The Dark Side of China CGG3O

Pollution Air pollution is a huge problem is China’s cities –China’s massive (and still growing) energy needs are fueled primarily by coal Water pollution is a major issue in China’s rivers and lakes –Factories and farms dump waste into rivers and lakes with few repercussions Together they cause well over a million deaths a year

Tibet We’ve already discussed the issue with Tibet –It’s people feel it was invaded and forcefully absorbed by China in the 1950s –Buddhist monks are oppressed, have their freedom of expression and movement supressed –Large numbers of monks have been killed or arrested

Other oppressed groups Uighers (Chinese Muslims) Falun Gong practitioners Christians who practice outside of state- sanctioned churches These people are subject to arrest, torture, indefinite imprisonment, and execution

Freedom of Speech Press is tightly controlled by the government – they are told what to say and deviance brings serious consequences The internet is severely filtered by the “Great Firewall of China” The government tracks down and arrests people based on internet communications concerning democracy and human rights

The ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a UN human rights treaty China signed it in 1998

Key Provisions The right to life and freedom from torture and slavery Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention and the right to habeas corpus The right to due process, a fair and impartial trial, and the presumption of innocence Freedoms of movement, thought, conscience and religion, speech, association and assembly, family rights, the right to a nationality, and the right to privacy prohibition of any propaganda for war as well as any advocacy of national or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence by law Political participation, including the right to join a political party and the right to vote Non-discrimination, minority rights and equality before the law

China and the ICCPR Which provisions has China violated? –Tibet –Falun Gong –Human Rights activists –Media and internet censorship