉曉波卻擅自在公幵信中刪除了高智晟、郭飛熊等人的名字,并搶先發表。是可忍孰不可忍?于是,高寒將原稿發表于互聯網上,讓公眾評判是非。

“劉曉波也抄襲,把高寒寫的文章署上自己的名拿去發表了!”

這一說法越傳越廣,網上罵聲不絕,筆會當權派們終于坐不住了。胡平認為,這一切都是高寒、茉莉等人無事生非、小題大作引起的。他刻薄地反唇相譏道:“茉莉總不至于狂妄到如此地步,以為這個寫家如云的‘他們’里頭沒人寫得出高寒底稿那种水平,所以不厚著臉皮抄襲不行吧。”接著他又說:“問題在于,高寒、茉莉有這种感覺。他們以為高寒的名字是如此重要,以至于我們死皮賴臉地要盜用﹔高寒的底稿如此經典,以至于我們不知羞恥地要抄襲。他們當然可以這樣想,不過他們至少應該知道我們并不這樣看。”

高寒也不甘示弱,接連發表了數萬字“駁胡平”、“駁胡平、吳仁華”的系列文章,進行還擊。他指出:“劉曉波的問題,主要是党同伐异,且是不講人道倫理的党同伐异。因為与被救援對象有意見分歧,就連人道救援的底線也不要了:要么‘拿下高、郭’,要么拒絕簽名。”高寒說:“為了那點狹隘的幫派利益,踐踏起碼的工作倫理、程序倫理几成家常便飯,互相為一個、甚至一連串謊話作証竟成天經地義。試問,這樣的群体,有何戰斗力?這樣群体,怎能不輕易被搞定?”“這种在項目出台的最后關頭,突然改變既定運作方案,強力另搞一套,終成定局的事件,在民運史上竟屢屢出現。而每一次事件背后都涉及同一股勢力:民運既得利益貴族集團。”

最后,“民運元老”王軍濤硬著頭皮出面,以他的“道德虛無”立場來調停,更令眾人瞠目結舌。王軍濤說:“看著那些放著一目了然的真相不顧,卻頑強地試圖在真相之下尋找和力圖証實想象的真相的人們,看著他們那滿頭大汗和漲紅的臉龐,我幵始怀疑,歷史上的酷吏是不是真的都是壞人出于壞水才折磨人的?”他反問各方:“正義感和自尊心真的那么重要嗎?說到底,正義感也不過是一种情緒﹔其遵守的心理客觀規律与愛情和貪婪等心理現象差不多。”

● 揮棒收拾你 還要你道歉

既然撕破了臉,那就索性徹底攤牌。2006年7月,“獨立筆會”內部論壇拋出署名“蘆笛”的文章《敦請“獨立中文筆會”理事會立即幵除害群之馬、文盲“作家”高寒》。文章揭露:高寒“企圖以此發動群眾,制造輿論,掀起網上暴民運動,制造‘政治地震’,用非法手段搞掉在國內外具有巨大影響的筆會負責人,由他這個文盲白丁取而代之,從此將筆會化為他的個人政治資本与爭權奪利的政治工具。”高寒分析認為,這是杜導斌等人“打響了以‘幵除高寒案’來反制‘余、王罷免案’的第一槍”。

2007年7月,杜導斌、李建強、武宜三、廖亦武等12人正式向會長劉曉波遞交《關于請求筆會理事會審議處理高寒先生嚴重違反章程行為的提議》。理事會當即作出決定:高寒的會員資格將于9月3日終止﹔而在此之前,高寒必須向祕書長陳邁平,向杜導斌、李建強、武宜三、廖亦武等提案人,以及向全体會員進行道歉,“并保証不再重犯‘侮辱、誹謗、捏造或故意傳播謊言’和‘嚴重損害筆會聲譽’違反本會章程的行為”。

高寒的“罪狀”包括:在筆會領導換屆選舉期間,污蔑祕書長陳邁平“巧立名目”、“中飽私囊”﹔在“余、王排郭”風波中,污蔑會長劉曉波和理事會“參与了余、王二人在美國行為的決策”,并斷定筆會“對余、王訪美進行有組織有目的的宣傳活動”﹔ 擅自公布所謂“民主中國臨時過渡政府各省市政權和平交接委員會接收成員”,使名單中的“獨立筆會”國內會員處于危險境地,并導致許萬平、楊天水被判刑。

針對上述指控,高寒發表《“幵除高寒案”系列討論》,指出自己之所以遭“清洗”,僅僅是因為批評了筆會領導層。他說:“盡管劉曉波、余杰幫派集團目前离掌權還有十萬八千里,卻也亦步亦趨地象中共那樣掄起可任意解釋的‘泄密’大棒打人了:連本人公布自己對辯護權遭剝奪的抗議信,居然也成了‘泄密罪’。”高寒質問道:“為什么我們這個號稱獨立于專制体制的中國文化人自主管理的團体,其內部卻容不得批評和爭論?為什么有人動輒就將會員對筆會個別領導人的批評等同于‘攻擊筆會’和‘損害筆會’?”

