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http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/8/25/207152.html

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http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/8/24/206965.html

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August 23

Why did ancient Chinese wear jade accessories?

Why did ancient Chinese wear jade accessories?

16/08/2009 10:21:00 Secret China Staff
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Men of virtue in the past wore jade ornaments. Customarily they would never wear clothes without jade. In the chapter Yuzao of Liji, The Book of Etiquette, Confucius said, “the beauty of jade is similar to the virtue of gentlemen.”

In the ancient Chinese medical texts, Shennong Bencao Jing, and Ben Cao Gang Mu, jade is said to function in “eliminating inner inflammation, releasing restlessness, nurturing the heart and lungs, assisting the voice and throat, moisturizing hair, nurturing the five internal organs, pacifying the soul, soothing one’s veins, and brightening the ears and eyes.”

All those who participated in the New Tang Dynasty Han Couture Design Competition designed garments embellished with jade accessories. According to Ms. Fan Hong, one of the competition’s panel judges, ancient Chinese always wore jade accessories to remind themselves to exemplify the moral values jade represents.

Fashion designer Cheng Minghua, who won the distinguished award for Han Couture design, stated that the people of ancient China normally wore a piece of jade on their lower garments, which was called “jade on the sash”. Hung from a sash tucked into the waistband it served as an ornament, to help hold down the lower garment protecting it from blowing in the wind, and to maintain gracefulness at the same time. 

 

jade_accessories_220858456.jpg

Since jade embodies elegance and pure beauty, nothing else can replace it. That is why all men and women in ancient China customarily wore jade on their sashes.

http://en.secretchina.com/culture_history/3210.html

 

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US-China Duopoly is a Pipedream

US-China Duopoly is a Pipedream

By Christopher M. Clarke Aug 22, 2009

The recent arrest of employees from the Australian mining giant Rio Tinto in Shanghai, on dubious charges, has exposed the dangerous side of dealing with Beijing. (Phillipe Lopez/AFP/Getty Images)
The recent high-level “Strategic and Economic Dialogue” between the United States and China has breathed fresh life into the notion of an emerging duopoly—the so-called G-2. For many the symbolism of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Beijing urging the Chinese to keep buying US treasury bills was visible evidence of the interdependence of the two powers. Before the latest event, two scholars even coined a catchword – ‘Chimerica’ – to describe the new power structure. The reality, however, is less colorful: Given the wide differences between the two, economic co-dependence alone would not a Sino-American condominium make.

The idea of such a condominium gained considerable attention, and not a few converts, when economic historian Niall Ferguson first used the term in 2006. At the time, he said, China and America had “effectively become fused to become a single economy,” the interactions of which were driving a “global financial boom, with its correlated upward movement of virtually every asset class.” Within a few short years, however, even Ferguson conceded that his “Chimerica” construct was overtaken by events and the marriage was on the rocks. The worldwide economic crisis has exposed some—but not all—of the conceptual and factual weaknesses of Ferguson’s clever idea.

In fact, even when Ferguson first broached the idea, many other scholars and pundits strongly demurred, pointing out that the idea of “Chimerica” was built on the faulty premises that the Sino-American economic relationship was sustainable and that coincidence of economic interests, even if they were real, would eventually be outweighed by political differences and emerging power rivalry. Some even likened the probable future of the relationship to the rise of Kaiser Wilhelm’s Germany—a well-entrenched world system unable to cope with the demands of a rapidly modernizing and militarizing emerging power.

Today, the US and China are not locked in a zero-sum competition for economic growth. Globalization to be sure has its highly competitive aspect, especially in the search for strategic resources such as oil and minerals. But all major countries recognize that the long-term solution to growing resource scarcities is intimately tied to the fate of the global environment, and that sustainable solutions require cooperation as much as competition. In economic growth, a rising tide lifts all boats; in environmental degradation, global deterioration threatens to sink them all together.
If there is no inherent reason why the “world system” cannot accommodate the “rise” of China, there are other good reasons why a “Chimerica” or “G-2” is unlikely to emerge as the answer to the problems of the near-term future.

Most important is the residual deep-seated strategic mistrust between the two powers. A strong strain of thought—running through US editorial pages, Congress, some quarters of the academy, and the general public—deeply mistrusts China’s long-term ambitions. Some worry that China’s military modernization is aimed at undermining US relationships in Asia, and eventually at pushing the US out or at least displacing its influence with that of Beijing. Some see China’s development of a more capable Navy as presenting a long-term challenge to US supremacy in the Pacific and the first step toward controlling the sea lines of commerce that constitute the life link of energy-dependent Japan and South Korea. This mutual mistrust surfaced at the Washington meeting with Chinese complaints about being barred from buying dual use high-technology items from the US.

The Chinese are no less concerned about US intentions. Many academics, think-tank specialists, and government officials remain convinced that the long-term US goal is to “divide and Westernize” the People’s Republic. Such attitudes are revealed when Chinese officials blame US support for the Dalai Lama, Rebiya Kadeer, pro-democracy activists, and human rights lawyers for the domestic unrest created by their own misguided and repressive internal policies. Beijing also sees US efforts to shore up its relations with China’s neighbors as part of a long-standing plot to surround China with unfriendly countries, US military bases, and other mechanisms for exerting “pressure” on the PRC.

The incompatibility of values and political systems lies close to the heart of this strategic mistrust. Despite the many reforms introduced over the past 30 years, the PRC remains a one-party state run by a self-selected leadership that will brook no challenge to its authority. The gradual tightening of controls over free expression during the past several years makes it clear that China is not evolving as many had hoped; greater introduction of market mechanisms, exposure to the outside world, and the emergence of a middle class are not leading visibly to a more liberal political system. If anything, the trend has been the opposite.

The stronger China has appeared to become, the more its leaders have repressed challenges, and felt comfortable rebuffing criticism from the outside. Although Obama referred to differences in their mutual approach to human right in his opening remarks, the virtual absence of serious discussion of the issue at the S&ED in Washington symbolizes the Administration’s perceived need to soft-pedal political and social differences in order to re-right the world’s economy. No bilateral condominium is likely to emerge involving two countries with such radically different values and approaches to “interference in the internal affairs” of the other.

Even the idea of an economically “symbiotic relationship” has turned out to be a chimera. The credit-fuelled consumer consumption and deficit spending by the US were propped up by massive Chinese purchases of US government or government-backed debt. China is now paralyzed by its holdings of more than $800 billion in US Treasury bills: it cannot unwind its investment substantially or rapidly without precipitating a catastrophic decline in the value of its holdings and is reduced virtually to begging the US government to “adopt policies that will protect the value of its investments,” as the regime’s official press service reported after the Washington meeting.

At the same time, with America’s budget deficit ballooning under the pressure of two on-going wars and the Administration’s ambitious agenda for health care reform, economic stimulus, and other programs promised during the campaign, Washington is reduced to pleading with Beijing to continue to buy Treasuries while promising not to take measures that would destabilize China’s fragile and questionable economic recovery.

In short, Sino-American economic symbiosis has come to look more like a mutual death grip in which neither side dares make a precipitous move for fear of going over the cliff with the other. Leaders on both sides appear to recognize the very tenuous and touchy situation underlying the relationship and are eschewing grandiose claims or plans for condominium. In today’s increasingly integrated world the Sino-American economic co-dependence is one, albeit the strongest, of the connections that link the two countries. Their divergent political interests and ambitions and their many other respective connections and responsibilities rule out Washington and Beijing running a condominium.

Admission of such a reality came from none other than Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who noted that in the decades ahead, “great countries will be defined less by their power to dominate or divide than by their capacity to solve problems … the fresh thinking of the 21st century moves us from a multi-polar world to a multi-partner world.”

Christopher M. Clarke, a China analyst at the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research, recently retired after 25 years of service.

Last Updated
Aug 23, 2009
 
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联合国专员调查拆迁遭杭州警方扣押[UN Official Taken into Custody in China, say Reports]


联合国强行驱逐问题谘询小组召集人伊芙·卡巴纳（Yves Cabannes）(维权网)
 
联合国专员调查拆迁遭杭州警方扣押[UN Official Taken into Custody in China, say Reports]

【大纪元8月21日讯】据维权网消息,2009年8月20日上午10点多，联合国人居署/开发计划署城市管理方案区域协调员、联合国强行驱逐问题谘询小组召集人伊芙·卡巴纳（Yves Cabannes），在杭州市前往杭州东站枢纽建设项目观看被拆迁人的房屋时，被杭州市江干区公安局笕桥派出所的警察带走。执行任务警察的警号是：13506，车牌号为浙A-3327警。

伊芙·卡巴纳教授于2009年8月16日至19日在杭州市参加弗里德里希·艾伯特基金会和浙江大学联合举办的《亚欧参与式预算:民主参与的核心挑战》（Participatory Budgeting in Asia and Europe: Key Challenges of Participation）国际学术交流会，会议结束后，应朋友邀请和会议安排进行实地考察。但在刚刚到达杭州市火车东站地区的时候，就被警察带走。同时被带走的还有其翻译、随从等4人。

据悉,浙江省杭州市政府借扩建火车东站之名，违法扩大征地面积，大搞房地产开发。实行强拆以来，受害村民不断抗议、上访。政府、开发商、公安派出所和黑社会等勾结一起，对抵制强拆的村民进行打击和迫害，有的村民被活活烧死，有的被殴打致重伤。此案不仅惊动中共高层，也引起了国际社会的广泛关注。

伊芙·卡巴纳教授就是关注杭州市拆迁问题的联合国官员之一。

目前，伊芙·卡巴纳教授一行仍被杭州警方扣押中。

 
美东时间: 2009-08-20 13:39:33 PM  【万年历】
本文网址：http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/9/8/21/n2630649.htm
 
 

UN Official Taken into Custody in China, say Reports

By Helena Zhu & Grace Wu
Epoch Times Staff Aug 22, 2009
A UN official and those accompanying him were taken into police custody in Jianggan District of Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province on the morning of Aug. 20, according to several Chinese media reports.

The convener for the United Nations Advisory Group on Forced Evictions, Yves Cabannes, went to the Hangzhou East Rail Station construction area after an international conference in the same city. With him were Eva Pils, an associate professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Law, and either two or three Hong Kong university students—Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported two students while Voice of America (VOA) reported three, in their Chinese reports.

The group was investigating reports that more than 20 people were forced out of their homes in the area. The alleged evictees were reported to have been petitioning and protesting since evictions and demolition began, and said they were beaten for their trouble.

There are conflicting reports about how police handled the incident. RFA reported that the group was held in police custody until late in the afternoon, while VOA reported staff at the Hangzhou Foreign Affairs Office saying that the whole procedure was less than two or three hours.

