Earlier this month, before an earthquake killed thousands, about 400 to 500 people in Chengdu, China took to the streets [1] to protest the construction of a proposed petrochemical plant, calling their outing a “stroll” to get around applying for a permit to protest. The event was organized through cell phones, text messages and blogs, and mimics earlier events in Xiamen [2] and Beijing. The New York Times had a story about environmental protests [3] last week. Six [4] people were arrested (Danwei provides more links [5]).
Beijing-based lawyer Liu Xiaoyuan praised the “strolling” method of voicing opinions on his blog [6]:
“散步”不是集会、游行、示威，“散步”是具有中國特色的维权方式，但愿有关部门能给市民一个表达意见的“散步”空间，更愿政府能够重视市民“散步”表达出来的意见。
“Stroll” is not an assembly or demonstration. It’s a unique way of practicing civil rights in China. I wish related government departments could allow the citizens a space for “strolling” and expressing their opinion, and more importantly, the government could respect citizens’ opinions expressed through the “strolls”.
China Digital Times [7] has the full translation. They also report Liu's blog has encountered some censorship.
Many in southwestern China are reeling from Monday's earthquake [8]. A new up-and-coming website called Fractor [9] bills itself as a “simple, groundbreaking web application” that promises to connect well-meaning people with ways to help people affected by disasters world-wide.
Rich Brubaker on the blog Crossroads [10], which looks at corporate social responsibility in China, posts video links to the PBS series “Shifting Nature [11]“, telling us about the casualties of lightning-speed economic growth in China. It has some pretty high-level interviews, including ones with Pan Yue, China's outspoken environmental leader [12] with the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
And, lastly, a million and a half Chinese children have taken part in a painting contest [13], held by the United Nations Environment Programme. The painting by last year's grand prize winner, Charlie Sullivan from the UK, is below.
