klortho (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} klortho) wrote,@ 2007-06-04 01:37:00 |
|
The PX Project
I got some text messages today. They are a little hard to understand, in part because the order seems to be messed up, and I think there must be a missing part. Anyway, they're in reference to the controversial Xiamen PX Project and the recent brew-haha about that. Here they are, with my lame-ass translations:
So, I thought they were interesting -- the government using text messages for propoganda / damage control. I don't know who this Professor Zhao is, I haven't been following the details that closely, so what follows is just a few things that I've heard, and may or may not be accurate.
I've talked about the demonstrations with several Chinese people. The demonstrations have been pretty intense, but peaceful. The police here seem to have learned that it makes more sense to be flexible, and relent a bit, in the face of an angry mob.
On the other hand, a little bit shocking for me to hear was that lots of people were told by their work and / or school that they were not allowed to attend the demonstrations, or else they'd be censured. Students were told they wouldn't be allowed to graduated. Some workers were told they'd be fired. My understanding is that this kind of thing only happened in government owned or operated institutions (which includes Xiamen University, by the way). The government didn't have any power to dictate this kind of prohibition to employees of private companies.
I got some text messages today. They are a little hard to understand, in part because the order seems to be messed up, and I think there must be a missing part. Anyway, they're in reference to the controversial Xiamen PX Project and the recent brew-haha about that. Here they are, with my lame-ass translations:
12:24: 充分表明了市委 / 市政府尊重科学 / 尊重民意, 重视环保。
Make abundantly clear that the municipal Party committee / the city government values science, values the will of the people, and cares about the environment.
12:22: 6月2日下午, 中国科学院院士 / 厦门大学教授赵玉芬委托厦门大学新闻发言人潘世墨发表声明: 近日来, 赵院士本人从未接受过媒体记者的采访,
In the afternoon of June 2nd, the China Academy of Science official / Xiamen University professor Zhao Yu Fen entrusted Xiamen University news spokesperson Pan Shi Mo to issue the statement: in the last few days, Professor Zhao has not received an interview by any media reporter,
12:21: 也未授权媒体发表有关厦门 PX 项目的意见, 赵院士认为, 厦门市政府作出缓建 PX 项目并进行区域规划环评的决定是实事求是的,
also has never empowered the media to publish any of his opinions about the PX project, Professor Zhao believes that the Xiamen city government's [this next part, I'm not sure I've got right:] decision to delay construction of the PX Project carried out by the regional planning group is practical and realistic,
So, I thought they were interesting -- the government using text messages for propoganda / damage control. I don't know who this Professor Zhao is, I haven't been following the details that closely, so what follows is just a few things that I've heard, and may or may not be accurate.
I've talked about the demonstrations with several Chinese people. The demonstrations have been pretty intense, but peaceful. The police here seem to have learned that it makes more sense to be flexible, and relent a bit, in the face of an angry mob.
On the other hand, a little bit shocking for me to hear was that lots of people were told by their work and / or school that they were not allowed to attend the demonstrations, or else they'd be censured. Students were told they wouldn't be allowed to graduated. Some workers were told they'd be fired. My understanding is that this kind of thing only happened in government owned or operated institutions (which includes Xiamen University, by the way). The government didn't have any power to dictate this kind of prohibition to employees of private companies.
