China: Teachers Strikes Spread Nationwide

By BI Yantao, China

Since this October on, teachers in Sichuan, Chongqing, Inner Mongolia, Shannxi, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Shandong, Guangdong, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Liaoning went on strike, demanding a salary raise. The governments across China are on guard at the moment.

Forum on Sichuan Post-disaster Reconstruction Held

by BI Yantao, China

Forum on Sichuan Post-disaster Reconstruction and Voluntary Services was held Dec.4 in Chengdu, capital of 5.12 earthquake-hit Sichuan province. Initiated by Sichuan Committee of Chinese Communist Youth League, the forum attracted more than 300 participants from all walks of life, including about 90 representatives of 40 NGOs from across Greater China.

Invited by Sichuan Post-disaster Reconstruction Voluntary Service Co-ordination Office, I was delighted to attend the conference and made two speeches in the morning and in the afternoon. It is a golden chance to meet so many delegates of NGOs and learn their hardships and expectations.

Truth About China's Civil Society

by BI Yantao, China

China is at a critical intersection. As a communication researcher, I am sure it is the high time to stand up and take whatever responsibility I can.

To a great extent, China's future will be shaped by its civil society. But what is the true situations China's civil society is trapped in? What are their hardships and expectations? What roles and functions should the civil society perform in China's development? How should China's current policies regarding the civil society be redesigned to ensure China's sustainable development?

To answer these questions, I am planning an independent research project from the perspective of political communication. My hypothesis is that China's civil society will grow at a greater pace in the near future, and that a stronger civil society will definitely speed up China's transition. I was hoping to travel around China to interview activists, academics, newsworkers and politicians, focusing on China's policies regarding NGOs, religion, minorities, news media, etc. , and on the interactions between the political society and the civil society in China.

If everything goes well, my project will start before this Chinese New Year. I am ready to take any unavoidable risk.

If you are interested in this project, if you are hoping to join us in any possible form , if you are willing to offer me any kind of assistance, please don't hesitate to contact me via bytaishan@sina.com.

Instrument of Understanding

Global Unification International (GUI) under its adopted constitutional Rules and Regulations is in the process of systematically developing its Internal Global Institutional Network infrastructure aligned under the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Millennium Development Programme for Africa Declaration (UNDP) which is briefly summarised as follows:

The GUI internal Pan-African network will be represented in the 53 countries that make up the African Union and countries within the African continent to work in direct collaboration with the GUI Internal Global Pan-African Diaspora network. The GUI Internal Global Pan-African Diaspora network is strategically located across Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and the American Union.

GUI is building a Global Pan-African online social networking system; a platform which will allow GUI to conduct research and development to accurately evaluate and identify Pro-African civil society non-governmental institutions and organisations within the Diaspora (African’s Abroad), to contribute to the development of the African continent with either funding and/or resources.

The Global Pan-African online social networking system will be utilised by GUI’s Global Internal Network as a mechanism to amalgamate existing Pan-African organizations, as well as professionals and academic intellectuals for collaboration, partnership and solidarity for the development of the continent. Moreover it will consolidate and integrate the African Diaspora and non-Pan-African organizations and individuals into GUI’s 1 Voice 1 Action 1 Africa program to provide educational material that promotes the work of the African Union and its overall policies for the African continent and the African Diaspora.

Statistical research has projected, that with the Global Pan-African online social networking system in operation, the system will consolidate approximately three hundred and fifty million members within three years. Approximately fifty million of these members will consist of individuals and organisations from the African Diaspora and a further fifty million will be made up from non-Africans investing in Africa’s development programs. The remaining two hundred and fifty million members will be made up of citizens from countries within the African continent.
Statistical research has further projected that the monthly advertising revenues derived from the Global Pan-African online social networking system will be approximately forty million Euros, when compared with similarly structured online social networking organisations. In addition to advertising revenue, statistical research projects that a further one hundred billion Euros per annum will be transferred into the African economy in funding, investment and/or resources from the African and non-African Diaspora investing in Africa’s development programs.

The funding, resources and revenues derived from the Global Pan-African online social networking system, will be directed to the GUI Global Pan-African commission that will manage, administrate and distribute the funds proportionately to the African continent via GUI National Committees’ Micro Finance Commissions. The GUI Global Pan-African commission shall have an internal investment commission attached to its body that maintains and increases revenues via conservative blue-chip investment strategies.

The GUI National Micro Finance Commissions will, under GUI’s adopted constitutional rules and regulations, loan funds to existing small sized businesses as well as individuals seeking to develop small-business enterprises, with detailed business plans, that shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the commission for a specified interest free term.

Moreover statistical research projects that unemployment rates will be dramatically reduced and sustained, when funding is judicially allocated and utilised in regions and provinces that are in critical need, such as areas experiencing environmental crises, destabilised economies, displaced populations and impoverished rural communities.

These statistics do not take into consideration the ongoing benefits to individuals and organisations from the (GUI-ICT) Information Communication Technology (GUI-ICT) Capacity Development Resource Centres Program. GUI is developing National Committees in countries of the African continent to operate the (GUI-ICT) Centres program. This will include the establishment of an African head office and five regional head offices, strategically located in each of the five African sub-regions with established support from local governments, civil societies, governmental and non-governmental institutions to implement it’s overall strategy of creating 4000 (GUI-ICT) Capacity Development Resource Centres in Africa and African communities world wide.

With the support and logistics provided by local governments and civil society institutions, GUI will analyse the provided data and strategically locate the (GUI-ICT) Centres in regions that are most in need, applying the appropriate and necessary curriculum’s to meet the challenges within the selected regions.

(GUI-ICT) Capacity Development Resource Centres will host and co-ordinate the following programs:

1. the consolidation and co-ordination of the GUI internal infrastructure to connect with the global online Pan-African networks

2. the facilitation of educational programs and curriculum’s that enhance capacity building within the global ICT technology arena.

3. the facilitation of educational programs and entrepreneurial curriculum’s that empower individuals to integrate commercially within the global community.

4. the facilitation of educational programs and curriculum’s specifically designed from data provided by local governments and civil society institutions to meet the challenges of particular regions and their immediate needs.

5. the consolidation and integration of Pro Pan-African organisations and individuals into GUI’s “1 Voice 1 Action 1 Africa” Program to provide educational materials that promote the work of the African Union and its overall policies for Africa. All information will be translated where necessary for local consumption, as well as audio and visual presentations for the illiterate.

6. the introduction of GUI’s 1 Voice 1 Action 1 Africa program to
organisations, civil society institutions and individuals unaware of the
Global Pan-African movement and the ideals and policies of the
African Union for Africa and the Diaspora.

(GUI-ICT) Capacity Development Resource Centres will provide the following administrative services:

1. Internet and e-mail access.
2. Postal Delivery Services.
3. Web Designing and Desktop Publishing.
4. the facilitation and co-ordination of GUI Programs.
5. Communication Services including free VOIP Systems and Webcam facilities.
6. Secretarial Services (Typing, Dictation, Business Plan Development).
7. Translation Services - Languages including French, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and English.
8. Facsimile Service.
9. Photocopying, Scanning and Printing Services.
10. Document Finishing (Binding, Laminating, Stapling etc.).
11. the facilitation of Educational Training Facilities.

(GUI- ICT) Capacity Development Resource Centres will perform and provide the following functions and services to national and local governments and civil society institutions:

1. conflict management.
2. the mobilisation of volunteers.
3. conducting domestic and transnational research analysis.
4. conducting domestic and transnational awareness programs.
5. policy research and development.
6. political lobbying and public relations.
7. institutional infrastructure development.
8. corporate governance, processes and procedures.
9. sustainable development education (industrial, economic, environmental and social).
10. network infrastructure development and systems management.
11. emerging markets: entry and development.
12. community economic and infrastructural development
13. online business solutions and e-commerce
14. information and communication technology for community development
15. the development of organisational infrastructures and leadership skills.

Global Unification International (GUI) registered and incorporated in Australia. ACN: 110 964 460.

GUI has incorporated registered subsidiary associations in the following countries;

Finland, Nepal, Israel, Afghanistan, Cameroon, Haiti, Liberia, Gambia, Sierra Loene, Niger, Tanzania, Zambia, Mali, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Togo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mauritania, Guinea, Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Chad, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Morocco, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya,Benin and Nigeria

Incorporations in progress: China, Libya, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Jamaica, Anguilla, Dominica, Dominical Republic, Barbados, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Seychelles, Angola, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Venezuelan, Uruguay, Botswana, Djibouti, Swaziland, Eq.Guinea, Burundi, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Egypt, Namibia, Rwanda, Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome, Algeria, Eritrea, Tunisia, Madagascar, Uganda, Mauritius, Western Sahara, Malawi, South Africa, Lesotho, Burundi and Romania.

GUI’s policy is that Africa’s best interests will only be truly served when privatised organisations contributing sponsorship, funding and/or resources, are engaged at strategic points within GUI’s development in order to negotiate favourable terms and conditions.

About CAY

The C.A.Y (Care About the Youth) activity group works for the public good. Public figures from various circles take part in this group for life-care education, psychological consultation and crisis prevention. The purposes of this organization are as followed: To make everybody cherish their lives as well as others'; To establish a Youth Suicide Prevention mechanism joint by the government and social power; To set up a non-religion, non-politics, non-government, non-profit organization, aims at youth suicide prevention and life-care education. Now, the C.A.Y activity group is under the guidance of China Song Chingling Foundation, Chinese Youth Life-education Committee. It’s office is in Liling No.1 Middle-school, Hunan Province.

