令人震惊! 为了搞房地产 武汉居然要填东湖 时代周报

原定开工时间却一推再推。

　　自去年12月高调举行奠基仪式后，原计划今年2月开工的武汉华侨城项目，至今仍未按期动工。

　　此前，“空降”武汉的深圳华侨城集团，依仗多年来长袖善舞的能量，在项目前期的运作却相当顺利，以猛龙过江之势“夺取”武汉城投和地铁集团名下大块土地，更以超低价将包括东湖风景区核心地段在内的3167亩土地以43亿元收入囊中，每亩单价仅136万元。

　　同时，关乎东湖生态安危的东湖渔场450水面将被华侨城填掉，开发为“都市休闲娱乐区”，建造两个四星级酒店和其他商业服务配套设施。

　　更令人震惊的是，因东湖“修编规划”未获建设部批复，武汉华侨城项目虽未全面开工，实际上已经是“先斩后奏”，其开发东湖的环评和报批手续，亦将是一个漫长过程。

　　猛龙过江强势“夺地”

　　深圳华侨城集团的手眼通天和非常规手法，在“武汉华侨城”项目的拿地过程中，被演绎得淋漓尽致。

　　去年12月，华侨城集团以43亿元中标获得武汉“P(2009)113”地块，包括东湖风景区及中北路延长线在内的3167亩土地，这是2009年武汉拍卖的最大一宗黄金地块，规划用途为“居住和游乐、旅游设施”。

　　但鲜有人知的是，上述地块，大多原为武汉城投和地铁集团的“建设项目资金平衡用地”。但几经博弈之后，相关单位只能“忍痛割爱”。

　　3月21日，武汉城投集团的魏晓波仍不愿谈及此事，“这是政府定的事情”。

　　时代周报记者调查获知，2007年，武汉市为解决“重大市政建设基础项目”巨额资金缺口，出台《关于我市重大基础设施建设项目利用土地储备等融资工作的意见》(“武政【2007】93号”文)，以城建项目沿线或周边土地为抵押向银行贷款，最后用土地出让净收益还款，通称“建设项目资金平衡”。

　　据此，武汉城投集团在2007年通过“武政办【2007】15”号文批准，将杨春湖副中心纳入“两个火车站”基础设施项目打包平衡土地范围，负责储备和一级开发。该地总面积1103公顷，可经营性土地413公顷，土地净收益为94亿元，可基本平衡所需资金。随后，城投集团将该地整体质押给银行，获贷 148亿元。

　　不料，自2009年5月深圳华侨城集团“空降”武汉后，陡生变故。

　　武汉市政府在“华侨城项目专题会”上决定，将杨春湖等土地打包项目约1003公顷，作为该项目平衡用地。这直接涉及城投集团在杨春湖和武汉大道的多块土地储备和既定项目。

　　无独有偶，受武汉华侨城项目用地影响的，还有武汉地铁集团。知情者披露，地铁集团拥有平衡资金的土地16200亩，将产生净收益195亿元。但由于华侨城介入，该集团4号线一期工程中的2宗土地被划出，总面积28公顷。

　　时代周报记者了解到，武汉华侨城项目规划用地逾20平方公里，涉及武汉城投集团杨春湖、武汉大道沿线和地铁集团轨道交通土地打包及若干城中村项目。

　　“利益主体错综复杂，各方互不相让，只能市政府从中调和。”知情者告诉时代周报记者。土地所有权突变，令武汉城投十分狼狈。据透露，该集团已确定的银行贷款无法继续使用，已用贷款失去还款来源。武汉市土地储备中心在杨春湖的收储工作，也因此陷于停顿。

　　对此，武汉相关部门一致反对，认为不该因华侨城项目影响重大市政建设，其中，尤以市发改委的态度最为鲜明。该部门在给市政府的一份复函中明确表示：“当前正在实施的武汉城投集团杨春湖打包项目和武汉地铁集团轨道交通打包项目，是严格按照93号文件规定的程序，经市政府审核批准，且土地打包净收益是专项用于武汉火车站、武昌火车站以及近期轨道交通建设，不宜调整。”

　　武汉市财政局认为，利用土地获取平衡资金的方式，应该仅限于非营利性的重大市政城建项目。

　　武汉市建委一人士表示：“华侨城项目属企业经营性行为，不应与武汉城建项目冲突，况且它是中途插进来的。”

　　但最后结果却是：在市政府统一协调下，最终仍以满足华侨城项目用地需求而告终。

　　而且，华侨城还另外拿到了近2000亩东湖风景区内的土地，令武汉业界惊羡。

　　“低价”获地玄机

　　深圳华侨城所拿地块的地段之佳，地价之低，令业界自叹弗如。

　　该宗“P(2009)113”地块总面积为211.16公顷，约3167亩，主要分布在国家级4A风景区东湖沿线，成为独享东湖景观资源的黄金地块，商业价值巨大。而且，其用于房地产开发的面积为86.56公顷，占总面积的40%之多。即便剩下60%用于主体公园和酒店旅游开发的部分，其商业附加值也十分丰厚。

　　但该地每亩单价仅为136万元/亩，楼面地价为2136元/平方米。一业界人士指出：“东湖范围内的这类地，当前市价至少应在800万元/亩，这个价格等于拱手相送。”

　　武汉市土地储备中心相关人士也向时代周报记者承认：“该价格仅仅是拆迁和整理成本，考虑到近年来物价上涨趋势，征地拆迁和市政设施建设成本应按每年增长5%来计算。”

