(Update 4/20/2012: see update section below with response from Branigan.) There has been a lot of rumor mongering going on in the Western press about Bo Xilai and the alleged murder of British citizen Neil Heywood by his wife Gu Kailai. In an otherwise fairly well researched article by Guardian U.K. reporter, Tania Branigan, there were couple of crucial errors that were … [Read more...] about A few gripes with Tania Branigan’s Bo Xilai corruption piece
media bias
Virulent racism endemic in the western animal rights movement
This blog may be taken as a second part my Collective Defamation article (with possible further blogs in the future involving other kinds of anti-sinitic defamation). It is inspired by recent events blogged by Charles Liu. Another vicious slander that is common in the west is that the Chinese are a cruel people. The image is made visceral, rage inducing, when a cute animal is … [Read more...] about Virulent racism endemic in the western animal rights movement
Wen Jiabao Urges Political Reform and Praises Internet Criticism of Government
The Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) has just ended. Here are two stories about Wen that I found interesting. I have no personal insights beyond what is reported, but I thought it is helpful to bring attention to such stories to balance the distorted view in the West that the Chinese government somehow has in its DNA a fear of criticisms and a … [Read more...] about Wen Jiabao Urges Political Reform and Praises Internet Criticism of Government
Examining The Non-Existent “Rich Chinese Hunting Polar Bear” Story
Recently a story by Peter Simpson of Daily Mail UK made waves in the conservationist circle, that wealthy Chinese businessmen, as many as 100, are paying upwards of $80,000US to hunt endangered polar bears into extinction with this headline, "Rich Chinese Thrill Seekers Paying £50,000 for ‘trip of a lifetime…’ to kill endangered polar bears." The Daily Mail then followed up … [Read more...] about Examining The Non-Existent “Rich Chinese Hunting Polar Bear” Story
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: “The danger of a single story”
Hat tip to reader, perspectivehere, in sharing this important perspective (through our Open Forum) from the continent of Africa, from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, where in this 20-minute talk to a TED audience, she warns against a dominant Western narrative about other peoples on the planet. It's called, "The danger of a single story." Adichie's words must be spread. As … [Read more...] about Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: “The danger of a single story”