“All of what we did followed proper procedure,” said an unidentified staff member of the Foreign Affairs Office, according to VOA. “The police officers just saw a few foreign individuals taking photos and went ahead to question them and asked for their ID. According to our Documents Management Act, this is a necessary procedure.

“One of them was without ID and two others refused to show their IDs. According to our law, they were obligated to display their IDs to police—this is the norm inside and outside of China. Therefore, the police officers asked them to go to the local police station to explain and show their IDs,” VOA reported the staff member saying.

In a statement sent to VOA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Pils said that she was travelling with a foreign professor who had left his passport in his hotel, and that he was taken to the local police station to be identified. Pils accompanied him to the police station, and she said the problem was solved as soon as he was identified, according to the VOA report.

Part of the statement attributed to Pils contradicted earlier parts of the report, however, as she said that no students were with them.

The Hangzhou municipal government has been accused of collaborating with developers, and using the expansion of the East Railway Station as an excuse for grabbing land, according to the VOA report.

Read the original Chinese article.
 
Last Updated
Aug 22, 2009
 
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广东首现古老“活化石”南方波鱼

广东首现古老“活化石”南方波鱼

【大纪元8月18日讯】据大陆网站报导，广东东莞市水产研究所鱼类资源调查工作组，在东莞清溪镇铁场村的一条小河中，首次发现被称为“活化石”的南方波鱼。据了解，这也是有记载以来，东莞水域第一次发现南方波鱼。

据东莞市水产研究所的黄所长介绍，南方波鱼是一种古老的鱼类，出现于老第三纪，距今六千五百万年至距今两千三百万年，比最早的人类——南方古猿还要早数千万年。

黄所长说：“这次发现南方波鱼的过程很偶然，我们鱼类资源调查工作组近期在对捕获回来的鱼类进行分类研究时，发现一条小鱼特征很符合南方波鱼分类特点，但是因为只捕获到一条，所以并不敢肯定。第二次我们就进行有目的捕获，抓到了十几条，周围水域也发现还有相同的鱼群。拿回研究所后经过仔细鉴别，终于确定就是南方波鱼。”

南方波鱼属于小型鱼类，常见体长一百毫米以下，鱼体长而侧扁；头短小而尖突；口裂向上倾斜，下颌前端稍外突，且有一突起与上颌凹陷对相嵌；无须。

最明显的特征就是鱼体上有一条黑色的纵带和一条明显弯向腹方位于体下侧的弯曲侧线。由于鱼体较小，普通人就算抓到了也可能会以为是普通的小杂鱼。

 

美东时间: 2009-08-17 18:53:14 PM  【万年历】
本文网址：http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/9/8/18/n2627419.htm

 
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Xinhua Attacks Falun Gong, Critics Call it Propaganda

Xinhua Attacks Falun Gong, Critics Call it Propaganda

By Xin Fei
Epoch Times Staff Aug 21, 2009

Wang Zhiwen spending time with his daughter, Wang Xiaodan, before he was imprisoned. (The Epoch Times)
Xinhua, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, published an attack on Falun Gong on August 13, citing examples of Falun Gong practitioners who supposedly renounced the practice, and claiming that 98 percent of Falun Gong practitioners in China no longer believe in the practice. Falun Gong practitioners in the U.S. dismissed the attack as propaganda.

Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline based on truthfulness, compassion, forbearance, including five exercises. People who practice it have been persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) since July 1999. Before then it had attracted between 70-100 million practitioners since its introduction to the public in 1992.

Wang Zhiwen was among the practitioners the article claimed had renounced his beliefs. Xinhua said: “Wang, former contact person of Beijing Falun Dafa Research Association, has changed from ‘not quite understanding Falun Gong’ to ‘finally seeing the reality of it.’”     

His daughter Wang Xiaodan, who currently lives in the United States, told The Epoch Times otherwise. She was outraged upon hearing the news, saying “I strongly condemn the CCP for slandering my father. I know my father. He is a steadfast practitioner. It is absolutely despicable that the CCP uses him to manufacture propaganda after putting him in prison.”

The CCP sentenced Wang to 16 years in prison soon after the persecution began in 1999. He has not been allowed to see or speak with any of his family while in prison. He had written several letters to his daughter, but she said he was not allowed to mention Falun Gong. “He encourages me to walk the righteous path and to be a truthful, kind and forgiving person. I can feel from his letters that he still firmly believes in Falun Dafa even though he has to suffer for his belief in prison.”

“If my father had truly changed and renounced Falun Gong, why wouldn’t the CCP let him speak in public? Why wouldn’t the CCP free him? The fact is that my father is still in prison and does not have a chance to speak.”

After the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners began in July 1999 Xinhua, the main mouthpiece of the CCP, printed over 300 articles vilifying the practice.

Those who publicly defend Falun Gong in China face harsh repercussions, and lawyers attempting to represent Falun Gong practitioners have met with harassment, detention, and even torture, in the case of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has been held incommunicado since February of this year.

Zhang Erping, a spokesperson for the Falun Dafa Information Center, argues that the CCP’s ten years of “work to transform Falun Gong practitioners” is in fact, he says, “ten years of bloody torture and brainwashing.”

“The CCP clamored to eradicate Falun Gong in three months in 1999. It has not only failed after ten years but has made Falun Gong stronger and known worldwide,” Zhang said, also mentioning that the communist Party has yet to give a meaningful response to evidence of organ harvesting of living Falun Gong practitioners in China.

A former reporter at Shanxi TV, Ma Xiaoming, said that the CCP still treats Falun Gong as its “greatest opposing force.”

“It’s ridiculous that the CCP still makes up propagandas on such a large scale,” he said. “The CCP’s needing such propaganda also explains that its suppression of Falun Gong has failed.”
 
Last Updated
Aug 22, 2009
 
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Blog
    August 31

    Thoughts on the loyalty of Yue Fei after Shen Yun show

    Thoughts on the loyalty of Yue Fei after Shen Yun show

    28/08/2009 13:59:00 By Lin Er
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    image Leading dancer Wang Xuejun from Shen Yun Performing Arts

    The story about Yue Fei from the show really leaves a deep impression on its viewers, including myself.

    Loyalty and dedication to one’s country are the traits of every patriot. The solemn and moving story of Yue Fei’s loyalty and determination to serve his country has been an inspiration to Chinese people for generations.

    Yue Fei lived during the 12th century and was one of China’s most famous generals of all time. It is said that as a young man his mother tattooed four Chinese characters on his back in preparation for battle that read: "Jing-zhong-bao-guo", means being loyal and devout to your country. Yue Fei was known for his brilliant military strategies and accomplishments. He led an army drawn from his native village to many victories.

    The story of Yue Fei is widely known and cherished by Chinese people. It was reported that when the Biography of Yue Fei was broadcast on the radio, the crime rate was reduced to almost zero.

    Sponsored by New Tang Dynasty Television, the Shen Yun Performing Arts group (formerly known as Divine Performing Arts group) from New York presented The Loyalty of Yue Fei on their world tour. As the curtain opened, Yue Fei and his family of soldiers were practicing martial arts, portraying the magnificent co-ordination and energy of Yue’s family troops. All the performers playing Yue’s family soldiers displayed powerful martial arts skills by being smooth, quick and capable. The grand and heroic manner of the performance validated the expression: “Shaking the mountain is easier than beating Yue’s army.”

    In the show, the dancer portraying Yue Fei’s mother expressed the heart-burning pain she felt as she tattooed the four characters on her son’s back. Her expression was so touching as she portrayed the pain of letting her son go. The audience was moved by the sadness of this farewell. The emotion of the actress playing Yue Fei’s mother passed through everyone’s heart like a wave of electricity and the audience was touched.

    Yue_Fei_s_mother_writes_on_his_son_s_back_530237026.jpg

    Yue Fei endured the pain by biting down on a white handkerchief as he knelt down on one knee. His devotion to serve his country and lack of fear, exerted a profound effect. Every soldier saw this and vowed to fight hard to protect their country. When I heard the piece of music that played during the tattoo scene a second time, I couldn’t control my emotion and tears rolled down my face. It truly called lofty aspirations from the bottom of my heart. I can vividly recall how Yue Fei wore golden armor and held a long-staffed spear as he fought the invaders. Under his command, the Yue troops won one victory after another and defeated their enemies, returning home in glory.

    http://en.secretchina.com/culture_history/yue_fei.html

     

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    Crimini commessi dal partito comunista cinese in dieci anni di persecuzione contro il Falun Gong

    Pubblicato il: Sabato 29. Agosto 2009      
    Crimini commessi dal partito comunista cinese in dieci anni di persecuzione contro il Falun Gong

    Grazie agli impegni persistenti dei praticanti del Falun Gong di informare la gente sulla vera natura del Falun Gong e di denunciare la persecuzione negli ultimi dieci anni, nonostante la più violenta persecuzione nella storia umana, sempre più persone sono state commosse dai sacrifici tremendi da parte dei praticanti, e si rendono sempre conto dei crimini in corso in Cina contro il Falun Gong.

    Il 20 luglio 1999, il partito comunista cinese (PCC) ha iniziato a perseguitare, usando le risorse nazionali, più di 100 milioni di praticanti in Cina, persone di cuore gentile che volevano semplicemente migliorare se stessi fisicamente e mentalmente seguendo i principi di verità compassione e tolleranza. Il PCC ha commesso un numero massiccio di arresti in tutta la Cina. Seguendo la politica di “distruggere la loro reputazione, tagliare le loro risorse finanziarie, ed eliminarli fisicamente”, il regime comunista cinese guidato dal Jiang Zemin ha cercato di sradicare il Falun Gong entro tre mesi. Negli anni successivi, mentre i praticanti del Falun Gong hanno mantenuto un atteggiamento razionale e pacifico, hanno persistito nella propria fede retta e hanno rifiutato di essere intimiditi dalla violenza estrema e dalle torture fisiche. Il regime ha aumentato la forza nella persecuzione contro il Falun Gong continuamente. Sono in vigore delle politiche come, “Non è un crimine picchiare i praticanti del Falun Gong fino alla morte. Se un praticante del Falun Gong viene picchiato a morte, viene considerato come un suicidio”, “Non c’è bisogno di investigare sulla causa della morte dei praticanti del Falun Gong. Cremate immediatamente il corpo”. La persecuzione è stata spinta al massimo.

    Negli ultimi dieci anni, i praticanti in Cina hanno fatto tremendi sacrifici personali nel loro impegno di sfondare il blocco delle informazione imposto dal regime, e hanno regolarmente scritto dei rapporti sui crimini commessi dal PCC al sito Minghui (versione cinese di Clearwisdom.net). Il sito web ha raccolto un numero sorprendente di rapporti di prima mano sui casi di persecuzione negli ultimi 10 anni. L’estensione della persecuzione è veramente scioccante. Il centro dati del sito Minghui ha iniziato un lavoro imponente per sistemare e categorizzare questi casi di persecuzione.