In Nov. 2005, Premier of China’s State Council, Wen Jiabao extended warm greetings and thanks to all the members of C.A.Y activity group. He also wrote instructions on youth suicide :"The governments and Communist Youth League at all levels as well as schools ,bear responsibilities for both physical and mental health of youth. Related departments should pay highly attention to those issues and suggestions."

In the past 3 years, more than 500 thousand people joint C.A.Y activity group through different ways. Those people including leaders of the Party and State governments at all levels, stars(or celebrities),professors as well as overseas Chinese. During the 3 years, more than 1000 young people who tried to suicide were assisted. Thus to put forward relative motions and proposals on NPC, which refers to suicide prevention and life-care education. What’s more, the annual Jasmine Forum has become a platform to discuss issues, such as to strengthen moral construction among minors and college students, the realization of self-worth under the market economy environment and so on..

In the three years, a volunteer team was set up by CAY activity group, and the work of this team is preventing crisis and educating people about life. It consists mainly of psychiatric consultant experts, educators and social workers from the whole country. In this team, 40% are graduates, and 90% have the related abilities. There is a professional operating team in the group which is rich in international experiences and tactful perceptions. The group also has a top advisory team which can provide for professional guides. The volunteers of CAY activity group are preparing to help others at any time, and they can provide the people who need help for best services.

More than 100 activities about educating people about life have been held through out the whole country by CAY activity group, and these activities were going on with student forums, debates, theme speaking and so on. The contents are mainly about mental education, safe education, health education, drug-fighting and AIDS-preventing and etc. More than 400 materials and handbooks about educating people about life were handed out like “Discussing briefly about teaching people to live”. More than 10,000 publicity papers were handed out, and exhibitions about caring life were held for several times. More than 30 comments and special articles after the interview were given by different media, and more than 10 articles were published in the newspapers and magazines.

A professional team was organized by CAY activity group to serve voluntarily in Sichuan province for 10 days on July 12, 2008, and these volunteers have different professions such as psychology, physic, education and so on. By using these professional advantages, they helping people in many fields like medical treatments, mental aids and etc.

The web about preventing youths from committing suicides and educating people about life, the special audio and video web about caring life, and Jasmine forum are the expanded projects of CAY activity group. These projects are charged by the web management center of CAY activity group.

The Politicization and Depoliticization of Beijing Olympics

---Causes, Forms, Tendencies and Countermeasures

by BI Yantao, China

The politicization of Olympics was prematured in the international community when Beijing decided on its Olympic bid, which justifies my assumption that the depoliticization of Olympics is nothing but an ideal. The politicization of Beijing Olympics is an outburst of the international community’s uncertainty about China, an evolved form of international struggle, and a warning about China’s diplomatic doctrine. As Beijing Olympics approaches, the collaboration between the globalized political society and the globalized civil society will be further elaborated and professionalized. Understandably, the external pressure on Beijing Olympics will be increased. In addition to its diplomatic endeavors, to turn to professionals and public diplomacy seems primary now for Beijing.

P.S. : This abstract was submitted to a conference held in China before the Beijing Olympics)

The political legitimacy in contemporary China

by BI Yantao, China

According to Alan R. Kluver, “Political legitimacy is the perceived convergence of legal and moral authority to rule a nation.” It is “the extent to which the populace views the rulers as deserving of that authority.” Methodologically, it is necessary to classify legitimacy into two types: internal legitimacy (IL) and external legitimacy (EL). In some cases, IL and EL are not consistent to each other. Take China for example. Many Westerners hold firmly the belief that the Chinese government is suffering from such a legitimacy crisis that it will collapse sooner or later. To a great extent, this perception justifies D. McGregor’s approach to the factor of the wishful thinking in the making of prediction: “Unguided by objective evidence, most people will make their prediction in accordance with their subjective preference”. Although the legitimacy of the Chinese government has been eroding these years, it has not declined to such an extent as many Westerners estimated. This essay tries to identify the major variables that contribute to the discrepancy between IL and EL of the Chinese government, mainly by questionnaires and in-depth interviews. My speculation is that the Chinese people residing in the Chinese mainland base their judgments on firstly, social interaction, secondly, personal experiences, and thirdly, new media, while people outside China make their judgments based on firstly, mass media, secondly, social interaction, and thirdly, personal experiences. This essay also discusses the interaction between IL and EL.

(This abstract was submitted to an European conference on China.)

Snapshot of Yan Xiaofeng

by BI Yantao, China

Mr. YAN Xiaofeng (闫肖锋), born 1963 in Beijing, now works as Writer-at-large of New Weekly (《新周刊》）published in Guangdong Province in south China.

Educated at Qinghua University and Peking University, Yan Xiaofeng is particularly interested in globalization and cultural transmission. Trained by his supervisor Mr. FEI Xiaotong (费孝通), Mr. Yan is good at analyzing social tendencies.

Yan Xiaofeng once worked for China’s State Commission for Economic Reconstruction, Peking University, Guangzhou Academy of Social Sciences, Guangzhou Economic Development District Administration Committee of Guangzhou Municipal Government, and New Weekly Magazine. He is a long-standing consultant of Guangzhou Blue Cre Ad China, one of the top ten advertising companies in China.

As a writer at large, Mr. Yan has published countless articles, essays, translations. Among the books he wrote and edited, I am especially interested in Agenda Manufacture: Sociology of New Weekly and Crossover.

Great! Access to RFI website resumed

by BI Yantao, China

This morning I successfully logged onto the official website of Radio France International (RFI), which was inaccessible for some time after the Beijing Olympics. I deem it a positive signal in terms of China's media policies.

Now, the websites of VOA, BBC, DW (Deutsche Welle or Voice of Germany) and RFI are all accessible here in Jinan, capital of Shandong Province, China.

Although I am well conscious that different degrees of media bias do exist in foreign reports about China, I still believe free access to these websites will bring more benefits than harms to China. Disagreements in opinions and stances are natural. Furthermore, causes for media bias are quite complicated.

Wordpress not workable in China

by BI Yantao, China

I have succeeded in opening an account at wordpress.com, and I am able to view its blogs, but I am unable to post any article or manage my account. I have tried again and again, but every time it turns out frustrating me.

I am wondering what is wrong with it.

BBC: Internet Freedoms in China

Bi Yantao contributed this written piece for the BBC Your Story project . These are his own personal views. He is a communication researcher based in China.

China's websites are beginning to impose the long debated true-name registration policy, which I believe will frustrate an increasing number of netizens in China.

Early this morning, I tried to register with the Tianya Community website, one of the most popular websites in China.

I am required to activate my account to be qualified to post. To activate my account, I have to obtain a Tianya code through my mobile phone, or by my own Tianya email. But to apply for a Tianya email account, I have to provide my true name and birth date.

In China all mobile phone users are already required to register with their real names. Tianya website has effectively adopted the controversial true-name registration system.

On the registration page the Tianya website explains these new measures are designed to stop illegal, nasty and harassing information. On these points I understand and support Tianya, but there is another side to the story. I am more concerned to what extent the new requirements will restrain critical voices, and how many websites will follow suit.

So far I am not clear how these new techniques help build China into a harmonious society.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/interact/2008/11/081114_yourstory_chinainternet.shtml

Yin Zhisheng, a grassroots thinker in China

by BI Yantao, China

Mr. Yin Zhisheng (殷之声) , who passed away in 1999, is appraised as a grassroots thinker in China. I got to know him via his wife Ms. Liu Zhen (刘真）, a good friend of my friend and teacher Yue Jianyi （岳建一）.

To be honest, I knew little about Mr. Yin and his family before I read some articles at a blogosphere designed to commemorate Mr. Yin Zhisheng. I am moved by his candid writings and his love for truth.

For more information about Mr. Yin Zhisheng and his family, please log onto http://blog.sina.com.cn/yinzhishengjinianwenxuan .

VOA: Rice Hails US Election as Example to World

By Greg Flakus
Houston
14 November 2008

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. presidential election held on November 4 was an example for the world in how a nation can overcome internal differences. Rice spoke at the 15th anniversary of the James Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University in Houston Thursday. VOA's Greg Flakus was there and filed this report.

In her remarks, Secretary of State Rice addressed the importance of the recent U.S. presidential election for the world and for the United States. She noted that people in far away nations had followed the election campaign, even learning about the Iowa caucuses, which started the process in early January. She also spoke of the significance of Barack Obama becoming the first person of African descent to become president, saying that the United States had shown how democracy can help erase divisions between races and ethnic groups."

[For] A girl like me who grew up in segregated Birmingham, Alabama to now elect an African-American president is an extraordinary matter," Rice noted, "and it says to the world that differences can be overcome and in a world in which different is still a license to kill, that is an awfully important message."

As she prepares to leave her position as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice says there are two matters of unfinished business that concern her more than many of the foreign challenges facing the nation. The first, she said, is the need for comprehensive immigration reform so that, as she put it, "people living in the shadows can achieve legal status to live and work in this country." She said anti-immigrant attitudes could undermine one of the things that has made America great."

Unless we can renew that spirit of wanting to be open to those who want to be part of us, we lose a part of who we are," Rice said.

Rice said the other concern she has for the United States is the state of education. Noting her background as a college professor before becoming a government official, she said she has always believed education is the means for a person from a modest background to achieve great things. Rice said the nation's failure to provide a good education could limit its future."

