Nearly 5,000 government officials were punished for corruption in China this last year. Yet that seems to be just the tip of an iceberg of favoritism, bribery and abuse.
Although Chinese officials are cracking down harder on corrupt party officials, it remains a half-hearted attempt.
In Xinhuanet.com:
A disciplinary official said Friday that 4,960 Chinese officials above the [...]
Foolocracy
Government by fools, silliness and unintelligent people
China Considers Making Lip-Syncing Illegal
Posted in November 25th, 2008
by Glenn Church in China
Lip-syncing may become illegal in China. Tainted milk, deadly pet food and lead-laden toys may scare the rest of the world, but the Cultural Revolution is still alive in China and going after the real criminals — performing artists.
China’s Ministry of Culture announced that those who “cheat the public” through such ghastly acts as lip-syncing [...]
United States Cuts Condom Funding In Africa
Posted in October 4th, 2008
The Bush administration is cutting condom funding for the Marie Stopes International (MSI) clinics in Africa. The Bush administration charges that MSI condones forced abortions in China.
MSI denies those accusations.
How are abortions in China related to condoms in Africa?
It goes something like this. MSI supports the Chinese government family planning program. This essentially limits the [...]
Chavez Calls Himself A “Maoist”
Posted in September 25th, 2008
In a visit to China, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called himself a “Maoist.” As with most things that Chavez says, it is hard to know if he really believes it. Today’s China barely gives lip service to Mao. That makes it hard to understand what Chavez is trying to do.
What is clear is that he [...]
‘1984′ is Reality in Chinese City with 200,000 Surveillance Cameras
Posted in August 31st, 2008
by Glenn Church in China
Shenzhen, China, has the dubious distinction of being the world’s most watched city. More than 200,000 surveillance cameras can be found there, constantly recording its inhabitants’ most ordinary daily activities. The Taipei Times reports that within two years, Shenzhen is expected to have video feeding into a database from 2 million cameras — “the highest [...]
Chinese Government Breaks Promise, Continues To Deny Free Access To Internet During Olympics
Posted in August 10th, 2008
by Glenn Church in China
The Chinese government wants to showcase the Olympics as representative of a new China. However, the new China continues to look a lot like the old one, at least politically. Despite assurances from the Chinese government that journalists would have free access to the internet during the Olympic Games, many websites remain blocked 10 days [...]
Chinese Plan To Ban Politics But Allow Porn For Olympic Village
Posted in July 29th, 2008
It appears that the Chinese government is backing off on their promise to lift censorship for athletes at the Summer Olympics. The Chinese news page of the BBC remains closed. In addition, other sensitive subjects, specifically Tibet and Taiwan, are barred from presentation. Not all is lost at the Olympic village, however. The Chinese appear willing to [...]
Chinese To Replace Mao Picture With Olympic Stadium On Currency
Posted in July 8th, 2008
by Glenn Church in China
In another sign that China is moving far from its communist origins, the Chinese government announced that the 10 Yuan will no longer have Mao’s picture on it. Mao’s picture will be replaced by the National Stadium, the site of the upcoming Olympics. The new image is meant to impress on Olympic visitors a new [...]
Oropolitics in India
Posted in June 25th, 2008
Oropolitics are alive and well in India. Oropolitics? That is the politics of mountaineering.
The Indian army plans to glacier treks towards both the Pakistani and Chinese borders. The Himalaya’s have created a sometimes nebulous border that all sides use as an excuse to claim more territory.
The Indian government has come under increasing domestic criticism [...]
China’s President Holds First Internet Chat; Answers Two Questions And Logs Off
Posted in June 21st, 2008
Chinese President Hu Jintao initiated his official website by answering questions posted on the People’s Daily, the official communist party publication.
The first question: what does he usually do on the internet? His answer: read the news and find suggestions from people on how to run the party and country.
The second question: can he [...]