Is Hong Kong getting any closer to a real democracy? (11/03) ---------
After convicting Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo because of helping to organize a democracy petition in December, thousands of people took to the streets to claim their right for a democracy in their city of 7 million.
Hong Kong's mini-constitution under China promises eventual full democracy for the SAR,(special administrative region) but little progress has been made over the past decade, despite mounting pressure from a loose coalition of pro-democratic parties known as the pan-democrats.
The main argument for China not to allow a democratic system in Hong Kong,is the fear that changes in the system and in the outcome of a system, can destabilize the country bent on a quiet, stable rise.
Central question in this hot topic is the doubt concerning the much wanted concept of "one country, two systems". And if China hopes to bring democratic Taiwan back into the fold, it will have to prove it can truly sustain this. In this context, Hong Kong could be the trial run in reunion.
--------------------------------
When Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was convicted in December of subverting the state after helping to organize a democracy petition, the only protestors gathered outside the Beijing courtroom were foreign diplomats waiting to tell a pack of Western journalists that their governments officially condemned the verdict
In Hong Kong, the everyday laws of the People's Republic do not apply. Since the British handover in 1997, the former colonial entrepôt has been governed as a special administrative region (SAR) of China under the principle of "one country, two systems," and it looks a lot more like a democracy than the mainland. It has a free press, independent bewigged judges (a legacy of the British), and regularly scheduled elections — although there are no direct elections for the SAR's Chief Executive or for half of the legislature, which has seats reserved for "functional constituencies" representing various professions. Hong Kong is no Potemkin village, but it also isn't a city on a hill.
Thailand braces for mass 'red shirt' protests（12/03)
------
Since the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawntra was toppled by military coup in september 2006.Began to form a support for his organization of the letter "anti-authoritarian democratic alliance". They called‘red shirt'.Redshirts support for Thaksin because he cracked the drug dealers and gangsters down improved the lives of low-income farmers greatly.
This is the drawbacks of Thai democracy,For those people who strongly support and pro-democracy, Thailand may be one of the best negative example.
For Thailand,Democracy will only bring endless disasters, authoritarian is the best medicine. However, who knows that the root causes of unrest in Thailand's democracy, Economic development is uneven, resulting in a very serious divide between rich and poor. The so-called Red shirts represent the interests of the grass-roots. The yellow shirts army, on the contrary, they represent the interests of middle and upper classes.But in Thailand the number of poor people is about 70%,So every election is a political party who representing the poor to win. And the rich class definitely dissatisfied.The two parties will be plunged into a long-term struggle,and at last military coup hss to end up it. So long as the current economic situation does not change, Thailand will no peace.
-------------------------- They say they plan to rally until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls new elections.
The government has promised a tough reaction if the protests set to begin on Friday turn violent.
The Internal Security Act has been invoked, giving the military the power to impose curfews and restrict numbers at gatherings.
Checkpoints have been set up on the roads into Bangkok.
The red shirt movement, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has promised a huge but peaceful demonstration.
Smaller rallies, meetings and "political schools" have been planned for various provinces before convoys of vehicles carry protesters to the capital.
The red shirts' last major protests, in April last year, turned violent, with two deaths and dozens of people injured.
"If there is a siege, we would no longer consider it a peaceful protest and immediately take steps to disperse the crowds," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.
The protest leaders say the government is playing up the threat of violence to justify a possible crackdown.
Students Protest After Teacher Suspended for Bush-Hitler Comments ------ An american history teacher has been suspended from teaching after he made comments during his class, comparing ex-president George Bush to Adolf Hitler.
After this the school suspended him which resulted in a protest from more than 100 students at the school, walking out of class in the morning to get him reinstated.
The content of his course was partially recorded by a 16-year old student who ten broadcasted it on the school radio.
Altough about a relatively smaller incident then what's been going on in the world, I found this article to be very intresting as it shows that also people who are considered 'weaker links' (read:students) can fight and stand up for what they believe in, even if in my opinion the reason is false. People are easily influenced by their own believes and this little protest of 100 students shows that. Whereas I believe that when teaching history to teenagers one should stay focused and neutral this was not necessarily the case. Yet, the human minds of these younglings have taken this as a form of fascism ( The firing of the 'honest' teacher) which they believe they should oppose to by showing their support for him and fight the system.
---------------------------------------- A Colorado school is in upheaval following the suspension of a teacher who was recorded comparing President Bush's rhetoric to that of Adolf Hitler. More than 100 students at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo., walked out of class this morning to protest the decision to put geography teacher Jay Bennish on administrative leave.
The school administration made the move after a student went public with a 20-minute recording of Bennish's comments to his class.