It breaks my heart as an educator, but you know, as secretary of state, it terrifies me," she admitted. "Because if we are not able to educate our people, I can assure you we will turn inward, we will protect, we will be afraid of the world. And that will be a disaster for the world because America will not lead if we are not confident that our people are able to compete."

Secretary of State Rice said the world craves American leadership and looks to this country as a place of endless possibilities. She says that makes a domestic issue like education important as a foreign policy issue as well, because education is the key to fulfilling the American ideal that what matters most is not where someone comes from, but what they are able to achieve.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-14-voa7.cfm

Welcome to Second Mission to Sichuan Earthquake Zone

by BI Yantao, China

To celebrate the 2009 New Year's Day with the victims of Sichuan earthquake and offer what we can to help the affected people, a second mission to Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, has been launched. All individuals and institutions who are willing to offer a hand are welcome to join us.

This mission is designed and coordinated by Care for Life Campaign, a NGO registered in Hunan Province, China.

Access to Deutsche Welle Suspended today

by BI Yantao, China

To my unexpectation, Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) was not viewable this morning in JiNan, capital of Shandong Province, China. It was approachable yesterday.

At 17:00 (Beijing time), it is available again when I tried another time, but some of its contents about China's political reform are blocked.

Usually, I look thru Deutsche Welle website (Chinese language service) quickly every morning.

Some time after the Beijing Olympics, RFI (Radio France International) was said to be blocked again in China.

(last updated: 17:20 Nov. 15 Beijing time)

Gou Tianlai, a moral model for university students

by BI Yantao, China

Mr. Gou Tianlai (苟天来), born in Sichuan Province, is a PhD candidate of China Agricultural University, specializing in rural sociology. I was lucky enough to meet him at UCC, Ireland, where he was studying on an international exchange program in 2007-2008.

I was deeply impressed by Mr. Gou's academic capacities and his moral merits. Vastly different from many other Chinese students studying abroad, he readily helped fix my PC when needed. When I was in low spirits at UCC, he comforted and encouraged me considerately, like a shepherd. A friend in need is a friend indeed, isn't it?

I wish Tianlai good luck in his career and love affair.

For more information about Gou Tianlai, please log onto his Chinese blogosphere: http://goutianlai.blog.163.com/

Tombstone to 36 million people

by BI Yantao, China

Yang Jisheng (杨继绳), a former veteran reporter of Xinhua News Agency, has published a book this May in Hong Kong, entitled Tombstone:Archives of the Great Chinese Famine in 1960s (墓碑──中国60年代大饥荒纪实), to commemorate the 36 million people who died of hunger during "the Great Leap Forward" (1958-1960) in China.

Yang's Tombstone was published this year by Cosmos Books (Tian Di Tu Shu), a Hong Kong-based press.

Detaining of Chen Shui-bian

by BI Yantao, China

A Guangming Observer （光明观察）contributor Xu Xunlei （徐迅雷）argues Nov. 14 the detaining of Chen Shui-bian, Taiwan's former "president", is an end to Taiwan's shame.

Earlier this week, He Jingkai (何京锴) advocates the detaining of Chen Shui-bian should trigger reflections on Taiwan's democracy.

On Nov.13, an article at huanqiu.com （环球网）claims the detaining of Chen Shui-bian is a heavy hit on those pro-independent (deep green) forces in Taiwan.

BBC's Debate on China's Internet Freedoms

BBC website is hosting a debate on Internet Freedoms in China. Everybody is welcome to join it. Here is the link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/interact/2008/11/081114_yourstory_chinainternet.shtml

Why I Joined Global Voices Team?

by BI Yantao, China

I became a contributing author of Global Voices Online November 12, 2008 (GV localized time), and I feel good about it.

Currently, Global Voices (GV) has 104 contributing authors, from across the world. My search reveals only a few of them are from Greater China. I feel puzzled. China is the No. 1 in terms of population, and English teaching is a prosperous industry in China, but why are there only a few Chinese people writing for GV?

I believe one of the reasons is writing for GV yields no income. Most of the authors are volunteers, except the regional editors. As a PhD candidate, I don't receive any salary at the moment, but I feel satisfied with writing in English. I get many benefits from it, except money.

Here is my page at Global Voices Online: http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/yantao-bi/

China: a black business flourishes

by BI Yantao, China

In China, to publish an academic essay is extremely difficult for simply one reason: Too many people are compelled to publish essays to get promoted, to obtain a master or PhD, but the number of journals is miserably limited. Reluctantly, contributors have to pay certain sum of money to get their essays published. But demand still overwhelmingly exceeds supply. Therefore, a new type of brokers came into existence: they help polish, rewrite and publish essays for blind profits. Should journals charge so much money? Is it really an international practice for journals to charge the contributors? Academics debate heatedly. But a high-rank official openly supports charging the contributors.

(Originally published at Global Voices Online)

Nightwatch witnesses the conscience and insights of a Chinese professor

by Joan Bright, China

Nightwatch (http://nightwatchcn.blogspot.com/), taglined as The Conscience and Wisdom of A Chinese Professor, is an English blogospher by a Chinese communication professor. Launched on October 28, 2008 (Beijing time), nightwatch is developing at so great a pace that it is inaccessible in some areas of China.

China: Does the secret “Fifty Cents Party” exist?

by BI Yantao, China

Wu Mao（五毛）is fifty cents or half yuan in Chinese currency. Wu Mao Dang (五毛党), or Fifty Cents Party, is a derogatory term applied to those pro-government bloggers who are suspected to receive fifty cents for every pro-party post. Does Wu Mao Dang really exist in China, as rumors say? A Chinese blogger took great pains to collect some evidence, but dlliushaokui at sina.com expressed his doubt about its existence.

(Originally posted at Global Voices Online)

Nightwatch is inaccessible in Beijing and Liaoning Province, China

by BI Yantao, China

Earlier this week, one of my friends told me nightwatch is not accessible in Beijing. This morning another friend of mine warned me nightwatch is probably blocked in Liaoning Province, China. I feel disappointed and concerned.

Afterwards I asked some of my friends to try logging onto nightwatch. Luckily, it is approachable now in Shandong Province and Hainan Province.

Why am I becoming more concerned about China? Because the blind or false patriotism is rampant in China.

As I have stressed in the preface to my latest book Reconstruct the World with Information, to be patriotic requires not only to be enthusiastic but also to be wise and strategic. To call a spade a spade, I love China more than any other self-proclaimed patriot. But to love China doesn't necessarily mean not to write critiques of China! That is the difference between true patriotism and false patriotism, which I feel definitely sure about.

China: Different interpretation of Taiwan politics

by BI Yantao, China

A well-known Chinese blogger WU Jiaxiang argues the “riot” that happened at Taipei Hotel November 6 is in fact part of the rampant “political kidnapping” in Taiwan. The blogger further analyses who are ultimately behind “the political violence” in Taiwan.

(Originally posted at Global Voices Online)

Let the people speak!

by BI Yantao, China

Mr. Wu Heping, the spokesman of China's Minsitry of Public Security once openly advocated: Let the news media speak; the heavens will not fall. To this, I will applaud sincerely.

As a communication researcher, I would say: Let the people speak; the earth will not perish. But in practice, there are roughly two types of governmental officials: the liberalist and the conservative (I wouldn't label them the leftist and the rightist). Some of the conservatives will not accept any form of criticism. In fact, they will make every effort to browbeat the public into keeping silent.

A good case in point is as follows. From last evening to this early evening the water supply in my residential quarters was cut off. To make complaints I chose to publish a critical post in a discussion room at baidu.com. To my appreciation, the administrators didn't delete it. But one of the visitors to the discussion room was unhappy with it. He tried to intimidate me into stopping the complaints. Who is he on earth? So absurd!

Water supply cut off again in JiNan!

by BI Yantao, China

For some reasons, I have no alternative but to live in JiNan, capital of Shandong Province, PRC, for some time. But the life here is really frustrating. Why? The water supply is frequently cut off without prior notice! What a life it is if your child is in a haste to go to school! More terribly, the electricity in my residential quarters sometimes breaks off suddenly! Imagine what it is like if you are working on a computer!

I once lived in some other cities in China, so I will say the public service in JiNan is much inferior to those of many other cities in China. What's wrong with the public service system here?

What I feel puzzzled about is why the local citizens don't take some effective measures to defend their own rights? Why don't the people's congressmen and the CPPCC members stand up for it?

Why? And why not?

Cholera erupted in Hainan Province, China

by BI Yantao, China

Cholera broke out late October on Hainan Island, China. It firstly erupted in Danzhou City and Lingao County, Hainan Province, and then spreaded to Haikou, capital of Hainan Province.

It is reported that Hainan University has 8 confirmed infections. On November 1 the university imposed quarantine, which was lifted November 10. All the restaurants on campus were closed for rectification until early morning of November 7.

In fact, as early as June 17, one confirmed cholera infection has been admitted by the local authorities in Hainan Province.

China Internet: true-name policy enforced

by BI Yantao, China

Recently, China’s websites begin to impose the long debated true-name registration policy, which I believe will frustrate an increasing number of netizens in China.

