China: Liveblogging from ground zero
As much as it was a precedent for publicly-organized, nationally-observed mass demonstrations in China ending peacefully, the protest held in southeast China's seaside city of Xiamen—borne out of widespread public anger at the planned construction of a toxic chemical plant dangerously close to the city core—early June 1 was also a landmark for China's leading independent blogger's collective Bullog.
With a media blackout on news of the demonstration, the time, location and target turnout of one million people were spread almost exclusively by SMS, bbs postings and on blogs. The government was able to stop the SMS from spreading for several days and nearly all bbs webmasters and blog service providers were swift to delete any related discussion, leaving Bullog members free to go on to post several in-depth posts this past week looking at various angles of the situation, including one of of the key public figures lobbying against the PX plant, Southern Metropolis Daily columnist and Xiamen resident Lian Yue.
Several other Bullogers took it a step further by attending the demonstration in person, leaving one at home to post their SMS live updates straight onto Bullog, giving it a national exclusive as to what was happening minute-by-minute down on the ground which, by the afternoon of the 1st, had attracted enough readers that Bullog's host server was left unable to keep up. With Bullog inaccessible, the live SMScast was temporarily moved here, from where many of the below discussions mixed in with the live reporting were taken.
Disclaimer: this blogger was there SMS-blogging the tail end of the procession.
In addition, a video of the march has been uploaded to YouTube. Flickr users Miao Ben Zhou, Aaron Roy, hellhell007 and shgbird have also been following it very closely.
Protest theme: wear a yellow ribbon.
cloudswander says:
08：52：31
三七：武警围住500以上人。老太太们在高呼：”拒绝污染，保护厦门！”政府门口有大批人要进去，有一个大红横幅刚刚拿出来。
北风：有人在市政府门口高举抵制PX，保护鹭岛的横幅，警察试图抢夺。
北风：第二条大标语：抵制px项目，保市民健康，保厦门环境。
Beifeng: someone at the municipal government gate is holding up a banner which reads: resist PX, protect Egret Island, police are trying to grab it away from him.
Beifeng: A second banner reads: “resist the PX project, protect city residents’ health, protect Xiamen's environment.
08：58：28
现场人数大致超过3000人。
08：59：49
警察很克制，市府院内大批武警待命。
群众举着横幅，涌向市府大门，暂算克制。
The crowd is raising banners, surging towards the main city government gate, self-restrained overall.
Close to the government headquarters
09：02：05
群众推进了5米。
现人群聚集在市府门口右侧十米处，警察三道人墙，僵持中。
09：05：18
开来要开始XX了，正往返方向走。
——市府的右侧反方向，沿湖滨北路向西，此举相信出乎当局预料。
09：12：16
现场人数过万，XX之势已成！
沿途群众纷纷加入，XX队伍越拉越长。
手上绑着黄丝带的人也多了起来。
People keep joining in along the way, the procession keeps getting longer.
More and more people can be seen wearing yellow ribbons.
09：19：08
因事先没有规划XX路线，现场有点乱，现队伍掉头沿建业路往湖滨南路行进。”要停建，不要缓建！”的口号最响亮。带头者身穿保钓服装，好玩！
09：23：59
补充：警方的动态？
北风：不见警察，看上去他们来不及调度。
Beifeng: don't see any. Seems they weren't able to recoordinate in time.
09：24：25
移动的网络确认被关闭。（补充注：此前来信询问过网络是否通畅，北风用联通，我移动，均广州用户）
09：32：55
沿途很多人派发打印好的标语和丝带，我的包上也绑了一根。口号：民生民主民权和谐。有警察朝我拍照，我连忙变换姿势摆了不少POSE。
现场有七十多岁的老人说：为了下一代，不怕秋后算账，说值得！
有群人帮着与众不同的橙红色字条，公司统一以个人的名义参加。
There's seventy senior citizens here saying: ‘for the next generation, we don't mind settling accounts this late in life, it's worth it!’
A group of people are holding up a red banner different from the rest. A whole company came out to take part in their own name.
