Transcript China’s human Rights
China’s human Rights …Or lack of Human Rights
Government Economy Population Labor Force Internet users
China vs. United States
China
Communist Capitalist Socialism 1.3 Billion 780 million 389 million
United States
Democratic Free Market Capitalism 313 million 155 million 245 million Many economic forecasters predict China will surpass the United States in economic strength by 2030.
China’s Human Rights Issues -Political Oppression -The Great Firewall -One Child Policy -Laogai Camps -Organ Trade -Tibet
Political Oppression
Tiananmen Square: Students demand democratic reforms- Tanks kill thousands to crush protest Today, many protestors are jailed when they speak out against the government, or in favor of democracy.
Liu Xiaobo
Political reformer who led during Tiananmen Square 1989 In 2008 he wrote Charter ‘08, a call for democracy, a constitution and independent court system He was sentenced to 11 years in jail, and is still serving his time
Ai WeiWei
Artist who speaks against the government through art and an online blog Ai WeiWei became increasingly political after see the damage from the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, China He has had repeated run-ins with the law and was just released from prison in 2012 “
She lived happily for seven years in this world
”
The Great Firewall of China
The Chinese government monitors all internet activity.
Even Google has restrictions and is heavily censored Netizens- Chinese bloggers who have found ways around the firewall
Created in 2005, and by 2009 China had blocked access to most of Google's features and censored searches In 2010 the Chinese Government hacked the email accounts of suspected opposition. Outraged, Google, is threatening to withdraw service from China
One Child Policy
To combat a ballooning population, China enforced the one child policy Exceptions: -rural families with one daughter can try for a son if they apply -Families can pay a “simple” fee for additional children to the Chinese people?
Laogai Labor Camps
Political prisoners and criminals are routinely sent to Laogai- forced labor prisons and re-education centers Prisoners are forced to create products, including many of the goods that end up on US Shelves
“Reform through Labor”
At least 909 Camps in China 3-5 million currently in the camps
Organ Trade
Executed prisoners “allow” the government to donate their organs… for a profit Organs can cost over $50,000 and every part is used: Heart, liver, skin, kidneys, lungs… Often, prisoners are kept alive through the harvesting process to ensure healthier organ transplants
After Mao came to power in 1949, the Chinese took over Tibet. Technically, Tibet no longer exists
Tibet
They have destroyed much of Tibetan culture and outlawed Buddhism. Many were sent to the Laogai camps The Dalai Lama fled to India and has remained their since 1950
Who is the Dalai Lama?
Leader of Buddhism. He has been Reincarnated 14 times. The current Dalai Lama was found when he was a toddler
Review
The Tiananmen Square massacre in China was a reaction to 1. Deng Xiaoping’s plan to revive the Cultural Revolution 2. Students demands for greater individual rights and freedom of expression 3. China’s decision to seek Western investors 4. Great Britain’s decision to return Hong Kong to China
Review
Today, human rights violations most often occur in nations in which 1. Freedom of the press exists 2. Government is limited by law 3. Leaders have absolute control 4. Government has a multiparty system
Review
Which Statement best describes a result of the student demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989?
1. Prodemocracy protestors were successful in achieving their goals 2. A state-controlled education program was begun 3. The government further restricted freedom of expression in China 4. Collectivization programs were started in China
Review
An Analysis of the Chinese student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989 would show that 1. Communist governments continue to have little control over the actions of their citizens 2. Totalitarian governments frequently survive by the use of force 3. Peaceful demonstrations often succeed in achieving democratic reforms 4. Negative global reaction sometimes leads to economic decline