　　通常，深圳华侨城拿地区域的平均征地拆迁成本应在85万元/亩，而市政设施平均成本应在15万元/亩，相关财务费用支出应为2.5万元/亩。一亩地从生地整理成为熟地的成本，大约在110万元。

　　据此，深圳华侨城136万元/亩的拿地成本，充其量只比拆迁成本“溢价”26万元。

　　记者查证，深圳华侨城集团在东湖管委会辖区内的和平村、渔光村等地，皆以最低价格拿地，仅以东湖渔场540.9亩地所对应的拆迁成本，就能管窥其拿地成本之低。

　　去年11月25日开始拆迁时，东湖渔场被告知的拆迁价格为：陆地每亩50万元，水面每亩40万元，场区住宅楼内持有两证的住户按4150—4200元/平方米补偿。渔场办公区域拆迁补偿价格，仅为600元/平方米。

　　如此低廉的拆迁价格，令业界震惊。东湖渔场一干部介绍，早在5年前，场区有意出售所辖部分土地，当时评估价格是600万元/亩。“现在5年过去了，土地不仅没有升值，反而还大大贬值了。”他忿然道。

　　记者查阅《武汉市市区土地定级与基准地价评估》标准，渔场应为Ⅳ级，所对应的商业基准地价标准为：3943元/平方米。据此测算，每亩拆迁费应为263万元，50万元/亩的拆迁价格，实际每平方米仅为750元，与3943元相差5倍。

　　而且，3943元/平方米的基准地价，乃武汉市国土资源和规划局在2007年颁布制定，如今已过去3年，武汉房价飞涨，但地处国家4A风景区内的土地价值却反而严重缩水。

　　对此，东湖管委会相关负责人向时代周报记者坦承：“深圳华侨城属于武汉市引进的项目，一切都是执行上级部门的决定，管委会除配合外，并无自主权。”

　　“当低价拿到这些黄金地块后，华侨城的操作手法是，将该地向银行抵押融资，在获得银行贷款后，再投入到武汉华侨城项目中，成为运作该项目的主要资金来源。其实，说白了就是武汉市让深圳华侨城获得利用土地融资的渠道，以此支持武汉华侨城项目。”一位知情人士一语破的。

　　时代周报记者了解到，这43亿元地价款，深圳华侨城当前也只支付了部分前期资金，更多指望通过这些地块来“平衡”。

　　另据相关人士透露，东湖管委会实际上与武汉华侨城项目另签有合作协议，涉及互惠开发，具体内容尚未公布。

　　东湖被填450亩生态恐恶化

　　更令外界瞠目结舌的是，长袖善舞的深圳华侨城，竟将一块历来属于东湖核心一级保护区的450亩水面，以“土地”名义竞得，并规划“填湖”营建星级酒店。日前，相关规划设计已完成，动工在即。

　　在上述“P(2009)113”地块中，第四块总面积为1057亩，虽然公告中对其地理位置仅以“东湖风景区沿湖景观路”笼统带过，但熟悉该区域的人士皆心知肚明，该地大部分是“东湖渔场”范围，属于《东湖风景名胜区条例》禁止“填湖开发”的水面。

　　为给华侨城项目腾地，3个月前，建于1951年的东湖渔场109户职工住房被强拆，四名女工被殴伤住院，现在只剩下一片废墟和波澜不惊的开阔水域。

　　“东湖渔场共540.9亩，其中85%是水面，起码有450亩，”3月20日，67岁的渔场老职工李先德指着眼前一片茫茫湖水对记者说，“怎么被华侨城一买过去，就变成土地了呢？”

　　时代周报记者实地踏访看到，东湖渔场由大小50多块水面构成，面积30万平方米以上，约450亩。在此养鱼30年的老刘称：“水面划分是为养鱼需要，草湖从来就是东湖的一部分。”

　　为何450亩的东湖水面，会被当作“土地”一并出让给华侨城集团？

　　知情人士披露，如此操作是为回避“填东湖搞开发”的硬伤。外界风传，该水面将被填埋后建造星级酒店。事实果真如此吗？

　　3月22日，记者来到位于东湖环保局5楼的“深圳华侨城驻武汉办事处”，武汉华侨城实业公司新闻发言人黄小林向时代周报记者承认，东湖渔场将被整体开发为“都市休闲娱乐区”，规划建造两个酒店，即“度假酒店”和“精品酒店”，均在四星级以上。他毫不讳言：“除酒店外，还要兴建商业和购物休闲配套服务设施。”此外，还将在数百亩的渔光村水域中，建一座大型“水上公园”。

　　黄向记者证实“已聘请SWA、HZS和斯坦伯格三家公司做完酒店的规划设计”，但对酒店的设计高度和楼层，黄表示暂时不便透露。

　　对记者“填湖开发”的询问，该公司另一人士反诘道：“公司是出钱通过土地交易中心拿到该地的开发权，不填水面怎么搞开发？”

　　东湖渔场的消失，将直接威胁到东湖水质生态安全。3月23日，中科院院士刘建康在得知东湖渔场将被整体填埋进行商业开发后，深感震惊：“东湖主要靠渔场投放鲢鳙鱼吃掉水华，改善水质，养殖鱼苗的水面不能填。”

　　据渔场负责人介绍，上世纪80年代，东湖每到夏季便出现大面积蓝藻水华，致水体发绿、发臭。时任中科院武汉水生所所长的刘建康建议东湖渔场养殖鲢、鳙鱼苗，每年向东湖大量投放，鱼苗在生长过程中吃掉大部分蓝藻，有效控制水华净化湖水，此为“生物操纵”法。