In the tape, the teacher is heard saying there were similarities between remarks Bush made in his State of the Union address and "things that Adolf Hitler used to say."
The recording was made by 16-year-old sophomore Sean Allen the day after the president's speech. Allen said he had been disturbed by "political rants" he heard in Bennish's class.
"So these kids are going to have notes on why George Bush is related to Hitler and why the state of Israel was founded on violence and terrorism," Allen told KHOW Radio Wednesday when he went public with his tape.
"These kids are going to have notes on this and accept that as fact."
Founded on facebook, a famous social networking website, Purple people organization is composed of people, mostly reside in Italy, who stand against the country's controversial prime minister, Mr. Berlusconi.
The establishment of Purple People organisation is astonishing in that it was organised purely by general people's active participation via online. The organisation also uses electronic means such as cell phones and tweets to reach out for its members.It has no leader, unknown founder, and thus it's a new political movement outside of political system that has never seen before.
Some analysts have has often said that the result of the 2002 presidential election in South Korea was influenced greatly by young generation's culture of constantly using text messages and the Internet. Still, Korea has yet to see any foundings of political organisation through online activities.
The fact that Senator Malan is expressing his concern with the Purple People at the end of the article reflects the organisation's growing importance in politics despite of its online origin.
This new phenemenon in Italy's politics, I believe, opens up a new possibility of how social movements can be organised. Hence, with technologies developing constantly, it seems that new ways of social movements will also be further introduced in the near future.
-------------------------
...
They are called the Purple People because they have adopted the colour purple as a way of identifying themselves.
Why purple?
"Because no other political party uses it," says Ginevra Tosoni, an unemployed graphic designer who has found her way to this extraordinary new political movement by way of the internet.
...
For two months it has been stationed in the heart of Rome's political district.
It is a kind of mission control without a mission statement.
But it does have a message: Mr Berlusconi, we want you and your government out.
Not a very lofty premise for a political movement, you might think.
But it is one that has gained traction in the minds of tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of Italians.
A capital sentence, opening criminal's face to public..... What's the conclusion?
By murdering a little girl, the murderer was brought to the prosecutory authorities and forced to expose his face on the media. On this controversial issue, I am on the pro's side. The criminal should be disregarded by the public so that he or she didn't suppose to commit a crime again. Furthermore, by revealing criminal's face, the citizens could be more comfortable and take it easy. Also it could keep other potential criminals from committing crimes in the future. This article could be related to women's human rights which should be protected intactly. The con's side insisted that not only the victims' rights but also the criminal's rights be protected by public. But, I think the criminal who commit the crime, especially murder case-the worst crime in the world- should be punished. Some said that for the murderer, the appropriate punishment is capital sentence. On this issue, I'm on the con's side. Ending someone's life can't be admitted or allowed by anyone in any case. The murderer should alive, enduring penitential life, begging the forgiveness, and being a new person in a good way.
------------------------------------------
(서울=연합뉴스) 이웅 박성민 기자 = 부산 여중생 납치살해 피의자 김길태(33)의 검거로 해묵은 논쟁거리인 사형제 존폐와 흉악범의 얼굴 등 신상공개 문제가 다시 도마 위에 오르면서, 법조계와 정치권을 넘어 사회적 논란으로 확산되고 있다.
이 같은 현상은 희대의 연쇄살인범인 유영철, 강호순 사건에서 지난해 여덟 살 여아를 성폭행하고 영구장애를 입힌 조두순 사건에 이르기까지 사회를 들끓게 하는 흉악범죄가 발생할 때마다 재연되고 있지만, 아직 마땅한 해법을 찾지 못한 채 공전을 거듭하고 있다.
반인륜적 흉악범죄의 예방과 엄정한 법질서 확립을 강조하는 쪽은 사형 집행과 흉악범의 신상공개를 주장하지만, 반대론자들은 피의자의 인권보호를 내세우며 팽팽히 맞서고 있어 이번에는 접점을 찾을 수 있을지 귀추가 주목된다.
this artical is about a recent murder case. The murderer's name is kiltae kim and he murdered a thirteen-year-old girl in Busan. Because of this crime, the public argue with each other about the capital sentence of the murderer and whether reveal the criminal's face.
A very down to earth* kind of guy. I'm an environmental sociologist interested in establishing material and organizational sustainability worldwide. I'm always looking for interesting materials/technologies, inspiring ideas, or institutional examples of sustainability to inspire others to recognize their choices now. To be fatalistic about an unsustainable world is a sign of a captive mind, given all our options.
*(If "earth" is defined in a planetary sense, concerning comparative historical knowledge and interest in the past 10,000 years or so anywhere...) See both blogs.
