Asia Cast for Friday 3rd July
Palestinian rescue workers help survivors of an Israeli missile strike on the Saraya central security headquarters and prison in Gaza City, December 2008. (By AmirFarshadEbrahimi/ Flickr)
In this Bulletin…
- Beijing Olympics most polluted games;
- Contaminated water suspected to reach thousands in Kailuan; and
- Amnesty report claims Israeli attacks were war crimes.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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A study conducted jointly by researchers from Beijing University and Oregon University during the 2008 Beijing Olympics found the Beijing games to be the most polluted of all Olympics.
This has raised a storm of protests and denials by China’s state-run press, reported by the Epoch Times.
According to the study, Beijing’s air pollution during the Olympics nearly doubled that of Athens’ 2004 Olympics, tripled that of Atlanta’s 1996 Olympics, and was three and a half times that of Sydney’s Olympics in 2000.
One of five authors of the study, Zhu Tong is being pressured by the Chinese Communist regime to criticize his own work, claiming the study was unscientific and questioning the claims of the scientists from Oregon University.
In an article, Zhu is quoted as saying the air quality during the Olympics was “good to excellent.” Yet the article gave no hint that Zhu worked on any other air pollution study which suggested otherwise.
China expert, Chen Xiaonong says the state-run media response to the pollution study is likely to have been ordered by the Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Department. When it comes to international issues, Cheng explained Chinese media cannot express their views independently.
Asia Cast for Thursday 2nd July
The collapse of an apartment building in Shanghai has shown sub-standard building practices persist in China. (Internet photo)
In this Bulletin…
- More details on Shanghai building collapse;
- Japanese business confidence improves, but outlook still bleak; and
- Judging begins in the 2009 Epoch Times International Photography Competition.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Details are emerging of what caused an almost completed block of apartments in Shanghai’s new Lotus Riverside Court development to fall over, The Epoch Times reveals
According to Chinese bloggers, the chairman of the Japan Structural Consultants Association said that the steel bars reinforcing the concrete were too few and too small in a report aired on Japanese TV.
Other bolggers who had worked in the construction industry detailed the use of substandard materials in China - as evidenced by the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
Due to state control of the media, bloggers are often a more reliable source of what is going on in China.
One worker was killed in the accident which happened just after 5:30 am on June 27. The development’s remaining 11 buildings are being inspected.
Asia Cast for Wednesday 1st July
The Sea Link Bridge in Mumbai in its final stages of construction. After ten years of production the Bandra-Worli Bridge is finally open to commuters. (By bombman/Flickr)
In this Bulletin…
- Chinese petitioners go abroad to appeal for human rights;
- Chengdu authorities snatch body of Falun Gong practitioner; and
- Mumbai sea bridge opens.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The Shanghai-based League of Chinese Victims, a human rights organization, is appealing internationally about the gross human rights violations occurring in mainland China after China’s winning bid of the 2010 World Expo, said The Epoch Times.
In 2002 Shanghai won its bid to host the 2010 World Expo whose slogan is “Better City, Better Life” and the Chinese regime is investing a great deal of money, manpower and materials in preparation, an estimated $20 billion US dollars.
Just like with the Beijing Olympics, in preparation for the expo, officials are forcing people out of their homes, which are destined for demolition to make way for the event.
In its speech to the Council of Europe, the League exposed the tyrannical behavior occurring in Shanghai, with the moving of over one million residents so far, many times against their wills, and with physical force and violence.
The regime is targeting the human rights league as well. Before the 20th anniversary on June 4th of the Tienanmen Square Massacre, 48 Shanghai petitioners had been detained and the group’s legal counselor, renowned human rights lawyer Zheng Enchong had been summoned 60 times.
Asia Cast for Tuesday 30th June
Former human rights lawyer Zheng Enchong. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)
In this Bulletin…
- China’s tourism crippled;
- lawmakers undermining human rights lawyers; and
- The U.S. officially pulls out of Iraq.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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The travel and tourism industry in China has come under severe decline with the emergence of the H1N1 virus.
There has been more than a 50 per cent decrease in sales for the regular international flights.
Compared to the same period last year, some individual routes even had more than a 70 per cent decline in business.
Since the confirmation of H1N1 in China many countries have advised that people do not travel to China and the impact has naturally been severe.
In early May, the CITS recorded a 50 to 70 per cent decrease in tourist applications from overseas compared to the same period last year.
Asia Cast Monday 29th June
It is not known why a 13-story building still under construction in Shanghai fell over. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)
In this Bulletin …
- Shanghai apartment topples over; one dead;
- China’s economic division may intensify social conflicts; and
- Khmer rouge survivor testifies.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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A nearly completed 13-story apartment building on the outskirts of Shanghai toppled onto its side at around 6 am on June 27, killing one worker.