　　奇迹就此出现，1985年后东湖水华现象消失，至今没有重现。提出这一方案的中科院谢平博士，荣获国际湖泊生态学大奖。

　　记者了解到，鲢、鳙鱼苗的专业养殖和投放，几十年来均由东湖渔场在450亩水面中完成，年产鱼苗3亿尾，每年投放50万斤到东湖所属各大湖泊中。这也正是东湖渔场被设置为正处级单位，一直享受财政拨款的主要原因。

　　现在，东湖渔场面临消失。刘建康不无担忧：“东湖已转好的水质生态环境，将重新面临水华和蓝藻的威胁。”

　　受阻建设部未批“东湖规划”

　　武汉华侨城项目开工时间一推再推，令集团高管心急如焚。

　　3月22日，黄小林向时代周报记者婉转解释：“由于我们对项目规划要求非常高，必须尽善尽美后再动工。”但他同时承认时间紧迫：“市政府要求在2011年辛亥革命100周年时开业。”

　　知情者向时代周报记者透露，该项目当前不能开工的一个重要原因，乃东湖管委会向国家住房和城乡建设部呈送的《修编〈武汉东湖风景名胜区总体规划〉的请示》尚未获批。

　　近年随着东湖的地理位置优势、商业价值日益显现，东湖管委会认为现在的《武汉东湖风景名胜区总体规划》已不能适应东湖发展，动议重新修编。

　　2007年，修编工作启动。2009年9月，由省建设厅上报建设部。知情者透露，正是该“修编规划”的“功能分区”部分，将现属武汉华侨城项目开发的东湖渔场等地段，定为可进行商业、旅游项目开发的区域。这也是该项目得以实施的最根本依据。

　　但东湖“修编规划”至今未获建设部批复。尽管武汉华侨城项目当前已成骑虎之势，也不敢贸然在国家4A级风景区中大兴土木。

　　知情者指出：“该项目的核心价值就是利用东湖资源，它唯一的‘尚方宝剑’就是‘修编规划’尽快获批。”

　　时代周报记者于是致电国家建设部，获悉该修编方案还需建设部会同环保总局、国土资源部组织专家团论证。法规司相关人士表示：“涉及国家级风景名胜区的修编非常严格，最终还要通过国务院。”

　　事实上，当前深圳华侨城集团在东湖的项目运作，已严重违反国家和湖北省保护东湖的法规，可谓“先斩后奏”。

　　谙熟东湖保护的人士指出，建设部1995年(建城字第557号文)《关于武汉东湖风景名胜区总体规划的批复》第四条规定：“严格禁止在风景名胜区内乱砍滥伐林木、污染湖水、开山采石以及乱建房屋等违法活动。”

　　此外，2008年1月1日湖北省人大颁布施行的《武汉东湖风景名胜区条例》第十九条规定：“风景区内禁止建设污染环境、破坏生态、景观的企业和设施。风景区核心景区内禁止建设旅馆、招待所、培训中心、休(疗)养院以及与风景名胜资源保护无关的其他建筑物。”

　　“更不用说填埋数百亩水面，开发星级酒店项目了”，该人士说，武汉华侨城当前正在东湖核心区域“东湖渔场”内，规划和操作的星级酒店、商业服务等经营性项目，均属严重违规。

　　3月22日，东湖管委会宣传部部长何连远向时代周报记者严肃表示：“在新的‘修编规划’未获批前，应该继续执行原规划。”

　　谈及东湖“修编规划”，一位常在东湖晨练的省委官员极为感触地说，当年中共中央政治局委员俞正声主政湖北时，为加大东湖保护力度，于2006年将东湖管理局升格为东湖管委会，副市级别。俞正声在湖北7年，坚决反对利用东湖搞开发，很多地产商被拒之门外。

　　该人士遥指武汉大学位于东湖边的一栋白色高层教学楼，因该楼破坏了东湖天际线，俞每次都会感慨：“这种建筑败笔再不能出现在东湖边了。”“如果俞书记当年就支持东湖搞开发，东湖‘修编规划’应没这么难，他来湖北之前就是建设部部长。”

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听众来信 推荐给朋友2010年3月20日 星期六     节目长度：3分55秒  下载mp3(16k) | (128k)

中国西南地区持续干旱，已使云南、广西、四川、重庆、贵州五地的五千多万人受灾。灾区民众表示旱灾使民怨升高，原因是当地政府和矿老板勾结破坏山林导致水土流失，物价高涨以及救灾缓不济急，加上媒体报导歌功颂德，都让老百姓很反感。

广西梧州市灾民莫先生分析这次大旱的原因是广大的山林被开矿公司滥采滥挖，环境被破坏后水土流失所导致。

莫先生(录音):有金矿公司，把那些山全部包下来，山体全部掏空，山全部变光秃秃了，没有树木所以就藏不了水，天灾是一回事，天灾是三分，人为占七分吧，他们的体制问题，环境恶化了所以没有水，公司官商勾结的，他给钱当地政府，所以农民的反抗现在非常严重，农民都愤怒了。

莫先生表示，当地的旱灾很严重，政府送来的水只是杯水车薪，民生用水已经发生困难了，洗澡和洗衣服都没水了，农民更种不了地。

莫先生(录音):现在喝水很困难，政府没办法解决，几天才来一趟，送的水也要排队，是很少，他们也是从城市里面拉的自来水送过来，生活用水都成问题了，生产用水都没有了， 1小时抽上来的水也没有2个立方，反正老百姓没有见过那么干旱的。

据报导，旱灾使云南物价高涨，蔬菜类涨幅高达39%，今年前两个月，昆明的物价指数高居全国省会第三位。云南萧先生表示，整个云南灾情惨重，但是政府救灾缓不济急，媒体报导依然是歌功颂德，让老百姓很反感。