09：40：52
XX队伍进入白鹭洲路，人数维持在一万左右。
XX队伍前往湖滨前集中，据了解，不少是公司全体出来参加，算出勤。
XX队伍中尚无过激和煽动性言辞，警方沿途交管，XX和平理性。
The procession is moving down Hubin Rd. From what I understand, more than a few companies have come out in full with their bosses’ approval.
The procession has yet to get sounding excited or agitated. Traffic police are following along, the procession is calm.
09：48：18
队伍马上进入湖滨南，口号：爱护厦门人人有责！
警方根本不知道队伍的走向，只好一个个路口等着。（补充注：这是行政成本，居高不下也要破产）
队伍左转进入湖滨南向西前进，领头的那位头戴一个防毒面具。
The police have no idea where the procession is going. They're just keeping up, road-by-road, waiting. (SMS dispatcher Buchong notes: this is the administrative cost. If the higher-ups don't come down they're going to go bankrupt)
The procession has turned left heading west on Hubinnan Rd. The person at the front is wearing a gas mask.
09：54：18
游行队伍人数过万，沿途汽车长鸣呼应。经过建筑设计院，声势浩大！
（补充回应网友图片问题：因我和北风手机都比较老款，发不了彩信，图片只能晚上才有了，抱歉！）
游行队伍人口构成：多以青年为主，貌似家庭主妇的人也不少。
（补充注：这是典型的北风视角：他在自己家楼下和家庭主妇们常打麻将，常常赢人家钱，现在亲切感油然而生）
(Dispatcher Buchong responds to a reader's question regarding photos: Beifeng and I are using old cellphone models, cannot send images. They'll be coming tonight, sorry!)
The procession is comprised mainly of young people, but it seems there are many housewives here too.
(Buchong notes: this is classic Beifeng: he often plays Mah Jong downstairs from his building, usually wins people's money, he must be filled with appreciation now).
10：01：18
现场唱起了一首与鼓浪屿有关的歌。队伍已经到了后滨路口。
市民买了水放在路边，给游行的人解渴，场面感人。
队伍走完湖滨北路口。
Locals are buying water and placing it on the side of the street, handing it out to marchers to quench their thirst. Very moving sight.
The procession has moved beyond the Hubinbei intersection.
10：09：40
貌似政府的工作人员要求队伍去大会堂，但队伍行进的目标可能是火车站。
10：17：27
过了后埭西路，队伍情绪亢奋。
厦门天气很热，队伍在骄阳暴晒之中，沿途不断有人送水进来。
It's very hot in Xiamen today, the procession is burning in the scorching sun, all along people keep passing out water.
10：21：03
游行已经两个小时，大家都有点累了。
10：24：43
经过金榜路，目标确定是火车站。
10：25；55
现在游行人数增加到两万，新加入的人群原在火车站附近等候
10：27：17
警方只是远远管制交通，貌似便衣的人试图影响行走路线
10：31：11
现场一个警察在与同伴的对讲中称不知道游行队伍的行进路线，出租司机也拿出手机在拍摄现场照片。
10：33：46
必须停建喊声云，现场再度亢奋
10：35：59
仍在湖滨南路，临近富山路口。
10：37：40
现场开始响起高喊何立峰下台的口号。
Then reader cloudswander says:
另外有一支游行队伍正从主干道嘉禾路经过莲坂,人很多,上班的人们的情绪也都被调动起来了,很多人从公交车上的士上冲下来加入游行队伍.
More updates copied and pasted from SMS dispatcher Buchong's Bullog page:
cloudswander says:
10：46：11
队伍在新世界百货前，没有再往火车站方向走。
10：47：05
队伍沿嘉禾路往北行进。
队伍长约300米，人数不详。
The procession is at least 300 meters long, people count unclear.
