November 01-03, 2008

Top News of the Day
Human Rights Defenders
Lawyers Sacked over Poll Drive, Say Activists
South China Morning Post, November 03, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=da99eda49f85d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related information:
Lawyers Are Dismissed by Firms for Supporting Beijing Lawyers Association Direct Election, Law Firms Are Threatened
Human Rights in China, October 31, 2008
http://www.hrichina.org/public/contents/72449

At least five rights defense lawyers were asked to quit the Beijing Yitong Law Firm last week after involvement in an online campaign calling for the direct election of officials in the Beijing Lawyers Association. Thirty-five lawyers signed the original open letter in August and the number has increased to eight-two. Cheng Hai (程海), a prominent rights defense lawyer signatory to the open letter and amongst those asked to quit, said that the lawyers will not give up their fight for direct elections.

News
Civil Society
China's Environmental NGOs' Influence Increases as Total Doubles in 3 Years
Xinhuanet, October 31, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/31/content_10288246.htm

Death Penalty
Man Gets Death for Govt Office Explosion
China Daily, November 03, 2008
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-11/03/content_7165584.htm

第259期：注射死刑 (30 Years since Opening up and Reform Part 259: Lethal Injections)
The Beijing News, November 03, 2008
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/reform30/2008/11-03/011@100438.htm

Disasters
9 Dead or Missing, 70,000 Evacuated in S China Floods
Xinhuanet, November 02, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/02/content_10296270.htm

Environment
昆明拟单双号限行引争议 (Kunming's Proposal for Car Limits Leads to Dispute)
The Beijing News, November 03, 2008
http://www.thebeijingnews.com/news/guonei/2008/11-03/008@031131.htm

Food Security
China’s Tainted-Food Inquiry Widens amid Worries over Animal Feed
New York Times, November 01, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/01/world/asia/01china.html

Related news:
China Minister Says Tainted Eggs Are a One-off
Reuters, November 03, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE4A20H720081103

Tainted Milk Is Open Secret in China
Wall Street Journal, November 03, 2008
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122567367498791713.html

Human Rights Defenders
世界艾滋病日前夕高耀洁家人受打压，李喜阁持续受监控 (HIV/AIDS Activists and Their Families Harassed on Eve of World AIDS Day)
Radio Free Asia, November 02, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/AIDS-11022008181438.html

Media
Beijing Eases Rules for Taiwanese Media ahead of Envoy's Historic Trip
South China Morning Post, November 02, 2008
http://www.scmp.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=3649eda49f85d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD

Related information:
台湾记者在祖国大陆采访办法 (Measures on the Reporting Activities of Taiwanese Journalists in Mainland China)
Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, November 01, 2008
http://www.gwytb.gov.cn/gzyw/gzyw1.asp?gzyw_m_id=1733

Internet Guidelines Leave Many Questions
Radio Free Asia, October 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/internet-censorship/internet-guidelines-10302008182113.html

Migrant Workers
Feature: Migrant Workers' Life under City Roofs in China
Xinhuanet, November 02, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/02/content_10295006.htm

Protests and Petitions
Cars Smashed as Taxi Drivers Stage Rare Protest in China
Agence France-Presse (via Google News), November 03, 2008
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j5r0I5zXcaBmMAW1vhkuMYpEmPHw

Islanders Block China Port Plans
Radio Free Asia, October 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/port-10312008081632.html

Public Health
Students Quarantined over Cholera Outbreak
Xinhua (via China Daily), November 03, 2008
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081103/article_379248.htm

Religion
黑龙江伊春市开始新一轮打压家庭教会活动 (Yichun, Heilongjiang Authorities Ban House Churches: ChinaAid)
Radio Free Asia, October 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/yichun-10312008162022.html

Social Security
Report: China to Become a Welfare State by 2049
Xinhuanet, November 02, 2008
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/02/content_10295173.htm

Taiwan
Chinese Envoy Arrives in Taiwan amid Warming Ties
International Herald Tribune, November 03, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/03/asia/AS-Taiwan-China-Envoy.php

Tibet
Dalai Lama Vows Silence ahead of Exile Meeting
Reuters, November 03, 2008
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4A20KW20081103

Tibetan Monks Arrested over Blast
Radio Free Asia, October 31, 2008
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/arrest-10312008133617.html