萧先生(录音):云南省整个境内用水是岌岌可危，有的地方告急，甚至是没有，云南这次大旱，然后政府的宣传嘛，很明显很多是在作秀，包括很多宣传都是互相矛盾，报导一个村子，已经是几天或者十几天没喝上水了，然后人民子弟兵帮助下，给这个村子供水，发生相当一段时间了，老百姓吃到苦头了，他再跳出来冒充好人。

有报导引述专家说，未来十天西南重旱区仍无明显降雨，继续维持高森林火险气象等级。据云南森林防火指挥部最新统计，截至3 月中，全省共发生森林火灾３９０起，受害森林面积２０４７公顷，受害森林面积上升２０％。重庆穆先生表示，最近几年来，重庆气候异常，据推断是受三峡建坝的影响。

穆先生(录音):干旱的话每年都要出现，我是住在城里面，还没有看见采取什么措施，农村有的地方，饮水都困难，送水的话，解决不了春耕的问题，到商人那买水的话，那个价格肯定不会低于平时的价格，灾民他是最弱势的群体，天灾也好，人祸也好，老百姓来买单吧，老百姓过得挺不容易的。

据大陆媒体报导，2009年秋季以来，中国西南地区降雨少、气温高，云南、广西、四川、重庆、贵州五地遭受罕见干旱，经济损失惨重，截至17号的统计，农作物受灾面积4348万6000公顷，其中绝收面积94万公顷；直接经济损失人民币190亿2000万元。

希望之声国际广播电台记者林莉 凤鸣采访报导

听众来信

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http://soundofhope.org/programs/162/154134-1.asp

 

Victims Call China's Drought a Man-Made Disaster

By Lin Li & Feng Ming
Sound of Hope Radio Network Created: Mar 25, 2010 Last Updated: Mar 25, 2010

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Water buffalo in a dried up pond in Shilin County, Yunnan Province, China. (Getty Images)

The continued drought in Southwest China has affected more than 50 million people in the provinces of Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and the city of Chongqing. Discontent over the artificial causes of the drought, sky-high food prices, and unsatisfactory disaster relief has increased. Meanwhile, the media continues to praise the relief efforts, to the annoyance of many.

Mr. Mo from the city of Wuzhou in Guangxi Province believes the drought is a result of soil erosion caused by wasteful mining.

“Some gold mine companies took over the mountains and emptied them inside out,” he said. “ Trees were uprooted, and there was nothing to hold the soil.” He contends the disaster is the result of man-made rather than natural causes, and relates it to a problem with the political system which allows collusion between the government and big business. “The peasants are furious,” he added.

Mr. Mo said that the water shortage is very serious in his area, and the amount of water delivered by the authorities was not even close to being enough. There wasn’t even enough water for showers and laundry, let alone for farming.

“There is a shortage of drinking water now which the authorities have not been able to resolve. They delivered tap water from the city once every few days. We have to wait in line in order to get a very limited amount. Domestic water shortage is a problem now, let alone water for farming. I have never seen such a serious drought before.”

Even Wild Herbs Cannot Survive

It is reported that the drought has driven up food prices in Yunnan Province with the price of vegetables soaring 39 percent. The price index in Kunming, the capital, ranked third-highest among all provincial capitals in January and February.

A resident in Fuyuan County of Yunnan Province said, “The authorities did not provide any compensation to the drought victims. The cracks in the field are huge—even wild herbs cannot survive.”

Another resident said, “Farmers had to sell their cattle cheaply because they have no water to raise them.”

Mr. Xiao from Yunnan Province said the situation there is very serious, and disaster relief efforts have been far from satisfactory. Nevertheless, the media sang the praises of the authorities’ hard work, as usual, which antagonized the people.

Mr. Xiao said,“The water situation in the entire Yunnan Province is precarious. Some areas are in a state of emergency, and some areas even have no water at all. The government propaganda was for show. A village had not been provided with water for many days, and then the people’s army delivered water to them, making the people very happy and grateful. What really happened was that the army withheld the rescue goods all that time to make the people miserable. When the army finally delivered the goods, the residents were obviously grateful, which made a good piece of propaganda in praise of the government.”

Water Severely Rationed

Fuyuan County residents also said that there has been no tap water since the end of 2009, that their rationed water supply has not been steady, and that they have had to fetch water themselves from a village three miles away.

A resident said, “Each family is given four water tickets every two weeks and each ticket entitles the bearer to 100 kg (about 26 gallons) of water, which is not enough for daily use at all, especially for a large family of six or seven. So we have to fetch water from somewhere else. I haven’t taken a shower for a few months.”

According to weather reports, there is no sign of precipitation in the next ten days in the drought area, and the forest fire index remains high.

The Yunnan Province Forest Fire Management Headquarters reported there have been 390 forest fires as of mid- March this year, destroying 2,047 hectares (about 830 acres) of forest. The disaster area was 20 percent larger than that of last year.

Mr. Mu of Chongqing said that the climate in Chongqing has been abnormal for several years. He believes it’s related to the the Three Gorges Dam Project.

Mr. Mu said, “We have drought every year. I live in an urban area and haven’t seen any measures being taken. The peasants are the most disadvantaged group of people.”

According to Chinese media, the Southwest region of China has experienced low rainfall and high temperatures since the fall of 2009. They have been hit by a drought rarely seen in history. Yunnan Province, Guangxi Province, Sichuan Province, Guizhou Province and Chongqing City were hit by a drought rarely seen in history, causing severe economic losses.

