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特朗普風暴，中國之福！
法國報摘為您介紹《世界報》駐北京記者Harold Thibault 8日發來的「特朗普風暴，中國之福」這篇文章。該文首先寫道，美國暫停對人權非政府組織的援助、美國退出世衛組織和《巴黎協定》，這些都給中國政府提供了機會，它可以利用這些機會將自己的選擇強加於人。 文章表示，四分之一世紀以來，中國勞工觀察一直在揭露中國南方芭比娃娃工廠的女工、上海附近的蘋果分包商的實習生以及中國在亞洲的“新絲綢之路”（一帶一路）項目工人所遭受的剝削。該非政府組織由社會活動家李強創辦，依靠的是他自己、一名僱員以及在中國的關係網來運作。報告關注領域主要是在中國政體下勞工無法捍衛自己的權利，但因冒犯中國政府調查工作很快就會被迫結束。該非政府組織每年數百萬美元的預算中有 90%…
'China has secret jail in Dubai, holds Uyghurs'
Warn Radio Advocacy, Persecuted Church, America focus, Israel lunar Bible, Rwanda forgiveness, Riches to Richer, more Gospel News
China’s Christians Face ‘Massive Wave of Persecution’ | Radio Free Asia (RFA)
China’s Christians Face ‘Massive Wave of Persecution’ | Radio Free Asia (RFA)
Underground Churches in China(No missionaries & Bible)…Rare Video Clip (Subtitle @CC) Underground Churches in China(No missionaries & Bible) – AIWA! NO! CRIMSON TAZVINZWA///China has intensified its crackdown on religion, with images emerging of crosses being burned and destroyed at Christian churches. Key points:
Ch…
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Video: China demolishes Christian megachurch with explosives as religious groups decry 'Taliban-style persecution'
https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/01/14/video-china-demolishes-christian-megachurch-explosives-religious-groups-denounce-taliban-style-persecution/
Underground Catholic lost everything in Chinese labor camp, but gained faith
By Mark Ellis, May 23, 2013
He was once a presiding judge of the intermediate court in an affluent city on China's east coast. But he became a beaten prisoner imprisoned for 11 years due to his involvement in the underground church.
"That's the story of brother Li JF, a dedicated Catholic brother in the underground church," says Bob Fu, founder and president of ChinaAid Association. "He was imprisoned not because of corruption or criminal activities but because he provided free legal advice to the weak and vulnerable," says Fu.
"Li could easily have gained a fortune if he chose to continue his comfortable legal career; he could have avoided arrest, beatings, and torture by staying silent in the face of injustice. But he chose a different way because his ears heard the Voice behind him: 'This is the way; walk in it.'" (Isaiah 30:21.)
In a letter to Fu after his release in April, Li wrote, "I lost everything but gained my faith in God!" In the letter he described how his health was destroyed during his incarceration, his wife divorced him following government threats, and his daughter disappeared.
Li's younger brother fled to Thailand in 2010 because of government threats, after two years in jail. While Li was imprisoned, government authorities sold his house.
"Brother Li still claims he gained from his imprisonment because he did not lose his faith in God," Fu says.
In the labor camp, Li worked 14 hours a day and spent three hours each day in "re-education" classes.
His elderly parents, barely able to meet their own expenses, sent him $25 each month. From his meager income Li smuggled money out of the labor camp to purchase Bibles, which he used to lead Bible studies for dozens of prisoners.
In his classes he often challenged his disciples with a probing question, "upon whom can you fix your real hope?"
Not only did Li's faith sustain his life, he even defended fellow prisoners despite the risk of additional punishment. Li used his knowledge of Chinese and international law to defend the prisoners' right to own Bibles.
Last November, after their Bibles were confiscated by camp officials, Li and several other Christian leaders went to the senior officer of the camp and demanded to know why their Bibles were confiscated.
When the senior officer attempted to make excuses, Li used his knowledge of Chinese laws and regulations to challenge him. Unable to win the argument with this courageous prisoner, the senior officer finally sent them away. That same evening, God softened the man's heart, and their Bibles were returned.
One encouraging feature in Li's letter is his perspective about gain and loss. "My heavenly father chose to let me follow Him by carrying my cross. With difficulty, I chose a road on which I would become poorer in material wealth and on which commutation of sentence would be more difficult. So I continued to spread the seeds of the Gospel. . . . I'm all the more the chosen person of the Lord and such a glory cannot be replaced with any material gains."
China!
Ni hao! I returned from China a week ago and it was so much fun. Unfortunately, I have had so much to do at work that I haven't been able to blog about the People's Republic of China. Four words; Beautiful country, Nice people!
I was in China for a 2-week Chinese Government Seminar for Officials from Developing Countries on Development Zone Policies. It was was exciting and presented a great opportunity to interact with some Chinese (Officials & non-officials) and other nationals, as well as visit some really cool parks, markets and other monuments.
I don't even know how to structure this post but I will try to fit it all in one and make it less boring.
