In a recent article in Chinese Economic Times, economist Zhou Tianyong pointed out that China has not formulated effective and systematic policies to restrain the discharge of pollutants and that the existing system has actually aggravated environmental pollution instead of preserving the environment. [1]
Public Display of Prostitutes’ Photos Draws Criticism
On September 5, the Yinchuan (银川) Public Security Sub-bureau posted a street bulletin showing photos of 28 prostitutes. Many pedestrians saw it. [1] The photos showed both frontal and profile views of the women. Their features were clearly recognizable, except for simple blurs around the eyes. Both pedestrians and an attorney criticized the display.
Water Safety Problems Afflict 300 Million People, the Chinese NPC Standing Committee Regards It an I
Half of the cities in China have severely polluted groundwater; 300 million people in the rural areas are drinking water with safety problems. In some areas, "all the rivers have dried and all the water has been polluted." A member of the Chinese NPC Standing Committee stated that "The pollution is a result of profit pursuing. However, the cost to treat the water pollution will be more than a dozen times the profit we have gained."
Newspaper Wins Outstanding News Award with Forged Page
On August 28, the China Journalists’ Association announced the winners for the 17th Outstanding News Awards. The following day, it was pointed out that the entry from Yangzhou Evening News, which won the third prize, was forged. [1]
Government Think Tank on Collapse of Former Soviet Union Stalin’s Autocracy is the Cause
The root cause of the collapse of the former Soviet Union is not so much the one-man act of Gorbachev, but lies deeply in its system dating back to Stalin’s autocracy, according to a government think tank article published by the official Xinhua news agency.
High Ranking Officials’ Poor Health Raises Alarm
From April to June, China’s high-ranking officials at the provincial and certain district levels were given complete physical exams. Over 90 percent of the officials were found to have "modern diseases" such as hepatic steatosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Over 95 percent were overweight. An undisclosed number of officials had sexually transmitted diseases. The Chinese public often relates these modern diseases to government officials and even calls them "Luxury Diseases," "Bureaucratic Weight Gain," or "Symptoms of Corruption." [1]
China Officials: the Pope Wants to Appoint Anti-Communist Bishops
Since 1958 when China and the Vatican stopped having diplomatic relations, the CCPA (Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association) has appointed all bishops in China. The current Pope, Benedict XVI, has been trying hard to bring Catholics in China back to the Roman Catholic Church. However recently, according to a high official in the CCPA, the Vatican has been attempting to appoint anti-communist bishops in China. [1]
Chinese Professor Questions U.S. Responsibility in Recent Product Recalls
On September 4, 2007, Outlook Weekly (瞭望), a magazine under Xinhua New Agency, published an article written by a professor at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce’s Research Institute. The article suggests that the U.S. should take responsibility for the recent increase in the number of Chinese products being recalled. [1]