According to statistics as of March 17, 43,486,000 hectares (about 17.6 million acres) of crops were affected by the drought, among which 940,000 hectares (about 380,566 acres) yielded zero production, causing a direct economic loss of 19 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion).

Read the original Chinese article.

 

 

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32075/

 

AP test of Google offers peek at China Net filters

BEIJING (AP) - Type "Falun Gong" in Chinese into Google's search engine from Beijing, and the Web browser suddenly becomes unresponsive for about a minute. Make the same search from Hong Kong, and you'll get plenty of links to the spiritual movement banned by the Chinese government.

Internet users in mainland China and Hong Kong now share the same Google search site, but their experiences continue to widely differ, particularly on topics deemed sensitive by China's Communist leaders. The difference is that the government, rather than Google Inc., is now doing the censoring.

The findings in a recent Associated Press test offer insights into the sophistication with which China uses its complex "Great Firewall" to filter its citizens' online view of the world.

Recent searches for taboo topics from Beijing generally produced "page cannot be displayed" errors. The user's browser stops working for about a minute, longer if one tries to access forbidden sites in quick succession. In other words, it's not just the links to those sites that don't work; the results don't come back at all.

Yet the filters aren't exact, and English-language sites have a greater chance of slipping through, partly because the government is more concerned about the vast majority of citizens who speak only Chinese. And even as the Great Firewall blocks Twitter and sensitive blog postings, excerpts do show up on Google's search results page.

The findings illustrate how China's vast government-run network of Web filters works. When a user enters a sensitive term in a search, it triggers a brief blockage that affects subsequent searches - even those on innocuous topics - by that user or anyone else at the same numeric Internet address. That can be one computer or an entire cybercafe.

Chinese-language searches for missing Chinese activist lawyer Gao Zhisheng, jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, Chinese President Hu Jintao and "June 4 incident" - known elsewhere as the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown - all led to the Web browser in Beijing hanging for a minute or longer.

Before Google killed its mainland search service Monday and redirected "Google.cn" traffic to its existing Hong Kong-based site, Google returned censored results with a note explaining that some items had been removed. Google needed to comply with Chinese laws, but it wanted users to know about the omissions in hopes they would pressure their government to lift restraints.

But Google announced Jan. 12 that it was no longer willing to censor those results after it discovered it was the target of hacking attacks originating from China. Unable to reach agreement with the ruling party on running an uncensored search service, Google decided to send mainland users to Hong Kong, a Chinese territory that is semiautonomous because of its past as a British colony.

Some Google searches produce the same results whether from Beijing or Hong Kong. Among them: "Michael Jackson" and "March 14 incident," which refers to the 2008 anti-Chinese riots in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. "Taiwan" also produced no difference in search results, despite tensions with a region that China considers its own.

In other cases, results appear the same, but the text ads alongside them differ. A recent search for "iPhone" in Hong Kong produced two sponsored links, for the Apple store in Hong Kong and for Vodafone, while the one in Beijing led to the mainland version of Apple's home page. In most cases, though, the mainland version of the search produced more ads than in Hong Kong.

Google routinely uses a computer's numeric Internet address to determine the visitor's location and adjust search results and ads accordingly. Visiting the U.S.-focused Google.com site from Geneva, for instance, often takes you automatically to the Swiss version of the site at Google.ch. Even within the United States, sites for some local businesses may show up higher or lower in the results depending on where you are.

Thus, despite Google's decision to give mainland users the Hong Kong site, at Google.com.hk, visitors from Beijing still see differences having nothing to do with China's filters.

With the change, Hong Kong's site began displaying search results in the simplified Chinese characters that are used in mainland China, but Hong Kong visitors still get a page in the traditional Chinese script, with links to versions for English or simplified Chinese.

Beijing visitors get the simplified version first, and their Hong Kong page looks much like the old Google.cn, with colorful, animated icons offering quick links to video, shopping and other popular features.

The Google-owned online video leader YouTube is typically blocked on the mainland. In Beijing, searches on a separate Google video service are directed to a Google.cn site where the company is still censoring results. Video, music and maps are among the features that Google continues to operate in China. In Hong Kong, however, video searches go to the Hong Kong site, where results are not censored.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong users can reach a China-only music service, but unless you're on the mainland, you get this advisory when you try to listen to a song: "Music streaming/download services are not available in your region."

Despite the pervasive reach of the Great Firewall, mainland Chinese can use Google's Hong Kong site for a glimpse of material that is usually blocked.

Consider a search for "Obama." One recent search from Beijing produced a page leading with news stories about the U.S. president, but the results page also included recent posts by people on Twitter, a social-messaging service that is blocked in China.

In a Chinese-language search for "Tibet," Google includes excerpts from such blogs as Invisible Tibet, which is written by the well-known Tibetan poet and activist Woeser and is usually blocked in China.

Not surprisingly, attempts to access the blog from the search page failed. By comparison, a search for Woeser's blog on the Chinese search site Baidu.com produced one line: "The search results could involve content that fails to comply with the relevant laws, regulation and policies, and are not displayed."

Meanwhile, a search for "Tibet" in English shows links to Free Tibet, the International Campaign for Tibet and other activist sites.

The Great Firewall isn't an exact science, but it's meant to keep most of the sensitive content from most of the citizens most of the time.