    Questo articolo fornisce alcuni dati statistici sui casi di persecuzione segnalati che Minghui ha ricevuto dal 1 giugno 2002 a 15 luglio 2009. Dietro i numeri, si può vedere che la persecuzione contro i praticanti del Falun Gong che è iniziata, portata avanti e incoraggiata dal regime comunista è senza precedenti in termine di aree coperte, di numero di vittime, e della crudeltà della persecuzione.

    Decine di migliaia di casi segnalati sulla persecuzione in corso in più di 31 province e regione autonoma nella Cina continentale

    Il numero totale dei casi di persecuzione segnalati raccolti dal Minghui Data Center era 48,085 (dal 1 giugno 2002 al 15 luglio 2009)

    Il grafico mostra la tendenza di incremento dei casi segnalati sulla persecuzione negli anni Il grafico mostra il numero dei casi segnalati sulla persecuzione negli anni

    Dalla grafica che mostra il numero dei casi segnalati sulla persecuzione ogni anno, si può vedere che, grazie agli impegni persistenti, stoici, pacifici e razionali dei praticanti del Falun Gong per combattere contro la persecuzione, la forza retta è stata fortificata continuamente, e il male è stato continuamente eliminato. Nonostante stia ancora perseguitando i praticanti, non è più così aggressivo come alcuni anni fa.

    I dati seguenti mostrano il numero dei casi segnalati sulla persecuzione in ogni provincia della Cina:

    Provincia e numero dei casi di persecuzione segnalati
    Anhui 470

    Pechino 1246

    Chongqing 1457

    Fujian 190

    Gansu 1012

    Guangdong 2087

    Guangxi 262

    Guizhou 581

    Hainan 51

    Hebei 5892

    Heilongjiang 4952

    Henan 1446

    Hubei 1882

    Hunan 1682

    Inner Mongolia 825

    Jiangsu 622

    Jiangxi 406

    Jilin 3801

    Liaoning 5533

    Ningxia 108

    Qinghai 126

    Shanxi 398

    Shandong 6043

    Shanghai 523

    Shaanxi 365

    Sichuan 2677

    Tianjin 689

    Tibet 3

    Xinjiang 268

    Yunnan 382

    Zhejiang 241

    Sconosciuti 168

    3.294 casi di morte, confermati, dei praticanti del Falun Gong direttamente causati dalla persecuzione

    Fino al 15 luglio 2009, 3,294 praticanti del Falun Gong sono stati confermati di aver perso la vita direttamente a causa della persecuzione. Questi casi di morte sono diffusi in 31 province e regione autonoma in Cina. Tra questi casi di morte, 53,46% o 1,716 vittime sono donne, e 43,05% o 1,418 sono uomini. Nei 115 casi di morte o 3,49% non si conosce il sesso delle vittime. Mediamente 27 praticanti sono morti ogni mese.

    Un numero elevato di casi di morte a causa dell’espianto degli organi dai praticanti ancora in vita

    Nel rapporto indipendente intitolato Bloody Harvest - A Revised Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China, due avvocati prominenti canadesi, David Matas e David Kilgour, hanno indicato che, in base alle statistiche ufficiali del governo cinese, dopo che la persecuzione contro il Falun Gong era iniziata, il numero totale dei trapianti degli organi in Cina, nei cinque anni tra 2000 e 2005, ha raggiunto 60,000. Questo riflette un aumento drastico nei cinque anni trascorsi. In 41,500 casi, il regime comunista cinese non riesce spiegare l’origine di questi organi.

    In Cina esiste un mercato nero di raccolta degli organi per il trapianto. Il numero attuale dei trapianti degli organi è ben oltre la data ufficiale. Per esempio, se il numero ufficiale per il trapianto degli organi è 30,000 ogni anno, il numero attuale potrebbe essere 110,000 ogni anno. Data la grande disponibilità degli organi, cioè grande numero di praticanti detenuti illegalmente – molti ospedali segnalano il numero di operazione di trapianto ufficiale, ma fanno anche delle operazioni clandestinamente. Questo significa che il numero dei trapianti è molto più elevato rispetto ai dati ufficiali. Il numero esatto è difficile da ottenere. In base a una stima prudente, negli ultimi 10 anni passati, il numero dei praticanti che sono stati uccisi per il loro organo supererebbe 15,000. Il numero reale potrebbe essere più di 100,000.

    Tanti casi di persecuzione

    Secondo un analisi incompleta della data disponibile sul sito Minghui, circa 10,000 praticanti sono stati condannati in prigione e più di 100,000 sono stati mandati nei campi di lavoro forzato. Diverse migliaia di praticanti sono stati chiusi negli ospedali psichiatrici dove sono stati iniettate loro con forza delle droghe sconosciute che danneggiano il sistema nervoso centrale. Decine di migliaia di praticanti sono stati rapiti dalle autorità e mandati nei centri per il lavaggio del cervello, dove hanno subito delle agonie mentali. Ancora più praticanti sono stati picchiati, torturati o estorto loro del denaro dai funzionari del governo.

    Il Minghui Data Center ha fatto un analisi sui casi segnalati della persecuzione e ha fornito una classificazione dei vari tipi di persecuzione usati contro i praticanti del Falun Gong e il numero delle vittime in ogni categoria.

    L’analisi dimostra un numero elevato dei casi dove i praticanti vengono torturati fisicamente. I casi dei metodi specifici di persecuzione includono:

    Pestaggi: 12,553 casi
    Punizione fisica: 5,766
    Ammanettati per lungo periodo: 4,976
    Scosse elettriche: 4,300
    Alimentazione forzato devastante: 3,123
    Chiusi nelle celle piccole: 3,040
    Appesi per aria per lungo tempo: 2,123
    Lasciati fuori porta nell’inverso ed esposti alla temperatura gelida: 1,757
    Costretti a sedersi sullo sgabello piccolo per lungo tempo: 1,614
    Legati con la corda per lungo tempo: 1,311
    Iniezione con le droghe sconosciute: 999
    Bruciati con il fuoco o ustionati con l’acqua bollente: 790
    Infilare oggetti pungenti nelle mani: 414
    Abusi sessuali: 300
    Piegare le parti del corpo, schiacciare sul pavimento le gambe, le mani e i piedi delle vittime con oggetti pesanti: 235
    Soffocamento: 180 casi
    Puntura con insetti, zanzare e morsicatura con i cani della polizia: 89
    Altre forme di torture crudeli: 2473

    I casi dove i praticanti sono stati torturati mentalmente includono i seguenti:

    Torturati mentalmente(costretti a insultare il Falun Gong e il fondatore del Falun Gong il signor Li Hongzhi e il suo ritratto, ecc.): 9,216

    Abusi mentali nei centri del lavaggio del cervello (costretti a leggere, guardare e ascoltare i materiali contro il Falun Gong; controllati dalle persone che stanno strettamente vicino ai praticanti 24 ore al giorno; o privazione del sonno per lungo tempo): 8,194

    Abusi negli ospedali psichiatrici (iniezione con gli agenti chimici, costretti ad assumere le droghe sconosciute, costretti a vivere con i pazienti mentali): 432
    I dati sui casi dove i praticanti hanno subito gli abusi in termine dei diritti umani sono:

    Arresto senza nessuna procedure legale: 56,274

    Radunati, processati e condannati senza procedure legali: 25,979
    Case perquisite: 8,420
    Impedimento di accedere alle necessità primarie quotidiane: 7,895
    Abusati e minacciati verbalmente: 5,298
    Controllati illegalmente e inseguiti: 2,884
    Umiliati e avviliti: 2,490
    Licenziati dal lavoro o espulsione dalle scuole: 1,474
    Altri abusi in termini di diritti umani non inclusi: 2,232

    I casi dove I praticanti hanno subito delle perdite finanziarie includono:

    Subire le perdite finanziarie: 6,458 casi (inclusi 1,279 casi dove avevano subito delle estorsioni, 169 casi dove il loro stipendio è stato sospeso, e 38 casi dove le loro imprese hanno subito delle perdite finanziarie)

    Oggetti di valore confiscati: 4,577
    Multe (inclusi i praticanti e i loro datori di lavori): 3,358
    Proprietà confiscate: 39
    Altri casi di persecuzione inclusi:
    perseguitare i parenti, amici, compagni di scuola e clienti dei praticanti del Falun Gong: 3,070
    istigare, incoraggiare e condannare i criminali comuni nelle prigioni e nei campi di lavoro a maltrattare i praticanti del Falun Gong: 1,860
    diffamare e calunniare i praticanti del Falun Gong: 916
    altri tipi di persecuzione: 2,274

    I praticanti del Falun Gong hanno superato i 10 anni di viaggio impegnandosi contro la persecuzione. In questo tempo straordinario e unico, hanno mantenuto la loro razionalità calma, il loro credo fermo e hanno fatto un grande sacrificio personalmente per fornire alla gente del mondo l’opportunità di conoscere la verità. Come risultato, la gente ha saputo che il Falun Gong è diffuso in tutto il mondo e può sentire la benevolenza del Falun Gong. Inoltre, hanno compreso come i praticanti hanno superato il loro dolore personale e le sofferenze per diffondere la luce, hanno visto la crudeltà del partito comunista cinese e come si va incontro al fallimento.

    Versione cinese: http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/7/19/204818.html

    Potete liberamente stampare e far circolare tutti gli articoli pubblicati su Clearharmony, ma per favore citare la fonte.

    Versione inglese disponibile ahttp://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200908/50129.html

    http://it.clearharmony.net/articles/200908/9449.html

     

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    Facebook Agrees to Make Canada Privacy Changes

    Facebook Agrees to Make Canada Privacy Changes

    Reuters Aug 27, 2009
    (www.facebook.com)
    TORONTO—Facebook, the popular social networking website, agreed Thursday to make changes to better protect the personal information of its users as a result of negotiations with Canada's privacy commissioner.

    The worldwide changes will give users more transparency and control over the information they provide to third-party developers of applications such as games and quizzes, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada announced.

    As well, Facebook will also make it clear to users that they have the option of either deactivating or deleting their account.

    Earlier, the commissioner had said Facebook's policy of indefinitely keeping personal information about people who had closed their accounts was in breach of Canadian privacy laws.

    On Thursday, the commissioner's office said Facebook's response was "acceptable because it will allow users to make informed decisions about how their personal information is to be handled."

    Facebook, a website that lets users share pictures, videos, news stories, opinions and private and public messages, has about 12 million Canadian users.