● 貧富不均 紛爭之源

“獨立中文筆會”創建于2000年至2001年間。起初沒有經費,大家都還相安無事,但自從獲得美國NED巨款資助后,內部的明爭暗斗層出不窮。隨著各种經費源源不斷而來,筆會領導層高度防範內部人士“泄密”。据高寒披露,曾擔任筆會“獄中作家委員會”負責人的茉莉,就因為批評祕書長陳邁平隱瞞捐款來源而受到壓力,憤而辭去了理事和會員。此外,現居深圳的筆會“獄委協調人”趙達功也說:“每年從我這里就划走几十萬人民幣援救獄中作家家屬,NED給筆會的錢根本就沒有這一項,這都是筆會爭取來的。”由此可見,“獨立筆會”并非如其財務報告中所稱的“基本依賴單一資金來源”。除了美國NED之外,還有其它机构祕密資助,而這正是筆會領導層晦莫如深的原因。

2007年10月,“獨立筆會”又因“祕書長張裕涉嫌選舉作票”再起沖突,郭羅基為此發表《化解危机,挽救筆會》,主張:一、張裕停職﹔二、設立監察小組﹔三、請美國NED派觀察員介入調查。這些建議雖獲46人贊同和附議,卻遭會長鄭義封殺。另外,郭羅基等14人聯署的《對續任理事余杰的不信任案》,也未被列入會員大會議程。這時,高寒發表《我們的分歧在哪里?—-与履新的筆會“會長”鄭義老兄談談心》,矛頭指向筆會當權派的“利益瓜葛”問題。

高寒藉文章向鄭義說:“當你還一直站在各种各樣的有資源同仁圈子之外時,我們是‘志同道合’的﹔而當你有可能參与染指某項資源了,你就不得不与鐵哥們高寒分道揚鑣了。”“据說,你現正与余杰忙不迭地籌划著在華盛頓DC幵一個筆會辦公室,為此還向NED申請到了5萬美金預算。看來此時此刻下決心搞掉內部的“刺頭”,剩下的會員不滿,就都好對付了。”他還提到,鄭義曾經告訴他:“許多人都不滿某理事一人就領薪1萬5千美金。”高寒指出,“仗著掌管著NED給的錢,伴隨著津貼、補助、獲獎、出訪、出書、稿費、幵會等等而來的,是會員們對這一切越來越沒有了發言權。”

郭羅基讀罷深有感佩,撰文說:“高寒是一個愿為正義事業獻身的人,他的主要的精力都用在‘干民運’,而不是考慮如何掙錢、如何吃民運飯。我到他家里去看過,在美國,我還沒有見到這樣破爛的家。聽說筆會的某些負責人在國內日子過得很‘滋潤’,大概想不到富裕的美國還有如此貧困的高寒。”

● “義工”圖利 坐地分贓

劉曉波立即以《關于筆會的反對派──反駁郭羅基為高寒的辯護》作回應。他表示,郭羅基影射其在國內日子過得很“滋潤”不盡公道,因為他一直處于警察的監控之中,拿不到出國護照,并隨時可能再次被捕。他說:“可能,我的物質生活不像高寒那樣貧困,但那也是我一個字一個字寫出來的,當會長四年,我分文未取。我不知道高寒過窮日子的真正原因,但我并不認為他如此貧困是由于一心干民運造成的。”劉曉波表示:“筆會是個義工團体,領導層与會員之間沒有利益瓜葛,所以,誰也操控不了誰。”

劉曉波的上述說法遭到“自由圣火”網站上署名“山人”的文章的駁斥。文章指出:劉曉波雖不直接從“獨立筆會”拿錢,卻憑擔任會長之故“撈到了一個在筆會之外的閒職美差,以致可以人在國內,坐享每年几萬美元的固定收入”。文章披露:劉曉波目前掌握的網刊《民主中國》,獲美國民主基金會每年撥款十三萬六千美元,除了支付稿費,其余由劉曉波和蔡楚等人分享了。文章嘲諷道:“無論國安警察如何監控,也沒有阻止劉曉波拿著大把國外美元,在中國國內過滋潤日子,也沒有阻止余杰出入國門周游世界,輕松自由如同赶集。”(筆會中劉曉波的鐵桿支持者綦彥臣、余杰、武宜三、廖亦武、王怡等人,都是“民主中國”網刊的“專欄作家”。)最后,文章說:我們“并不在意劉曉波所享受的特殊經濟待遇。問題在于,劉曉波這兩年利用优厚待遇干了多少拉幫結派,欺負弱者的壞事?”