---

Jeremiah Marquez reported from Hong Kong.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100325/D9ELQ9G00.html

The Far Reaching Melody of the Ancient Zither

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A painting by Chen Hongshou of a person with a Chinese zither (qin). (Wikipedia )

The ancient Chinese zither (guqin or simply qin (Wade-Giles ch'in)) is more than a musical instrument for performance. It has a long history, and rich and profound cultural connotations. Ancient scholars and leaders regarded it as an expression of the ideals of individual cultivation, family harmonization, statesmanship, and social stability. It was symbol of intellectual life. In the Book of Rites, it is written, "an intellectual does not casually part with his zither or se [a large stringed musical instrument]." Confucius also said, "[Be]Impassioned in poetry, observant in rites, and accomplished in music."

Zither playing aspires to artistic conception --appreciating the inner meaning rather than stopping at mere technical perfection. It transcends the boundaries of music, embodying the harmony between mankind and nature, the cosmic concept of the relationship between Heaven and man, and ideas of life and morality. Therefore it becomes a tool for cultivating one’s moral character, enlightening to higher truths, and edifying people. Scholars spoke of the Virtue of the zither or the Tao of the zither. In Cai Yong’s “Zither Manual,” he says: "In ancient times, Fuxi made the zither to restrain oneself from becoming deviant and to guard against the development of lust, so that one can cultivate rationally and return to one’s original true self." In Yueji, an ancient musical record, it was noted: "The virtuous is nature’s most upright, and the musician is the virtuous’ most magnificent." Virtue is man’s innate nature, and music is the sublimation of virtue. Music in a high realm is an expression of Heavenly Principles. While people enjoy music, they are morally inspired and elevated to another philosophical plane.

In ancient times, the zither was an indispensable musical instrument a gentleman had to learn and cultivate with. The musician had to play with an upright mind and righteous thoughts in order to reach harmony of body and soul. In history, many famous zither players were of noble character, virtuous and incorruptible. They often displayed dignified decorum, and played the zither with respect in an exquisitely scenic environment. Their minds were serene, enabling them to reach harmony with nature and enlighten to a higher truth, just as Jikang described in a poem:

"My eyes gaze at the returning swans,
My fingers strum the five strings.
I lift and lower my head in contentment,
My mind detached, saunters into the void!"

Even in a rowdy setting, one can maintain a calm mind, playing the zither unperturbed. As Tao Yuanming (220A.D.-589A.D.) described:

"Building a thatched hut amidst the rambunctious surroundings,
As if neither noisy carriages or horses are nearby.
How sir, do you manage?
If the mind is far away, the locale will naturally be out-of-the-way."

The mind is central for playing the zither. An upright mind produces upright music. An elevated mind produces music with deeper meanings, which in turn touches the hearts of listeners, affecting them, and enabling them to understand and resonate with the moral content of the music, and the player’s disposition and breadth of mind. Such is the nature of the arts.

Epoch Times Reporter's Gmail Among Those China Hacked

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An Epoch Times reporter found his personal Gmail account hacked and accessed in China. Gmail is reported to have turned on reports on unauthorized access for its users. (Epoch Times Staff)

Human rights activists and journalists, including an Epoch Times reporter from Washington, D.C., have been finding an alert from Google in their Gmail accounts letting them know their email was hacked from China.

On Wednesday night, Nicholas Zifcak a Washington-based reporter for The Epoch Times who mainly covers federal politics and national affairs, signed into his Gmail account to find a banner across the top warning him: "Your email account has been accessed from China, click here to find out more."

Clicking on the link brought him to a page outlining the IP addresses that accessed his account, one of them from a company called China Unicom. Both addresses were based in Harbin city, Heilongjiang province.

Ironically, a story Zifcak wrote in December on the White House's new cyber security appointment had made reference to concerns over Chinese cyber attacks. He said he was not using the Gmail account for sensitive information so the alert was not as concerning as it could have been.

Google added the warning feature that very day as a way make sure users were aware if their accounts were accessed from an unusual IP address. Gmail had always had a link below users inboxes where they could check recent activity and where their account was accessed from, but the new alerts turn that feature into a more useful security function.

Journalists working in China were warned their accounts could be hacked in January but it seems notices like the one Zifcak received have been coming out just as Google shifts its business out of China and into Hong Kong. Zifcak's warning shows his account was accessed from inside China last week, just as Google was preparing to announce its withdrawal.

Stephen Gregory, a spokesperson for The Epoch Times, said he was not surprised to hear one of their reporters had his account broken into, given the newspapers track record on China coverage. The Epoch Times reports on many topics sensitive to the regime and has written an editorial series calling for Chinese people to withdraw from the Chinese Communist Party or its affiliated organizations. Tens of millions of people inside China have expressed support for ending the CCP on The Epoch Times Web site.   

Related Articles

• China’s Cyber War on the United States
• Closing in on China Google Hackers
• Intel Reveals It Was Hit by Cyber Attack in January
• The Epoch Times News Group Applauds Google’s Ending Censorship

“The Epoch Times is the media outlet most frequently blocked by the Chinese regime,” he said.

“The monitoring of the email of one of our reporters here in the United States demonstrates how the communist party’s attempts to censor speech inside China makes it hostile to freedom of the press anywhere in the world. We hope the world’s media will respond to this hostility by reporting more vigorously on the topics the Chinese regime wants to censor.”