    "These changes mean that the privacy of 200 million Facebook users in Canada and around the world will be far better protected," Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said in a statement.

    "This is a global change," she told reporters, adding that Canada is the first country to complete a full investigation of Facebook's privacy practices.

    The outcome of Canada's investigation could influence the practices of other social networking websites, such as MySpace. Stoddart said another major site has already approached her office to discuss its approach.

    "We believe that these changes are not only great for our users and address all of the commissioner's outstanding concerns, but they also set a new standard for the industry," said Elliot Schrage, Facebook's vice-president of global communications and public policy.

    The regulator first started its investigation of Facebook as a result of complaints by the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic at the University of Ottawa.

    http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/21625/

     

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    August 30

    Chinese Regime Blacklists 247 Dissidents

     

    Zan Aizong is a well-known Chinese blogger who's sometimes critical of the Communist Party. In 2006, he was arrested and fired from his job as the Zhejiang bureau chief of the Chinese Ocean News for writing an article that exposed the forced demolition of a Christian church building.

    Well now the regime has labeled him a dissident—adding him to a secret media blacklist and shutting down his blog.

    The blacklist was created by Chinas Propaganda Ministry. It contains the names of 247 so-called dissidents that Chinese media are now forbidden to interview or write about.

    Chinese news service Boxun.net reports that the media have been ordered to copy the blacklist by hand—making sure there's no electronic record.

    Zan Aizong says these kinds of orders are common around politically sensitive dates. On October 1, the Communist regime will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its takeover of China.

    In an interview with Sound of Hope Radio, Zan says the blacklist may actually draw more attention to the very people the regime is trying to suppress.

    [Zan Aizong, Writer and Dissident]:
    "Before, people didn't care about what [dissidents] wrote, because there are hundreds of thousands of people in the media business. The more the media is asked to ignore them, the more the media will pay attention. The media may find alternative ways [to get input from the dissidents]."

    Zan hasn't personally seen a copy of the blacklist, but he says it's a violation of the Chinese constitution.

    [Zan Aizong, Writer and Dissident]:
    "Handing out this document is equivalent to violating citizens rights to their names and reputations. If you dont allow them to be published, its like saying theres something wrong with the person or he's made mistakes or broken the law. Their reputation would be tarnished. The [Propaganda Ministry] can be sued through civil laws."

    Other dissidents on the blacklist include democracy activist Liu Xiaobo, his wife Liu Xia, and an outspoken former associate professor at Peking University, Jiao Guobiao.

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    Financial Consultant Finds Universal Values in Shen Yun

      

    Leopold Engozogo, from the Gabon Republic in Africa, is a financial consultant for the World Bank. This is his first time to see a Shen Yun show.

    [Leopold Engozogo, Financial Consultant]:
    I do really think that that was the most amazing part, because all the philosophy behind, all those songs with the text behind in English I was feeling my self inside it, it's not necesarily only about my African culture, it was also as a Christian, because I am Christian."

    When asked which program in the performance was his favorite, Mr Engozogo replied that he liked the one about the persecution of Falun Gong.

    [Leopold Engozogo, Financial Consultant]:
    There is one scene I remember where someone dies, it was, I think, the father and that was very, very touching to me, the little girl trying to shake her father was really touching to me.

    Although Shen Yuns performance is traditional Chinese culture, Mr. Engozogo still found it easy to relate to.

    [Leopold Engozogo, Financial Consultant]:
    The values are basically the same, and I do not really see that it was a Chinese event tonight. But I feel like the philosophy, the message, our behavior, doing good work. You remember one scene, very interesting, I think that it was one guy, the woman who was in jail, I do not remember the story, it was as if the last guy was trying to be a little bit good, like he didnt punish (her) that much, and he was a little bit saved, it is the same message for Christians, doing good will always pay off, I think that will be my main message for tonight.

    When watching Shen Yun language isnt a problem, for each scene has its distinguishing characteristics and feelings.

    [Leopold Engozogo, Financial Consultant]:
    I like every single scene, even though I didnt understand the language, but I feel like it was a lot of emotion, the song, it was a message, I will definitely come back most often, if I have the time.

    NTD, Washington.

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    Attorney Says 'It was just like escaping to another land'

    Attorney Says 'It was just like escaping to another land'

    Epoch Times Staff Aug 26, 2009

    VIP reception, shen yun, kennedy center
    VIPs were gathered at VIP reception of Shen Yun Performing Arts' exclusive pre-opening performance. (John Yu/The Epoch Times)
    Shen Yun Performing Arts

    WASHINGTON—Mr. Alan Schlaifer, an attorney, ended what in his own words was a very stressful day by attending Shen Yun Performing Arts VIP performance in Kennedy Center on Tuesday.

    He was “relaxed and energized at the same time, just seeing the skill of the dancers, the beautiful costumes. It was just like escaping to another land.”

    Mr. Schlaifer used the words "fabulous, Spectacular" as he spoke about his experience this evening.

    "Authentic in terms of feeling ... a lot of heart. I think it went over really well with the audience," said Mr. Schlaifer, principal of Law Offices of Alan N. Schlaifer, P.C.

    This statement was proven by the two curtain calls and two encores requested by Tuesday's enthusiastic audience.

    Mr. Schlaifer was particularly moved by the overall sensation and the true inner as well as outer beauty of the performers and their performances. He was deeply touched.

    “It’s amazing. I've seen performances here and in Europe and this went to a whole new level.”

    "Just the feeling of the company. The sincerity, I also liked the ideas, the inspiration and a way of looking at life to treat people with compassion and truthfulness and tolerance. So I think that’s good, just as general tenants, not just a religious idea, but also general tenants for dealing with other people in a challenging world."

    The three-dimensional, state-of-the-art digital backdrops contributed to the overall feel and enchantment of the performances.

    “I also liked the techno effects which were blending in very well. The story, the narrators. Everything was just done extremely well.”

    Mr.Schlaifer met one of the people who is a friend of the company and he decided to post it and publicize it to his friends. "We had a bunch of people today at lunch and told them about it. … I heard very good reviews about it also. I read the reviews. ... We’re very lucky to have it here in DC."

    "I would recommend people who love performing arts and want to feel better to come and see the show ... It’s very good for everybody."

    In 2009, Shen Yun has already graced the stages of more than 90 cities on five continents.

    The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. For more information please visit ShenYunPerformingArts.org

    Last Updated
    Aug 27, 2009


    http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/21566/

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    NTDs International Chinese Culinary Competition is Underway

     

    WONG:
    Prepare to salivate because NTD's International Chinese Culinary Competition is underway, lets take a look at the scenes from the preliminary round.

    STORY:
    The Peking Hunan Park Restaurant, New York, where chefs have gathered to participate in NTD's International Chinese Culinary Competition. Many talented chefs have come to exhibit their skills in creating dishes that delight all senses, and remain faithful to their origins.

    [Alex Zhong, Contestant Chef]
    "I wanted the chance to show off the cuisine of China, especially my region of China which is the northeast."

    The competition setting fosters an opportunity for growth.

    [Man Ho Cheung, Contestant Chef]
    "I feel that this is very good, it gives young chefs like myself an opportunity to showcase our culinary skills, and also we can learn from so many veteran chefs whilst we are competing, and this makes me very happy"

    While the judges deliberate, the lucky guests are able to watch the action up close, and most importantly, they get to devour the results.

    [Eli Gilbert, Culinary Guest]
    I love Chinese food, I could it eat it three times a day, I think you do that in China.

    The chefs are given freedom to create a dish of their choosing, allowing a diverse array of selections for guests to sample.

    [Sid Taubman, Culinary Guest]
    The event is great, we got a chance to try different dishes, I brought some people here from our company, and theyre very excited to try the different areas of Chinese cuisine, and so far we love everything that weve tried.

    The chefs abilities are set to remain under pressure, as the Semi Finals, and Finals continue in the following days.

    This is Robert Apicella for NTD, New York.

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    August 27

    Musik für die (innere) Freiheit

    Anders Erikssons „Music for Freedom“

    Musik für die (innere) Freiheit

    Mit Akkustik-Gitarre und seinem Gesang hat der Hobby-Musiker aus Schweden, Anders Eriksson, sein eigenes Album aufgenommen: "Music for Freedom". Gefühlsbetont und melanchonisch klingt die Musik, die auch ernste Themen aufgreift.
    Caroline Chen
    Epoch Times Deutschland
    		26.08.2009

    Mit seiner Stimme und der Gitarre geht Anders Eriksson seinen Weg. (Emil Almberg)

    Bereits mit neun Jahren saß er am Klavier und mit fünfzehn hatte er seine eigene Gitarre, aber gesungen, sagt er, habe er schon immer. Der aus Schweden stammende Anders Eriksson schrieb in den 80er Jahren bereits seine eigenen Texte. Als Teenager hörte er Musik von den Eagles, ELO, Bruce Springsteen, den Beatles, Elvis Presley, Thin Lizzy, Dire Straits, Bob Dylan und anderen, die ihn alle musikalisch beeinflussten.

    Nach einigen Erfahrungen, die er mit Rockbands in seiner Heimatstadt in Schweden gemacht hatte, gründete er im Jahre 2003 die  Band „Yellow Express“. Der Sound dieser Gruppe war bereits in Berlin und München zu hören. Und möglicherweise, so verrät eine Internetseite von „Yellow Express“, wird die Band am 31. Dezember 2010 auf dem Platz des Himmlischen Friedens in Peking stehen und ihre Songs an Millionen Festland-Chinesen richten, denen wegen der kritischen Texte ihre Musik noch immer verwehrt wird.

    Nun gibt Eriksson, für den Musikmachen immer ein Hobby gewesen ist, ein eigenes Album heraus und singt vom Fall der Berliner Mauer und dem im gleichen Jahr stattfindenden Studentenaufstand auf dem Platz des Himmlischen Friedens in China sowie darüber, dass die kommunistische Partei Chinas nicht nur die Gedanken des Volkes kontrolliert, sondern auch seine Tränen.

    Vor drei Jahren entstand der Wunsch, ein eigenes Album aufzunehmen, was der jetzt fast 43 Jahre alte Musiker nun auch verwirklicht hat. Die Bandmitglieder von „Yellow Express“ hatten ihn ermutigt, sein eigenes Album zu machen. Die Lieder seines neu erschienen Albums „Music for Freedom“ (Musik für die Freiheit) werden teilweise von seinen alten Bandmitgliedern begleitet.

    Seine Musik sei eine Mischung aus Rock/Pop und höre sich an wie Van Morrison oder Gram Parsons, meint der Musiker selbst über seinen Stil.