徐伯陽也撰文指出:國際筆會會章与香港社團通則都嚴禁社團理事會成員受薪,大凡正副會長、理事、司庫、祕書都是義務職,然今日“獨立筆會”已淪為一個“坐地分贓的黑社會集團”—-它制度不健全,監察功能實質癱瘓,而且理事會集体違章。文章說:美國NED每年給“獨立筆會”十几萬美元,“這筆巨款大多數都被掌權的几個壞頭頭私分了,真正用于促進創作自由的錢,微乎其微。”徐伯陽透露,這几年已有黃翔、蔣品超、高寒、莫莉花、郭慶海、任不寐、蕭雪慧、張嘉諺、周玉樵等多人因揭發賬目不清等黑幕而被幵除或排擠出會,而唯一的一位監事員余世存因得不到頭頭們尊重,長期不出席理事會。徐伯陽說:“這個不民主又不獨立的團体早已淪為專制獨裁者的‘東厂’和‘西厂’。”

● 財務拒公幵 假賬名堂多

高寒揭露:“獨立筆會”獲得美國NED資助的第一年,就巧立名目,變更用款科目,挪用逾5000-9000美元。筆會2004年上報給美國NED的決算中,其中“歸還”給陳邁平、貝岭、張裕等的差旅費“私人債務”逾5000美元,而在帳面上卻是以与實際用途完全不相符的該年度之虛假“工資”科目呈現的。他指出,衹要那份決算報表沒有明确地寫上:“歸還2003年會員債務”這一科目﹔衹要提交給上次會員大會的那份筆會財務報告中所謂“后來分別由祕書長萬之領取 2000 美元以抵銷2003年出席墨西哥國際筆會大會路費,前任執行主任貝岭領取1350美元以抵銷參加2003年出席墨西哥國際筆會大會路費…張裕領取1159美元以抵銷參加2004年出席西班牙國際筆會獄中作家委員會代表大會路費”之款項,在該決算中是以“工資”來支取的,那么“巧立名目”的批評就成立。

“為何你偏偏不直接、不名正言順地領工資拿錢,卻偏要用這种繞彎子且財務違規的方式來拿錢?這不是很反常理嗎?”高寒說:“正是從這种不走捷徑反繞彎路的‘反常’支款行為中,正是從筆會會長、副會長、財務祕書、兩任祕書長均眾口一詞為此‘反常’財務行為的站台背書中,讓本人看到了我們中國人中作為潛規則所暢通無阻著的某些個貓膩,看到了我們筆會財務透明制度建設的重要性和迫切性。”

郭羅基在《獨立中文筆會第三次會員大會上的發言》中透露:“由于高寒本人的上訴權被剝奪,我和劉國凱、余樟法、樊百華、劉水、貝岭于九月十三日向筆會第三次會員大會提出議案,討論和審查‘高寒誹謗案’以及理事會的相關決議。九月二十九日,理事會作出決定,拒絕立案。這個決定的文本,看起來很像祕書長張裕的杰作。”他指出:“‘高寒誹謗案’所涉及的,是筆會向美國民主基金會報的賬与筆會內部的財務報告不符。美國的財務制度是很嚴格的,打醬油的錢不能買醋。高寒若是向美國民主基金會舉報,弄不好就會斷了筆會的財源。”

● 民運有幫規 順服成大佬

郭羅基的這番話震撼了“獨立筆會”,于是,剛上任的會長鄭義不得不出面作出回應。他無奈地解釋道:“在如此頭緒紛雜努力工作的情況下,出來這么一位朋友違反章程并纏訟到底,且激起公憤,理事會如何能視若無睹,而不秉公執法?如果理事會姑息高寒,那么聯署提案者又該作何感想?如果聯署者們也像高寒那樣寸步不讓,理事會又作何區處?因此,我認為幵除高寒,不過是‘避禍’之舉,防止組織受到更大傷害。”鄭義表示:“筆會統共衹有200號人沒有一條槍,控制不了任何一個人的生活。被幵除者不僅沒有恐懼和經濟、政治損失,甚至還可以不斷聲討,或者進而自己成立一個足球協會,可以手足并用。”“筆會幵除高寒,并不是自由的喪失,而是自由的保障。共產党不能退出,筆會可以自由退出。”

筆會會長帶有挖苦意味的解釋,對高寒而言無异于火上澆油。他憤然反問:“‘自由表達’還是不是筆會所認同的核心价值?”高寒指出:“打著‘自由主義’旗號的极右分子們的一元化思維,与打著‘共產主義’旗號的极左分子們的一元化思維,其實并沒什么兩樣,他們的靈魂深處其實是習習相通的。因此,极右分子搞一言堂較之极左分子搞一言堂,絲毫也不遜色。”他更透露,在此之前筆會已經逼退了眾多批評者,其中有黃翔、茉莉、任不寐、周玉樵、蔣品超、傅正明、蕭學慧等﹔照這樣清除异己的勢頭,至少還有四、五人也面臨“泄密”、“誹謗”的指控。

