Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Lots of News

Child suicides high in Shanghai: A recent study revealed that one-quarter of the children (ages 8 to 15) in China's wealthiest city have considered taking their own lives. Perhaps more surprising is that the results were made public.

China's ailing health care: A survey recently released by China's Health Ministry found that 36% of patients in cities and 39% in the countryside did not go to see the doctor because they were unable to afford medical treatment.

China Bans Nike TV Ad for Cultural Disrespect: The State Administration for Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has banned a Nike television commercial depicting top NBA rookie LeBron James battling an animated kung fu master, two women in traditional Chinese garb and a pair of dragons.

Chinese activists 'risk torture': China's growing number of human rights activists risk detention and torture, a report from Amnesty International said.

The following articles require free registration from the New York Times:

China Bans Video Game for Breach of Sovereignty: China, sensitive about issues of national sovereignty, has banned a computer sports game that classifies Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Tibet as countries and has threatened to fine Web sites that supply the game and net cafes that let patrons download it.

Ancient Chinese Consumed Fermented Drinks: The Chinese were consuming fermented beverages — possibly wine — as long as 9,000 years ago, according to scientists who used modern techniques to peer back through the mists of time.

China's Textbooks Twist and Omit History: a visit to a Chinese high school classroom and an examination of several of the most widely used history textbooks here reveal a mishmash of historical details that many Chinese educational experts themselves say are highly selective and often provide a deeply distorted view of the recent past. [Note: History textbooks in the US are not without some level of sanitation! -- Walter]

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