    Mitlieder der Band "Yellow Express" unterstützen und begleiten den Hobby-Musiker, wie Eriksson sich selbst nennt. (Anders Eriksson)

    Leichte Melodien mit tiefgehendem Inhalt

    Die Melodien wirken leicht und lebendig. Doch der Inhalt geht in die Tiefe. Mit dem langsamen und zugleich etwas traurig stimmenden Lied „They can´t make my waver” (Sie bringen mich nicht ins Wanken) erzählt der Musiker die Geschichte des mutigen Chinesen Liu Chengjun. Liu Chengjun starb im Dezember 2003 nach 21 Monaten Folter. „In China gibt es viele Helden wie ihn, manche sind bekannt, manche werden es nie.“

    Eriksson machte ihn noch bekannter, indem er ihm dieses Lied widmete. Es beginnt mit sanften Gitarrenklängen, dann ertönt Anders gefühlvolle Stimme: „Three years ago I raised a banner in Tiananmen”. Liu Chengjun hatte sich auf dem Tiananmen Platz in Peking für die vom chinesischen Regime verbotene buddhistische Kultivierungsschule Falun Gong eingesetzt, indem er auf ein Transparent gemalt die drei Prinzipien von Falun Gong in die Lüfte hob: „Wahrhaftigkeit, Barmherzigkeit, Nachsicht“.

    Bald wurde er in eine dunkle Zelle geschleppt, isoliert von seiner Familie und seinem Sohn, den, wie das Lied verrät, er besonders vermisste. Aber „seinen Glauben werden sie niemals brechen können“, ertönt die Stimme von Eriksson. Doch genau dies wurde für Liu Chengjun zum Verhängnis. Er schwor seinem Glauben nicht ab und wurde dafür zu Tode gefoltert. Das Lied kann als eine Hommage an die unerschütterlichen Falun Gong-Praktizierenden in China gelten, die in ihrem Willen und Glauben standhaft bleiben, trotz zehn Jahre andauernder Verfolgung.

    Für inneren und äußeren Frieden – auf CD. (Anders Eriksson)

    Auf Reisen in China inspiriert

    Dass Eriksson solch ernste Texte singt und damit ein Stück weit auch die Menschenrechtsverletzungen in China aufdeckt, ist keineswegs zufällig. Schon im Herbst 1996 traf er in China chinesische Falun Gong-Praktizierende. Damals war Falun Gong in China noch nicht verboten, im Gegenteil, es war von der Regierung sogar anerkannt und gefördert. „Es war eine großartige Erfahrung, so viele Menschen zu treffen, die sich kultivierten. Sie waren so zuvorkommend und warmherzig. Es half mir, zu verstehen, was es bedeutet, ein guter Mensch zu sein. Als die Verfolgung im Jahre 1999 begann, hat mich das sehr verwirrt, da ich ja wusste, dass es gute Menschen sind. Ich konnte nicht verstehen, warum das chinesische Regime Falun Gong verboten hatte.“

    Eriksson erzählt von seinen Erlebnissen in China. Als er im Jahre 1998 noch einmal nach China ging, war er sehr beeindruckt von einem älteren Mann, der ihm sagte, dass er in seinem Dorf früher als Gammler und Trinker bekannt gewesen war und nicht ohne Hilfe alleine hatte gehen können. Als er dann Falun Gong kennen lernte, erkannte er, dass er kein gutes Leben führte und fing an, diese besondere Art des Qigong auszuüben. Mit magischer Wirkung. Eriksson sagt begeistert: „Er konnte sogar wieder alleine gehen!“

    Seine Lieder handeln jedoch nicht nur von dem „Chinese Way“ (Chinesischen Weg), wie in einem gleichnamigen Lied, in dem es um die Austrittswelle aus der Kommunistischen Partei Chinas geht.

    Ein Stück, begleitet mit Geige, „Getting closer“ (Näher kommen), beschreibt die Suche nach dem Sinn des Lebens, die Sehnsucht Erikssons nach einer inneren Ruhe im Leben, und es bringt gleichzeitig die Zuversicht und den Wunsch zum Ausdruck, dass eines Tages alles gut sein wird. „Dieses Lied spiele ich sehr gerne“, meint Eriksson. Für ihn ist dies ein „hoffnungsvoller Song über das Finden des inneren Friedens“.

    Auch die Schönheit der Natur besingt Eriksson in seinem Lied „Walking On Holy Ground“ (Auf heiligem Boden gehen). Der Text und die melancholisch-klingende Musik lässt die Natur lebendig werden, und Visionen erscheinen wie „Up in the mountains“ (Oben in den Bergen).

    Obwohl Eriksson noch kaum Erfahrung mit Solo-Konzerten hat, wird er sich auf die Reise begeben. Und singt weiter seine berührenden Lieder von der Freiheit zu leben, der Schönheit der Natur und der tiefen Zuversicht, dass sich alles zum Guten wenden wird.

    Hörproben und CD-Kauf unter: http://anderserikssonmusic.net/

    Erschienen in The Epoch Times Deutschland Nr. 32/09

    http://www.epochtimes.de/articles/2009/08/26/484002.html

     

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    August 25

    The Rhetoric of China's Booming Capitalism

    The Rhetoric of China's Booming Capitalism

    By Pamela Tsai
    Epoch Times Staff     Aug 24, 2009

    Dr. Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. (Courtesy of Dr. Arthur Waldron)
    China’s high-powered economic engine continues to drive discussions about its influence on the world. During last month’s US-China talks, President Barack Obama said the relationship with China “will shape the 21st century”.

    James P. Muldoon Jr., a senior Fellow with the Center for Global Change and Governance at Rutgers University offered his view of China and how its influence will shape the new century. He spoke in a recent forum “China: Implications of a New World Order” held at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

    The new century, according to Muldoon, is the Pacific or Asian century. Muldoon believes America is losing world power leadership to Asia. He said Asia is gaining power, economically and politically while America is declining in morality and lacking the backbone to be a leading nation.

    Comparing China’s high Gross Domestic Product growth and the stagnant economy in the West, Muldoon argued that the China’s state controlled system works and the free economy in the West has stopped working.

     

    A Fast Growing Unhealthy Economy

    “This is a mistaken point of view,” said Dr. Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on the boards of Freedom House and the Jamestown Foundation. Professor Waldron is a consultant for the Department of Defense, and for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. He often testifies before Congress.

    According to Professor Waldron, there are three problems with the Chinese economy:

    1) Heavy reliance on exports: As much as 39.7% of China’s GDP is foreign exports - making China by far the largest economy dependent on selling overseas.

    2) Extremely low domestic demand: China's personal consumption rate was 35% in 2007 compared with 70% for the US and 56% for Japan

    3) Massive government spending: 55% of China’s GDP is government spending and investment on large infrastructure projects, i.e. building roads, buildings. This is more than double the US percent (20%)

    Professor Waldron said large government projects are often not profitable. The Chinese government simply takes away Chinese people’s savings to build these large projects for self-glorification.

    “It is not a healthy economy,” he said.

    Dr. Jason Ma, a China-born analyst who often appears in New Tang Dynasty Television’s commentary program said the engine of China’s fast growing economy is millions of migrant workers. “About 80% of China’s population lives in the rural areas – called ‘peasant population’. Most of them live below poverty. They are hungry for jobs to make money and feed the family. Millions of them come to cities to find work in construction, factories and rough conditions.”

    Ma said these migrant workers are the world’s cheapest, largest and most productive workforce: they are like China’s non-stop working machine – besides eating 3 meals and sleeping for a few hours, they have nothing else to do – they don’t have family and friends in the cities. Besides life’s necessities, they don’t spend money and consume.

    Ma pointed out that these migrant workers are the unsung heroes for China’s economic miracle. They are also explain the extremely low domestic demand (personal consumption) in China’s GDP.

    The profile of Chinese construction worker Wei Zhongwen earned The Wall Street Journal the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. According to Paul E. Steiger, Managing Editor of The Wall Street Journal, Wei’s story is “of the two million migrant laborers behind Beijing’s mammoth preparation for the 2008 Olympics. It is a story of Dickensian deprivation, one that brought strong response and many donations from readers around the world.”

    Chinese Government - Efficiency or Deficiency?

    Chinese government’s adroit use of the controlled economy has created many large investment projects. Ma said it is easy for the outsiders to see the “efficiency” of the Chinese government, but not the sufferings of the Chinese people. For example, to do the Three Gorges Dam Project, the government seized farmer’s land, evicted tens of thousands of people from their homes and displaced them with little or no compensation. Ma said such efficiency could never be matched by any government in a democratic society.

    The Chinese government is also very efficient at handling complaints and petitions from aggrieved workers, farmers and civil rights activists’ protests – the Party simply sends troops to put them down. In 2004, 90,000 farmers in Sichuan Province, frustrated by a lack of response to their complaints over the seizure of their land for the Dam Project, staged a protest. The government sent 10,000 paramilitary troops to solve the problem. The security measures were not much different from those that led to the Tiananmen Massacre 20 years ago. For decades, the Chinese government has successfully maintained the social “stability” and “harmony” - essential for the Party to sustain China’s economic growth.

    In last month’s Wall Street Journal Op-Ed, Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton co-authored a view about US-China relationship. The opinion piece ended with a famous Chinese saying “When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together.”

    Ma said “With 58 million Chinese people rocking the boat of the Chinese Communist Party (http://quitccp.org), it is wise to pause before jumping into the boat.”

    “Not only can water float a boat, it can sink the boat also,” is a famous saying by Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty (599 – 649 AD). His dynasty was the pinnacle of China’s prosperity in economy, government, cultural and arts. In this analogy, the relationship between people and their government is likened to that of water and a boat. People (water) can float the government (boat). People can also sink the government.

    Last Updated
    Aug 25, 2009
     
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    University Admissions Policy on Falun Gong

    University Admissions Policy on Falun Gong Print E-mail
    Written by TG   

    Test scores are not the only criteria for admission into Chinese universities and colleges. The applicant must pass a political background check to ensure that he or she has always followed the Party line. The political background check is particularly strict for military academies, law schools and law enforcement schools.  This policy is evident from the following government notices on political background checks. Falun Gong has been explicitly singled out, showing that the authorities treat the suppression of Falun Gong as its top priority. For other universities and colleges, political background checks likewise include affiliation with Falun Gong – either directly, or it is implied in the process.

