On July 30, 2007, Xinhua republished an article from China Economic Times on poverty in China. The article discusses four major problems pertaining to poverty in China: 1.) The widening disparity in income; 2.) Inadequate medical care in poor regions; 3.) Rural poverty and 4.) Poor people being deprived of socio-economic welfare benefits.
Briefings - 1231. page
Xinhua Reports: China’s Private Security Guards are “Evil, Black Thugs”
Statistics provided by the China Ministry of Public Security show there are a staggering 2.30 million private security workers in China, far surpassing even the number of policemen in the entire country. Over half of them are not subject to any government regulation. Their names are not on file with the public security authorities and they have little training. Hired by private companies, “they do not abide by the law, but follow the money and do whatever their employers tell them, thus playing the role of ‘evil, black thugs.’”
Shougang: Falun Gong and Banned Religious Believers Not Allowed to Drive for Olympics Delegations
The Shougang Group (The Capital Steel Group), the third largest iron and steel company in China, is recruiting vehicle drivers from its employees for the Olympics. These drivers will serve members from the International Olympics Committee, delegation leaders from overseas, sponsor representatives and other international dignitaries. Applicants who are Communist Party members and Communist Youth League members are preferred while those who have been involved with Falun Gong and other banned religious groups will be excluded.
Party School Article Discusses Foreign Corporations’ Evasion of Corporate Social Responsibility
The May 2007 issue of Zhejiang Provincial Party School’s Data Communication discussed how foreign-owned companies evade their corporate social responsibility in China, and proposed counter-measures to address the problem.
Corruption and Mismanagement Blamed for the Central Government’s Loss of Funds
Li Jinhua, the Auditor General of China’s National Audit Office, stated that in 2006 the central government had questionable losses in the amount of 12 billion yuan due to corruption and mismanagement.
Pork Safety Concerns Chinese Consumers
Chinese consumers are worried about the unhealthy ingredients added to their daily food. This worry is reflected in a recent Internet BBS posting about unethical pig feeding and the heated discussion it caused in Internet forums across China.
China Has a Shortage of Judges
According to Legal Weekly reprinted by the official Xinhua site on July 27, 2007, some provinces in China are experiencing a serious shortage of judges. "In many courts in cities and prefectures such as Huahua and Xianxi in Hunan Province, we are missing over one-third of the needed judges," reported the article.
Beijing Prisons Get Ready for the Olympics
As part of China’s celebration of the one-year countdown to the Olympics, the Beijing Prison Administration launched a two-week celebration campaign in all the prisons under its jurisdiction. Inmates are reportedly pledging good behavior to support the government for a flawless Olympics.