Sam Wijnants (11/03):
ReplyDeleteIs Hong Kong getting any closer to a real democracy? (11/03)
---------
After convicting Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo because of helping to organize a democracy petition in December, thousands of people took to the streets to claim their right for a democracy in their city of 7 million.
Hong Kong's mini-constitution under China promises eventual full democracy for the SAR,(special administrative region) but little progress has been made over the past decade, despite mounting pressure from a loose coalition of pro-democratic parties known as the pan-democrats.
The main argument for China not to allow a democratic system in Hong Kong,is the fear that changes in the system and in the outcome of a system, can destabilize the country bent on a quiet, stable rise.
Central question in this hot topic is the doubt concerning the much wanted concept of "one country, two systems". And if China hopes to bring democratic Taiwan back into the fold, it will have to prove it can truly sustain this. In this context, Hong Kong could be the trial run in reunion.
--------------------------------
When Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was convicted in December of subverting the state after helping to organize a democracy petition, the only protestors gathered outside the Beijing courtroom were foreign diplomats waiting to tell a pack of Western journalists that their governments officially condemned the verdict
In Hong Kong, the everyday laws of the People's Republic do not apply. Since the British handover in 1997, the former colonial entrepôt has been governed as a special administrative region (SAR) of China under the principle of "one country, two systems," and it looks a lot more like a democracy than the mainland. It has a free press, independent bewigged judges (a legacy of the British), and regularly scheduled elections — although there are no direct elections for the SAR's Chief Executive or for half of the legislature, which has seats reserved for "functional constituencies" representing various professions. Hong Kong is no Potemkin village, but it also isn't a city on a hill.
------------
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1971283,00.html
Zhangyu（12/03)
ReplyDeleteThailand braces for mass 'red shirt' protests（12/03)
------
Since the Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawntra was toppled by military coup in september 2006.Began to form a support for his organization of the letter "anti-authoritarian democratic alliance". They called‘red shirt'.Redshirts support for Thaksin because he cracked the drug dealers and gangsters down improved the lives of low-income farmers greatly.
This is the drawbacks of Thai democracy,For those people who strongly support and pro-democracy, Thailand may be one of the best negative example.
For Thailand,Democracy will only bring endless disasters, authoritarian is the best medicine. However, who knows that the root causes of unrest in Thailand's democracy, Economic development is uneven, resulting in a very serious divide between rich and poor. The so-called Red shirts represent the interests of the grass-roots. The yellow shirts army, on the contrary, they represent the interests of middle and upper classes.But in Thailand the number of poor people is about 70%,So every election is a political party who representing the poor to win. And the rich class definitely
dissatisfied.The two parties will be plunged into a long-term struggle,and at last military coup hss to end up it. So long as the current economic situation does not change, Thailand will no peace.
--------------------------
They say they plan to rally until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva calls new elections.
The government has promised a tough reaction if the protests set to begin on Friday turn violent.
The Internal Security Act has been invoked, giving the military the power to impose curfews and restrict numbers at gatherings.
Checkpoints have been set up on the roads into Bangkok.
The red shirt movement, led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), has promised a huge but peaceful demonstration.
Smaller rallies, meetings and "political schools" have been planned for various provinces before convoys of vehicles carry protesters to the capital.
The red shirts' last major protests, in April last year, turned violent, with two deaths and dozens of people injured.
"If there is a siege, we would no longer consider it a peaceful protest and immediately take steps to disperse the crowds," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said.
The protest leaders say the government is playing up the threat of violence to justify a possible crackdown.
-------
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8563538.stm
Valerie Raeymaekers (12/03)
ReplyDeleteStudents Protest After Teacher Suspended for Bush-Hitler Comments
------
An american history teacher has been suspended from teaching after he made comments during his class, comparing ex-president George Bush to Adolf Hitler.
After this the school suspended him which resulted in a protest from more than 100 students at the school, walking out of class in the morning to get him reinstated.
The content of his course was partially recorded by a 16-year old student who ten broadcasted it on the school radio.
Altough about a relatively smaller incident then what's been going on in the world, I found this article to be very intresting as it shows that also people who are considered 'weaker links' (read:students) can fight and stand up for what they believe in, even if in my opinion the reason is false. People are easily influenced by their own believes and this little protest of 100 students shows that. Whereas I believe that when teaching history to teenagers one should stay focused and neutral this was not necessarily the case.
Yet, the human minds of these younglings have taken this as a form of fascism ( The firing of the 'honest' teacher) which they believe they should oppose to by showing their support for him and fight the system.
----------------------------------------
A Colorado school is in upheaval following the suspension of a teacher who was recorded comparing President Bush's rhetoric to that of Adolf Hitler.