On the early morning of November 7, I tried to register with Tianya Community website, one of the most popular websites in China, finding again I am required to activate my account to be qualified to post. Any account that remains inactivated more than one week will be cancelled. To activate my account, I have to obtain a Tianya code through my mobile phone, or via a friend whose Tianya account has already been activated, or by my own Tianya email. But to apply for a Tianya email account, I have to provide my true name and birth date. Because in China all mobile phone users have already been demanded to register with true names, Tianya website has in fact adopted the controversial true-name registration system. But it is unknown what on earth has caused the sophistication of registration.

On the registration page Tianya website explains these new measures are designed to stop illegal, nasty and harassing information. On these points I understand and support Tianya, but there is another side to the story. I am more concerned to what extent the new requirements will restrain critical voices, and how many websites will follow suit. So far I am not clear how these new techniques help build China into a harmonious society.

A defender of freedom of press in China

by Joan Bright, China

Prof. BI Yantao, educated in China, UK and Ireland, has been persistently appealing for freedom of speech in China since he turned to communication and media studies in September 2002. So far he has published a great number of essays, commentaries and translations in print media and new media, calling for free press.

Here is a list of his essays published in print media, advocating and defending freedom of speech.

1. Bi, Yantao. “Only Civil Society Can Save China”. [USA] Beijing Spring. November Edition 2008
2. Bi, Yantao. “Beijing Olympics and Political Communication”. [Hong Kong] Media Digest, August Edition 2008, pp1-2
3. Bi, Yantao. “Unschackle China’s News Media”. [USA] Beijing Spring. August Edition 2008
4. Bi, Yantao. “Sichuan Earthquake and CCP’s Communication Techniques”. [Hong Kong] Media Digest, June Edition 2008
5. Bi, Yantao. “Liberate News Media and Revive China”. Youth Journalist. Late June Edition, 2008
6. Bi, Yantao. “The Crises in Tibet and China’s Communication Techniques”. [Hong Kong] Media Digest, May Edition 2008
7. Bi, Yantao. “The Transition of China Urgently Needs Guidance of Advanced Theories”. [USA] Beijing Spring. May Edition 2008, pp71-72
8. Bi, Yantao. “The Structural Reconstruction of China’s News Media”. Youth Journalist. Late March Edition 2008. p.p.11-12
9. Bi, Yantao. “King’s Way and Soft Power of China”. [USA] Beijing Spring. March Edition 2008. p.p.68-69
10. Bi, Yantao. “The Premises for News Media to Practise the Right to Express on Behalf of Citizens”. Youth Journalist. Early March Edition 2008. p.p. 23-24
11. Bi, Yantao and Zhou, Yongxiu. “Curb the Linguistic Violence and Defend the Public Interests”. Security of Internet. December Edition 2007
12. Bi, Yantao. “How to Curb Online Filthy Information”, Security of Internet. August Edition 2007
13. Bi, Yantao. “Beware two trends of thoughts, widen the channels of opinion”. In Reconstruct the World with Information. Hong Kong: Heyi Cultural Press, September 2007.
14. Bi, Yantao. “Is the Chinese Media Nth Estate?” [Hong Kong] Media Digest. May Edition 2007
15. Bi, Yantao. “2006 Annual Report of Hainan’s Newspapers”. in 2006 Yearbook of Chinese Newspapers. Beijing: Chinese Unification of Industry and Commerce Press. April 2007.p.p.93-95
16. Bi, Yantao. “Communication of NGOs Conference”, International Public Relations. Issue 6, 2006
17. Bi, Yantao. “Is News An Obstacle or Supporter?” [Hong Kong] Media Digest. July Edition 2006
18. Bi, Yantao. “Mass Media, a platform where powers compete”, [Hong Kong] Media Digest, February. Edition 2006
19. Bi, Yantao. “The Cyber Politics of China”. Baixing (The Public). Second Edition 2004
20. Bi, Yantao. “News Media in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province and Their Political climate”. [Hong Kong] Media Digest. December Edition 2003, pp8-9
21. Bi, Yantao. “The SARS Turmoil and China’s News Media”. [Hong Kong] Media Digest. June Edition 2003, pp8-9

In addition, Prof. BI Yantao has managed to publish a book entitled Reconstruct the World with Information September 2007 in Hong Kong, after it was turned down by a press in mainland China.

Meanwhile, he is a diligent and fruitful columnist writing for dozens of influential websites, including Guangming Observer, China Think Tank, China Elections and Governance, and so forth.

Recently, Prof. Bi published a commentary entitled “China: Internet Censorship Tightened” at Fool’s Mountain (http://blog.foolsmountain.com/), a globally well-known English blogosphere on Chinese issues. It incites heated discussion and receives high appreciation. Steve, one of the regular visitors to Fool’s Mountain, commented, “I admire you for your willingness to risk a lot just communicating with us.”

(Last updated: November 7, 2008)

Why Obama is hailed in China?

by BI Yantao, China

Why is the U.S. president-elect Barack Obama so popuar among the Chinese people?

In addition to Obama's age and personality, his African descent is the major reason, as far as I can see. For many of the Chinese people, it is a miracle for a man of African descent to rise to the presidency of the United States of America, the unparalleled superpower in the world.

It is both an inspiration and comfort for the Chinese people, who are struggling for success, painstakingly but mostly in vain.

Obama's success is to greatly enhance the soft power of America, from the perspective of international communication.

Congratulations to Mr. Barack Obama!

Updated Info about one of my online articles

by BI Yantao, China

On Oct. 30, I submitted a post entitled China: Internet censorship tightened to Fool’s Mountain. To my surprise, it incited a hot discussion and received high appreciation. Until 16:00 Nov. 8 (Beijing time), 131 commentaries have been posted.

One article entitled Blog censorship silences free speech around the world at worldfocus mentions this post as follows:

Bi Yantao of the “Fool’s Mountain” blog reports that China – perhaps the country most famous for Internet censorship and its “great firewall” — tightened its Internet censorship as the Beijing Olympics finished and foreigners left.

Meanwhile, it is included in RSS Feed of Alltop---Top China News.

How Should We Then Live?

by BI Yantao, China

How Should We Then Live? is a book by Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor, according to Wikipedia. The Chinese version of this book was first published in China January 2008 by Huaxia Press. This is the first time for his books to get published in mainland China.

The book is subtitled as The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, which reveals what it dwells on. According to the writer, the primary sin for Man is the created tries to take the place of the Creator. Although this book, ultimately, serves as a pastor, it is actually enlightening and well worth reading.

I cherish this book for one more reason. The writer is in fact a great communication scholar when he claims in Chapter I:

"People have presuppositions, and they will live more consistently on the basis of these presuppositions than even they themselves may realize. By presuppositions we mean the basic way an individual looks at life, his basic world-view, the grid through which he sees the world. Presuppositions rest upon that which a person considers to be the truth of what exists. People's presuppositions lay a grid for all they bring forth into the external world. Their presuppositions also provide the basis for their values and therefore the basis for their decisions."

Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the book expounds social masterminding and political controlling by the elites. Therefore, I put this book on the collection list of Daizong Meditation Room, a nonprofit research platform for political communication in China.

For more information on the writer, please refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Schaeffer

Ms. Chen Yuexia, a symbol of righteousness

by BI Yantao, China

Ms. CHEN Yuexia (陈月霞), born in Ningyang County, Shandong Province, now works as a lecturere of Department of Foreign Languages Teaching, Taishan University, China. Always a reliable help to his colleagues, studentds and friends, she is praised as a symbol of righteouness and quite popular among her students.

While at college, Ms. Chen majored in English and minored in Japanese. Today she specializes in moden American literature and literature theories.

Prof. Miao Xingwei, a noted linguist in China

by BI Yantao, China

Prof. Miao Xingwei (苗兴伟 ), born 1967 in Yiyuan County, Shandong Province, is a deputy president of School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Shandong University, China. He is a well-respected PhD supervisor and fruitful researcher. His major research areas include functional linguistics, pragmatics, discourse analysis, and applied linguistics.

For more information, please log onto http://www.flc.sdu.edu.cn/bencandy.php?fid=14&id=8 .

Who will defend the status quo in China?

by BI Yantao, China

The other day I talked with some governmental officials in China. When it came to political issues, they made all efforts to defend the status quo and criticized the Western democracy. Furthermore, they tried hard to convince me of their perception and help adjust my stance.

I once talked with a businessman, who has accumulated a great amount of fortunes in the past years. He also tried hard to persuade me the current system fits in well with China.

These remind me those people in China who have been benifited from the current system will endeavor to maintain the status quo. Generally, only the people who are marginalized at present are hoping to reform the system.

Full text: Obama victory speech

Here is the full text of Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama's speech in St Paul, Minnesota, at his winning the presidential election.

Tonight Minnesota, after 54 hard-fought contests, our primary season has finally come to an end.

Sixteen months have passed since we first stood together on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois.

Thousands of miles have been travelled. Millions of voices have been heard.

And because of what you said - because you decided that change must come to Washington; because you believed that this year must be different than all the rest; because you chose to listen not to your doubts or your fears but to your greatest hopes and highest aspirations, tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another - a journey that will bring a new and better day to America.

Because of you, tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States of America.

I want to thank all those in Montana and South Dakota who stood up for change today. I want to thank every American who stood with us over the course of this campaign - through the good days and the bad; from the snows of Cedar Rapids to the sunshine of Sioux Falls.

And tonight I also want to thank the men and woman who took this journey with me as fellow candidates for president.

At this defining moment for our nation, we should be proud that our party put forth one of the most talented, qualified field of individuals ever to run for office.