10：51：19
队伍在转盘处发生分歧，后队换了方向，前队停着没动。
10：53：09
后队改变主意，跟了上来，仍往北走。
10：55：48
北风有中暑迹象，昨晚从广州到厦门一夜未睡好。
cloudswander says:
///失去前方的联系近一个小时，55555///
现在全部的人都对着市府大门高喊为人民服务
游行队伍冲破了警察如抗洪般的人墙，唱这国歌正与广场静坐人群汇合。
从市政府里有约一百多武警跑步向游行队伍的方向。有六辆空军用卡车从那边开回来停在市府门口。
一部警车停在路边放广播，说”天气越来越热，请大家尽快撤离”。在场有人说市内的朋友讲游行有一万来人。
cloudswander says:
www.56.com/u56/v_MTQyNDE1MjU.html
一小段视频
luanyu says:
也补充牛博北风的直播：
10：59：47
捡废气瓶子的拾荒者跟在队伍后面，他们也收获颇丰。
现在队伍看来是要回到政府门口和那边的市民汇合。
Seems the procession is going to head back to the government building and join up with residents there.
11：01：52
现队伍转入莲岳路，可惜连岳不在。
有几位打工者，凑钱买了两箱水送给游行的市民，他们说身上只剩下10元钱了。
Two workers have put their money together and bought two boxes of water for the marchers. They say they've only got ten RMB left on them now.
11：08：44
听到一个警察正在打出的电话，他们已经知道市民的路线，正在作部署。路旁的市民拍着手给游行市民鼓劲。
路旁有大帮小朋友呼吁：”加油！加油！！”（三七）
On the side of the road is a large group of children yelling, “keep going! keep going!”
11：10：39
队伍转往湖滨西。员当街道办门口几车警察在车里待命。市民情绪高涨。
奔跑前后拍照，要抽筋了。
Running back and forth taking pictures, I'm about to cramp up.
11：20：50
一批警车经过，有人发信息说队伍前面有点紧张（三七）
11：28：42
大批警员在市政府四周，游行队伍已经回到政府附近。
大批武警也出动了。
市民唱起团结就是力量，距离武警只有100米左右。
消防水龙也在待命。
A large number of police are moving now.
People are singing ‘solidarity is strength’, armed military police are standing just about 100 meters away.
A firehose is standing ready.
11：32：19
游行被警车阻止了（三七）
现场发生冲撞，武警被冲散
There's a struggle, people are charging the military police.
11：33：59
武警第二道防线被冲散。
人们高喊反对暴力
武警群众都在集结形势危急
People are screaming ‘oppose any violence’
The military police are gathering into a defence formation
11：37
湖滨北路，发生推搡，有些人受小伤，高喊”反对暴力”（三七）
冲散处在湖东桥头，队伍继续前进。
队伍已经过了七星路口，目标是市政府。
The second half of the procession has broken through at Hudong Bridge, the procession is moving forward again
Moved past Qixing Rd. now, heading for the city government.
You better e-mail me a copy of that.
原帖地址：http://www.bullog.cn/blogs/buchong/archives/66717.aspx
cloudswander says:
///太感谢啦啦啦啦啦啦！！///
非常整齐响亮。
何立峰，出来！何立峰，下台！
现在的口号是不要缓建！必须停建！
‘He Lifang [the mayor], get out here! He Lifang, step down!’
The slogan now is: ‘no postponement! It must be stopped!’
Here cloudswander posts a link to the to a 163.com news story on the PX plant from noon on June 1[news.163.com/07/0601/11/3FTB7B9M0001124J.html] which he praises but mentions nothing of the march currently underway.
Back to Beifeng's live updates from the ground:
cloudswander says:
11：40：22
附近好像有武警调动。
队伍喊出明天八点不见不散的口号。
特贸路口有警力，有群众捡石头被旁人制止。
The procession is yelling ‘be back here tomorrow at 8am or be square’
Police stationed at Temao Rd., a group of rock collectors have been
11：45：00
群众亢奋，局面难以预料。
武警再筑人墙，双方步步紧逼。
现场高唱国歌。
武警人墙再度被冲破。
Armed police have barricaded people again, stepping forward forcing them back.
People are singing the national anthem.