The Epoch Times on Wednesday issued a statement praising Google's move to stop censoring its search results in China even in the face of having its business activities there shut down by the ruling communist regime.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32065/

 

In This Issue The Opportunities and Challenges Faced by the Former World Socialist Movement [Featured Report] Xinhua: Research Foresight Needed for Military Strategic Delivery [Briefing] Internet Plays Important Role in Lives of Middle School Students [Briefing] National Development Bank Loans 6 Billion to Da Ming Gong Project [Briefing] Featured Report The Opportunities and Challenges Faced by the Former World Socialist Movement On October 22, 2009, the website of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) reprinted an article originally published in the Chinese Social Science Journal, "The Opportunities and Challenges Faced by the Former World Socialist Movement." The article discusses the mentality of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) toward the world's socialist movement amid the current international financial crisis. The translation of the article follows.[Full Text] China Update - March 25, 2010 Briefings: Following major developments from Chinese language media not generally available to the West Xinhua: Research Foresight Needed for Military Strategic Delivery Xinhua recently published an article suggesting that the military's strategic delivery capability is an important measure for national military capacity. The current Chinese strategic delivery is lacking theoretical studies, capacity building, reserve forces and a traffic mobilization mechanism. Chinese command methods are far behind the US Global Transportation Network. Strategic delivery requires integration among land, air and sea, as well as integration between national military and civilian systems. The article suggested that China should (1) establish an overall command system, (2) take full advantage of China's railway system, and (3) enhance the "Military Representative System" along transportation lines. Source: Xinhua, March 11, 2010 Internet Plays Important Role in Lives of Middle School Students Juveniles Internet Usage Research recently released its 2009 report. The report shows that the Internet is now an important channel for Chinese middle school students for knowledge, social issues and entertainment. The research found 64.9% of the students typically spend one hour each time they log onto the Internet. The most frequent uses of the Internet are "information research" (32.3%), "chatting" (31%), "downloading music and pictures" (29.4%) and "internet gaming" (19.8%). Among the "most liked" websites are those for entertainment (54.5%), games (37.1%), and literature (30.1%). The research was based on 9,000 questionnaires in 9 provinces. Source: Xinhua, March 18, 2010 National Development Bank Loans 6 Billion to Da Ming Gong Project People Net, the online presence of Chinese state daily news Renmin, recently reported that the Da Ming Gong Project received a loan of RMB 6 billion from the National Development Bank. This is the National Development Bank's largest culture investment. Da Ming Gong is the name of the emperor's palace of the Tang Dynasty. The project is to build a culture park at the location of the palace. The Park, in the City of Xi An, will be open to public on October 1, 2010. Source: Renmin, March 19, 2010

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The Epoch Times News Group Applauds Google’s Ending Censorship

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THANKS: The Epoch Times News Group joins the people of China in thanking Google for ending its censorship of search results. A card, a letter, and flowers are placed on the Google logo at its China headquarters building on March 23 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

The Epoch Times News Group, which is the media outlet most frequently blocked by the Chinese communist regime, compliments Google on its decision to stop censoring search results.

On March 22 Google stopped its search engine service in mainland China, redirecting Chinese users to its Hong Kong site. In reply to the Chinese regime’s request to filter its search results comprehensively, Google insisted it would leave China rather than censor the Internet any longer. Google—one of the major global Internet companies—has lived up to its original motto, “Don’t Be Evil.”

Ever since the founding of the Epoch Times News Group 10 years ago, we have consistently reported news that the Chinese regime makes every effort to filter and block. We therefore are very appreciative of Google’s decision to stop cooperating with censorship.

The Epoch Times News Group believes that a free flow of information is as important to today’s society as air and water are to life. Human rights, equality, democracy, and freedom can only be realized by means of a free flow of information. Google’s defiant stance against Internet censorship and its upholding the principle of free, uncensored information are undoubtedly an act of great benevolence not only to all Chinese but to everyone around the world, a service of immeasurable value.

The Chinese communist regime has never ceased repressing supporters of free information. Google’s experience in China—being threatened by the regime and attacked by state-run media—is an epitome of the plight of Chinese people. Under the oppressive rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), a hard road is still ahead for those seeking the free flow of information. In any case, the historic trend toward greater freedom of information cannot be reversed, nor can it be stopped. The Chinese netizens, independent media such as The Epoch Times, and international society will say "no" to the CCP’s attempts to do so.

More than 2,000 years ago, Confucius said: “A man of noble character remains composed and continues to follow principles even in a difficult situation; a villain, on the contrary, becomes flustered and would commit all kinds of wrongdoing.” Even when suffering the loss of money and harm to one’s practical interests, one must uphold principles. Freedom is not free. In the fight for freedom, there is a cost to pay. People will praise as pioneers those who are willing to pay that cost.

If Google with its technological prowess dedicates itself to the great undertaking of Internet freedom, we believe Google will blaze a new trail for Internet freedom. On behalf of all the staff of the Epoch Times News Group and our readers, we welcome Google to join us in the fight for information freedom. Together, we strive to spread the truth and say no to deceptive lies.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/32005/

 

美众议院通过605号决议案

要求中共立即停止迫害法轮功

【明慧网二零一零年三月十七日】（明慧记者王英编译报导）二零一零年三月十六日下午五点三十分，美国国会众议员在国会大厦以412票赞成，1票反对的压倒性票数通过了第605号决议案。国会众议员在议案中对过去十年来仅仅因为个人信仰而遭受中共持续迫害的法轮功学员及其家人表示同情，要求中共立即停止对法轮功学员的迫害、胁迫、监禁及酷刑折磨，释放所有被关押的法轮功学员。

605号决议案是由美国国会众议院外交事务委员会资深成员、佛罗里达州共和党众议员伊莲娜-罗斯雷婷恩（Ileana Ros-Lehtinen）提出的。

决议案要求立即废除江泽民为“消灭”法轮功而下令成立的非法机构“六一零”办公室，立即释放那些仅仅因为他们的信仰而被关押在监狱、劳教所的法轮功学员，其中包括那些被关押的美国公民和永久居民的亲属。