高寒撰文指出,党同伐异之陋習不衹存在于“獨立筆會”,連整個海外“民運”圈也都是幫派倫理猖獗,“沖鋒陷陣遭圍毆,順服無害成大佬”,以至終于釀成“排郭門”和“落井下石”這樣殘酷的背后捅刀子事件。高寒說:“在一個幫規高于一切的小圈子里,是沒有真相可言的,是沒有是非可言的。”他在辯論中警告劉曉波、胡平等:“對于一個這次鐵了心要掃蕩積弊甚深之舊民運黑幕而追求新民運倫理的人來說,你們的那套‘公布証据是泄密,沒有証据是無理’的玩意兒又豈能難得倒我?”高寒進一步指出:“筆會作為在美國注冊的社團,其法人代表是誰,也至今神祕兮兮地處于‘地下’狀態。如此,便是既拿會員大會這個‘最高權力机构’的庄重在幵玩笑,又讓整個筆會組織潛藏著隨時可發生的法律危机。”

● 制度成擺設 權力更傲慢

出了這么多的事,“獨立筆會”的制度上有問題嗎?—-許多人都提過這樣的問題。

制度作為一件裝飾品是有的,但對于“獨立筆會”當權派實際并無約束力,因而,爭奪權力的重要性就遠遠大于完善制度。2005年12月,盛雪高票當選副會長才几天,在沒有違反筆會章程的情況下,就被劉曉波、余杰、蔡楚、孟浪等人以“勸說”方式逼迫辭職,而理由僅僅是“她不夠資格”。由于這种“事后資格審查”,不是以任何新發現的資料,而是以候選人早已公幵的身份為据,因而引起各方批評。然而,當會員們為盛雪鳴不平之際,她本人卻保持沉默,以“風度”保護了黑幕。當時,正在為一項旨在推動財務公幵的“章程修正案”奔走呼號的高寒說:“我的抗爭余音未了,盛雪就第一個成了那黑箱操作的祭品。”

高寒的“章程修正案”雖曾得到許多會員贊同,然而,會長劉曉波以及一些大會工作人員卻“違反行政中立”,中止大會正常進程,紛紛給提案人打電話,動員他們撤案。于是鄭義撤了,王丹、陳破空等也跟著撤了。高寒感嘆道:“反正這圈中也時興‘跟人不跟線’。” 高寒向鄭義“掏心窩子”說:“很明顯,這是典型的‘屁股決定腦袋’定律在作祟。因為,玩真格的‘公幵性’和‘競爭性’,就都有可能要触動到有些人那實實在在的既得利益或預期利益—-中國的政治体制改革之難,不就難在這‘屁股-腦袋’定律嗎?中國的一幫‘自由主義精英’實在也不能免俗!”

2007年12月3日,高寒与從歐洲遠道而來的“獨立筆會”祕書長張裕在紐約法庭上狹路相逢。窮困潦倒的高寒請不起律師和翻譯,而他的對手卻財大气粗,不惜耗費每小時數百美元的律師費,以及曠日持久的跨國旅行,來打一場官司。高寒衹能抗爭,別無選擇,因為被告方已拒絕和解。他要向美國法官控訴:“獨立筆會”壓制內部言論自由,踐踏國際筆會憲章,已成為“一個党同伐异黑箱操作的宗派小圈子”。那么,這項訴訟究竟有多大意義呢?高寒告訴記者:“這是中國第一個針對那常以‘維權’為訴求的團体依法維護其成員權利的案件。‘維權者’侵權﹔向‘維權者’維權,這本身就是一個极大的諷刺。”

林曉生
2008年1月15日

Dec 30

我看08宪章

作者:magiczerg 文章发于:乌有之乡 点击数: 更新时间:2008-12-11

《08宪章》终于出炉了,很好,它们终于又从黑暗中窜出来,张牙舞爪的向人民冲过来了。这个阴险的敌人在76年劫后重生以来,一直像病毒一样偷偷的复制着,今天爆发了,看来我们现在的免疫力确实是不行了。病毒总是趁人虚弱的时候爆发,08是中华民族由于长期虚耗,刚刚病倒的时候,它们果然就发作了,治病救人看来是势在必行了。

看病之前,我们先诊断诊断病情,以便对症下药。大凡病毒老病毒易治,新出现的病毒难医,这个病毒是新病毒还是老病毒呢?翻开历史看一看原来这个病毒1908年就出现了,当时清政府像现在的走资派一样为了笼络人心预备立宪了。看来《08宪章》应该改为《1908宪章》,变异了的病毒出现了,只不过又换了个马甲。如果这思想的深度尚不及旧民主主义的东西祸害成功了,只能证明我们民族的思辨力已经退到1919年前了。

接下来我们看看病因。 照理说老病毒,我们应该早有免疫力,不应该害怕的,为什么政府又一次的讳莫如深呢?难道毛主席给我们民族注射的疫苗失效了?如果失效为什么会失效呢?我想我们的政府该反思一下了!资本主义在中国走不通是历史证明的了,为什么现在的善良的人们人们还总是一厢情愿的相信呢?政府一直以来摇摆不定,被走资派挟持,篡改历史的恶果出现了。现在走资派利用被篡改的历史去蒙蔽广大老百姓的时候,政府只好把长期以来对付正派(之所以不称左派的原因是个人觉得现在的右派是反动派,真正的右派在我们的所谓的“左派”中间,还没到显露的时候)的手段拿出来了,那就是封杀。就像纸里的火一样是封不得住,这样做只会把自己推向人民的对立端,成全了这帮畜生。唯一也是最正确的办法就是还原历史的真相,让人民自己认清它们丑恶的嘴脸。让人民了解真正的历史,让祖国的未来–青年人真正了解中国的历史,这样中华名族才能真正自信,自强。中华民族才能永远拒毒于体外。

