[FreepForever]

Thanks everybody for your comments. I have a feeling that this is China’s image polishing in preparation for their Olympic. I can’t see any fundamental change in their attitude towards their notorious human rights records. PhilDragoo is right. Even the word “criminal” has a different definition in China. There are many “prisons of conscience” who got jailed just for speaking the truth.

I do not object to light labors in prisons like making uniforms for government hospitals, book binding for public libraries, etc. The question is: China’s prisoners are brutalized and not paid (they are not even sufficiently fed) and that the prison’s authority are making huge 100% profits from selling these commercial merchandise. This is blatant slavery. All buyers of these merchandise are essentially supporting this system.

Police brutality is another problem in China’s legal and judicial system. About 3 months ago in China, the police arrested a drug addict mother and just lock the door behind them. A few days later, her 3 years old daughter was found dead in the house due to starvation and dehydration. And, the authority still insisted that the procedure is correct.

It is necessary that China must accept an international recognized standard of human rights. It is time for the free world to warn China that they cannot get the best of both worlds. They cannot get all the benefits from free trades and, at the same time, totally ignore this.

[attagirl]

It is necessary that China must accept an international recognized standard of human rights. It is time for the free world to warn China that they cannot get the best of both worlds. They cannot get all the benefits from free trades and, at the same time, totally ignore this.

I agree with your assessment that this "reform" is an effort to clean up the image for the Olympics.

Unfortunately, money talks. And I don't call what transpires between us and china free trade. It is a sell-out and a betrayal of our workers and our country. Tax advantages go to companies which have their factories overseas.

All those factories there can be retooled to make armaments. We have less and less factories to retool. But will our armaments soon be Made in China as a matter of routine?

[potlatch]

It's hard to read about the cruelty that goes on in the world when you can do nothing about it but pray!!

My son leaves for Thailand, Hong Kong and Tokyo in less than two weeks. He has been looking forward to this for some time!!