I have not just competed with them as rivals, I have learned from them as friends, as public servants, as patriots who love America and are willing to work tirelessly to make this country better.

They are leaders of this party, and leaders that America will turn to for years to come.

Made history

And that is particularly true for the candidate who has travelled further on this journey than anyone else.

Senator Hillary Clinton has made history in this campaign not just because she's a woman who has done what no woman has done before, but because she is a leader who inspires millions of Americans with her strength, her courage, and her commitment to the causes that brought us here tonight.

I congratulate here on her victory in South Dakota and I congratulate her on the race she has run throughout this contest.

We've certainly had our differences over the last 16 months.

But as someone who's shared a stage with her many times, I can tell you that what gets Hillary Clinton up in the morning - even in the face of tough odds - is exactly what sent her and Bill Clinton to sign up for their first campaign in Texas all those years ago; what sent her to work at the Children's Defense Fund and made her fight for health care as First Lady; what led her to the United States Senate and fuelled her barrier-breaking campaign for the presidency - an unyielding desire to improve the lives of ordinary Americans, no matter how difficult the fight may be.

And you can rest assured that when we finally win the battle for universal health care in this country, and we will win that fight, she will be central to that victory.

When we transform our energy policy and lift our children out of poverty, it will be because she worked to help make it happen.

Our party and our country are better off because of her, and I am a better candidate for having had the honour to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Inspired a nation

There are those who say that this primary has somehow left us weaker and more divided.

Well I say that because of this primary, there are millions of Americans who have cast their ballot for the very first time.

There are Independents and Republicans who understand that this election isn't just about a change of party in Washington, it's about the need to change Washington.

There are young people, and African-Americans, and Latinos, and women of all ages who have voted in numbers that have broken records and inspired a nation.

All of you chose to support a candidate you believe in deeply.

But at the end of the day, we aren't the reason you came out and waited in lines that stretched block after block to make your voice heard.

You didn't do that because of me or Senator Clinton or anyone else.

You did it because you know in your hearts that at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - we cannot afford to keep doing what we've been doing.

We owe our children a better future. We owe our country a better future.

And for all those who dream of that future tonight, I say - let us begin the work together.
Let us unite in common effort to chart a new course for America.

Republican agenda

In just a few short months, the Republican Party will arrive in St Paul with a very different agenda.

They will come here to nominate John McCain, a man who has served this country heroically.

I honour, we honour, the service of John McCain, and I respect his many accomplishments, even if he chooses to deny mine.

My differences with him are not personal; they are with the policies he has proposed in this campaign.

Because while John McCain can legitimately tout moments of independence from his party in the past, such independence has not been the hallmark of his presidential campaign.

It's not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95% of the time, as he did in the Senate last year.

It's not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs, or insure our workers, or help Americans afford the skyrocketing cost of college - policies that have lowered the real incomes of the average American family, widened the gap between Wall Street and Main Street, and left our children with a mountain of debt.
It's not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians - a policy where all we look for are reasons to stay in Iraq, while we spend billions of dollars a month on a war that isn't making the American people any safer.

Foreign policy

So I'll say this - there are many words to describe John McCain's attempt to pass off his embrace of George Bush's policies as bipartisan and new.

But change is not one of them.

Because change is a foreign policy that doesn't begin and end with a war that should've never been authorized and never been waged.

I won't stand here and pretend that there are many good options left in Iraq, but what's not an option is leaving our troops in that country for the next hundred years - especially at a time when our military is overstretched, our nation is isolated, and nearly every other threat to America is being ignored.

We must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in - but start leaving we must.

It's time for Iraqis to take responsibility for their future.

It's time to rebuild our military and give our veterans the care they need and the benefits they deserve when they come home.

It's time to refocus our efforts on al-Qaeda's leadership and Afghanistan, and rally the world against the common threats of the 21st century - terrorism and nuclear weapons; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease.

Understanding struggles

That's what change is.

Change is realising that meeting today's threats requires not just our firepower, but the power of our diplomacy - tough, direct diplomacy where the president of the United States isn't afraid to let any petty dictator know where America stands and what we stand for.

We must once again have the courage and conviction to lead the free world.

That is the legacy of Roosevelt, and Truman, and Kennedy.

That's what the American people demand.

That's what change is.

Change is building an economy that rewards not just wealth, but the work and workers who created it.

It's understanding that the struggles facing working families can't be solved by spending billions of dollars on more tax breaks for big corporations and wealthy CEOs, but by giving a middle-class tax break to those who need it, and investing in our crumbling infrastructure, and transforming how we use energy, and improving our schools, and renewing our commitment to science and innovation.

It's understanding that fiscal responsibility and shared prosperity can go hand-in-hand, as they did when Bill Clinton was president.

John McCain has spent a lot of time talking about trips to Iraq in the last few weeks, but maybe if he spent some time taking trips to the cities and towns that have been hardest hit by this economy - cities in Michigan, and Ohio, and right here in Minnesota - he'd understand the kind of change that people are looking for.

Maybe if he went to Iowa and met the student who works the night shift after a full day of class and still can't pay the medical bills for a sister who's ill, he'd understand that she can't afford four more years of a health care plan that only takes care of the healthy and wealthy.

She needs us to pass health care right now, a plan that guarantees insurance to every American who wants it and brings down premiums for every family who needs it.

That's the change we need.

Our children

Maybe if John McCain went to Pennsylvania and met the man who lost his job but can't even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one, he'd understand that we can't afford four more years of our addiction to oil from dictators.

That man needs us to pass an energy policy that works with automakers to raise fuel standards, and makes corporations pay for their pollution, and oil companies invest their record profits in a clean energy future - an energy policy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced.

That's the change we need.

And maybe if he spent some time in the schools of South Carolina or St Paul, Minnesota, or where he spoke tonight in New Orleans, Louisiana, he'd understand that we can't afford to leave the money behind for No Child Left Behind; that we owe it to our children to invest in early childhood education and recruit an army of new teachers and give them better pay and more support and finally decide that in this global economy, the chance to get a college education should not be a privilege for the wealthy few, but the birthright of every American.

That's the change we need in America.

That's why I'm running for president.

Americans first

The other side will come here in September and offer a very different set of policies and positions, and that is a good thing, that is a debate I look forward to.

It is a debate the American people deserve on the issues that will help determine the future of this country and the future of its children.

But what you don't deserve is another election that's governed by fear, and innuendo, and division.

What you won't hear from this campaign or this party is the kind of politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon - that sees our opponents not as competitors to challenge, but enemies to demonize.

Because we may call ourselves Democrats and Republicans, but we are Americans first.

We are always Americans first.

Despite what the good Senator from Arizona said tonight, I have seen people of differing views and opinions find common cause many times during my two decades in public life, and I have brought many together myself.

I've walked arm-in-arm with community leaders on the South Side of Chicago and watched tensions fade as black, white, and Latino fought together for good jobs and good schools.

I've sat across the table from law enforcement officials and civil rights advocates to reform a criminal justice system that sent 13 innocent people to death row.

I've worked with friends in the other party to provide more children with health insurance and more working families with a tax break; to curb the spread of nuclear weapons and ensure that the American people know where their tax dollars are being spent; and to reduce the influence of lobbyists who have all too often set the agenda in Washington.

In our country, I have found that this cooperation happens not because we agree on everything, but because behind all the false labels and false divisions and categories that define us; beyond all the petty bickering and point-scoring in Washington, Americans are a decent, generous, compassionate people, united by common challenges and common hopes.

And every so often, there are moments which call on that fundamental goodness to make this country great again.

Our time

So it was for that band of patriots who declared in a Philadelphia hall the formation of a more perfect union; and for all those who gave on the fields of Gettysburg and Antietam their last full measure of devotion to save that same union.

So it was for the Greatest Generation that conquered fear itself, and liberated a continent from tyranny, and made this country home to untold opportunity and prosperity.

So it was for the workers who stood out on the picket lines; the women who shattered glass ceilings; the children who braved a Selma bridge for freedom's cause.

So it has been for every generation that faced down the greatest challenges and the most improbable odds to leave their children a world that's better, and kinder, and more just.

And so it must be for us.

America, this is our moment. This is our time.

Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction for this country that we love.
The journey will be difficult. The road will be long.

I face this challenge with profound humility, and knowledge of my own limitations.

But I also face it with limitless faith in the capacity of the American people.

Because if we are willing to work for it, and fight for it, and believe in it, then I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on Earth.

This was the moment - this was the time - when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves, and our highest ideals.

Thank you, Minnesota, God Bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

Convert to Taoism?

by BI Yantao, China

Some years ago I took interest in the mystery of Yingyang and the Five Elements (or Wu Hsing). Now I feel fascinated with them and even Taoism. In my research I am repeatedly surprised to find the philosophy of the Five Elements can be applied to guide political communication. I once successfully used it to analyze the political struggles in Hong Kong.

As I fall for Taoism, I am afraid I will, probably, convert to it when I meet my master who is destined to guide me to righteousness. When I am in low spirits, I feel a great need for a shepherd. To be honest.

But where is it? Or would someone guide me to it?

Mount Taishan, “the first of the Five Sacred Mountains” in China

by BI Yantao, China

Basic Information
Location: Spanning Tai’an City and Jinan City, Shandong Province, China
Height: 1545 meters above sea level

Mount Taishan (“shan” means “mountain” in Chinese), with its main peak in Tai’an City, Shandong Province, China, is famous for being the “First of the Five Sacred Mountains” although it ranks third among the five mountains in terms of height. In Chinese history, Mount Taishan has been held in high esteem mainly due to its unparalleled position in Chinese culture. Since the Zhou Dynasty of China (1066 B.C.-256 B.C.), Mount Taishan has become a sacred halidom haunted by emperors to offer sacrifices to Heaven. Historical records reveal that a total of 72
Chinese emperors visited it.

