Today's Links: More on the green dam, "Buying China," and sex change guidelines
- Computer-makers fight China's filter order [SFGate] "Responding to another citizens' revolt, 4,000 miles from Tehran, China reportedly won't force individual computer users to install software to filter out "harmful" stuff. But it has not backed down on its order that, as of July 1, all PCs sold in China must have such software installed. That, as we've noted, puts No. 1 U.S. seller of PCs in China, Palo Alto's Hewlett-Packard Co., in a serious bind. Especially, as is now known, because the software can be used to block considerably more than "pornography.""
- Beijing Says 'Buy China' Directive Is Not Protectionist [VoA] "China is defending its so-called "Buy China" directive that gives Chinese companies first, and nearly exclusive, priority in winning contracts under the country's nearly $600 billion stimulus program. When the U.S. government debated adding a "Buy American" requirement to its stimulus bill, China protested loudly. Chinese officials called the move toxic and protectionist."
- Report on effects of Climate Change [Boston Examiner] "As Congress acts to enact a Climate Change bill, China is still seen as being unwilling to make carbon reductions. It would quite possible to have a carbon cap and trade program in place and then have the Senate not ratify the upcoming Copenhagen Protocol if China and India fail to enact law to reduce carbon emissions. The U.S. should lead by example and pave the way for developing countries to participate. Failure by the Senate to ratify the Copenhagen Protocol will send the wrong message to China, Brazil and India."
- Flaws in China's digital dissidents [Asia Times Online] "Despite having a reputation in the West as trailblazing citizen journalists, many of China's young bloggers are seen by Chinese as egocentric, showy and self-serving. Most come from the "me generation", a derisive term for youths born after the nation began its strictly enforced one-child policy in 1979."
- China attacks Google over "pornographic" links [Reuters] "China's Internet watchdog condemned the Chinese-language version of Google on Thursday for "disseminating pornographic and vulgar information." The China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center said it had complained twice to Google about the "pornographic and vulgar links" available through its search engine."
- China preps 1st guidelines for sex change surgery [AP] " China's first medical guidelines on sex change surgery could require patients to gain police approval before the procedure, according to a posting on the Health Ministry's Web site. The proposed guidelines, posted Tuesday, say candidates for surgery must show an agreement from police to change their sex on their identification cards once the procedure is complete."
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Filed in News and tagged chinese bloggers, climate change, Google, green dam, green dam youth escort, protectionism, sex change
