Amnesty International Australia

A birthday in jail for two Chinese dissidents

Two Chinese prisoners of conscience – Shi Tao and Hu Jia – will today celebrate their birthdays behind bars.

Dissident’s wife appeals to China’s Hu Jintao

The wife of a blind, jailed Chinese activist has appealed to China's President to put a stop to the official harassment of her family.

What do Beijingers reckon about the Olympics?

How have the Olympics affected Beijingers? Jocelyn Ford, a Beijing-based journalist, has put together the insider's view in the form of a video series; this is the promo for it.

China in the headlines – 24 July 2008

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

• Chinese people will know better than to demonstrate in Beijing's specially set up protest zones during the Olympics, says a human rights researcher.

• China looks like it's preparing for a military encounter not the Olympics, reckon the Los Angeles Times.

• A Tibetan activist is suing the Chinese Government for refusing to give her a passport.

Plus …

AOC, athlete freedom of speech, and the Olympics

ABC 730 Report: John Coates, President of the Australian Olympic Committee, discusses the Beijing Olympics, the torch relay, and clears up some confusion regarding freedom of speech for Australian Olympic athletes

Days from release activist’s jail term is extended

Worrying news has come in overnight that housing rights activist Ye Guozhu, who had been due to be released from prison this Saturday, is to be held until after 1 October.

Winners and losers in China’s Internet censorship

As foreigners start to converge on China, bloggers are reporting previously forbidden websites are now suddenly accessible.

Beijing’s efforts to cut pollution

AP has posted this clip on YouTube about China's last-minute push – including an alternate day car ban – to reduce pollution before the Games start on 8 August. Beijing has a notorious pollution problem.

Olympics will lift country’s image say Chinese

Most Chinese people believe the Olympics will boost the country's image and will be a success, according to a new poll.

China in the headlines – 23 July 2008

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

• The International Olympic Committee, corporate sponsors and the world's governments should have held China to its promise to improve human rights, writes the New York Times.

• Sting, Moby, Alanis Morissette and a bunch of other musicians feature on a pro-Tibet album, due for release just days before the Olympics open.

• Posters listing things Chinese people shouldn't ask foreigners are appearing around Beijing.

Plus …

Weekly report: How not to help the Chinese, part 9

Sport isn't the only thing on the minds of multinationals in Beijing, writes Antony Loewenstein

China writes rules for everyone

There seems to be rules for everything and everyone in China these days. There are rules for journalists covering the Games, for spectators, for athletes, for foreign visitors, for Beijing residents; there are even new postal rules.

China in the headlines – 22 July 2008

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

• China's clampdown is in full swing with petitioners being banished from Beijing.

• Cyber-dissident Du Daobin has been taken away by police.

• Terrorism fears in China are boosted after explosions on two public buses about an hour apart.

Plus …

Bloggers lobby to free China’s Huang Qi

A campaign is spreading across the Internet to free Chinese human rights activist Huang Qi, who before his detention had been helping parents who lost children in May's Sichuan earthquake.

Stand up and be counted

Amnesty International Australia and the team behind the new movie Salute have released the third and final teaser about human rights and the Beijing Olympics.

Have your say… get loud and make them listen

When the Chinese Government bid for and successfully won the Olympic Games, they made commitments to improve human rights in China.

So far the Chinese Government is a long way from fulfilling its Olympic commitments.

China in the headlines – 21 July 2008

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

• One China-based blogger has been asking his neighbours and acquaintances what they think about the Olympics.

• Human rights campaigner Huang Qi, who had been helping families who lost their children in the Sichuan earthquake, as been charged with 'possession of state secrets'.

• China says it will ban any musician or entertainer who has ever engaged in activities which threaten the country's national sovereignty.

Plus …

Part two: Never a right time to protest

Here's the second teaser, about human rights and the Olympics, from the team behind the new movie Salute and Amnesty International Australia.

ACT NOW - Join the online Day of Protest

On the 10 day countdown to the Beijing Olympics (30 July), Amnesty International will be co-ordinating a global, online day of protest against Internet censorship in China. We aim to 'occupy' as many online spaces as possible to demonstrate our solidarity with netizens in China and to call on major Internet companies to end their complicity in violating the freedom of expression and information of Chinese citizens.

Join Us

The great China debate

What is the human rights legacy going to be for the Beijing Olympics? What do you think?