    Regulations on Political Qualifications Applicable to Military Academies Enrolling Regular High School Graduates and on the Military Recruiting of Regular College Graduates [1]

    (The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Public Security and the General Political Department of the People’s Liberation Army)

    Joint Notice No. 1 [2001]
    May 31, 2001

    To strengthen ideological and political construction among the officers of the armed forces and based on the Law of the People's Republic of China on Officers in Active Service, Military Service Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations, now therefore the regulations on regulations on political qualifications applicable to military academies enrolling regular high school graduates and on the military recruiting of regular college graduates are prescribed as follows:

    Love the Chinese Communist Party; love the socialist motherland; love the people; love the people's army; support the Party's line, principles and policies; comply with the Constitution and the laws; have a clean history, be politically reliable, upright, politically correct, and of good moral character; serve the people wholeheartedly; willing to be fully dedicated to national defense with the determination to defend the motherland and people to work in peace. No one shall be enrolled and accepted if found to fall into any of the following categories:

    1. Those who are dissatisfied, in word or deed, with the Chinese Communist Party and the socialist system.

    2. Those who have leaked the Party, State and military’s secrets; maintain close ties with immediate family members who fled abroad or joined in espionage and reactionary organizations in foreign countries, thus being politically suspicious.

    3. Those who have organized or participated, inside and outside China, in organizations that endanger national security as well as triads (identified by local public security departments); have organized or supported unlawful assemblies, marches, demonstrations, sit-ins, hunger strikes, students’ strikes and other activities.

    4. Those who have a prior history of imprisonment, criminal detention, control or being deprived of political rights; a prior history of re-education through labor in accordance with the law, or administrative detention; have been subject to criminal investigation, prosecution, or trials that have not closed, and crime suspects under investigation and surveillance; have been parties to litigation of civil and economic disputes yet to be resolved.

    5. Those who have participated in "Falun Gong" or qigong organizations that the public security departments have identified as harmful to society; have immediate family members or other close relatives who practice Falun Gong or qigong organizations harmful to society and are core members or refuse to change and continue to adhere to the wrong position.

    6. Those who have engaged in indecency, theft, robbery, fraud, gambling, smuggling, prostitution, drug addiction, production and distribution of pornographic materials and other illegal activities.

    7. Those who believe in religions or have participated in the activities of religious organizations.

    8. Those who have bad moral character, poor discipline and have been reprimanded for serious mistakes.

    9. Those who wear tattoo designs, words, or points not due to ethnic customs and bear symbols of problematic political issues and criminal gangs.

    10. Those who cannot correctly accept that their immediate family members, close relatives or other directly fostered persons were sentenced or disciplined.

    11. Those whose background cannot be easily investigated due to various reasons.

    It is a joint task of the military and local authorities to do well in investigating political qualifications when military academies enroll regular high school graduates and the armed forces recruit regular college graduates. We must strengthen the leadership. The military cognizant departments shall carry out well-organized implementation.  Local departments of education and public security should actively assist, cooperate closely within their duties, and check carefully to ensure the political quality of the enrollees and those accepted.

    Public Announcement of Hainan on Admission Interviews for Military Academies, Public Security Schools, Schools of Riot Police and Judicial and Law Schools [2]

    June 29, 2008, Examinations Bureau of Hainan Province

    ……

    The interviewing institutions shall provide candidates who passed interviews with the “Form of Interviews, Physical Tests and Political Qualification of Public Security Higher Educational Institutions.” The candidates shall bring the forms to their high schools (graduates of priors years should go to their village or streets committee offices), local police station and city/county public security bureau for political background approval.  Candidates shall submit the completed form to the education section under the personnel division of the Political Department, the Provincial Public Security Bureau.

    The political qualification process covers political behavior, obeying the law and the public morality of the candidates, their immediate family members and major social associations.

    Candidates shall be politically disqualified if they committed one of the following:

    Have received a criminal sentence, re-education through labor, juvenile disciplinary administration or punishment for disorderly social behavior in the past five years.

    Are currently under criminal investigation and surveillance.

    Have records of expulsion from school, the Communist Youth League, the Communist Party or have been written up in personnel files or more in the past three years.

    Have practiced Falun Gong or other illegal organizations or groups of organized crimes.

    Have a history of drug addiction.

    Have immediate family members or close relatives that have received the death sentence or were sentenced for endangering State security or are serving terms for other crimes.

    Have immediate family members or close relatives that are suspects currently under criminal investigation by the authorities or hard core members of Falun Gong and other illegal organizations who refuse to change their wrong positions; and other situations that are not appropriate for enrollment.

    2009 Enrollment Charter for National Defense Students
    Dalian Science and Industry University [3]

    ……

    3. Admission criteria

    (1) Support the party's line, loyal to the motherland, love the military, willing to be dedicated to national defense, have not participated in any illegal social groups and organizations, have no connection with Falun Gong, meet the standards in the Regulations on Political Qualifications Applicable to Military Academies Enrolling Regular High School Graduates and Military Recruiting Regular College Graduates (Joint Notice No. 1 [2001]).

    Lanzhou University: If You Want To Become a Military Officer [4]
    ……

    4.  What are the admission criteria for candidates?

    (1) Meet the standards in the Regulations on Political Qualifications Applicable to Military Academies Enrolling Regular High School Graduates and Military Recruiting Regular College Graduates, willing to be dedicated to national defense and will accept assigned posts upon graduation. The candidate, the guardian and the immediate family members have not participated in any illegal social organizations, particularly Falun Gong.

    2009 Beijing Regulations on Admissions at Regular Higher Educational Institutions [5]
    ……

    4. Anyone who falls into one of the following categories shall not be accepted:

    a. Have opposed the basic principles of the Constitution or participated in cults [Editor’s Note: as the government has been extensively referring to Falun Gong as a “cult,” in the official’s language in China, “cult” has become synonymous with Falun Gong].

    b. Have violated social order regulations, and been disciplined as a result, where the violations were of a serious and egregious nature.
    …

    2009 Heilongjiang Regulations on Admissions at Regular Higher Educational Institutions [6]
    ……

    9. Anyone that falls into one of the following categories shall fail in the political and moral qualifications. 

    a. Have opposed the basic principles of the Constitution or participated in cults.
    b. Have violated social order regulations, and been disciplined as a result, where the violations were of a serious and egregious nature.
    ……

    Endnotes:
    [1] University of Science and Technology of China
    http://hbjg.ustc.edu.cn/index.php?Aid=323
    [2] Examinations Bureau of Hainan Province
    http://ea.hainan.gov.cn/phtml/2008/06/30/1529.html
    [3] Dalian University of Technology
    http://recruit.dlut.edu.cn/Display.aspx?NewsID=259
    [4] Lanzhou University
    http://xpb.lzu.edu.cn/ReadNews.asp?NewsID=550
    [5] Beijing Education Examination Authority
    http://www.bjeea.cn/218425681439096832/20090402/37700.shtml
    [6] Xinhua, May 20, 2009
    http://news.xinhuanet.com/edu/2009-05/20/content_11404791.htm

    http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/1710/92/

    9:29 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it

    Parents of Lead Poisoning Victims Speak to Reporters

    Parents of Lead Poisoning Victims Speak to Reporters 

    2009-8-24 9:2449

     
     

    In China children are very precious...

    [Ms. Zhang, Parent of Lead Poisoning Victim]:
    “With the one-child policy we all have just one child. People give everything they have to raise their child.”

    The Chinese regime limits most Chinese couples to having just one child, and that child often represents hope for a family’s future. But when something threatens to take away that future…

    [Ms. Zhang, Parent of Lead Poisoning Victim]:
    “The levels of lead in my child's blood are so high.”

    …it touches on feelings that aren’t easy to subdue.

    [Ms. Zhang, Parent of Lead Poisoning Victim]:
    “His health is more important than anything to me.”

    The Dongling lead smelting plant in Shaanxi province has been the scene of protests by parents from local villages, angry after hundreds of children fell ill with lead poisoning.

    Ms. Zhang lives in one of those villages. After testing, her son had 192 milligrams of lead per liter of blood—that’s 20 times the amount considered safe in the United States, but in China, it’s not even enough to entitle him to medical treatment.

    Other children have even higher levels of lead and aren’t getting treatment.

    [Grandmother of Lead Poisoning Victim]:
    “I noticed he wasn't eating properly. All day he wouldn't sleep, and then he'd fall asleep late and wake up early. We had him checked and his blood had a reading of 234. But they didn't do anything, all they did was hand out milk.”

    According to the Foreign Correspondents Club of China, local officials harassed foreign reporters who tried to cover the story and interview villagers.

    Zhang Jingjing, a lawyer with the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims, explains the difficulties those affected face.

    [Zhang Jingjing, Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims]:
    “There are no channels to help common people protect their environmental rights and to get compensation.”

    Production at the lead smelting plant has been temporarily suspended. But one of the parents’ most pressing questions—when will the plant be permanently closed—still remains unanswered.

    http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_china/2009-08-24/716256704063.html

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    人民日报记者香港公开退党　谴责中共暴政（图/音）
     
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    【明慧网二零零九年八月二十五日】（明慧记者李慧容综合报导）流落香港躲避中共迫害的《人民日报》记者邱明伟，二零零九年八月廿三日召开记者会，谴责中共使用谎言与暴力迫害包括法轮功学员在内的各类异议人士，并公开宣布退出中共所有组织，成为中共中央级宣传机关中首位公开以真名退党的在职人员。他强调不会屈服于中共暴政。


    邱明伟指出近年来中共黑手对海外的渗透更加严重

    在记者会将要结束前，邱明伟激动地公开声明：“我在《人民日报》社上班期间，我已经用《人民日报》的工作平台上大纪元网退党服务中心退过一次党。现在我公开宣布和共产党结束一切关系，包括它们的少先队、共青团、党组织，结束一切关系。”（录音）

    中国人权状况越来越差

    记者会上，香港多个主要电子媒体皆出席。邱明伟表示：“我在《人民日报》社工作这么多年了，连我都看不到中国的人权有所改善了。他们并没有兑现他们的诺言，而且人权状况是越来越差，不但没有兑现诺言，反而在全世界的注视的目光下，建造了一个庞大的暴力与谎言的工厂。这是典型的、低劣的编造虚假罪名、打击异议人士的手法，手段极其险恶。居然还不惜一切手段收买记者，帮中共说话，替中共涂脂抹粉。”（录音）

    邱明伟表示，他今年早前来港参加七一大游行及其它活动，回大陆后便遭到一系列打压，包括受上级排挤、电话被监听、住所遭到搜查、人身自由受到限制，然后被扣上勾结敌对势力等罪名。除了扣上政治帽子外，还有许多不同的手段，“包括逼迫我们在空白的纸张上签字，签完字以后，他们可以随意在上面添加内容，然后他们可以拿着这样的文件来应对国际社会的声讨，发出所谓的官方声明。”

