According to China News Service, the process of desertification is accelerating for China’s most beautiful wetland prairie, the Ruoergai Marshes. It is now difficult to find bogs, and the desertified areas are increasing at an annual rate of 11.65%. With over two hundred out of three hundred lakes dried up, the wetlands have shrunk to less than 40% of their original area.
College Tuition in China Has Skyrocketed over the Past Ten Years
In 1997, the state government issued a new policy to put and end to the former system of "education at public expense." That year marked the beginning of an uncurbed increase in college tuition. [1]
Beijing University Law Professor Raises Doubts about Socialism
"The most critical issue in China’s political reform is that we cannot openly tell our people that socialism is truly a mistake," according to Beijing University Law School Professor He Weifang. Nonetheless, he asserted: "It is high time that the anti-constitutional power structure be resolved."
Residence and Restaurant Torn Down for Olympic Construction; Victim Arrested
In 2003, the Beijing authorities demolished Ye Gouzhu and his brohter Ye Guoqiang’s restaurant and their homes and gave them no compensation. For applying for permission to hold a public demonstration about it, they sentenced Ye Guozhu to a four-year prison term.
Police Continue to Crackdown on Petitioners
Hong Kong Ming Pao reports that, in anticipation of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Beijing has been strengthening control in order to prevent any unexpected incidents. The police are monitoring public transportation and detaining human rights activists.
China Official Report: 2002 Urgent Public Health Events in the First Nine Months of 2007
On October 12, 2007, the Ministry of Public Health of China issued a report that, from January to September, nation wide (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan not included) there were 2002 urgent public health events reported through the information managing and reporting system of urgent events of public health The report also stated that there were 76,000 patients and 393 deaths. There were no events reported from the Tibet autonomous region.
Chinese Christians Adopt Harmony as Core Value
According to the President of the Chinese Christianity Association, Cao Shengjie, Chinese religious groups will maintain independence in their development. China’s Christianity should insist on autonomy. China has a unique circumstance, so religious development in China should not be controlled by Christian groups outside of China.
Professor Discusses Chinese Universities’ Major Problems
"China’s universities look more and more like bureaucracies," said Chen Pingyuan, a renowned Beijing University professor. During the Guangzhou University School Culture Building Forum on October 9, 2007, the humanities scholar offered his observations on four major problems facing today’s Chinese universities. Jinan University Party Committee Secretary, Jiang Shuzhuo, and the Dean of Zhongshan University’s School of Humanities, Chen Chunsheng, also attended the Forum.