Tag archive for ‘13’
How do Chinese exercise freedom of speech online?(0)
Despite what you have heard, China does not restrict freedom of speech on the Internet to those who support the official position. As a result, Chinese web users are expressing their support for the government unabated: they are filling up chat rooms with red hearts and red-lettered CHINA.
What do those red hearts and red words mean? Not everyone is sure. Some Chinese say that those are warning to those who want to bring chaos to China. Like Tibetan monks, those who support them, and French supermarket, and anyone who is pro-Tibetan. Some are putting up photos of themselves in Chinese Army uniforms to make sure people don’t think it was just an empty threat. But others think this is just to show support for their country and government: they are meant to symbolize pride and affection.
Interestingly, a rare few who did not choose to express their support were reluctant to explain why. After all, not everyone is allowed freedom of expression in China.
Did China already get a gold medal for most killings?(1)
Yes, and this one is from Amnesty International. The group could show China have killed at least 470 people in 2007, far more than any other country in the world. Since China keeps the number secret, it could be as high as 8,000.
It is estimated that the Olympic host would execute 374 people during the game alone. In China, you can get death penalty for 60 different crimes including damaging electric power lines, stealing, selling fake medicines, and tax fraud. And you get shot in the head. Every week China killed 9 people and additional 35 were sentenced to death. The worldwide numbers for last year are 24 executions and 64 death sentences per week, making it a total of 1,252 executions in 24 countries. The top five countries - China (407), Iran (317), Saudi Arabia (143), Pakistan (135) and the US (42) - account for close to 90% of the total known executions. It is interesting to note that US is on the same list with China and Iran when it comes to executions.
Last year alone about 3,347 people were given death sentence in 51 countries, and right now up to 27,500 people are waiting on death row.