    受迫害原因涉及调查法轮功

    邱明伟表示，由于自己经常调查异见人士个案，有高层人员曾向他透露，今次政治迫害的根本原因，是他曾对法轮功进行调查及帮过一些法轮功学员。“他说，你居然在内地做了这么一些的负面调查、土地问题的调查、法轮功问题的调查、投资上问题的调查，包括你还调查地方一些书记贪污腐败问题，你也调查。他说这些问题都不重要，但是你调查法轮功的个案这个恐怕有点受不起，虽然说你仅仅是调查，还有谁能证明你不是法轮功的这个关连人员？谁能证明你不是法轮功的成员呢？”

    他其后才明白，来港参加七一大游行只是迫害的导火线。“所以好多问题都交织在一起，冰冻三尺非一日之寒，造成今日的局面绝不仅仅是我参加香港的七一大游行，绝不仅仅是我参加香港的一些会议、会见异议人士就这样。如果仅仅是这样，也就判二年或是三年，关我二年、三年无所谓，我出来以后，仍然可以在大陆帮助那些弱势群体，现在我已经没这个机会了。因为来香港一系列举动是导火线，还真是这样的，以前做的一些个案其实他们已经掌握了，只不过我自己掉以轻心，不知道。那么也就是说，他们对我这一块已经痛下决心来一个杀一儆百，因为我居然敢帮助法轮功。所以造成今天这个局面，老账新账一起算到我的头上。”（录音）

    目睹法轮功学员被追赶致淹死

    邱明伟亲述自己目睹中共迫害法轮功的罪证，包括一名妇女被截访人员追赶，掉在护城河里淹死了。他说：“那个大姐是四十多岁，被他们那些人截访，穿着便衣，追着打。因为北京的护城河，它的河沿不会象咱们香港这边的围墙这么高，它的高度是有限的，她慌不择路呢，最后是掉到河里面，结果就是淹死了。这个问题不光是我看见了，好多上访的人都看见了，当时我们感到非常的震惊。我就问围观的其他上访人，我说，他怎么打你们上访的打得这么狠？那个上访的人告诉我，她是法轮功。”（录音）

    邱明伟了解许多当年上访的法轮功学员情况非常悲惨，衣衫褴褛，居无定所，他深感同情，曾私下提供生活上的帮助，并向上级反映问题。但是，“上级明确的表态，法轮功的问题，你肯定不能碰。他说，别说你不能碰，就是我碰了，恐怕我也‘歇菜’，我们大陆‘歇菜’就是完蛋的意思。”

    制止公安暴打遭警告

    邱明伟又忆述，有一次他出面制止公安对法轮功学员暴打时遭到警告，“非常明确地，当着我的面警告我，说你不要再纠缠不清了，用了这个词，说你不要再纠缠不清了，要不你的工作就保不住。他问，你信不信？你替法轮功出头，把你当作法轮功的总后台，抓起来以后，要关多少年你知道吗？”

    中共文化特务渗透海外媒体

    邱明伟指出近年来中共黑手对海外的渗透更加严重，“共产党在海外的文化特务是主要的成员，这些文化特务渗透海外华文报刊、中文网站，随时替共产党在国际上对异议人士，包括像我们这种推动民主进程的媒体人，进行诋毁、诽谤。无论是有意还是无意，都会把水搅混，让真正有罪的、迫害的主体逃脱国际媒体的注意。把自己从一个罪恶的刽子手漂白成无罪羔羊，欺骗国际媒体，欺骗国际社会。这种行为跟早期的文化大革命中的恐怖主义行为有异曲同工之处。”（录音）

    U盘两次被窃 晚上被跟踪

    逃亡到香港后，邱明伟在北京的住所仍继续被搜查，而且香港也不安全。他透露，自己的U盘前后在旅馆被偷窃过两次，前天晚上还被跟踪。

    问到是否担忧家人的安危，他说：“我现在虽然希望我的家人能够平安，但是我可以明确告诉你，我的爱人现在已经正在接受精神病医院开出的控制精神病的药物进行治疗，这个有证据，你们可以去医院调查。你可以想想我的家人面临一个怎样的状态。那么，这一切都是中共造成的，他们以后再遇到什么危险，全部都是中共的责任。”

    但邱明伟强调，自己不会屈服于中共暴政，并呼吁国际社会提供协助，并关注他家人的安危。

    成文：2009年08月24日  发稿：2009年08月25日  更新：2009年08月25日 02:47:39
    明慧网版权所有 © 1999-2009 MINGHUI.ORG

     

    当法制面对“政治高度”


    文／钟延
     
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    【明慧网二零零九年八月二十四日】中共最高人民法院常务副院长沈德咏在八月中旬的一次会议上承认：“当前，部份群众对司法的不信任感正在逐渐泛化成普遍社会心理，这是一种极其可怕的现象。”

    在中国，“法制”一直是中共统治的政治工具，现在被越来越多的人看穿，这就难怪老百姓普遍不再信任中国的司法体制了。

    迫害中司法被践踏

    十多年对法轮功信仰团体的迫害，让中国的司法体系被“政治挂帅”彻底践踏。仅举一例，中共十年中在全国各地劳民伤财的建立了数不清的所谓“法制学习班”，这种“学习班”说白了就是洗脑班，为了让无数信仰真善忍的民众放弃信仰，不断剥夺中国公民的人身自由，而且对他们进行残酷的肉体和精神折磨，已达到让他们放弃信仰的目的。

    这里所谓的“法制学习班”其实是执法犯法的“思想集中营”，如果“法制学习班”真的能让公民增强法制观念的话，加入这种学习班的人应该是迫害的发动者和各级执行者，因为他们连“宪法保护公民的信仰自由”这一最基本的法律常识都不懂，不应当进“法制学习班”吗？不仅如此，那些手上有血债的、迫害的发动者和指挥者还要受到法律的严惩。

    据明慧网报道，近日，辽宁丹东市法轮功学员张舒婕、张舒霞、赵广顺因传播法轮功真相被丹东市振兴区法院秘密判刑三年到七年不等。丹东市元宝区法院马姓庭长宣称：“越请律师辩护判得越重，不允许律师作无罪辩护”。该副院长的唯一的“法律依据”就是“上面的意思”。

    这样剥夺法轮功学员基本权利的枉法法院在过去十年中，在全国范围制造了多少的冤狱可想而知。

    在中共体制下，司法起不到保障公民的基本权利的作用，也不具备法律最基本的公正性和尊严。

    可怕的“政治高度”

    近日《人民日报》外逃记者、原时政专题部主任邱明伟向海外媒体曝光了自己在中国遭遇的“政治”恐怖。邱明伟因赴港参与“七一”游行，返京后遭到打压。

    邱明伟说：“一旦给你扣上政治帽子以后，你是解释不清的，你聘请律师辩护是无效的，《人民日报》有一些非常简单的事情，它都要把它上升到政治的高度，这个太可怕了，这个会剥夺我的人身自由的。”

    所谓的“上升到政治高度”说白了就是老百姓得罪了共产党后，后者的欲加之罪。当邱明伟的问题“上升到政治高度”时，连以往的高层“关系”都因怕受牵连，无法帮他。

    一旦被定性为政治问题，那么“司法体系”就成了酷刑和精神折磨的代名词。邱明伟在政法系统的一个朋友告诉他“从你嘴里掏证据的时候是怎么掏的，你知道吗？七天七夜不断地搧你的嘴巴，把你的嘴巴搧得像面团发酵似的，浮的绵绵的，你想你能扛住七天吗？把你的嘴巴给你搧得。你要是能扛得住了，好了，八天八夜你扛得住吗？他说，好了，你扛得住是吧，还有老虎凳，你扛得住吗？”

    在中共迫害法轮功的十年中，包括老虎凳在内的百余种肉体和精神种酷刑就是这样曾经，并还在继续被用来折磨那些坚持信仰的人。从某种意义上讲，这时的“法制”已经完全沦丧为中共国家黑社会主义的暴力工具了。

    讲政治和搞政治

    无条件服从，共产党喜欢的就是“讲政治”；共产党不喜欢的、要打压的就是“搞政治”。和法制一样，“政治”一词被中共玩弄于股掌之中，也成了愚弄、控制和奴役中国人的工具。

    在中共的体系中，“法制”永远也不会超越“政治”之外，独立公正的行使职责；而“政治”永远会要利用“法制”来加强自己的统治。老百姓对中国司法的普遍不信任和心理抵制也是这样形成的。

    任何形式上的改良都是治标不治本的，中共存在的本身就注定了中国人民不断经历的苦难。只有选择退出中共、发自内心的抛弃它，才能会给自己和社会带来希望。

    成文：2009年08月21日  发稿：2009年08月24日  更新：2009年08月24日 05:46:05
    明慧网版权所有 © 1999-2009 MINGHUI.ORG

     

    接天莲叶无穷碧
    —— 莲文化与传统人文精神


    文／智真
     
      打印版本

    【明慧网二零零九年八月二十三日】莲，又名荷花、芙蓉、芙蕖、菡萏等，象征清正、纯洁，是我国人民喜爱的名花，被誉为“花中君子”和美的化身。莲文化品位高洁，含义隽永，源远流长，在儒家君子人格、佛家佛性与修行、道家修真养性等方面都有着丰富的文化内涵，无论是民间也好，文人墨客也好，修行人也好，都赞美莲花，赋予它各种各样的美好含义，反映出人们对美好理想和崇高气节的向往和追求。

    一、花中君子

    莲天生丽质，出污泥而不染，其自生或栽培在池塘或水田内，花有深红、浅红、粉红、淡黄、纯白等多种颜色，有凌波仙子之雅号。每当夏季来临，青翠的莲叶在碧波上摇曳，而万绿丛中的莲花则展现出迷人的风姿。它既有春的美丽，莲花、莲叶，皆可观赏；又有秋的果实，莲子、莲藕，春华秋实，为人赞叹。而莲子受硬壳的保护可以在土里埋几百年甚至上千年而不坏，被认为是世界上最长寿的种子。

    莲不象浮萍那样随波逐流，无论置身于名园佳苑，还是植根于湖塘池沼，它不畏炎夏风沙，不惧晚秋严霜，始终如一的直立、盛开着，默默的散发着芳馨。莲之美丽在于它的高洁和给予，北宋周敦颐说：“莲，花之君子者也”。“君子”一说，乃是借花喻人，“君子喻于义”、“君子成人之美”、“天行健，君子以自强不息”，君子与小人的分别在于是否有高尚的道德，而君子则是理想道德人格的典范。周敦颐为官几十年，淡泊名利，一心为民，莲之品格正是他不肯阿谀权贵的写照。他写的《爱莲说》流传千古：“予独爱莲之出淤泥而不染，濯清涟而不妖，中通外直，不蔓不枝，香远益清，亭亭净植，可远观而不可亵玩焉”，将莲比作花中的君子，使莲具有象征君子美好品德的意义：“出淤泥而不染”象征君子身处污浊环境而不同流合污、不随俗浮沉的品质；“濯清涟而不妖”象征君子的庄重、质朴，不哗众取宠，不炫耀自己；“中通外直，不蔓不枝”象征君子的正直不苟，豁达大度；“香远益清，亭亭净植” 象征君子的感化力量和美好的姿质。读《爱莲说》使人产生激浊扬清、荡涤尘垢的精神力量。

