A recent Zogby Interactive poll presented the following findings of 7,121 American voters and their opinions of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing:
70% - felt the International Olympics Committee was wrong to award the Olympics to China due to the poor human rights record
48% - think US political leaders should boycott the opening ceremonies
31% - believe the US Olympic Committee should boycott the games altogether
23% - believe President Bush should order a US boycott of the games
46% - agree a boycott is appropriate to show the US’s dissatisfaction with China human rights history
71% - believe a boycott would be hypocritical on behalf of the US due to the large amount of imports from China
55% - will avoid buying Chinese products as a response to the crack down by China in Tibet
48% - believe negative stories will go unreported out of fear of retaliation from the Chinese government
94% - believe the Chinese government will try to censor negative stories about China.
Work Cited:
“Zogby: 70% Believe IOC Was Wrong to Award Olympic Games to China”
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Another Olympic Terrorist Plot Uncovered
Another plot to use the Olympics as a world platform has been uncovered. This plot appears to be an international terrorist plot as opposed to the domestic plot uncovered earlier this year.
Thirty-five people, who are believed to be members of an organization with ties to the Middle East and Central Asia, were arrested between March 26 and April 6. They were planning to kidnap athletes, journalist, and guests of the Olympics. In addition, explosives and "jihadist" brochures were confiscated.
This follows the turbulent path of the Olympic torch from the start of the relay. Demonstrators, some pro-China and others against China's human rights polices and the handling of the situation in Tibet, continued to disrupt its course as it traveled through San Franscisco yesterday (4/9/08) during its only US stop. It is currently on its way to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Officals vow the relay will continue.
Works cited:
China 'uncovers Olympic terror plot'
Monday, April 7, 2008
Protests Stop Olympic Torch Run
Plagued by numerous demonstrations, the Olympic torch run through Paris has been canceled. Six groups had legal permits to demonstrate along the route. All this comes is light of the Chinese governments handling of the treatment of protesters in Tibet in addition to other human rights issues.
The mayor of Paris permitted a sign saying "Paris City of Human Rights" be hung from city hall.
Reports Without Borders, had threatened they had something "spectacular" planned for the run after they disrupted the lighting ceremony. Other demonstrators attempted to put out the torch with a fire extinguisher.
Works cited:
"Olympic torch hit by protests during Paris leg"
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Winter Storm Damage
This is a picture my husband took of a banana trees in Liuzhou. They were damaged in the winter storm which occurred earlier this year. This has been predicted to result in higher prices.
This follows last years rumor that bananas from Hainan Island contained the SARS virus. Previous rumor claimed the same bananas caused cancer.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Unit 2: Lesson 5
First-hand Experience with Factory Workers
From what you read and hear in the media and from what we have studied in this course, the conditions for a worker in China are dire. Instead of focusing on the negative, I wanted to share a more positive experience.
My husband’s company produces office furniture. Their original focus was on office chairs. They mainly use factories in Taiwan for this production. My husband was hired to assist in the development of a case goods (desk, bookshelves, conference tables, etc) line.
His most recent business trip China was from March 18- 28, 2008. The main purpose of his visits is to check the quality of the products.
They use three different factories across China for the productions. This is due to the quantity of merchandise needed. Of the three factories, the plant located in Liuzhou seems to provide the best working conditions. It is a private owned company, but it provides housing with dormitories and food in a cafeteria for its employees. This is a picture of new dorms being built.
In the other picture you can see that uniforms are provided too.
My husband has noted with each trip there is a new piece of equipment in the factory. However, some machines are still out-dated. Most of the work is done by hand. Note that while finishing the furniture they are wearing any safety equipment to protect them from the fumes.
The factories do not have air-conditioning. In some of the other plants they resolve the heat issues of the summer by only having three walls to the plant. This also provides some ventilation from the finishing fumes.
New labor laws went into affect January 1. The new law provides that, “employers cannot make staff to work overtime for three hours a day, and overtime cannot exceed 36 hours per month… employees should be paid double time if they work at weekends.”
Although I feel that this example of working conditions in China is not the norm, let’s hope it is a trend for the future.
Works cited:
China Passes a Sweeping Labor Law
China enacts new labour law amid rising discontent
Workers complain about overtime fix
From what you read and hear in the media and from what we have studied in this course, the conditions for a worker in China are dire. Instead of focusing on the negative, I wanted to share a more positive experience.
My husband’s company produces office furniture. Their original focus was on office chairs. They mainly use factories in Taiwan for this production. My husband was hired to assist in the development of a case goods (desk, bookshelves, conference tables, etc) line.
His most recent business trip China was from March 18- 28, 2008. The main purpose of his visits is to check the quality of the products.
They use three different factories across China for the productions. This is due to the quantity of merchandise needed. Of the three factories, the plant located in Liuzhou seems to provide the best working conditions. It is a private owned company, but it provides housing with dormitories and food in a cafeteria for its employees. This is a picture of new dorms being built.
In the other picture you can see that uniforms are provided too.My husband has noted with each trip there is a new piece of equipment in the factory. However, some machines are still out-dated. Most of the work is done by hand. Note that while finishing the furniture they are wearing any safety equipment to protect them from the fumes.
The factories do not have air-conditioning. In some of the other plants they resolve the heat issues of the summer by only having three walls to the plant. This also provides some ventilation from the finishing fumes.New labor laws went into affect January 1. The new law provides that, “employers cannot make staff to work overtime for three hours a day, and overtime cannot exceed 36 hours per month… employees should be paid double time if they work at weekends.”
Although I feel that this example of working conditions in China is not the norm, let’s hope it is a trend for the future.
Works cited:
China Passes a Sweeping Labor Law
China enacts new labour law amid rising discontent
Workers complain about overtime fix
Bush to Skip Olympics?
Members of the US House have sent a letter to the President asking that he not attend the Olympics in Beijing later this year. This request comes after the recent “suppression” of the Tibetan riots at the hands of the Chinese government. It is in addition to concerns regarding other human right issues in China.
Leaders of France, Germany, and Great Britain have announced they may not attend. The letter sent asks that Bush follow the lead of other leaders.
In the article "House members urge Bush to skip Olympics" the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Qin Gang, stated, “We hope to enhance mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation with other peoples through the Games. We must follow the purpose of the Olympics and not politicize the games.”
On a different issue regarding the Olympics, my husband said that during his recent visits to China, there are plans to temporarily shut down plants to offset pollution. This is in addition to having the most severe polluters moved outside of Beijing.
He said the news also mentioned something about an element they are going to put in the air to “bring the pollution down to earth” and out of the air. I seriously doubt this is possible and if so they are creating another problem by solving one through pollution of the soil. Not to mention the impact on the people.
Leaders of France, Germany, and Great Britain have announced they may not attend. The letter sent asks that Bush follow the lead of other leaders.
In the article "House members urge Bush to skip Olympics" the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Qin Gang, stated, “We hope to enhance mutual understanding, friendship, and cooperation with other peoples through the Games. We must follow the purpose of the Olympics and not politicize the games.”
On a different issue regarding the Olympics, my husband said that during his recent visits to China, there are plans to temporarily shut down plants to offset pollution. This is in addition to having the most severe polluters moved outside of Beijing.
He said the news also mentioned something about an element they are going to put in the air to “bring the pollution down to earth” and out of the air. I seriously doubt this is possible and if so they are creating another problem by solving one through pollution of the soil. Not to mention the impact on the people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