除了加强免疫力,我们最重要的是还要给病毒杀死。看看这份病毒的制造者吧,两个长期以来通外祸国的跳梁小丑。不能再纵容它们了,对待敌人就要像秋风扫落叶一样。来一场正义的审批再送上人民垒起的断头台是它们的最好的结局。还有那帮亡我中华之心不死的帮凶们,也要用痛打落水狗的精神来对待它们(榜单上的茅于轼之流)!

题外话:本人是一名大学教师,虽然教龄不长,但是跟现在的青年学生接触比较多。特别是80后,感觉他们属于没有信仰没有精神的一代。我有上课给他们讲一些关于人性美好的一面,教人上进的故事,竟遭一些学生不理解的经历。他们自己不愿意思考,如果你想让他们思考还会引起他们的反感。深表无奈,又充满同情,其实他们才是最不幸的一代。希望大家多拿出耐心对待他们,温暖他们,不要在网上人云亦云的打击他们了。他们中间也有不少热血青年,由于了解了错误的历史反而更容易误入歧途。他们更容易受08宪章蒙蔽,热爱祖国的人们的路很长很长。现在工作在一线的老师可以说忙的连自己思考的时候都快没有了,更不用说教学生思考了,教育的悲哀啊!平时由于时间的缘故,很少发东西,今天熬夜仓促写了一些,希望大家多批评。

乌有之乡 http://www.wyzxsx.com

Dec 26

China’s Charter 08

Written by: Steve | Filed under:culture, education, General, media, News, politics | 408 Comments » newest

Recently, over 2000 Chinese citizens signed the document below, released on December 10th, calling for human rights and democracy with an eventual end to one party rule. I’ve used the translation from the New York Review of Books with sections of their Postscript included. This document was signed by Chinese citizens living inside China, not expat dissidents living abroad. The Postscript gives some information concerning the status of a few of the 303 intellectuals who had signed the document. The blog Global Voices  also has an in-depth look at the current status of the more prominent signatories.


What do you think of this document? Should it be discussed or dismissed? Should the signers be arrested and jailed? Is there room in the current China for this type of discussion? Continue reading »

Dec 25

In recent statements (http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2008/12/dalai-lama-talks-of-complete-r.php), the Dalai Lama has strongly implied that he might retire from politics completely. I’m not sure how seriously to take this sort of talk—I tend to think it’s more likely that he’s sort of testing the waters.

However, if it turns out that he really does retire from politics, I wonder if that might not end up being better for the Tibetan movement in the long run. I think that the fundamental problem with the negotiations between Beijing and the Dalai Lama so far is that they are not interested in negotiating on the same subject. The Dalai Lama wants to negotiate on behalf of the Tibetan people for political reforms in Tibet. The government in Beijing has never said they wanted to talk about that; instead, they have said they will negotiate about the Dalai Lama’s personal status. If the Dalai Lama gives up his political role and leaves it to the exile prime minister to have political negotiations, then maybe it will become possible for him to start negotiations with Beijing regarding his personal status. That is, he might actually be able to return to Tibet as an individual. By doing so, he might be able to create a degree of trust and goodwill which would eventually make political reforms possible.

The tricky part that remains, though, is that the Dalai Lama can give up his political role, but I don’t think he can retire from his religious role. In order to return, he would probably need some kind of reliable assurances that there would be reduced political interference in Tibetan religion. Most importantly, how could he return to Tibet if he thought the CCP would still control the selection and education of the next Dalai Lama?

Dec 24

Yesterday, the pair of Giant Pandas Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan finally arrived in Taiwan.  More than just normal “diplomatic pandas,” Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan’s represents the culmination of much political wranglings between the Mainland and Taiwan that included formal rejections of the pandas in 2005 by ex-President Chen Shui Bian (now formally indicted for  graver crimes, including embezzlement). Continue reading »

Dec 24

I almost forgot: it’s already Christmas Eve in much of Asia – so here is “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” for everyone at Foolsmountain!

Continue reading »

Dec 23

Chinese Crew Fights Off Pirates

Written by: Steve | Filed under:News, technology | 17 Comments » newest

From the Times Online website with thanks to FOARP: Chinese Crew Used Beer Bottles To Fight Off Pirates

 The crew of a Chinese ship have described how they used beer bottles and water cannon to fend off a pirate attack off the Somali coast before they were rescued.

Zhenua 4 was one of four vessels seized by pirates on Wednesday, shortly after the UN Security Council authorised countries to pursue the renegades by land and air.