More than 100 students at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo., walked out of class this morning to protest the decision to put geography teacher Jay Bennish on administrative leave.
The school administration made the move after a student went public with a 20-minute recording of Bennish's comments to his class.
In the tape, the teacher is heard saying there were similarities between remarks Bush made in his State of the Union address and "things that Adolf Hitler used to say."
The recording was made by 16-year-old sophomore Sean Allen the day after the president's speech. Allen said he had been disturbed by "political rants" he heard in Bennish's class.
"So these kids are going to have notes on why George Bush is related to Hitler and why the state of Israel was founded on violence and terrorism," Allen told KHOW Radio Wednesday when he went public with his tape.
"These kids are going to have notes on this and accept that as fact."
------
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1679439
Dasol Lyu
ReplyDeletePurple People challenge Berlusconi
----
Founded on facebook, a famous social networking website, Purple people organization is composed of people, mostly reside in Italy, who stand against the country's controversial prime minister, Mr. Berlusconi.
The establishment of Purple People organisation is astonishing in that it was organised purely by general people's active participation via online. The organisation also uses electronic means such as cell phones and tweets to reach out for its members.It has no leader, unknown founder, and thus it's a new political movement outside of political system that has never seen before.
Some analysts have has often said that the result of the 2002 presidential election in South Korea was influenced greatly by young generation's culture of constantly using text messages and the Internet. Still, Korea has yet to see any foundings of political organisation through online activities.
The fact that Senator Malan is expressing his concern with the Purple People at the end of the article reflects the organisation's growing importance in politics despite of its online origin.
This new phenemenon in Italy's politics, I believe, opens up a new possibility of how social movements can be organised. Hence, with technologies developing constantly, it seems that new ways of social movements will also be further introduced in the near future.
-------------------------
...
They are called the Purple People because they have adopted the colour purple as a way of identifying themselves.
Why purple?
"Because no other political party uses it," says Ginevra Tosoni, an unemployed graphic designer who has found her way to this extraordinary new political movement by way of the internet.
...
For two months it has been stationed in the heart of Rome's political district.
It is a kind of mission control without a mission statement.
But it does have a message: Mr Berlusconi, we want you and your government out.
Not a very lofty premise for a political movement, you might think.
But it is one that has gained traction in the minds of tens, if not hundreds of thousands, of Italians.
------
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8565265.stm
Hyungsun Kang
ReplyDeleteA capital sentence, opening criminal's face to public..... What's the conclusion?
By murdering a little girl, the murderer was brought to the prosecutory authorities and forced to expose his face on the media.
On this controversial issue, I am on the pro's side. The criminal should be disregarded by the public so that he or she didn't suppose to commit a crime again. Furthermore, by revealing criminal's face, the citizens could be more comfortable and take it easy. Also it could keep other potential criminals from committing crimes in the future.
This article could be related to women's human rights which should be protected intactly. The con's side insisted that not only the victims' rights but also the criminal's rights be protected by public. But, I think the criminal who commit the crime, especially murder case-the worst crime in the world- should be punished.
Some said that for the murderer, the appropriate punishment is capital sentence. On this issue, I'm on the con's side. Ending someone's life can't be admitted or allowed by anyone in any case. The murderer should alive, enduring penitential life, begging the forgiveness, and being a new person in a good way.
------------------------------------------
(서울=연합뉴스) 이웅 박성민 기자 = 부산 여중생 납치살해 피의자 김길태(33)의 검거로 해묵은 논쟁거리인 사형제 존폐와 흉악범의 얼굴 등 신상공개 문제가 다시 도마 위에 오르면서, 법조계와 정치권을 넘어 사회적 논란으로 확산되고 있다.
이 같은 현상은 희대의 연쇄살인범인 유영철, 강호순 사건에서 지난해 여덟 살 여아를 성폭행하고 영구장애를 입힌 조두순 사건에 이르기까지 사회를 들끓게 하는 흉악범죄가 발생할 때마다 재연되고 있지만, 아직 마땅한 해법을 찾지 못한 채 공전을 거듭하고 있다.
반인륜적 흉악범죄의 예방과 엄정한 법질서 확립을 강조하는 쪽은 사형 집행과 흉악범의 신상공개를 주장하지만, 반대론자들은 피의자의 인권보호를 내세우며 팽팽히 맞서고 있어 이번에는 접점을 찾을 수 있을지 귀추가 주목된다.
this artical is about a recent murder case. The murderer's name is kiltae kim and he murdered a thirteen-year-old girl in Busan.
Because of this crime, the public argue with each other about the capital sentence of the murderer and whether reveal the criminal's face.
---------------------------------------------
http://news.nate.com/view/20100312n15253?mid=n0402