China’s human Rights …Or lack of Human Rights. China vs. United States ChinaUnited States GovernmentCommunistDemocratic EconomyCapitalist SocialismFree.

China’s human Rights

…Or lack of Human Rights

China vs. United StatesChina United States

Government Communist Democratic

Economy Capitalist Socialism Free Market Capitalism

Population 1.3 Billion 313 million

Labor Force 780 million 155 million

Internet users 389 million 245 million

Many economic forecasters predict China will surpass the United States in economic strength by 2030.

China’s Human Rights Issues

-Political Oppression-The Great Firewall-One Child Policy-Laogai Camps-Organ Trade-Tibet

Political Oppression

Tiananmen Square: Students demand democratic reforms- Tanks kill thousands to crush protest

Today, many protestors are jailed when they speak out against the government, or in favor of democracy.

Liu Xiaobo

Political reformer who led during Tiananmen Square 1989

In 2008 he wrote Charter ‘08, a call for democracy, a constitution and independent court system

He was sentenced to 11 years in jail, and is still serving his time

Ai WeiWeiArtist who speaks against the government through art and an online blog

Ai WeiWei became increasingly political after see the damage from the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan, China

He has had repeated run-ins with the law and was just released from prison in 2012

“She lived happily for seven years in this world”

The Great Firewall of ChinaThe Chinese government monitors all internet activity.

Even Google has restrictions and is heavily censored

Netizens- Chinese bloggers who have found ways around the firewall

Created in 2005, and by 2009 China had blocked access to most of Google's features and censored searches

In 2010 the Chinese Government hacked the email accounts of suspected opposition. Outraged, Google, is threatening to withdraw service from China

One Child PolicyTo combat a ballooning population, China enforced the one child policy

Exceptions:-rural families with one daughter can try for a

son if they apply-Families can pay a “simple” fee for additional

children

Can’t pay? The government will force abortion OR force adoption

Each Chinese baby is adopted for $15,000+

What do you notice about these propaganda posters?

What message do these send to the Chinese people?

Laogai Labor CampsPolitical prisoners and criminals are routinely sent to Laogai- forced labor prisons and re-education centers

Prisoners are forced to create products, including many of the goods that end up on US Shelves

“Reform through Labor”

3-5 million currently in the

camps

At least 909 Camps in China

Organ TradeExecuted prisoners “allow” the government to donate their organs… for a profit

Organs can cost over $50,000 and every part is used: Heart, liver, skin, kidneys, lungs…

Often, prisoners are kept alive through the harvesting process to ensure healthier organ transplants

TibetAfter Mao came to power in 1949, the Chinese took over Tibet. Technically, Tibet no longer exists

They have destroyed much of Tibetan culture and outlawed Buddhism. Many were sent to the Laogai camps

The Dalai Lama fled to India and has remained their since 1950

Who is the Dalai Lama?

Leader of Buddhism. He has been Reincarnated 14 times. The current Dalai Lama was found when he was a toddler

Review

The Tiananmen Square massacre in China was a reaction to

1. Deng Xiaoping’s plan to revive the Cultural Revolution

2. Students demands for greater individual rights and freedom of expression

3. China’s decision to seek Western investors4. Great Britain’s decision to return Hong Kong

to China

Review

Today, human rights violations most often occur in nations in which

1. Freedom of the press exists2. Government is limited by law3. Leaders have absolute control 4. Government has a multiparty system

Review

Which Statement best describes a result of the student demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989?

1. Prodemocracy protestors were successful in achieving their goals

2. A state-controlled education program was begun3. The government further restricted freedom of

expression in China4. Collectivization programs were started in China

Review

An Analysis of the Chinese student demonstrations in Tiananmen Square in 1989 would show that

1. Communist governments continue to have little control over the actions of their citizens

2. Totalitarian governments frequently survive by the use of force

3. Peaceful demonstrations often succeed in achieving democratic reforms

4. Negative global reaction sometimes leads to economic decline

Who’s Afraid of Ai WeiWei?