May you live in interesting times

The PRC government is making an effort to systematically clear out foreigners residing and working in China, particularly those in Beijing. That the clear-out is widespread is not disputed and no one with a non-Chinese skin is safe no matter how long they have lived in China and no matter what they are there [...]

No favour

An interesting article in The Guardian newspaper here. Just cast your mind back to the fuss over Sharon Stone’s comments, the storm in a teacup over the tea stains advert, the fiasco of the poster showing Tib@tan monks on a rollercoaster, and a few other recent ‘insults’ to the Chinese nation. In every [...]

Getting your head around big numbers

Everything in China happens on a big scale. This should be no surprise when bearing in mind that one fifth of the world’s population live there, but this snippet of information usually slips past without our accepting or realising its implications until we come face to face with it.
Some of the most arresting features [...]

a2b - Accor Beijing, border problems

On the 30th May there is an entry covering two days activities.
我们昨天骑行39公里到达印巴边境，但过了开放时间只能今天出境，观看了两国的降旗仪式。
21：30补充消息 我们今天没能出境，因为印度规定陆路入境必须要坐巴士或火车，only for Chinese。愤怒和无奈之下只能骑回拉合尔，明天坐巴士出境。
On the 29th May the group cycled 39 kms from Lahore to the border but arrived outside opening hours so instead watched the lowering of the flags. On the 30th they arrived [...]

Is neutrality all it’s cracked up to be?

I’ve always had an open mind regarding China preferring to not take sides and view what goes on from, what I felt was, a neutral position. The recent events in Tib@t were something of a test to keeping that position as we didn’t know exactly what was happening but my neutrality survived. However, after [...]

The ‘b’-word

The ‘b’-word has been mentioned in the press. Again. At the time of Mr Spielberg’s disengagement with BOCOG there was some talk of boycotting the 2008 Olympics in protest over China’s involvement with Darfur, but it then faded away. Since the recent troubles in Tib@t the topic has been revived and the [...]

Xizang

There seems to be many people jumping on the Free Tib@t bandwagon, so true to form, a mini-demonstration has taken place in London, details here. I can only read what is available on the news reports but it all seems a little one-sided, i.e. everything is China’s fault. The impression I get is [...]

Take Note . . .

Lord Malloch-Brown has spoken up in support of Steven Spielberg’s decision to quit his post as adviser to the Beijing Oympic Games. By so doing he has forced China’s leaders to “sit up and take notice” and has “focussed minds”. If you don’t believe me it is all here in [...]

The Užupis Constitution

A few years ago the district of Užupis, in the city of Vilnius, declared itself to be an independent republic. A President and bishop were appointed, four flags were designed [one for each season], and a suitable constitution was duly drawn up. The 41 rights which form the constitution are engraved on mirrors, [...]

Future Masters

Some people have been talking about it, many others have been ignoring it, the majority still haven’t got their heads around it but it is happening now.

When China began its current economic revival and subsequent march to power for most people, myself included, this was something unimportant. It was happening thousands of miles way on [...]