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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.

Beijing TV (BTV) Producer of the News Paper Stuffed Dumplings Detained for Fabricating News

On July 8, 2007, the special program “Transparency” on the BTV life channel (BTV-7) and “Beijing News” of BTV-1 reported about “Paper Stuffing Dumplings” at Beijing breakfast booths. On July 18, however, “Beijing News” of BTV-1 declared that the report was “fabricated.” The producer of the report has been detained. BTV expressed a deep apology to society. The “Transparency” program appears to have been shut down and the website cannot be accessed.

Hu Jintao Sees Many Challenges Ahead

On June 25, 2007, Hu Jintao, the Communist Party Secretary, the President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission spoke at the Central Party School of the Communist Party in Beijing. Hu’s speech has not been made public, but People’s Daily issued a series of editorials on the speech. The most recent editorial, published on August 15, 2007, is titled, "Promoting Chinese Style Socialism amid Challenges." [1]

Nightmares for Young Girls in China: Increasing Cases of School Teachers Raping Students

In China, teaching has always been regarded as a highly respectable and honorable profession. However, in recent years, the number of teachers who rape and harass young students has increased, thus tarnishing that image. On Jan 1, 2005, the New York Times reported that an elementary school teacher, Li Guang, in Xinji, Gansu raped 26 students, the oldest being 14. In 2003, the Chinese Ministry of Education reported 10 cases in which teachers from multiple provinces raped young students. In June, 2007, a middle school teacher in Tongwei, Gansu was executed for raping 18 young female students. The increasing frequency of such cases reflects the shift in moral values from traditional Chinese culture to Chinese Communist Party culture.

Suicides in China: 2.3 Times the Global Rate

Every year, 287,000 Chinese commit suicide, equalling 30% of all suicides in the world (1 million each year). The suicide rate in China is 2.3 times the global average. In contrast to other countries, in China, more women than men commit suicide. The reason for committing suicide is mostly intense personal conflicts rather than mental problems, which is the reason for 90% of the suicides in other countries. An increasing number of college students commit suicide in China. The high rate of suicide reflects China’s deteriorating moral values.