    二、文化意象

    莲是我国古典文学的重要题材，意境令人回味无穷，心驰神往。文人墨客写莲、赞莲、咏莲、画莲，留下了浩如烟海的诗书画文。我国最早的诗歌集《诗经》中就有“灼灼芙蕖”、“山有扶苏，湿有荷华”之句；屈原在《离骚》中写道：“制芰荷以为衣兮，集芙蓉以为裳”，与之相依相融，以表达自己的清净心境；李白写的“清水出芙蓉，天然去雕饰”赞美莲的纯真，他写的“心如世上青莲色”表达了自己不肯“摧眉折腰事权贵”的节操；白居易写的“似彼白莲花，在水不着水”，赞美莲的高雅脱俗；孟浩然写的“看取莲花净，方知不染心”，赞美莲的圣洁。

    莲不仅入诗入文，同时也入联入画入饰。风景名胜有莲的地方，多有以莲为题的佳联，如“荷花送香气，山月含清辉”、“万荷倒影月痕绿，一雨洗秋山骨青”。众多的丹青高手画莲之妙绘精品，难以胜计。如宋代滕昌佑所画《水墨荷莲图》、佚名画家所画《出水芙蓉图》；元代王冕所画《荷花图》；明代陈洪绶所画《墨荷图》等，以不同的艺术手法，从不同的审美角度描绘莲花冰清玉洁、天然淡泊的气息。莲饰早在春秋时就有，当时铸以荷纹的青铜器，与龙、螭等一起构成华贵纹饰，后来也成为各种建筑装饰、雕塑工艺及生活器皿上最常用的图案纹饰和造型。莲也是优美的舞蹈素材，如周代人们祭祀天地时跳的“荷花舞”，以莲花象征祥和润泽。这个舞蹈，动如行云流水，极具轻柔飘逸之态；静又似芙蓉出水，含苞待放，表达了人们对天地神明的敬畏和天下清平的景象。

    莲花还素有吉祥、清廉之喻，如“一品清廉”，古时官分九品，一品最高，莲谐音廉，含为官清廉寓意，“一品清廉”就是指虽然官高位显，但更要廉洁奉公，不贪污、不受贿，这是千百年来人们对从政者道德操守的基本要求。如民间流传的《一品清廉图》就是一茎青色莲花的图案。莲又称荷，而“荷”“和”谐音，吉祥和合，“以和为贵”是我国的传统理念，因此便赋予荷和平、祥和、和合、和好的寓意。如民间很常见的吉祥画《和合二仙》，便是一人手中执荷，另一人手中捧盒，取其谐音之故。莲叶青翠，莲花香美，莲藕洁白，因此人们赋予它正直、廉洁的君子之风的含义，不仅鼓励自己洁身自好，更寄予友人以共勉，因此古代民间有春天折梅赠远，秋天采莲怀人的传统。

    三、与佛、道之缘

    莲花与佛、道有着不解之缘。佛家讲慈悲普度，教人向善，希望和帮助他人解脱苦难，严戒同流合污，在身处污浊的尘世而不为其污染，保持自己的洁净清芬。以容忍和宽宥，以慈悲心去感化众生，使其向善，结出善果。莲生在污泥之中，洁身自处，傲然独立；其根如玉，不着诸色；其茎虚空，不见五蕴；其叶如碧，清自中生；其丝如缕，绵延不断；其花庄重，香馥长远。由于莲花的生长特性与佛家所主张的出世人格相契合，所以经常被用来引喻为清净、尊贵等光明的象征，也常将莲性比作佛性。人迷失自我如同陈淤积垢，有志者当努力修行，净化自我，不染污秽，超凡脱俗，追求达到觉者的境界。

    佛家传说故事中，佛祖释迦牟尼降生时，百鸟群集歌唱，天乐鸣空相和，佛祖一出世，便是站在莲花之上，下地走了七步，也是步步生莲。在人们见到的雕塑的佛像或画像中，佛、菩萨或坐、或站，都在莲花台之上。在我国敦煌、云岗、龙门石窟中，以莲花为内容的艺术造型俯拾即是。诸佛或高踞莲花座上，神态安详；或手持莲花，注目凝思；或乘莲花漂行于水面。莲花沐浴法光，既有超然世外的达观，更有着对苍生的悲悯与仁慈，“荷深风水阔，雨过清香发”，莲花是佛国世界常见的庄严。

    道家与莲花也有很深的渊源，称莲花为仙花，称藕为灵根。道家传说中故事中有许多和莲花有关，相传老子一出世就能行走，一步生一朵莲花，一共九朵。很多神仙也都是在荷满莲香的如诗如画的仙境中，或端坐莲花之上，或手持莲花，或以莲花为法器。很多修道名山上都有莲花山或者莲花峰，象华山、衡山、黄山、庐山、武夷山上都有，道家讲修真养性，很多修道人选择的环境也往往是“竹外茅斋橡下亭，半池莲叶半池菱”。道家认为莲象征“出五世之浊，一无污染”，如《群芳谱·荷花》中所说：“花生池泽中最秀。凡物先华而后实，独此华实齐生，百节疏通，万窍玲珑，亭亭物表”。李白的“素手把芙蓉，虚步蹑太清”（《古风》）、陆龟蒙的“此花端合在瑶池”（《白莲》），推崇莲的品格像瑶池仙子，字里行间蕴涵着仙风道骨的圣境和神韵。

    莲的品质高尚、圣洁、善良，其默默无闻的奉献精神，正是其所具有的内在美的展现，她的美包含着神圣的庄严，承载着对美好未来的向往，感化众生，令人珍视和敬仰。在当今物欲横流的社会中，在道德一日下滑千里的今天，法轮大法洪传于世，给人们带来希望，有识之士实践真理、传播真理，向人们讲清真相，使越来越多的人们选择了正义和善良，从而拥有光明的前程，其对真理的坚定信仰和对他人的关爱，人品亦如莲品，正使人想到“芙蓉自天来，不向水中去”、“接天莲叶无穷碧，映日荷花别样红”……

    成文：2009年08月22日  发稿：2009年08月23日  更新：2009年08月23日 02:41:49
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    http://minghui.org/mh/articles/2009/8/23/207040.html

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    林原：中共政治术语的翻译


    政治术语的“发明”可谓中共强项中的强项，正如江湖黑话如不经“翻译”，外人难以明白。(Getty Images)

    林原：中共政治术语的翻译

    作者：林原

     
    【正体版】  【打印机版】  【字号】大  中  小

    【大纪元8月21日讯】宣传工作历来是中共的“强项”，尽管这种宣传有很多虚假、隐瞒成份在其中。在该党宣传工作中，新政治术语的“发明”又可谓其强项中的强项：从1949年以前的“右倾机会主义”、“抢救运动”、“整风”、“四大家族”到中共建政后的“三反五反”、“反右”、“大跃进”、“四清”再到改革开放后的“一个中心、两个基本点”、“三讲”、“反对资产阶级自由化”，中共的政治术语真是五花八门、应有尽有。值得注意的是，有些政治术语时效性很强，比如“清除精神污染 ”；有些术语则是长期沿用的，比如“人民”、“民主”等。“人民”这一高度政治化的词汇在中共历史及现实中使用得非常广泛，诸如人民代表大会、人民法院、人民政府、人民广播电台、人民战争、为人民服务等等。

    正如江湖黑话如果不经“翻译”外人难以明白一样，中共此类政治术语如果不经“翻译”，其他人或者似懂非懂，或者产生误解。下面我们就从中共宣传中最常见的“人民”一词入手，揭示此类政治术语的“翻译”方法。

    《毛泽东选集》中有一篇著名的《和美国记者安娜。路易斯。斯特朗的谈话》。在1946年8月的国共内战初期，当这位美国记者向毛泽东问及：“如果美国人民问到共产党为什么作战，我该怎样回答呢？”，他的答覆是：“因为蒋介石要屠杀中国人民，人民要生存就必须自卫。”这种回答明显将中共与中国人民混同。不过，这倒给我们翻译中共政治术语中“人民”一词提供了线索——“人民”首先应该“翻译”成中共。这样一来，所谓“人民战争”可翻译成“中共战争”，所谓“人民解放”可翻译成“中共解放”，等等。

    中共执掌全国政权后，中国政治转型的实质可以说是反政府者（按照国民党方面的说法就是“匪”）的官僚化。这样，中共宣传中“人民”一词又有了一层新的含义，那就是“官僚”或“官方”。把握了这一层含义，用“官僚”（有时用“官方”）去翻译中共许多由“人民”派生出的词汇就有豁然开朗的感觉：人民代表大会可翻译成“官僚代表大会”，为人民服务可翻译成“为官僚服务”，“人民利益高于一切”可翻译成“官僚利益高于一切”，等等。值得注意的是，这些大都也可以用“中共”来翻译，比如人民政府可翻译成“中共政府”，“人民利益高于一切”可翻译成“中共利益高于一切”等等。

    中国外交部发言人比较喜欢说“伤害了中国人民的感情”甚至“严重伤害了中国人民的感情”（前段时间对法国佳士得公司拍卖圆明园两件铜像也有这种说法），而中国民众作为“沉默的大多数”尽管感情未必被伤害但也只能继续保持沉默。这里如果应用上文对“人民”的译法，那么“伤害了中国人民的感情”就可以翻译成“ 伤害了中国官方的感情”。不过某“官方”似乎并无 “感情”可言，这就用到政治术语辞典中另一词汇“感情”的翻译——有时它可翻译为“面子”。

    一些带有“民”字的词汇比如“民主”、“民意”等也都可以采用类似的译法：中共宣传中的“民主”一词可以翻译成“官主”，“尊重民意”可以翻译成“尊重官意”、“尊重党意”。值得注意的是，对“民主”、“民生”及由其派生出的词汇除按上述方法翻译外，还有以下译法：比如“民主主义”可翻译成“民奴主义”，“民生政策”可翻译成“民病政策”（或“民穷政策”）等等。

    －－原载：《北京之春》，2009年8月号

    本文只代表作者的观点和陈述

    美东时间: 2009-08-23 08:00:12 AM  【看万年历】
    本文网址：http://www.epochtimes.com/gb/9/8/21/n2631363.htm

     

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