New Friends 新的朋友
One of the best parts of the trip was making new friends. By far, the Egyptians were my favourite; Ahmed, Nihal, Shiima, Nehal, Mohammed and Walaa. [I know they are reading; You guys rock!]. There were other cool people from Ethiopia, Vietnam and Zambia. At least if I find myself in their countries, I know I have a friend there.
We had great hosts we can call friends now. Steven, Celia and the other staff at AIBO were just lovely. Steven is always looking out for a brother :D At this point, I must say in my honest opinion, Chinese hospitality tops Ghanaian hospitality.
Beijing 北京
Beijing was fantastic! The best part was with the tours; visiting The Forbidden City, Behai Park, Silk Market, Yashow Market and of course climbing the Great Wall of China! 'He who doesn't reach the Great Wall is not a true man' - Mao Zedong.
The world knows I love gadgets and I visited Zhongguancun on 3 occasions with Ahmed. Though we couldn't get all we wanted, we got some pretty good bargains. The Apple Store in Sanlitun Village was the first Apple Store the fictional Apple Inc Executive has visited. It was packed with people. One couldn't even move but for me, I was in a shrine.
iPhone 4 & iPhone 3GS
These are by far the most popular smartphones in China. Everybody has an iPhone 4 or 3GS. I saw a bunch of people making purchases at the Apple Store and I think every 5 people with smartphones I met, 4 had the iPhone 4 & 3GS. Androids are quite popular too. I saw only 2 Blackberrys in China. [Yes, I was counting]
Dalian 大连
As part of the seminar, we visited Dalian to see first-hand and interact with stakeholders in the Dalian Development Area. Dalian has some similarities with African countries having been occupied by the Russians and Japanese from 1898 to 1955 but that will be discussed in a different post.
I love Dalian. I left my heart there. It is indeed a lovely city with a lot of squares and parks. My group was skeptical about visiting Dalian. We wanted to visit Shanghai or Shenzen but Dalian proved us wrong. I can't even begin to talk about the people. From the tour guide Hebe to everyone we say in the city including the Russians (a lot of Russians live in Dalian) were so friendly. The hotel staff at the Guo Mao Ja Ri Hotel were really nice and I made a personal friend called Xiao Han Song.
In Dalian, I learn't something about Korea DPR. The hotel had some North Korean girls who performed some lovely songs for us. Interestingly, they double as waitresses at the hotel. Dalian isn't far from Korea DPR, so children of officials are often sent there to work. They earn CN¥1,200 ($185) of which their government takes ¥1,000 ($30), which I learn't is a lot of money in their countries. I also learn't in Korea DPR, footballers earn as little as CN¥36.
It was also fun playing Cuju (Ancient Chinese Football) with complete strangers. The only bad thing was I tore my dope khaki trousers :(
Dalian nights were also cool; walking through the city and shopping. A lot of locals took a lot of pictures with me that my Egyptian friends joked about my picture being in the tabloids the next day. I can go on and on about Dalian. Maybe I will do a full post on Dalian later.
Mao Zedong & Deng Xiaoping They are the two most revered men in China. You will hear phrases like 'Chairman Mao, our great leader' and 'Deng Xiaoping, the architect of reform and open-up policy' everywhere you go. I revere them too. I knew very little about Deng Xiaoping but visiting China and seeing how his policy and directives have driven the country to its current state, I can't help but admire him some more. Since I returned home, I have been reading a lot about Deng Xiaoping and his works and occasionally post some of his quotes on twitter. Deng is my man!
The Communist Party of China
Don't believe everything you read and hear in the media. The Chinese people love the Communist Party of China (CPC). Everybody I spoke to or sought his/her opinion told me how they admire the CPC. One man I interacted with in Dalian said he didn't see the current political system changing in the next 50 years and I agree with him. The only way I see the CPC losing its legitimacy and as echoed by President Hu Jintao when addressing the CPC Central Committee on the occassion of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC is the warning that 'corruption could cost them the support and trust of the people'.
Let's be fair. The CPC and its policies have worked for China. In a lot of my discussions with a friend from Zambia, Steven, whom I usually shared a seat on the bus with, we questioned whether the system wasn't the best for our countries.
Dislikes and Half-Likes
China wasn't perfect. There were a couple of things I didn't like. Obviously, the Great Firewall of China is on top of that list. I wasn't happy I couldn't tweet and post updates from facebook. Not entirely though. A friend gave me a software (Freegate) to bypass the Great Firewall of China which I in turn distributed to everyone else [yeah, I am bad like that]. Ocassionally, it couldn't bypass the firewall but it was better than nothing.
I was able to use Foursquare and Tumblr though, but I think the social media detox was good for me though. A lot of people argue how the Chinese government is giving her citizens half the internet. The good thing is that it has led to the growth of local companies; Baidu (Chinese Google), Sina Weibo (Chinese Twitter), QQ (Chinese Yahoo! Messenger) - I use that :) There is a Chinese version of everything in China. There is even a Chinese 'Proud to be Ghanaian' :)
Like Ghana, A lot of people spit indiscriminately in public and a lot of people cough without covering their mouths. I think these are reasons airborne diseases spread like wildfire.
It was a wonderful trip and I really did enjoy China and I look forward to visiting soon.
I Love China!!!