The official website of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) describes Mount Taishan as follows:

The sacred Mount Tai was the object of an imperial cult for nearly 2,000 years, and the artistic masterpieces found there are in perfect harmony with the natural landscape. It has always been a source of inspiration for Chinese artists and scholars and symbolizes ancient Chinese civilizations and beliefs. (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/437)

Dai Temple, closely at the foot of the mountain, is among the most famous palace complexes in China. The Azure Clouds Temple, near the top of the mountain, is a splendid religious building complex. On the way from Dai Temple to Azure Clouds Temple scatter countless stone tablets and inscriptions as well as ancient buildings. From the Red Gate at the foot of the mountain to the South Heaven Gate at the top, there are approximately 7,000 stone steps, winding their way up to the mountain.

In 1987, Mount Taishan was listed among both the world natural and cultural heritage by UNESCO. In 2006, Mount Taishan was listed as a World Geopark by UNESCO.

Copyright@2008 BI Yantao. All Rights Reserved.

A reliable translation agency in China

by BI Yantao, China

Beijing Reach Interpretation and Translation Services, affiliated to Beijing Reach Business Consulting Co. Ltd., is a professional translation agency registered with Beijing Administration for Industry and Commerce and recognized by Beijing Notary Authorities.The Company, launched by people with international educational and working backgrounds, is noted for its top quality services in interpretation and translation.

The company’s clients include international organizations, foreign embassies, government departments, business units, research institutions, societies and individuals. Its operation models of procedure control, specialization and quality management guarantee the comprehensive, quality and speedy services for our clients.

For more information, please log onto http://www.reachcon.com/index.htm.

One of my hot posts written in English

by BI Yantao, China

On Oct. 30, I submitted a post entitled “China: Internet censorship tightened” to Fool’s Mountain. To my surprise, it incites heated discussions among the FM’s users. Until 16:00 Nov. 2 (Beijing time), 67 comments have been posted.

To tell the truth, it is a good opportunity for me to enlarge my horizon and improve my English. Jerry, one of FM’s users, said openly to me, “It is an opportunity to learn to communicate across our language, social and cultural barriers”. He is so wise to have observed “Miscommunications and misunderstandings will happen. And learning is never in a straight line. ”

Dr. Cui Guitian, a noted political professor

by BI Yantao, China

Dr. Cui Guitian, born in Jimo City, Shandong Province, works for School of Political Science and Public Administration, Shandong University, as a well-respected professor. I got acquainted with Dr. Cui via one of my relatives, who convinced me the professor is a trustworthy and easygoing scholar.

Dr. Cui specializes in comparative studies of political parties and governance modes in socialist countries. His profile available on the official website of his school shows Prof. Cui has implemented two research projects concerning governance strategies of the ruling parties in China and VietNam, which are closely related to one of my key research areas: political communication. From the micro perspective, the most important task of political communication is to legitimate a government, a politician, a policy or a political party, which I once termed as “the 4-Zheng” because all of them begin with “Zheng” in Chinese.

Zhang Xi'en,a reputable political professor

by BI Yantao, China

When surfing the official website of School of Political Science and Public Adminsistration, Shandong University, my attention was caught by Prof. Zhang Xi-en's profile.

Prof. Zhang, born in Jiaxiang County, Shandong Province, now works as a vice president of his school. He is a well-respected PhD supervisor.

Prof. Zhang's main research areas include theories and culture of politics, governmental system and governance. Some of his research projects are closely related to my PhD project "Political Communication in Contemporay China". Undeniably, today in China, the most critical challenge the ruling party confronts is how to enhance its legitimacy.

Prof. Zhang impressed me deeply by responding to my email timely and decently, on a Sunday early morning, which suggests he is diligent at his age. In this email, he expressed his appreciation of one of his PhD students, who now also works for Hainan University. Today, not all teachers are so good to their students as Prof. Zhang. I really appreciate it.

English Websites on Communication Studies

by BI Yantao, China

1. http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/ (Allyn & Bacon)
2. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3669 (Communication Studies)
3. http://www.cosmoedu.net/journalismresources.html
(Cosmopolitan University, USA)
4. http://www.ojr.org/ (OJR, digital media center)
5. http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2006/09/your-guide-to-citizen-journalism270.html (Media Shift)
6. http://nightwatchcn.blogspot.com/ (nightwatch)
7. http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/ (writing for the web)
8. http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/editorials/other/how+to+write+short+stories/ (write short stories)

Great! Guangming Observer Revives

by BI Yantao, China

Congratulations! Guangming Observer suddenly came back to life yesterday, just as it suddenly ceased updating October 13.

Mr. Mu Dong (pen name), Chief Editor of Guangming Observer, told me yesterday in an email, he has been ill and has now recovered. I feel releived. We have established a long-standing friendship.

When I noticed on October 15 Guangming Observer ceased updating, I sent an email to Mr. Mu Dong but received no response. I called his office, finding nobody answering. In this case, I decided to write an article entiled "Guangming Net's Guangming Observer Suddenly Ceases Publishing", which is still available today at
http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/10/200810220306.shtml

To witness the revival, please log onto http://guancha.gmw.cn/.

Youth Journalist, Inside Journalism and Beyond

by BI Yantao, China

Youth Journalist is one of the most influential journalism journals in China, elaborately designed for journalism practitioners and academics. In 2007, it was valued among Top Ten Creative Journals, the sole journalism journal granted this honor that year. Youth Journalist is now out to be the most prominent investigative journalism journal in China. Launched in 1941, Youth Journalist is one of the oldest journalism journals in China.

I made my first acquaintance with Youth Journalist in 2005, engaged as one of its Special Reporters. Since March 2008, I have got 6 essays published in it. In my correspondence with Ms. Lu Wenzhao and Mr. Wang Ligang, two of its editors, I am impressed by their commitment to the journal. Affected by their enthusiasm, I composed a promotion slogan for it: “Youth Journalist, Inside Journalism and Beyond”.

For more information, please log onto its official website: http://qnjz.dzwww.com/.

Copyright@2008 BI Yantao. All Rights Reserved.

What Is Global Women's Strike?

by BI Yantao, China

Global Women Strike (GWS) is a nongovernmental organization headquartered in London, taglined as “International network for recognition and payment for all caring work, and the return of military spending to the community starting with women the main carers”. Cooperating with national co-ordinations in 13 countries and participating organisations in over 60 countries, Global Women Strike coordinates international action on 8 March, International Women’s Day, and throughout the year.

Global Women Strike demands:
* Payment for all caring work - in wages, pensions, land & other resources. What is more valuable than raising children & caring for others? Invest in life & welfare, not military budgets or prisons.
* Pay equity for all, women & men, in the global market.
* Food security for breastfeeding mothers, paid maternity leave and maternity breaks. Stop penalizing us for being women.
* Don't pay 'Third World debt'. We owe nothing, they owe us.
* Accessible clean water, healthcare, housing, transport, literacy.
* Non-polluting energy & technology which shortens the hours we work. We all need cookers, fridges, washing machines, computers, & time off!
* Protection & asylum from all violence & persecution, including by family members & people in positions of authority.
* Freedom of movement. Capital travels freely, why not people?

I got to know Global Women Strike six years ago, when I was studying in England. Since then on, I have kept in touch with my friend Ms Ruth Hall, a backbone of this international NGO.

For more information, please log onto http://www.globalwomenstrike.net/.

Brief Intro to Prof. BI Guangming

Prof. BI Guangming, born in Hubei Province, now works for Hainan Normal University, as Director of Teaching and Research Section for Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature. He is a State Council Expert for Special Allowance, a member of China’s Writers’ Association, Chief Editor of Journal of Hainan Normal University (Social Science Edition), and so forth. (by BI Yantao, China)

Media Digest, a monthly journal

by BI Yantao, China

Media Digest, popular among the Chinese journalistic world over the globe, is a monthly journal published by Radio Television Hong Kong. Its official website (www.rthk.org.hk/mediadigest) is also well-known globally. Fortunately, I have got 12 articles published in Media Digest since June 2003.

Media Digest is also accessible at http://www.rthk.org.hk/mediadigest/prev/index_ref.html .
For enquiries, please contact Managing Editor of Media Digest, Miss Mayella CHEUNG, via cheungll@rthk.org.hk.

Fool’s Mountain, An Open Forum on Chinese Issues

by BI Yantao, China

Based in California, USA, Fool’s Mountain is co-founded by a group of writers focusing on Chinese issues. It regularly publishes English articles and essays targeting both the Western and Chinese audience. To my appreciation, Fool’s Mountain claims to be “completely unaffiliated with any government, political party, or movement”. Noteworthily, its tagline “A wise one knows moving mountains is beyond human power, but a fool has other thoughts” is thought-provoking.

Another important reason why I like Fool’s Mountain is that the atmosphere inside the forum is fundamentally friendly, even when people are disagreeing with one another, which reveals that the debaters are well-educated and respectable.

