China is one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations, consisting of states and cultures dating back more than six millennia. It is a growing country in terms of population and economic activity. All countries around the world have their positives and negatives and this is no exception for China. There are a number of activists living in China who are discriminated by the government by what they believe in and stand for. An Activist is an especially active, vigorous advocate of a cause. Without China, the world would suffer major losses as many businesses are held there. Though China is respected in many ways by the world, there are certain issues within the country that can be improved. The main concern is human rights violation and abuse. These human rights violation can be linked to four core areas of concern.

            Two years ago, on August 24, 2006, a Chinese court sentenced a blind advocate of peasants’ rights to more than four years in prison. Chen Guangcheng was convicted of destroying property and organizing a mob to block traffic. He had earned the enmity of local Communist Party leaders in Shandong Province, in eastern China, when he sought to organize a class-action lawsuit against forced abortions and sterilizations.[1] Recently, a similar case occurred in China, involving a well-known HIV/AIDS and human rights activist, Hu Jia. Prior to the arrest, Hu Jia was placed under house arrest along with his wife, Zeng Jinyan and the youngest prisoner in China, his 4 month old daughter, Hu Qianci.

            The world has accepted that in a Communist Paradise, there will be inequality. In China, the Communist party controls the land allocation since ordinary people cannot be trusted with important decisions. The powerful and corrupt party leaders sell land to builders and their way of addressing chaos is applying more authority and limit of freedom of expression. The Chinese government constantly warns its citizens that they must obey the law and that any threats to social stability will not be tolerated. Hu Jia accepted these consequences, but he still refused to renounce. When Communists in India are offended, people are kicked out of the party, but not in China. The United States, a democratic country are making friendly signs to India, and showing aggressiveness towards China. Internal and external matters of China cannot be dismissed as regional issues. Also, relations between Taiwan, a democratic country and China are intense because of Taiwan’s independency from China.    

            As a Catholic, all life is sacred from the moment of conception until the moment of death. The mother, who because of stress has stopped producing milk, is kept under surveillance by the police, who do not permit her to leave even to buy food for her daughter. The lack of nutrients causing starvation will lead to death, not only to the child but also to the mother. With Hu Jia sent to three and a half years in prison on Thursday April 3, 2008, there is no support to the family. Jesus once taught the Beatitudes which should always be kept in one’s heart. The eighth Beatitude states, “Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."[2] Hu Jia was charged on inciting subversion of state power. He is standing alone for what is right is a well influence for those in countries with their rights limited and who fear what they believe is right and what is wrong should not worry of being victimized.

            The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society. Under article 19, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”[3] Protesting within a certain limit, Hu Jia has his freedom of speech/expression violated. Also, the youngest prisoner in China, Hu Qianci along with her innocent mother is punished in an inhuman approach. Article 5 declares, “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”[4] Though they are under house arrest, the basic needs should be achieved such as transporting food and clothing to them.      

China is the world’s growing and developing country nowadays. The economy today is striving towards new goals daily. Externally, China and the United States rely on one another in terms of the economic growth of each country. Hu Jia who is 34 years old is an unemployed husband and father who has a college diploma.[5] Prior to his sentencing in jail, he was unemployed as well because he was under house arrest. He and his family have been poor for several years because he was not permitted to labour, either is his wife. The economy is growing everyday, but issues locally, similar to Hu Jia’s causes many citizens of China to be unemployed.  The stability of China should be of concern to every globalized country.

The future of China is looking bright because it will transform from a communism country into a democratic country like many other countries in our time. Hu Jia should not be have been sentenced to prison for three and a half years long. He should be sentenced for a maximum of one year or less because there was no one harmed physically but himself and his family. The four central concerns have been offered and now it is up to the government in China to ensure what they will decide is right and best for its society.  Freedom of an individual should not be prohibited as everyone is born equally in freedom and rights. Fair treatment to all citizens will result in a well organized nation. In the future, China will be an influence for other countries and be the one of the world’s open-minded and just leaders.

Posted by bosh4 at 9:28 PM EDT

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