The military police barricade has been broken through again.
11：52：07
双方现在处于僵持中。
在湖滨北路，又被强行阻止了（三七）
武警的防线已经被冲散。
成功冲了100多军人两次，马上有第三次，人人在叫”反对暴力！反对暴力！”（三七回顾冲防线）
At Hubinbei, being forcefully held back again.
The military police line has been broken through again
The second time the procession has broken through the army barricade, third time coming soon, people are chanting ‘oppose and violence! oppose any violence!’
11：57：13
市民成功抵达市政府门口，高喊”何立峰，下台！”的口号。
警力死守政府大门，防止冲入。
The police are clinging to the front gate, holding back the charges.
现在回到市政府，军警特别多，人们在疯叫市长”下台”，听不清名字，又向军警叫”为人民服务！””保卫厦门！””PX必须停止”（三七）
“何立峰，出来！”（三七）
唱国歌了！市政大楼上面挂了个很大的红色”为人民服务”牌。
12：11
双方在市政府门口僵持，北风三七在这里遇到了几个牛博网网友，他们正在聊天喘息之中。厦门天气很热。稍息片刻。
Aether Woo Pro User says:
im watching you.
plz continue
MingDami says:
支持厦门市民的周五集体散步行动！
reverdie says:
上面那个实况报道的bullblog网页，我亲眼看着被封
reverdie says:
整个牛博都上不去了
to reverdie
这是为什么要使用伟大的flickr的原因
flickr的作者肯定没有想到flickr还能够这样用
Flickr's creators probably never thought it would ever be used like this.
Aether Woo Pro User says:
www.bullog.cn
应该已经被拔掉服务器电源了
cloudswander says:
我本人坚决反对冲击市政府的行为，授人以柄啊。坐坐就可以，冲击不解决任何问题。
Cloudswander continues copying live SMS updates from Bullog:
cloudswander says:
12：46：31
不少上班族中午休息时间赶了过来，人越来越多，市政府发了个新闻稿，说环评要半年，希望大家以正常渠道反映情况。
cloudswander says:
本站已经突破1万的点击了，在短短的几个小时之内
13：02：06
有不足一千人在市政府门口唱歌，其他的人在对面人行道围观。
北风三七现在去午餐。
Beifeng and Feng37 have gone for lunch.
13:20
现在人没有早上的多
部队比较多
现场在喊何立峰下场
一些警察还主动说,闹吧,还是有效果的.只是起围拦作用并不怎么阻碍民众
Quite a few soldiers here
People are calling for [mayor] He Lifeng to come down and meet them
Some police are telling people to make a racket if they choose, it's working. They're just surrounding people now, not blocking them.
13：35：22
北风等刚刚吃了点东西，现正买水和几位牛博网网友一起赶往现场。
13：43：32
游行队伍主力离开了市政府门口，准备沿中山路去厦门大学。
Dong Yan says:
cloudswander says:
具网友说
厦门大学这两天再考试……
Xiamen University is having finals today…
13：52：21
离开市政府了。游行队伍到了市政府门口就很兴奋，便衣警察和武警很紧张。制服警告我们几个老外，说再不离开就抓我们。两个被查了护照的老外被登记了护照号码，被要求删除相机中的全部照片。他们看到警方手上有我的护照复印件。离开市政府时军警比参与游行的人还多。（三七）
cloudswander says:
有网友称收到一条短信
曰：通过正常渠道向市政府反映，我们一定将你们的意见和建议转达给环保专家。。。
来源：09599移动之声
政府用心良苦啊
If you go through normal channels to give the government feedback, we guarantee we'll share your opinions and suggestions with environmental experts…
Source: 09599 Voice of China Mobile
The government cares…so sweet.
Back to the Bullog live updates:
13：58：59
队伍约两千人从湖滨南路一路向西行进。
队伍到了环保局门口高喊口号：”保卫厦门，拒绝污染！”
一个带红领巾的小朋友说她也想参加游行，但学校不放假。
The procession arrived at the Environmental Bureau yelling: ‘protect Xiamen, reject pollution!’