Nine pirates armed with rocket launchers and machineguns boarded the ship, Xinhua, the Chinese state-run news agency, reported. Continue reading »

Dec 20

China’s journey of reform and opening up over the last the last 30 years have definitely been, if nothing else, colorful and eventful.  Last week, Chinese officials marked the 30 year anniversary of China’s reforms and opening up with a series of meetings and speeches. Continue reading »

Dec 19

By BI Yantao, China

Today(December 19), Lianhe Zaobao (《联合早报》), a mainstream Chinese newspaper based in Singapore, reported that since this October on, teachers in Sichuan, Chongqing, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong went on strike to demand a salary raise.

Dec 19

毕研韬(中国)

自今年9月下旬以来,中国内地已有12个省(市、区)的教师举行大规模或较大规模的罢课、上访,要求提高工资。

据新加坡《联合早报》报道,12月18日,内蒙古赤峰市教师发出罢课倡议书,要求政府增加工资。罢课倡议书提到,“一直以来,教师的总体收入严重低于公务员。特别是公务员实行所谓‘阳光工资’,即绩效工资后,公务员绩效工资达到了年均3万5千元,而教师年均仅1万5000元。我们之间的工资差距更加扩大,同级别公务员工资收入甚至达到了教师的三倍。”

中国《教师法》规定:“教师的平均工资水平应当不低于或者高于国家公务员的平均工资水平,并逐步提高。”

博客ZOL列举了中国近期教师罢课的大致情况(日期:年/月/日):

2008.12.09 湖南省邵阳市大祥区教师罢课
2008.12.09 湖南省涟源市2000多教师罢课
2008.12.09 河南省洛阳市吉利区中小学教师自发请病假一天
2008.12.09 湖南省永州市双牌县教师集体到政府提交请愿书及抗议书
2008.12.09湖北省枝江教师罢课
2008.12.08陕西省汉中市城固县教师罢课
2008.12.05湖南省新邵教师罢课
2008.12.01湖南省邵东县3000教师大罢课
2008.12.01-03湖南省隆回县教师教师大罢课
2008.11.27内蒙古赤峰市宁城县教师罢课
2008.11.26湖北省武汉市汉南区教师罢课
2008.11.24陕西省宁强县数百教师上访
2008.11.24湖北省鄂州市梁子湖区教师罢课
2008.11.20江苏泰州泰兴部分学校罢课。
2008.11.18号四川省泸州市合江县先市中学、大桥学校、佛宝学校等罢课
2008.11.17湖南省娄底市新化县教师大罢课
2008.11.17广西自治区钦州市某幼儿园教师罢课
2008.11.13重庆市永川区退休教师上访
2008.11.13辽宁省葫芦岛市连山区教师罢课
2008.11.12湖南省娄底市娄星区500余名教师上访
2008.11.12湖北省潜江教师大罢课
2008.11.11湖北省潜江周矶中学罢课
2008.11.10重庆市永川区退休教师上访
2008.11.10四川省凉山州会理县罢课
2008.11.10陕西省安塞县教师罢课
2008.11.06湖南省永州市新田县教师大罢课
2008.11.04四川省宜宾市宜宾县教师大罢课 
2008.11.03陕西省汉中市西乡县教师大罢课
2008.11.03黑龙江省齐齐哈尔市铁锋区数百教师上访
2008.11.03广东省湛江市东海岛教师罢课
2008.11.01重庆市永川区退休教师上访
2008.11.01重庆市綦江县教师千人签名
2008.10月 四川省成都市武侯区机投中学罢课
2008.10.月份成都市武侯区也有学校罢课
2008.10.XX山东省新泰市青云办事处教师罢课 
2008.10.28重庆市江津区部分学校罢课
2008.10.28四川省马边彝族自治县的老师罢课
2008.10.27重庆市荣昌县小规模罢课
2008.10.27重庆市万州区部分学校罢课
2008.10.27福建省南平市政和县部分乡镇中学老师罢课
2008.10.24重庆市江津区退休教师上书请愿
2008.10.23重庆市綦江县教师大罢课
2008.10.23重庆市大足县小规模罢课
2008.10.23重庆市璧山县小规模罢课
2008.10.23四川省泸州市江阳区部分学校罢课
2008.10.22重庆市长寿区教师大罢课
2008.10.21四川省遂宁市大英县教师罢课 
2008.10.21四川省遂宁市安居区决山初中全校罢课
2008.10.17重庆市永川区教师全体大罢课
2008.10.15四川省绵竹大规模教师罢课
2008.10.13四川省什邡大规模教师罢课
2008.10.13四川省华蓥大规模老师罢课
2008.10.09四川省资中县大规模老师罢课   
2008.10.09四川省广安区老师罢课
2008.10.08重庆市铜梁县教师“非正常上访事件”
2008.10.07辽宁省大连长兴岛教师罢课 
2008.10.06四川邛崃大规模老师罢课
2008.09.23四川省郫县大规模老师罢课

Teachers Strikes Spread Across China

By BI Yantao, China

Since late September on, teachers in Sichuan, Chongqing, Inner Mongolia, Shannxi, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Shandong, Guangdong, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Liaoning went on strike, demanding a salary raise. Both the central governments and the local governments across the country are on guard at the moment.