However, the building has remained nearly intact, as reported by The Epoch Times.
The building, the first of three to be built on the property, where planned to be occupied in May 2010. Some of the units had already been sold.
The construction of other buildings on the property has been terminated.
The developer, Shanghai Meidu Real Estate, could not be reached for comment. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Asia Cast for Sunday 28th June
UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari is presing Burma's military rulers to release political prisoners. (By UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe)
In this Bulletin …
- Hong Kong youths plan hunger strike to fight for democracy;
- UN envoy in Burma for talks; and
- Five killed in Karachi shoot-out.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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On July the , several young Hong Kong citizens will begin a hunger strike to fight for democracy, as reported by The Epoch Times.
Jaco Chau, 25 years old, called on Hong Kong Internet users to fight for democracy together.
Chau appealed to the Hong Kong people to take responsibility of their own society, saying there was no need to wait for the leadership of other people or groups.
He believes that the development of the Internet has already created a new civil action mode, where the nationwide support of bloggers has helped people fight for their civil rights.
Currently, six young people have signed up for the campaign. It will take place at Times Square in Causeway Bay from June 29 to July 2.
Asia Cast Saturday 27th June
Prominent AIDS and pro-democracy activist Hu Jia. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)
In this Bulletin…
- China’s economic recovery; too good to be true?;
- Hu Jia nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for second year running; and
- The cause of Michael Jackson’s death remains unknown.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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China’s economy may not have actually entered into recovery as Beijing would like many foreign investors to think, says The Epoch Times.
This despite a much lauded four trillion yuan (US$585 million) economic stimulus plan.
While the plan has meant China’s banks granted more loans in three months than in the whole year of 2008, stocks have soared and the real estate market has seen a big first quarter increase. Some financial experts are warning that China’s economy is merely experiencing a brief surge that will overexcite the market and create problems in the long-term.
Xu Xiaonian is one of these critics, he said efforts to stimulate investment in China are only aggravating the underlying imbalance that caused the crisis in the first place.
Asia Cast Friday 26th June
The world's oldest twin sisters reunited at age 104. (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)
In this Bulletin…
- China to build new refineries for Myanmar pipeline oil;
- Toyota Motors starting from bottom up; and
- Peace process stalls in Nepal.
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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Oil refineries capable of processing 20 million tons a year or 402,000 barrels a day will be built in Chongqing City, of Sichuan Province and Yunan Province, in southwest China.
China National Petroleum Corp. signed a memorandum with Myanmar on the cross-border Sino-Myanmar oil pipeline last week and construction is to start in September.
Output of oil products from these refineries is expected to reach nearly 13 million tons a year, and a related project will produce 1 million tons of ethylene per year.
Asia Cast for Thursday 25th June
Zhang Yunpeng hung banners and threw leaflets from a 15th floor window in protest over counterfeit shares that cost his parents their life savings . (Courtesy of The Epoch Times)
In this Bulletin…
- TV company staff fired for failing to censor sensitive programmes;
- Google angry over disruption to service in China; and
- Shen Yun Performing Arts reaches South America.
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Over 20 shareholders of China Southern Airlines protested over trading irregularities in front of Beijing’s China Securities Regulatory Commission on Monday, reports The Epoch Times.
The protesters say their investments in the airline suffered enormous losses as a result of illegal trading practices by the Shanghai Stock Exchange and other securities companies.
One man hung banners and threw flyers from a nearby 23-story building. The group says they will spread their message across China if they do not get a response from the authorities.
About a dozen police cars quickly moved in to contain the protesters and the man was taken away.
Asia Cast for Wednesday 24th June
Naghsh-i-Jahan Square - Increased protests are inciting Iranians to communicate with the world via Internet, phone, radio. (By misterarasmus/Flickr)
In this bulletin…
- Massive protest for Chinese chef’s mysterious death;
- Western companies responsible for Internet censorship in Asia and Middle East; and
- Voices from Iran reaching out to world
But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
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One of China’s best-known dissidents, Liu Xiaobo has been formally arrested on suspicion of inciting subversion after being detained since late last year for promoting an end to one-party rule.
China’s state-run media said prosecutors approved Liu’s arrest for alleged agitation activities aimed at subversion of the communist regime and trying to overthrow the socialist system.
Liu is one of China’s most prominent dissidents having been heavily involved in the pro-democracy protests in Tienanmen Square, for which he spent two years in prison.
