A weekly look at some eye-catching editorials in the Chinese media
Judicial Reform
In one of China's most high-profile and closely followed criminal trials in recent memory, 21 people were convicted for their part in the tainted-milk scandal that left six babies dead and a further 300,000 sickened.
The handing down of death sentences for some, and lengthy prison terms for others, was considered indicative of the seriousness with which the court viewed the case.
But an editorial in the popular Caijing Magazine says the earnest desire to administer justice has not been duplicated in the handling of civil actions being launched by parents of the victims.
Read more on Ohmynews International.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
China This Week, Jan. 30
Beijing's Tricycles of Terror!! - Video
Around Beijing subway stations, especially those near the end of the line, you'll find these odd looking motor-tricycles ferrying people to-and-fro.
Absolutely, yes, they are performing a public service to Beijing commuters.
But the kamikaze style of driving also makes them a public menace.
Filmed and edited on the Nokia N95 - USB'd into the Mac and uploaded. The final part of the process was simply for convenience. It is possible, of course, to use the phone's web browser to make the upload.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Chinese New Year Fireworks
Back in 1993 the Beijing municipal government imposed a total ban on the purchase and use of fireworks inside the city.
As you may be aware, fireworks - especially firecrackers - are an essential part of Lunar New Year celebrations across Asia - and the ban was obviously very unpopular.
In the past few years the government has been relaxing the ban, and 2009 was no exception.
At for several hours on Sunday 25th January, the normally tranquil atmosphere of Beijing was shattered with sporadic bursts of firecrackers and flash-bomb explosions.
By late evening the tempo had settled into a steady, earsplitting roar.. but at midnight..
Five days later and every evening the skies again light up and the window panes vibrate to the shockwaves of percussion blasts...
It has been an amazing, spectacular week...
Saturday, 24 January 2009
China This Week, Jan. 23
A weekly digest of eye-catching editorials in the Chinese media.
GDP: Not the Whole Picture
China's National Bureau of Statistics recently revised the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate for 2007 to 13 percent, an increase of 1.1 percent over the earlier published figure.
The news made headlines, not least because it meant that China had overtaken Germany as the world's third largest economy.
Amid the celebrations, however, the Shandong-based Qilu Evening News published an editorial saying GDP alone is not an all-inclusive indicator of a country's economic health and overall wellbeing.
It said compared to Germany and other economic powers, China is still developing in terms of per capita GDP, green GDP and social welfare.
For the full story, go to Ohmynews International.
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Israel Accused of Gaza War Crimes
Gaza offensive: "A crime against humanity."
Outrage and Impotence as Gaza Burned
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon expressed his "outrage" and the President of the General Assembly, Miquel d'Escoto Brockmann, accused Israel of violating international law.
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon expressed his "outrage" and the President of the General Assembly, Miquel d'Escoto Brockmann, accused Israel of violating international law.
"Gaza is ablaze," he told the UN General Assembly, "it has been turned into a burning hell."
The UN's Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Professor Richard Falk, characterized the Israel offensive as containing "severe and massive violations of international humanitarian law."
The UN's Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Professor Richard Falk, characterized the Israel offensive as containing "severe and massive violations of international humanitarian law."
For the complete article go to Ohmynews International.
This article has also be reproduced on a number of other news and information websites - some with the authorization of the author, some without.
Any editorial changes to the content of the article were made without consultation with the author.
Thursday, 15 January 2009
China This Week, Jan 15
A weekly digest of eye-catching editorials in the Chinese media
In the US they call them "earmarks" or "pork barrel projects" -- here in China they are described as "image projects" and Chinese newspaper editors say the public has had enough.
An article in The Guangzhou Daily said the obsession of provincial officials to construct what they describe as "monuments to their achievements" needs to come to an end.
The paper says too many of these projects have been criticized for their poor design and inability to serve the alleged function for which they were designed.
The paper says too many of these projects have been criticized for their poor design and inability to serve the alleged function for which they were designed.
Read more on Ohmynews International.
Israel orders Iran aid ship to leave Gaza waters
The Iranian humanitarian aid vessel reported on in "Iran Threatens To Break Israel's Gaza Blockade" has been ordered to leave the area by Israeli warships.
According to this report from PressTV the vessel had obtained the necessary paperwork.
Read the Reuter's report here.
Xinhua's take on the story here.
At least at the time of writing, the major broadcast networks appear to have overlooked the story, while at the same time reporting on growing malnutrition in the Gaza Strip.
Friday, 9 January 2009
China This Week, Jan 8.
A weekly digest of eye-catching editorials in the Chinese media. Chinese newspaper editors have recently been directing much of their invective at corrupt local government officials, a problem some have described as endemic in China.
But a number of Chinese newspapers have also had plenty of harsh words for captains of industry who they accuse of being seduced by high profits and greed -- and of satisfying that greed at the expense of the common people and China's reputation.
Currently, the most notorious of these industrialists is perhaps Tian Wenhua, former boss of China's Sanlu dairy company.
Sanlu is at the heart of the melamine tainted milk scandal.
For the complete original article go to Ohmynews International.
China This Week is now also available on The Latest.com
Monday, 5 January 2009
Iran Threatens To Break Israel's Gaza Blockade
Iran has sent humanitarian aid to help the victims of the Israeli air and ground offensive in Gaza. Aircraft carrying Iranian aid to Gaza arrived in Egypt last week, and doctors and medical staff are standing by in Tehran to leave for the region.Meanwhile, Iran has despatched a vessel with 20-thousand tons of humanitarian aid. Read more..Tehran sends humanitarian aid vessel toward Gaza battlefield
It is hard to imagine how much worse the situation could get, but the confrontation in Gaza could see a dangerous escalation in the coming days as Iran threatens to break the Israeli blockade and deliver urgently needed medical supplies and other aid to the coastal strip.
Read the complete article on Ohmynews.
Within 24 hours of publication, this article has been copied and reproduced on about 25 to 30 news and information websites. A few of those websites have made editorial changes - however, none of these changes were authorized by the author.
For the complete and unaltered version of the original article, go to Ohmynews.
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