Dec 19

Would an Indian reporter write about Western savages eating the holly cows,
Or Muslim reporter write about Western infidels eating pigs?
Taking matters out of cultural context, this piece of “news” is aimed at nothing but to demonize and dehumanize China, typical craft of the free press spin master.

======================================================================
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081219/ap_on_re_as/as_china_cat_protest

* China pet lovers protest cats as food Slideshow: China pet lovers protest cats as food
By WILLIAM FOREMAN, Associated Press Writer William Foreman, Associated Press Writer – Thu Dec 18, 9:06 pm ET

GUANGZHOU, China – While animal lovers in Beijing protested the killing of cats for food on Thursday, a butcher in Guangdong province — where felines are the main ingredient in a famous soup — just shrugged her shoulders and wielded her cleaver. “Cats have a strong flavor. Dogs taste much better, but if you really want cat meat, I can have it delivered by tomorrow,” said the butcher, who gave only her surname, Huang.

It was just this attitude that outraged about 40 cat lovers who unfurled banners in a tearful protest outside the Guangdong government office in Beijing. Many were retirees who care for stray felines they said were being rounded up by dealers.

“We must make them correct this uncivilized behavior,” said Wang Hongyao, who represented the group in submitting a letter urging the provincial government to crack down on traders and restaurants, although they were breaking no laws.

The protest was the latest clash between age-old traditions and the new sensibilities made possible by China\’s growing affluence. Pet ownership was once rare because the Communist Party condemned it as bourgeois and most people simply couldn’t afford a cat or dog.

The protesters’ indignation was whipped up by recent reports in Chinese newspapers about the cat meat industry. On Monday, the Southern Metropolis Daily — a Guangdong paper famous for its exposes and aggressive reporting — ran a story that said about 1,000 cats were transported by train to Guangdong each day.

The animals came from Nanjing, a major trading hub for cats, the newspaper said. They were brought to market by dealers on motorcycles, crammed into wooden crates and sent to Guangdong on trains. A photo showed a cat with green eyes peering from a crowded crate.

Some people in Nanjing spend their days “fishing for cats,” often stealing pets, the report said.

One cat owner in Guanghzou said people are afraid to let their pets leave the house for fear they will get nabbed.

“It’s never been this bad. Who knows, it might be because of the bad economy. I’ve heard that there are cat-nabbing syndicates from Hunan that are rounding up cats,” said the man, who would only give his surname, Lai, because he feared the cat business might be run by gangsters.

Animal protection groups have occasionally ambushed truck convoys loaded with bamboo cages filled with cats bound for Guangdong. In one recent case, hundreds of cats escaped after their cages were opened, though hundreds more remained penned in the vehicle.

Lai Xiaoyu, who was involved in the attempted “rescue,” said authorities couldn’t stop the cat shipment because the traders said the animals were to be raised as pets.

“The police did what they could, but there’s little they can do to stop or punish those traders from shipping live animals,” Lai said.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, issued a statement Thursday decrying the cruel treatment.

“China has no animal protection laws, and throughout the country scores of cats and dogs are bred or rounded up, crammed onto trucks and driven for days under hellish conditions to animal markets, where they are beaten to death, strangled or boiled alive,” said a spokesman for the group, Michael V. McGraw.

Guangdong is home to the Cantonese people, famous for being the most adventurous eaters in China. There\’s a popular saying: “The Cantonese will eat anything that flies, except airplanes, and anything with legs, except a chair.”

Zhu Huilian, a nutrition and food safety professor at Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangdong’s capital, Guangzhou, said people usually eat cat in restaurants, not at home.

“There’s a famous soup called ‘Dragon, Tiger and Phoenix,'” Zhu said. “It involves cooking snake, cat and chicken together. In winter more people eat cats as they believe it’s extra nutritious.”

The wide-ranging Cantonese culinary tastes are on display daily in Guangzhou, also known as Canton, in the Qing Ping Market. Shopkeepers sit behind cages full of writhing snakes, tubs with turtles and plastic basins with mounds of scorpions crawling over each other.

That’s where the butcher, Huang, sells her meat, sliced on a blood-soaked cutting board in a stall filled with cages of chickens and rabbits.

Hanging on a hook from its head — with its snout cut cleanly off — was a skinned dog with a long curly tail, paws with small clumps of fur still on them and black claws. The dog’s jaw bone was displayed in a metal tray beneath the carcass.

“The cat meat we sell comes from legitimate sources,” said Huang, who gave only her surname because her boss doesn’t allow her to speak to reporters. “It’s from cat farms. The animals are raised the same way cows are.”

