China's Olympic Torch Relay: 'Harmony' the goal

Hong Kong, 10/25/07 - (CNN) -- China is in the mood for harmony.

Ever since Chinese President Hu Jintao floated the idea of "building a harmonious society" -- an attempt to tackle myriad domestic problems brought about by China's unrestrained growth -- "hexie," or harmony, has become one of the most beloved words in the Chinese communist vernacular, suggesting anything from social stability to world peace. With the Beijing 2008 Olympics, China is seeking to demonstrate to the world its penchant for harmony.

In March of next year, Beijing will launch the Olympic torch relay under the theme "the Journey of Harmony." The longest in Olympic history, the relay will see torch-bearers transport the Olympic flame across five continents.

The route is planned to traverse through an estimated 20 international cities and 113 more than 100 cities on mainland China, together with a side trip to the peak of Mount Everest from the Tibet side. Torch-bearers will carry a scroll-shaped torch adorned with the traditional Chinese xiangyun, or "lucky cloud" that symbolizes harmony.

But as genial as China appears to be, some critics are not impressed. They are determined to embarrass the Olympic host.

To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/beijing.relay/index.html

Chinese police clash with monks over Dalai Lama award

Beijing, 10/23/07 - Chinese police and soldiers have clashed with Buddhist monks in several towns in Tibet during a crackdown on celebrations to mark the award of a US congressional gold medal to the Dalai Lama last week. According to Tibetan activist groups and Hong Kong media, the security forces have attempted to suppress monasteries that tried to mark the prize-giving with special prayers or decorations.

Despite government efforts to remove satellite dishes, halt sales of celebratory fireworks and block websites such as YouTube, news has spread quickly about the accolade and the meeting last week between the Tibetan spiritual leader and US president George Bush.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/china/story/0,,2197690,00.html

Return from Everest's Base Camp

Hong Kong, 10/21/07 - Hearing about the highway planned on Mount Everest, Shaun Horrocks, features designer for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong decided it may be his last chance to see landscapes that may change within a year. According to Xinhua, the Chinese government has been planning a $19.7 million highway construction project. The project will facilitate the journey of the Olympic torch to the world's highest peak ahead of the Olympic Games, turning the 108-kilometer (67-mile) rough road linking Tingri County at the foot of Everest to Base Camp into a blacktop highway.

From June 7 to June 29, Horrocks and friend Steve Coward rode their bikes from Lhasa to Kathmandu, Nepal, via Everest Base Camp.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/21/everest.bike/index.html

China's Olympic Opportunity

Hong Kong, 10/17/07 - Wall Street Journal (Martin Lee) - When President George W. Bush accepted President Hu Jintao's invitation to attend the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Mr. Bush's press secretary said that he was going to the Games as "a sports fan, not to make any political statement." I too am a great sports fan -- especially of the Soccer World Cup -- but I would encourage President Bush to take a broader vision of the possibilities for the Beijing Games. He should use the next 10 months to press for a significant improvement of basic human rights in my country.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119258272350761387.html