决议案认为，美国总统和国会议员应在中共迫害法轮功十一年之际，公开站在因个人信仰而遭受迫害的法轮功学员一边，运用一切可能的方式与法轮功学员见面，表明支持良知自由仍是美国政府的基本原则。

605号决议案获得通过当天，议案起草人罗斯雷婷恩议员在投票前陈述说：“中共系统杀戮法轮功学员，以获取他们的器官，这残忍得令人无法想象。”

她说：“这似乎让人无法理解，如此的暴行竟会发生在二十一世纪，其残酷程度可与罗马帝国皇帝把基督徒扔给狮子吃掉相提并论。”

她说：“法轮功基于真、善、忍法理，然而这些无辜的人们却遭到中共政权的残酷迫害，中共采用邪恶至极的手段，这些手段包括：摘取法轮功学员的器官，甚至暴力恐吓那些居住在美国的法轮功学员。”

罗斯莱亭恩议员说：“作为这项决议案的起草人，我感到自豪。这项决议集中针对发生在当今世界上对一个特定团体进行系统迫害的最邪恶的案例。”

以下为美国国会众议院表决通过的第605号决议案（译文）。

美国第111届国会
第一次会议
第605号决议案

认识到中共长达十年的对在中国的法轮功学员的迫害还在持续。要求立即停止迫害、恐吓、监禁和酷刑折磨法轮功学员。

鉴于，法轮功是由李洪志先生创立的中国传统修炼功法，基于真、善、忍原则，包括精神内涵和指导日常生活的道德教导，还有打坐和动功；

鉴于，根据国会中国委员会二零零八年的年度报告，在九十年代，有数千万的中国公民修炼法轮功。尽管中共不断迫害法轮功，在中国境内，仍有数百万人修炼法轮功。其它在西方发表的媒体估计，在中国的法轮功学员有千万计；

鉴于，一九九六年，法轮功的书籍在中国被禁止出版发行，国营媒体开始进行诬蔑法轮功的运动；

鉴于，一九九九年，中共警察开始在公园里骚扰法轮功学员晨炼，并且开始搜查法轮功学员的家；

鉴于，一九九九年四月二十五日，上万名法轮功学员在北京信访办请愿，要求释放被抓捕的学员，允许出版法轮功的著作，允许法轮功学员不受干扰的自由炼功；

鉴于，朱镕基总理会见法轮功学员，并同意释放被抓捕的学员后，中共当时的总书记江××指责朱镕基，并下令迫害法轮功；

鉴于，一九九九年六月，江××下令成立凌驾于法律之上的组织“六一零”办公室，企图铲除法轮功；

鉴于，一九九九年七月，中共警察开始抓捕法轮功学员；

鉴于，一九九九年七月二十二日，中共国营媒体开始诬蔑法轮功的运动；

鉴于，根据西方媒体的报导，一九九九年十月，江××下令将法轮功定为“×教”；

鉴于，中共当局在过去的十年中，在世界范围内动用大量资源长期诬蔑法轮功；

鉴于，二零零四年十月十日，美国国会众议院通过了关于中共在中国和美国迫害法轮功的304号决议案，该决议案注意到，中共企图在美国压制法轮功和中国民运团体的声音；

鉴于，二零零五年十月十八日，中国人权律师高智晟写信给中共主席胡锦涛和总理温家宝，呼吁停止迫害法轮功。结果中共当局关闭了高智晟的律师事务所，吊销了他的律师执照。并且中共保安人员直接参与了去年二月四日高智晟的失踪案；

鉴于，高智晟的家人已经被批准在美国政治庇护；

鉴于，联合国反酷刑委员会在二零零八年十二月十二日发行的有关中国的第四期报告中说，中共应立即对法轮功学员受到酷刑和摘取器官的报导进行调查，并采取适当措施确保那些犯罪者被绳之以法；

鉴于，国际特赦组织二零零八年的报告中说，法轮功学员在被关押期间面临受到酷刑和虐待的风险极高。在二零零七年，有一百多名法轮功学员死于关押期间，或死于酷刑折磨、被剥夺食物、医疗和其它的虐待。

鉴于，根据二零零八年美国国务院关于中国人权的报告，一些外国观察家估计，在中国劳教所里关押的二十五万在押者，至少有一半是法轮功学员。海外法轮功学员统计的数字更高；

鉴于，根据国会及行政当局中国委员会二零零八年关于中国的报告，在二零零八年北京夏季奥运会前的几个月，中共加强了已持续九年的对法轮功的迫害；

鉴于，中共使用防火墙系统、严密地封锁法轮功学员的网站；

鉴于，根据《纽约时报》二零零九年四月份的一篇文章说，人权专家说，在过去的一年中，有八千名法轮功学员受到关押，至少有一百名法轮功学员死于关押期间；所以，现在

众议院达成决议，

（1）对那些仅仅因为坚持他们的个人信仰，在过去十年间遭受迫害、胁迫、监禁、酷刑折磨、甚至被迫害致死的法轮功学员及他们的家人表示同情；

（2）要求中共当局立即终止迫害、胁迫、监禁、酷刑折磨法轮功学员，立即废除江××为“消灭”法轮功而下令成立的非法机构“六一零”办公室，立即释放那些仅仅因为他们的信仰而被关押在监狱、劳教所的法轮功学员，其中包括那些被关押的美国公民和永久居民的亲属。

（3）敦促美国总统奥巴马和国会议员在中共迫害法轮功十一年之际，公开站在因个人信仰而遭受迫害的法轮功学员一边，运用一切可能的方式与法轮功学员见面，表明支持良知自由仍是美国政府的基本原则。

发稿：2010年03月17日  更新：2010年03月20日 02:54:33
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