One boy wearing a red Young Pioneers neckscarf says he'd like to join in but his school has no day off.
Then cloudswander says:
再也找不到任何信息的来源了，所以地方都被封锁了。仿佛落入黑洞。前方的朋友们，千万不要发生任何意外啊。
今天进行到这个程度已经是极好的，政府临时让大家游行，可算开18年来未有之局面了，如果因冲动而失去双方妥协之可能，所剩只能是后悔。
本站已经超过40000view了
That it's gone this far today is extraordinary. The government has permitted the demonstration, something that hasn't happened in 18 years. If you rush in you might lose the compromise both sides have come to and you'll regret it.
Bullog has already gotten over 40,000 views now.
cloudswander says:
人群刚才到了轮渡,引起交通堵塞近20分钟…
14：45：12
游行队伍高喊”保卫厦门，加入我们！”动员市民参与，人数有所增加。
回观整个游行，觉得队伍是无组织有纪律，气氛和天气都超热，与队伍中的积极分子有接触，但上午的几个骨干，有些现在已经没有走在队伍前面了。
刚刚听警察说，要全力防堵队伍进入厦大。
Looking back at the whole procession, it seems there's been an unorganized amount of discipline. The mood and the weather are both super hot, there have been some extremists in with the procession. The main ones from the morning, however, are no longer moving at the front.
Just heard a police officer say: we have to use all our power to stop them from getting into Xiamen University.
15：13：55
队伍经过海军医院时，为避免打扰病人，队伍自动停止呼喊口号。非常理性。
队伍左传到了政海路，即将右转去厦大。
The procession is turning left onto Zhenghai Rd. One more turn to the right and we'll be at Xiamen University.
15：18：19
北风感到身体疲劳，喝了一听功能饮料，又觉得身体能坚持，但手机的电量能否坚持是个问题。
15：28：58
队伍现在行进在大生里，离厦大约两站路，幸好是下坡，否则这支疲惫的文明之师要遭遇大自然的严峻考验了。
口号现在是：保卫厦门，拒绝劈叉!（PX）
15:43:11
游行队伍现在走到理工大学思明校区。未见有警力部署。
学校大门紧闭，听到一个貌似学校领导的人在打电话，要求看住每一个学生。
有学生要出来，但校领导在力阻。队伍在校门口高呼口号。
没有效果。门全关了。理工大学生基本被关在校内了。
The school gate is locked tight. Inside what seems to be a school administrator is making a phone call, telling someone to watch over every single student.
Some students want to come out but the administrator blocks them. The procession starts shouting slogans at the campus gate.
No use, the gate is still shut. The students are all essentially being locked up inside the school.
15：58：18
马上就要到厦大的校门口了。有学生迎出来加入游行队伍。
队伍抵达校门口，学校封门了。大家准备就地静坐。
人们高喊开门，保安护门，未见警察。
The procession arrives at the gate, it's locked shut. Everyone prepares to sit silently.
Some people start shouting for them to open the gate. The security guard protects the door, no police to be seen.
16：03：19
市民在游说学生参加，看来可能性不大。。。
16：22：17
现场有人通知明天早上八点市政府门口集中。
16：26：50
厦大门口人群渐渐散去，估计今天到此告一段落了。
厦大的老师进不了校门，意见很大。
University professors are unable to enter the school, making a big noise about it. People start drifting away from the Xiamen University gate. It seems today's events are over.
University professors are unable to enter the school, making a big noise about it.
55 comments
thanks these great people！！！！！！！！！
they are my heros，they are xiamen‘heros！！！！
thank you so much!
Thank you John.
Xiamen people are great. They did their best to protect their hometown.
well, as a citizen from xm, i deeply appreciate what they have done in order to protect the city.(i didn’t join because i am not in xm now)
To be frank, chinese government falls short at its promise to give its people freedom of speech as all the websites discussing the problem have been cancel, what a pity
Xiamen Fighting~!!!