Understanding Censorship in Singapore

by BI Yantao (mainland China), 2002

Abstract: Geographically, politically, economically and socio-culturally, Singapore enjoys an unequalled status. Singapore’s government practises tight censorship of media but most of its people are satisfied with the censorship, because the censorship is well justified on a multitude of grounds. It’s a wonder that the Singapore’s government has so successfully manipulated its media to maintain the national security and the PAP’s ruling status.

1. Singapore: Unequalled Status

We [2] have decided to study Singaporean media because we believe that Singapore enjoys an unequalled status in the world, and that penetration into Singaporean media could reveal a sideway to social-political-cultural management.

1.1 Singapore: an intersection of the West and the East
Singapore, well known as “the city state”, is believed by many Asian people to be an interjection of the West and the East, not merely geographically, but politically and socio-culturally as well. Also, Singapore is asserted to “have shared an economic transformation from a developing country, to a newly industrialising economy, to its present status of “advanced industrialising nation” (Perry et al: 5). That is, Singapore is marching beyond a developing country to a developed one.

1.2 Singapore: a nation-state full of paradox
Singapore’s constitution stipulates the freedom of speech, “but permits official restrictions on these rights”[3]. The country is a republic with a parliamentary system of government, but the style of the government is considered authoritative [4]. The state has been practising a tight censorship of media within its territory, but most of its people are satisfied with the level of censorship (Anil: 18). The national government strictly controls all the Singaporean media, but meanwhile the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) offers enough agencies and forums for political debates (Perry et al: 11). The Chinese people account for 77 percent of its resident population, but the Chinese language is not a national language or the language of administration [5].

2. Cornerstones of Censorship in Singapore

2.1 Singaporean media: censorship and monopoly
It is well known that the access of Singaporeans to local media and foreign press is constrained by the government” (Perry et al: 4). In fact, Singapore’s daily reading is now determined primarily by the Singapore Press Holdings Group (SPH), while Media Corp of Singapore, a state-owned company and administrative power, controls television and radio broadcasting of the city-state [6]. Currently, the Singapore’s commercial Internet service is dominated by Singapore Telecom Singnet (Peng and Nadarajian: 2).2.2 Justification of the censorship

2.2.1 Politically
The ruling PAP tactfully used the socialist banner to obtain the maximising support and uniting the whole population in the struggle for independence from Britain. But once in power, the PAP asserted different political vision from its allies. When the latter defected to form a different party, the PAP sensed a serious threat of communist insurrection (Perry et al:8).]
In this context, the PAP took two major measures to consolidate its ruling status. First, it constructed a powerful state apparatus and put it to work through practising tight control of its people. In the workplace, union activity is government-controlled.

Choice of residential location and tenure are controlled by state regulations and for most of the
population there is no possibility of owning free-hold property.

In the public arena, the access to a free press is constrained by the controls on the circulation of
foreign news publications and government’s control of local media. Political debate is expected to
be channelled through government-controlled agencies or officially-registered political parties that are offered the same opportunities as the ruling People’s Action Party.
(Perry et al: 4)

In Singapore, the government publicises its policies and ideologies to the public through traditionally defined media, while the public voice their opinions through certain agencies and forums. These two processes make a two-way communication, which in theory is endless. I strongly believe this strategy contributes a lot to their national unity and national development.
Second, the PAP made every effort to articulate and promote “ideology of survival” to the population, in which economic and political survival were seen as inseparable with all other considerations secondary, but “economic development was given highest priority” (ibid: 9). As a result, it is claimed that “the developmental state is distinguished through absolute prioritising of economic growth and its use as a prime indicator of government performance (ibid: 10). Meanwhile, the PAP has adopted a special but effective political approach, that is, “to cultivate a continual sense of crisis and emergency among the population” (ibid: 4). In the past, the PAP often cited the threat from the Chinese culture, and afterwards “the state has stressed the continued importance of upgrading the economy and the dangers of complacently settling for present levels of prosperity” (Birch, 1993). The creation and promotion of “ideology of survival” in Singapore reminds us that the social powers can create some ideologies, whether true or false, and manipulate them to maintain their own privileged status.
Interestingly, in “Review of Yearbook of Singapore 2001”, Mr. Zulkifli Baharudin, former Nominated Member of parliament and currently Vice President, Logistics, re-stressed the threat from China:

Perhaps the biggest new variable in the region is China.
Lured by low costs, abundant talent, industrious workers and professionals, more and more technology manufactures are shifting their operations to China. This has led to a partial “hollowing out “ of Singapore’s manufacturing base, particularly in the lower end of the consumer electronic sector.
China continues to draw direct investment at the expense of many Asian economies.

(http://www.sg.flavor/profile_review.asp#china, November 15, 2002)

2.2.2 Historically

Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious state. There are three main racial groups, with the Chinese accounting for 77 percent of resident population, Malay 14 percent and Indians 8 percent. In terms of religion, Buddhism and Taoist jointly accounted for 51 percent of the resident population aged 15 years and above in 2000. but the shift toward Christianity continues, mainly because the better-educated Chinese are more inclined toward Christianity. As a result, the proportion of Christianity reached 15 percent in 2000. Some other religion such as Islam, Jewish synagogues, Zoroastrians and Jains, are also practised in Singapore (http://www.sg/flavor/people, November 15, 2002).

The complicated components of Singaporean culture entail the cultural and racial harmony and national unity. But in history, some racial riots are believed to be incited by media reports. Such disastrous incidents as the 1950 Maria Hertogh riot, which left 18 dead and 173 wounded, the 1964 Prophet Mahammad Birthday procession and the 1969 riot spill over Malaysia have taught the Singaporeans a very good lesson (Peng and Nadarajan: 2).

2.2.3 Socio-culturally

The Singaporeans are proud of their five shared values:
· Nation before community and society before self
· Family as the basic unit of society
· Community support and respect for the individual
· Consensus, not conflict
· Racial and religious harmony
(http://www/sg/flavor/value_five.asp, November 15, 2002)

In this cultural situation, the Singaporean “journalists believe they have a social responsibility to report the truth but most especially to promote the good of the community and the harmonious growth and development of a strong nation”[7].

Accordingly, the media practitioners are endeavouring to practise self-censorship, as is encouraged by the government. This, in turn, satisfies the government. Take Internet for example. Since the Singapore Internet Code of Practice was put in effect in 1996, the Singapore Broadcasting Authority (SBA) has not taken action against anyone for objectionable content on the Internet. According to SBA, this is because “service and content providers have generally abided by the guidelines” (Anil: 15).

3. Implementation of Censorship

3.1 Legislation and laws

Censorship in Singapore is undertaken by the Censorship Section of Ministry of Information and the Arts, by various laws including the Official Secrets Act and Internal Security Act. In the meantime, the Film and Publication Department administers the following acts: ¨Film Act ¨Undesirable publications ¨ Newspaper and Printing Act ¨ The Public Entertainments and Meetings Act (Chapter 25) relating to arts and entertainmentMeanwhile, SBA is responsible for regulating the Singapore radio and TV broadcasting, as well as Internet service.

3.2 Implementing strategies

The government has adopted strategic measures to practise censorship, mainly because of the limited technology, insufficient workforce and different degrees of emergency. It’s noticed that:
The government has defined certain topics as out of bounds, and publications that are deemed to incite violence, counsel disobedience to the law, and arouse tensions among the various classes, or threaten national interests, national security or public order are prohibited or restricted [8].

At the same time, different degrees of censorship are applied to different contents. As a rule, products of home/children/public consumption are more heavily censored than those for business/adults/private consumption (Peng and Nadarajan: 3).

3. Public Attitude to Censorship

Take the most controversial Internet censorship for instance. In 1999, a Gallup poll was conducted by Channel News Asia, and it was reported:
Most Singaporeans are satisfied with the level of censorship in Singapore, although many felt the community should pay a bigger role in making censorship decisions. The poll revealed that 85% of the respondents felt that censorship was necessary. The need to protect children and maintain moral standards were given as important and justifiable reasons for the level of censorship in Singapore. 82% of the respondents stated that they were satisfied with the level of censorship in Singapore (Anil: 18).

It has been observed that the continued economic growth, attendant social transformation and successful campaigns and programmes designed to change behaviour in respect of issues “added substantially to the prestige of the PAP and ensured popular acceptance of its political programmes” (Perry et al: 15).

4.Conclusion

It’s the writer’s view that the censorship in Singapore will remain tight in the predictable future. The main reasons are, for political, historical and socio-cultural considerations, both the government and the people want it, favouring caution and preventing over liberalism (Peng and Nadarajan: 1). What’s more, the media industry, readily taking their social responsibilities, generally supports the government in censorship. Even in the context of globalisation of media, no foreign or local entrants to date are likely to challenge the government’s tight media grip [9]. Anyway, it is illuminating that the younger Singaporeans are claiming more relaxed stance on censorship (Anil: 18).