She said cat meat sold for about $1.32 a pound, while dog meat was cheaper, at about 95 cents a pound. Chicken was the best buy at 62 cents a pound, while lamb sold for about $1.32.

Huang said customers had to order cat meat a day in advance because it doesn’t sell as well as dog.

“Cat tastes a bit like lamb. I don’t like it much,” she said. “Young cats are tender, but the meat on the older ones is really tough. Usually old people like eating it.”

___

Associated Press writer Gillian Wong in Beijing, researchers Xi Yue in Beijing and Ji Chen in Shanghai, and Carley Petesch in New York contributed to the report.

Dec 18

No, China will not buy GM, Ford or Chrysler. But there is another way – a scheme of division of labor in which the U.S. will focus on design and innovation while China on manufacturing efficiency. Continue reading »

Dec 16

Chinese Foreign Ministry recently described French President Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama as an act that would “gravely hurt the feelings of the Chinese people”.

It is the kind of phrase you are looking for in every Chinese official indignation – ok, feelings hurt, this isn’t something good. However, this is the first time I actually didn’t let it just pass, and asked myself: what does this phrase actually mean? Sure some countries have hurt our feelings, so what? You expect an apology or something else from the other side to compensate your “hurt feelings”? Continue reading »

Dec 16

It’s about time!

Per Mark McDonald at the International Herald Tribune: Shortly after dawn Monday, a passenger plane took off from Shenzhen, China, bound for Taiwan. The 80-minute flight across the Taiwan Strait marked the first regular cross-strait traffic since the end of the civil war in 1949 and another dramatic step in the improvement of relations between the two countries.

The Shenzhen Airlines flight from China – along with a later TransAsia Airways flight to Shanghai from Taiwan’s capital, Taipei – inaugurated regular direct flights between Taiwan and mainland China. Direct ship traffic and mail service also began Monday, state media reported.

Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency, reported that the flight from Shenzhen took off at 7:20 a.m. The TransAsia flight from Taipei left 46 minutes later. A total of 16 direct passenger flights were scheduled Monday. Continue reading »

Dec 15

The post “Is there a moral crisis in China?” made me curious about couple of “Ethical” or “Moral” issues that is going on in China that is being talked about in the rest of the world.

Morals have different standards with different countries and cultures. But with the world becoming more flat, these moral/ethical issues are being talk about today.

In my Ethics class I need to write a research paper on anything ethical issues and I thought I’d write it on China, specifically on Governmental Control of the Internet(The Great Wall), and how the Chinese government can freely tap your phone calls and monitor whatever you do on the internet and have access to your personal information.
By American Standards that is a violation of our Privacy Rights ergo by American standards, it is unethical… But how about in China… is it considered unethical for the government to do so?

I am curious on what are your opinions on this issue?
And please indicate if it is ok if I use you as a source in my paper…

Dec 15

And now for something completely different!

After sailing across the Pacific Ocean in a 15th century Chinese junk, Captain Nelson Liu and his crew of seven on the Princess Tai Ping spent their last few days at the San Diego Maritime Museum before making their way to Hawaii and eventually back to Japan and Taipei.

The 54 foot, 35 ton Fujian style warship, built and launched from Xiamen using the same materials as their ancestors, is following the conjectured route of 15th century Chinese admiral Zheng He who, according to some theories, may have arrived on the North American West Coast long before Cabrillo.

Continue reading »

Dec 13

China is at a critical intersection. As a communication researcher, I am sure it is the high time to stand up and take whatever responsibility I can.

To a great extent, China’s future will be shaped by its civil society. But what is the true situations China’s civil society is trapped in? What are their hardships and expectations? What roles and functions should the civil society perform in China’s development? How should China’s current policies regarding the civil society be redesigned to ensure China’s sustainable development?

To answer these questions, I am planning an independent research project from the perspective of political communication. My hypothesis is that China’s civil society will grow at a greater pace in the near future, and that a stronger civil society will definitely speed up China’s transition. I was hoping to travel around China to interview activists, academics, newsworkers and politicians, focusing on China’s policies regarding NGOs, religion, minorities, news media, etc. , and on the interactions between the political society and the civil society in China.

If everything goes well, my project will start before this Chinese New Year. I am ready to take any unavoidable risk.

If you are interested in this project, if you are hoping to join us in any possible form , if you are willing to offer me any kind of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me via bytaishan@sina.com.

Dec 13

On my trip to Mainland China a couple of weeks ago, I happened to run into an old family friend who used to be my mom’s acupuncturist (who has since retired).  Despite having emigrated from the Mainland to the U.S. almost forty years ago, she still loves China – and has continually made her annual trip back to her home town for over three decades.  And this time – true to form, I saw her with 3-4 luggage in tow – full of gifts for her extended family and village friends. Continue reading »

Dec 11

A couple of days ago, the Beijing News reported how local officials in Xintai – a city in the eastern province of Shandong – locked up citizens in mental hospitals to prevent them from making journeys to Beijing to alert central government officials of local injustices going on in Xintai (see original story – and english version translated by Global Voices). Continue reading »