Comments on: Greens silently protest arrival of Wen Jiabao http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/ hopping along the corridors of power Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:20:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: John Barleycorn http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-37537 John Barleycorn Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:42:35 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-37537 The Chinese Year of the Rat, the first of 12 months, represents wealth and good luck. It -and the New Year-commences with the new moon of 7 Feb. 2008 and ends with the full moon of 21 Feb., the Festival of Lanterns. The most important of all events in the Chinese calendar. However, the most honoured guest, the moon, seems to have somewhat snubbed the event this time. She marked the commencement date by eclipsing the suun on 7 feb. And will mark the more hallowed end date by totally absenting herself - a total lunar eclipse of the full moon. This sequence of events must be a very rare occasion. Things don't end there. The Chinese Authorities, obsessed with lucky numbers, have determined that the Beijing (Summer) Olympics will begin at 8am on 8th August (8th month), 2008. The moon again appears to be unhappy, staging a total solar eclipse just a week before the opening ceremony, on 1 Aug. Plus a partial one on 16 Aug., one of the more active days of the Games, on which 30 medals are to be awarded. The Chinese Year of the Rat, the first of 12 months, represents wealth and good luck. It -and the New Year-commences with the new moon of 7 Feb. 2008 and ends with the full moon of 21 Feb., the Festival of Lanterns. The most important of all events in the Chinese calendar.
However, the most honoured guest, the moon, seems to have somewhat snubbed the event this time. She marked the commencement date by eclipsing the suun on 7 feb. And will mark the more hallowed end date by totally absenting herself - a total lunar eclipse of the full moon.
This sequence of events must be a very rare occasion.
Things don’t end there. The Chinese Authorities, obsessed with lucky numbers, have determined that the Beijing (Summer) Olympics will begin at 8am on 8th August (8th month), 2008. The moon again appears to be unhappy, staging a total solar eclipse just a week before the opening ceremony, on 1 Aug. Plus a partial one on 16 Aug., one of the more active days of the Games, on which 30 medals are to be awarded.

]]> By: John Barleycorn http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-15729 John Barleycorn Thu, 01 Jun 2006 07:20:11 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-15729 Trade with China might have considerable mutual benefits. As did trade with Germany in 1935. The downside is the impact on local producers. Do we want to become dependent on a country with shoking human rights issues concerning Taiwan, Tibet, Tianamen Square, Womens' rights, child labour...? Just because they are very polite, work hard, and have lovely pandas? Corruption among the CCP, which citizens are leaving in droves, is at the highest level. The Minister of Commerce himself, Bo Xilai, has been sued in eight countries (including NZ, Australia, USA, UK) for genocide. He was Governor of Liaoning province from 2001 tio 2004, during which time he supervised the torture and murder of 341 Falun Gong. Also in his province was set up the notorious Sujiatun concentration camp where literally thousands are illegally imprisoned. Their internal organs are removed for sale to international traders, and then they are cremated, often alive. 70 million Falun Gong are missing; the holocaust may have been trivial in comparison. Do we really want blood-money of this kind? Trade with China might have considerable mutual benefits. As did trade with Germany in 1935. The downside is the impact on local producers. Do we want to become dependent on a country with shoking human rights issues concerning Taiwan, Tibet, Tianamen Square, Womens’ rights, child labour…? Just because they are very polite, work hard, and have lovely pandas?
Corruption among the CCP, which citizens are leaving in droves, is at the highest level. The Minister of Commerce himself, Bo Xilai, has been sued in eight countries (including NZ, Australia, USA, UK) for genocide. He was Governor of Liaoning province from 2001 tio 2004, during which time he supervised the torture and murder of 341 Falun Gong. Also in his province was set up the notorious Sujiatun concentration camp where literally thousands are illegally imprisoned. Their internal organs are removed for sale to international traders, and then they are cremated, often alive. 70 million Falun Gong are missing; the holocaust may have been trivial in comparison. Do we really want blood-money of this kind?

]]> By: Sam Buchanan http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12074 Sam Buchanan Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:39:17 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12074 Oh, by the way. Let's not forget the Uighers, whose briefly independent Republic of East Turkestan was conquered and colonised in much the same way, and at about the same time, as Tibet. Repression and destruction of the local culture continues there today, even using the excuse of "a war on terrorism". Oh, by the way. Let’s not forget the Uighers, whose briefly independent Republic of East Turkestan was conquered and colonised in much the same way, and at about the same time, as Tibet. Repression and destruction of the local culture continues there today, even using the excuse of “a war on terrorism”.

]]> By: Sam Buchanan http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12073 Sam Buchanan Tue, 11 Apr 2006 21:36:16 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12073 I think the answer to how Kiwi manufacturers are going to compete came today with Fontera's announcement of 300 job cuts. And this is in NZ's much-touted supposedly super competitive dairy sector. Actually, China's dairy sector is close to being as efficent as NZ's (in terms of the cost of producing milk, at least), and is growing rapidly. Maybe in a couple of decades we'll take the Chinese Cheddar on our supermarket shelves for granted. I think the answer to how Kiwi manufacturers are going to compete came today with Fontera’s announcement of 300 job cuts. And this is in NZ’s much-touted supposedly super competitive dairy sector.