Footnotes

[1] This essay is based on my manuscript of a presentation assigned by my module tutor Dr.Katharine Sarikakis at Coventry University, England.
[2] With thanks to my Malaysian module mates Miss Kik Fei Jiu and Miss Jan Kew for their help and cooperation.
[3] [4][7][8] Anon. (2000) Understanding Singaporean media”. http://www.prpassport.com/mediasingapore.htm. November 11.p1
[5] Anon. (2002) http://www.sg/flavor/people_4.asp. November 11
[6][9] Reuters. (2000) “Singapore’s media giants await new kid on block”. South China Morning Post. January 13.p1

Bibliography

1. Anil, Samtani (2002) “Re-Visiting the Singapore Internet Code of Practice”. http://www.elj.warwick.ac.uk/jilt/01-2/anil.html. November 112.
2.Birch, D. (1993) “Staging Crisis: Media and Citizenship”. In Rodan, G. (ed) pp72-83, Singapore Change Guard, Melbourne: Longman Cheshire3.
3.Jainschigg, Monica et al (eds) (1999) Doing Business and Investing in Singapore. Singapore: PricewaterhouseCoopers
4. Peng, Hwa Ang and Nadarajan, Berlinda. (1995) “Censorship and Internet: A Singapore Perspective”. http://www.isoc.org/HMP/PAPER/132/txt/paper.txt. May 4
5. Perry, Martin et al. (1997) “Singapore: A Developmental City State. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
6. Reuters. (2000) “Singapore’s media giants awaits new kid on block”. South China Morning Post. January 137.
7.Anon. (2000) “Understanding Singaporean Media”. http://www.prpassport.com/mediasingapore.htm. November 11,2002
8. http://www.sg/, November 11,2002
9. http://www.fpd.gov.sg/, November 11,2002

Copyright@2008 BI Yantao. All Rights Reserved.

A Portrayal of Prof. Zhou Yongxiu

Prof. Zhou Yongxiu (周永秀 ), born in Jimo City, Shandong Province, now works as a deputy professor of Taishan University, China. She received her education, chronologically, at Qufu Normal University, Shandong Normal University and Shandong University. Since her graduation in 1990, she has been teaching EFL in Shandong Province. Prof. Zhou is very popular among her students.

In addition to her successful teaching, Prof. Zhou Yongxiu is also a painstaking researcher. So far she has co-published 8 books and more than 140 essays. (by Bi Yantao, China)

Brief Intro to Communication Studies Forum

Communication Studies Forum (http://www.chuanboxue.net) is a private website founded in 2001 by Prof. Ruan Zhixiao, a researcher working for Sichuan Academy of Social Science. This website impressed me deeply by vowing to defend and promote academic equality. I joined its editorial board as an editor soon after I returned to China in September 2003. With the joint efforts of its editorial board and global contributors, Communication Studies Forum has been rated as one of the most prominent platforms for communication scholars. (by BI Yantao, China)

China:Internet censorship upgraded

To activate an account on Tianya community website, taglined as "a communal home for global Chinese netizens", applicants are required to apply for a Tianya Code first. To obtain the Code, three choices are offered, each of which is actually imposing the controversial true-name registration system. (by BI Yantao, China)

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-126321

Approach Prof. Sun Jin

Dr. Sun Jin now works as a professor and PhD supervisor of Department of Politics, Beijing Normal University, from which he obtained his PhD in 1988. In his earlier years, he worked on philosophy and esthetics, while in the recent 15 years he specializes in politics and sociology. He is also Director of Institute for China’s Rural Issues, Beijing Normal University. (by BI Yantao, China)

Global Unification International

Global Unification International (http://www.globalunification.com/) is a research and development association (sustainable development policy think tank), specializing in the transfer of technology, systems, applications, corporate governance, processes and procedures to institutions and organizations in developing countries.

Services Include:
* Policy Research and Development
* Emerging Markets: Entry and Development
* Political Lobbying and Public Relations
* Institutional Infrastructure Development
* Corporate Governance, Processes and Procedures
* Sustainable Development (economic, industrial environmental, social) Education
* Network Infrastructure Development and Systems Management

For more information, please contact Professor BI Yantao, Director for Asian Affairs of Global Unification International. He also works as Director and deputy professor of Center for Communication Studies of Hainan University, China.

Struggles over Controlling Public Opinion in China: A Case Study of Hainan Jinhai Issue

Struggles over Controlling Public Opinion in China: A Case Study of Hainan Jinhai Issue

by BI Yantao, Hainan University (Mainland China)

Presented at World Association for Public Opinion Research Regional Seminar (Hong Kong, December 8-10,2005)

Japanese Media, Public Opinion and Their Effects on Japan’s Policy Toward China

by BI Yantao

Presented at China Communication Studies Forum
June 24-26, 2005 Nanning, Guangxi Province, P.R. China

Abstract: My research suggests that the public opinion in Japan influences Japan’s foreign policy toward China through different channels. Therefore, it is vital to reshape the opinion environment in Japan in order to improve the bilateral relationship between Japan and China. To enhance China’s influencing capacity on the global stage, it is time to promote International Political Communication Studies.

Key Words: public opinion, foreign policy, global governance, image

Guangming Net's Guangming Observer" Suddenly Ceases Publishing

Bi Yantao: "Guangming Net's Guangming Observer" Suddenly Ceases Publishing By chinafreepress.org (translation)Oct 21, 2008 - 3:12:42 PM

Bi Yantao: "Guangming Net's Guangming Observer" Suddenly Ceases PublishingBi Yantao blog: http://blog.51.ca/u-29124/

The full English version of this blog is accessible at http://news.boxun.com/news/gb/china/2008/10/200810220306.shtml

Part of Publications by Bi Yantao (2006-2007)

Part of Publications by Bi Yantao
(Years 2006-2007)


Part One: Book(s)

Bi, Yantao. Reconstruct the World with Information. Hong Kong: Heyi Cultural Press. September 2007

Part Two: Essays

1. Zhou, Yongxiu and Bi, Yantao. “Interpretation of Literary Texts”. Journal of Hainan Teachers’ University. December Edition 2007
2. Bi, Yantao and Zhou, Yongxiu. “Curb the Linguistic Violence and Defend the Public Interests”. Security of Internet. December Edition 2007
3. Zhou, Yongxiu and Bi, Yantao. “Extra-linguistic Context and Literary Interpretation”. Theory Horizon. Issue 11, 2007. p.p.214-215
4. Bi, Yantao. “Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and China’s Publishing Industry”. in Reconstruction the World with Information. Hong Kong: Heyi Cultural Press. September 2007. p.p.171-178
5. Bi, Yantao. “How to Curb Online Filthy Information”, Security of Internet. August Edition 2007
6. Bi, Yantao and Zhou, Yongxiu. “Structure and Decoding”. in Jiao, Yongqin (ed.) Literary Arts and Communication Studies. Beijing: China Yanshi Press. August 2007. p.p. 176-190
7. Bi, Yantao. “Is the Chinese Media Nth Estate?” [Hong Kong] Media Digest. May Edition 2007
8. Bi, Yantao. “2006 Annual Report of Hainan’s Newspapers”. in 2006 Yearbook of Chinese Newspapers. Beijing: Chinese Unification of Industry and Commerce Press. April 2007.p.p.93-95
9. Bi, Yantao. “The Embarrassment of Haina’s Areca”. The City of Areca. March 2007
10. Zhou, Yongxiu and Bi, Yantao. “The Ultimate Target of Intercultural Communication”. Journal of Shandong Teachers University. Issue 1, 2007. p.p.191-192
11. Bi, Yantao. “Communication of NGOs Conference”, International Public Relations. Issue 6, 2006
12. Bi, Yantao. “Is News An Obstacle or Supporter?” [Hong Kong] Media Digest. July Edition 2006
13. Bi, Yantao. “The Revolutionaries in communication and the communication of Literary Art”. in Sun Shaoxian (ed.) Literary Arts and Media Relations, Beijing: China Social science Press. May 2006
14. Bi, Yantao. “Mass Media, a platform where powers compete”, [Hong Kong] Media Digest, February. Edition 2006
15. Bi, Yantao et al. “Techniques for Controlling Public Opinion”. Daizong Journal. Issue 1, 2006 (Republished in International Public Relations. Issue 4, 2006. p.p.73-74)

Part Three: Book Review

1. Bi, Yantao. “Crises in the Age of Public Diplomacy”. [Hong Kong] Media Digest. November Edition 2007
2. Bi, Yantao. “Who Is the Real Paper-tiger?” in Reconstruct the World with Information. Hong Kong: Heyi Cultural Press. September 2007
3. Bi, Yantao. “Does USA Rule the World by Propaganda?” [Hong Kong] Media Digest. January Edition 2006

Part Four: Translation(s)

Bi, Yantao. “The Media Tactics of Western NGOs”. NPOs World. June 2007.p.p.55-58

My Portfolios at CU Website

BI Yantao ( China )

Anxious for a new experience and fascinated with communication studies, I took the MA Communication Culture and Media program at Coventry University in 2002. Five years has passed since my graduation, but I still believe the time at CU one of the most fruitful and enjoyable periods in my life. I especially enjoy the flexible teaching and tutorial system, and the excellent learning atmosphere and resources. Furthermore, I cherish the friendly atmosphere and surroundings of Coventry University.

Enlightened by the program, after graduation I have been making every effort to promote and practise communication studies in China. Now I work as Director and deputy professor of Center for Communication Studies of Hainan University, Director for Chinese Affairs of Global Unification. In my spare time I also act as a consultant of some NGOs and corporations. So far I have published 10 books (14 volumes) and about 450 articles in different countries. Meanwhile, as a hard-working columnist I write for dozens of influential Chinese websites, including the official website of Guangming Daily and http://www.chinathinktank.cn/.

To shed a new light on the political world and advance democratization of China, I have recently established Daizong Meditation Room, a nonprofit research platform for political communication studies, at the foot of Mountain Taishan in Shandong Province, which is open to all the interested researchers all over the world, free of charge.

http://www.coventry.ac.uk/cu/d/199/a/8352