Amnesty International Australia

Weekly report: Growth + power = abuse?

China's rapid growth is often forgotten when analysing the country's human rights record, but these issues should not be ignored in the rush for super-power status, writes Antony Loewenstein.

Numbers tell the story

Journalists in prison, crimes punishable by death, foreign correspondents arrested – check out how the figures stack up for China.

Bush’s broken promises

US President George W. Bush said he’d take China to task over human rights, but his track record since the 2000 elections is shameful, says The New Republic.

Earthquake devastates parts of China

Amnesty International expresses its deep sympathy to all the people affected by the devastating earthquake that hit China on May 12.

World headlines – 13 May 2008

In the latest wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:

News of yesterday’s devastating earthquake in Sichuan first broke on social networking site Twitter, six people are punished after protesting against a petrochemical project and Hong Kong’s cardinal on the lack of religious freedom in China plus …

Athletes allowed basic freedom of expression

Amnesty International welcomes the decision by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to allow athletes greater freedom of expression, but urges them to do more to uphold the Olympic Charter.

Activists hit Hong Kong’s streets

Less than 100 days before the Beijing Games, leading youth activists from the Asia Pacific region hit the streets of Hong Kong with their hopes for a positive Olympic human rights legacy.

Internet blocking in China

Blocked, banned and jailed in China – OpenNet Initiative has just released a run-down of some Internet filtering incidents from around the world last year. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it’s pretty interesting.

World headlines – 12 May 2008

In the latest wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:

The Australia Olympic Committee’s move to relax protest guidelines for athletes may be followed by others, a run-down of Tianya, one of China’s most popular and famous message forums, and Adidas’s CEO talks about the torch relay and human rights plus …

Shi Tao – jailed for sending an email

Chinese journalist Shi Tao is serving 10 years in jail after Internet company Yahoo! gave the authorities his personal email account-holder information.

Appealing to Google

Google recently held its AGM at its corporate headquarters in California. Amnesty International’s US section used the meeting to put forward a shareholder motion calling for the company to do more to fight censorship in China.

Yang Tongyan – pro-democracy activist and freelance writer

Yang Tongyan wrote web articles in support of democratic and political change in China. A court convicted him of 'subversion' and jailed him for 12 years.

World headlines – 9 May 2008

In today’s wrap-up from news outlets and bloggers across the globe:

China can’t guarantee a completely unrestricted Internet during the Olympics, claims the torch was extinguished by protesters in Shenzhen, Mainland China and the Black Eyed Peas’ front man says a boycott is a mistake plus …

Huang Jinqiu - Internet essayist and journalist

Huang Jinqiu criticised China and it cost him his freedom. The journalist has been jailed, tortured and beaten.

Ye Guozhu - evicted from his home

Property owner Ye Guozhu is one of the many Beijing residents evicted from their homes to make way for Olympic building work. He spoke out and was put behind bars.

We continue to closley monitor developments in this case and will bring you updates as available.

What the Australian Olympic Committee sponsors say

Here’s a rundown what some of the corporate sponsors of the Australian Olympic Committee have said about human rights and the Olympics. There are also extracts and links to their corporate social responsibility policies.

What the Beijing Olympic sponsors say about CSR

Here’s a rundown what some of the corporate sponsors of the Beijing Olympics have said about human rights and the Olympics. There are also extracts and links to their corporate social responsibility policies.

Bu Dongwei – imprisoned for his beliefs. RELEASED 2008

Bu Dongwei had been tortured, beaten and locked up, all because of his spiritual beliefs. In 2008 Bu Dongwei was released 4 months earlier than his scheduled release date.

A corporate social responsibility Q&A

What international guidelines and organisations have been established to address corporate social responsibility?

These include the United Nations Norms, the United Nations Global Compact and a multi-stakeholder initiative.

Tiananmen Mothers – human rights defenders

The Tiananmen Mothers are fighting for justice for those killed and injured in an attack on peaceful protestors in Beijing's Tiananmen Square almost two decades ago.