Actually, China’s dairy sector is close to being as efficent as NZ’s (in terms of the cost of producing milk, at least), and is growing rapidly. Maybe in a couple of decades we’ll take the Chinese Cheddar on our supermarket shelves for granted.

]]> By: Huskynut http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12072 Huskynut Tue, 11 Apr 2006 00:10:43 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12072 Good on the Greens for continuing to protest. Interesting that Helen was prepared to raise the topic of human rights with the premier but that Labour has been too gutless to take a position on Guantanemo with our supposed friends...: http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2006/04/new-zealand-and-guantanamo.html#comments Good on the Greens for continuing to protest.

Interesting that Helen was prepared to raise the topic of human rights with the premier but that Labour has been too gutless to take a position on Guantanemo with our supposed friends…:
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2006/04/new-zealand-and-guantanamo.htm l#comments

]]> By: Susie Brown http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12068 Susie Brown Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:50:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12068 History shows that free trade agreements usually fail to match the rhetoric of their proponents. It is common for trade disparities to worsen. The bigger player can create all kinds of spurious barriers; the Aussie nonsense about fireblight being a good example. When China cleans up its civil rights AND its abuse of intellectual property, I might feel more kindly towards it as a trading partner. History shows that free trade agreements usually fail to match the rhetoric of their proponents. It is common for trade disparities to worsen. The bigger player can create all kinds of spurious barriers; the Aussie nonsense about fireblight being a good example. When China cleans up its civil rights AND its abuse of intellectual property, I might feel more kindly towards it as a trading partner.

]]> By: superdan http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12067 superdan Thu, 06 Apr 2006 22:53:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12067 A free trade agreement will be a mixed blessing at best. Good for the primary sector, but what about the manufacturers? Kiwi manufacturers actually pay their workers a decent wage, how are they going to compete with the sort of labor standards and wages that exist in China? It will be one step forward, and somewhere between one and four steps back. A free trade agreement will be a mixed blessing at best. Good for the primary sector, but what about the manufacturers? Kiwi manufacturers actually pay their workers a decent wage, how are they going to compete with the sort of labor standards and wages that exist in China? It will be one step forward, and somewhere between one and four steps back.

]]> By: bjchip http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12066 bjchip Thu, 06 Apr 2006 16:49:03 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12066 Disgruntled Redneck - We don't disregard "self-defence" where do you get that idea? Where do you get the idea that workers do not have rights? You want to go back to slavery perhaps? That IS how it evolves in the factory town. When have we stifled "freedom of expression"? Even your highly overrated "property rights" are respected by us PROVIDED the future of the planet is not put in jeopardy. I think you are hating a caricature of what Greens are, without actually knowing much about the party. Y'all need to look at actual positions of the party not individual statements by some member of the party. respectfully BJ Disgruntled Redneck - We don’t disregard “self-defence” where do you get that idea? Where do you get the idea that workers do not have rights? You want to go back to slavery perhaps? That IS how it evolves in the factory town. When have we stifled “freedom of expression”? Even your highly overrated “property rights” are respected by us PROVIDED the future of the planet is not put in jeopardy. I think you are hating a caricature of what Greens are, without actually knowing much about the party.

Y’all need to look at actual positions of the party not individual statements by some member of the party.

respectfully
BJ

]]> By: Disgruntled Redneck http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12063 Disgruntled Redneck Thu, 06 Apr 2006 11:05:57 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12063 I agree that human rights should be raised, but they shouldn't hinder free trade like the Greens wish neither should workers' "rights" (as commies call them); also, it's a bit rich for the Greens to be the human rights' watch dog considering they disregard basic rights like self defence, freedom of expression and property if they aren’t in the best interests of the peasants. I agree that human rights should be raised, but they shouldn’t hinder free trade like the Greens wish neither should workers’ “rights” (as commies call them); also, it’s a bit rich for the Greens to be the human rights’ watch dog considering they disregard basic rights like self defence, freedom of expression and property if they aren’t in the best interests of the peasants.

]]> By: libertyscott http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12062 libertyscott Thu, 06 Apr 2006 10:53:56 +0000 http://blog.greens.org.nz/2006/04/06/greens-silently-protest-arrival-of-wen-jiabao/#comment-12062 As much as I am in agreement with free trade with China, I agree with the Green Party raising human rights issues. Just because NZers trade with China and trade with China is good for both countries does not mean that the government should turn its back on China's use of execution and torture, and its breach of fundamental freedoms. I know Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke have chequered histories on these issues, and Sue is the Green's greatest supporter of compulsion - but putting those to one side, anyone who believes in fundamental freedoms must condemn China and remind it that it is far beneath basic standards of human rights. As much as I am in agreement with free trade with China, I agree with the Green Party raising human rights issues.

Just because NZers trade with China and trade with China is good for both countries does not mean that the government should turn its back on China’s use of execution and torture, and its breach of fundamental freedoms.

I know Sue Kedgley and Keith Locke have chequered histories on these issues, and Sue is the Green’s greatest supporter of compulsion - but putting those to one side, anyone who believes in fundamental freedoms must condemn China and remind it that it is far beneath basic standards of human rights.

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