Wang Zhicheng

An anonymous group issues a message for the start of the National People’s Congress to demand basic rights for people and the nation. It wants to raise the consciousness of “Every good and honest Chinese person”, calling on people to demonstrate non-stop against violations. Meanwhile, the authorities continue to arrest activists.

Opened 20 years ago, the orphanage is home to about 100 disabled boys and girls. The government wants to take it over and send away the 30 nuns who care for the children in an attempt to undermine the moral authority of the bishop who refuses to join the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association.

The gathering appears set for 7-9 December. It takes a few weeks after the illicit ordination of Chengde. Fears, tensions and the resistance of the Chinese Catholic to the Patriotic Association.

Former top officials directly attack propaganda department, which censors the media, including speeches by China’s prime minister on political reforms. The betrayal of the constitution (which guarantees press freedom) is a “shame” and a “scandal”.

Bishop An is now the official bishop of Baoding, after his militancy in the underground Church for 25 years and having spent 10 years in prison. His choice has divided the faithful of the diocese. For Catholics, he is being used as a puppet by the Chinese government to divide the Church. The time of martyrdom is not yet over and unity with the pope is necessary. Prayer to Our Lady of Donglu. The suffered witness of a believer of the Church in China.

More than 700 people are dead and another 1,042 are missing. In more than 40 years, 126,000 hectares of forests have disappeared. More than 150 dams were built on local rivers with no regards for the local hydro-geological structure. Although hydroelectric power development fills local public coffers, the authorities have no emergency plan in case of disasters.

There is already an Ordinary (underground) of the diocese: Mgr. James Su, Zhimin, 13 years in prison. The decision to hold the ceremony made quickly by the government, who wanted Mgr. Ma Yinglin, an illegitimate bishop, to preside. Few participants: 24 priests and 300 faithful. The diocese has 120 priests and over 50 thousand faithful. Card. Bertone’s call to unity.

The prelate celebrated Mass last night with about a hundred faithful. He was originally arrested when the Patriotic Association tried to stop the official and underground Church from seeking unity as desired by the Holy See. Mgr Jia reassured the faithful that he did not join the Patriotic Association.

Liu Xianbin was arrested for publishing articles on democracy on the internet. In the wake of the Tiananmen massacre he spent two and a half years in prison, a further 10 after founding of the Chinese Democratic Party, for "incitement to subvert state power." His supporters are visited by the police. The police also threaten Yu Jie, a Protestant Christian writer, guilty of wanting to publish a book that contains criticism of Premier Wen Jiabao. He risks a sentence of 11 years in prison, "like Liu Xiaobo”. All of these dissidents are signatories of Charter 08.

Songs, dances, lights, fireworks, and high tech images are part of the most extravagant Expo in history. However, ordinary people and migrant workers are kept out so as not to ruin the pretty picture. Environmental concerns get virtual treatment in one of the most polluted countries in the world.

The bishop was officially installed today, but refused to co-celebrate Mass with Ma Yinglin, who was ordained in 2006 without the permission of the Holy See. Forced to attend the ceremony, the bishop was still able to say publicly that he was taking part in the ceremony against his will.

At 3 am, Google removed censorship filters on its Chinese operations, redirecting traffic to Hong Kong. China accuses the company of breaking its promise. The future is uncertain since Google cannot afford to lose the huge Chinese market, and Chinese authorities cannot afford uncensored information. Chinese net users want the government to say what content it wants censored; they also want Google to say how much censorship it practiced after it entered the Chinese market.