Asia-Cast

Asia Cast for Friday 4th September

In this Bulletin…

-Newly established Chinese unions plan to form political party;
-Afghanistan election fraud allegations deepen; and
-Australia experiencing warmest winter on record.

But first, here’s our SOH focus on China
********************

Three newly established independent labour unions in Jinan City, Shandong Province, announced plans to form a political party for workers according to a press release from China Affairs, a Chinese dissident website based in the U.S., reported The Epoch Times.

Independent of the communist regime, workers have formed labour unions and say they aim to actively defend workers’ interests, organize activities, and seek justice for grievances.

The only union movement currently permitted in China is the China All-China Federation of Trade Unions, which is widely recognized as being an organ of the CCP and not actually representing worker’s rights.

********************

For two weeks, thousands of residents in Quanzhou City, Fujian Province have gathered outside a local wastewater treatment plant protesting the unbearable stench of sewage pollution.

The treatment plant’s August 19th malfunction left the township filled with foul-smelling air and residents are on a 24-hour watch to ensure no more wastewater is released.

The ongoing protest had escalated on Monday night when 2,000 riot police were called in. A resident surnamed Qiu told SOH, military police were called in after protesters trapped the county chief in his car.

Residents say industrial development and poor waste management over the past few years has already resulted in heavy pollution in the seafood producing region.

********************

And now for the rest of today’s Asia Cast

********************

A disagreement over alleged fraud in the Afghan presidential election has deepened, after a tribe in the south made the most serious claim yet.

Kandahar’s Bareez tribal leader says that nearly 30,000 votes were cast fraudulently in favour of President Hamid Karzai.

The tribal leader, Mr. Haji Mohammad Bareez said no ballot boxes were brought there and no one in the Shorabak district voted, but instead that ballot boxes were stuffed with fake votes in favour of Karzai.

The claims could undermine the legitimacy of the election, which Afghanistan’s Western allies see as crucial in their campaign against the Taliban.

********************

As a way to help ease fears about an arms race in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia and the U.S. have agreed to invite China to take part in joint military exercises.

Ties between Australia and China have been strained over concerns about Beijing’s military expansion and the unstable nature of trade negotiations.

Admiral Timothy Keating, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, expressed hope that any joint exercise would help the U.S. and its allies better understand China’s reasons for boosting its weapons capabilities.

The U.S. is reportedly worried some of China’s military ambitions do not appear to be peaceful.

********************

You’re listening to Asia Cast on the SOH Radio Network

********************

Australia has experienced the warmest August on record with soaring winter temperatures and scientists are blaming both the effects of climate change and natural variability.

Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology says that August was a most extraordinary month with mean temperatures 2.47 degrees Celsius above the long-term average.

August in Australia finished with a record-breaking heat-wave across much of the continent.

In the Queensland town of Bedourie the temperature reached as high as 38.5 degrees Celsius. Elsewhere, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia have had their warmest winters on record.

********************

Soon the U.S. will see the largest mass vaccination campaign in American history, a campaign which may not be necessary, says The Epoch Times.

According to World Health Organization’s global statistics, 2,185 people have died from the H1N1 virus, while another 209,438 are confirmed to have caught it, as of Aug. 23.

What this also means is that 207,253 people recovered from the virus, an amazing recovery rate of 99.99 per cent, that is, even before an official vaccine for the H1N1 was released.

However, the common flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people each year globally, causing severe illness in 3 to 5 million people, according to the WHO.

********************

“Asia Cast…keeping you across the top headlines from Asia and the World.”