The HRIC Daily Brief is a daily selection of news stories and commentary related to human rights in China, drawn from Chinese- and English-language news and online media sources that we monitor daily. In addition to headlines and source links, HRIC also provides English translation of Chinese headlines.

Monday, February 18, 2008

February 16 - 18, 2008

News
Children
Blizzards Merely Delay a Girl's Perilous Toil
South China Morning Post, February 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=8fb304ebbc728110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Corporate Social Accountability
Retailer Drops Nickel-Cadmium Batteries
Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120325890273174147.html

Environment
Agent Used to Melt Snow Poisons Guangdong Water Sources: Report
South China Morning Post, February 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=40a304ebbc728110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

China: Rich 'Culprits' on Climate Change
Associated Press (available at YahooNews), February 16, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080216/ap_on_re_as/un_climate_change_china_1

Gender
河南信阳市出台关爱女性的新政策 (Preferential Treatment for Female Students and Cadres in Xinyang City, Henan)
Radio Free Asia, February 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/16/xing/

Human Rights Defender - Zheng Enchong (郑恩宠)
郑恩宠连续两天遭到殴打并被警方传唤 (Zheng Enchong Beaten for Two Consecutive Days and Summoned by Police)
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/17/zheng/

Labor
Seoul Seeks Talks over Mainland Factory Closures
South China Morning Post, February 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=ea492e91a0e18110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Media
China Launches Campaign to Crackdown on Internet Porn
Xinhuanet, February 16, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/16/content_7615990.htm

Olympics
Beijing Loses the Early Rounds of Pre-Games Public Relations Battle
South China Morning Post, February 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=a78c04ebbc728110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Capital Sets Tougher Emissions Standards
South China Morning Post, February 18, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?vgnextoid=6f7c04ebbc728110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Chinese Military Steps Up Counter-Terrorism Preparations for Olympics
Xinhuanet, February 18, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/18/content_7622174.htm

Athletes Resist Pressure to Play Politics in Beijing
Reuters, February 15, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idUSSP31606320080215

Beijing to Close Gas Stations over Olympics-Related Emissions Rule
Xinhuanet, February 15, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-02/15/content_7609473.htm

Protests and Petitions
黑龙江访民被关救助站绝食抗议 (Heilongjiang Petitioners Stage Hunger Strike over Detention in "Rescue Station")
Radio Free Asia, February 17, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/17/he/

Workers Take on China's Power in Xinjiang
Radio Free Asia, February 16, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/02/16/china_bingtuan/

四川古蔺县石屏乡三桂村九名维权代表被判刑 (Nine Human Rights Defenders Sentenced in Sangui Village, Sichuan)
Radio Free Asia, February 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/shenrubaodao/2008/02/15/sanguicun/

State Security
维权网呼吁人大终止“煽动颠覆国家政罪” (Rights Defense Website Demands Standing Committee of National People's Congress Abolish Crime of "Inciting Subversion of State Power")
Radio Free Asia, February 15, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/xinwen/2008/02/15/china_openletter/