Initiatives for China | Advancing a peaceful transition to democracy in China through truth, understanding, citizen power, & cooperative action

Posted by Initiatives for China on Jan 8, 2012

Documentary on Forced Eviction

This is a documentary of China forced eviction, created by Nanfang Daily. Video has footages of violent eviction across China. Viewers discretion is advised. Youtube: 南都深呼吸 :...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Dec 18, 2011

Václav Havel, 1936-2011

Václav Havel 1936-2011 Charter 77 Dissident, Human Rights Activist, and former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel – freedom fighter, dissident, Charter 77 author, human rights activist, and former President of the Czech Republic – died today after a long illness. Initiatives for China wishes to extend its respects to the people of the Czech Republic in sympathy for their loss. A...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Dec 16, 2011

Christian Bale Tries To Visit Chen Guangcheng

DONGSHIGU VILLAGE, China (CNN) — As Christian Bale approached an impromptu checkpoint leading to this tiny village in eastern China, four men blocking the narrow path started marching toward him in menacing unison. “I am here to see Chen Guangcheng,” the “Dark Knight” actor said and I translated, with correspondent Stan Grant and cameraman Brad Olson next to us. “Go...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Dec 16, 2011

China Withdraws Probation for Gao Zhisheng

BEIJING (AP) – Chinese activist lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has not been seen in public for more than 20 months, has been sent back to jail for three years for breaking his probation, state media reported Friday. The brief report by the state-run Xinhua News Agency marked the first official confirmation that Gao is still alive. Rights groups have repeatedly voiced concern about Gao’s situation and...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Dec 13, 2011

Forum: Democracy and Human Rights in Asia

Prague, December 11, 2011. With the invitation from former Czech Republic president Vácal Havel, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and president of Initiatives for China, Yang Jianli, along with other three participants attended Forum: Democracy and Human Rights in Asia – One Year after an empty Chair in Oslo. The participants also signed the Prague Declaration in order to “join in the...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Dec 8, 2011

Liu Xiaobo, The Spirit that Cannot Be Imprisoned

Liu Xiaobo, The Spirit that Cannot Be Imprisoned An interview with Yang Jianli On December 10th, 2010, The Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee gave the Nobel Peace Prize to famous Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. A year has passed. We have heard nothing from Liu Xiaobo, and his wife Liu Xia is cut off from contact with the world as well. Some organizations will hold events to bring focus on Liu Xiaobo and Liu...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Dec 1, 2011

H.H. Dalai Lama to visit CzechRep at Havel’s invitation

Prague, Nov 24 (CTK) – The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will visit Prague in December after two years, again at the invitation of his friend and former Czech president Vaclav Havel and the Forum 2000 Foundation, the foundation told CTK Thursday. The Dalai Lama visited the Czech Republic several times in the past. Most recently he attended a Prague conference on democracy in Asia two years...

Posted by Initiatives for China on Nov 26, 2011

China Communist leader claims to have worked in New Haven City Hall

By Ed Stannard, New Haven Register Metro Editor NEW HAVEN — A rising Chinese communist star who claimed to have served as an assistant to Mayor John DeStefano Jr. in 2000 was largely responsible for the torture and imprisonment of an outspoken human rights activist, according to China watchers in this country. Li Qun, who spent six months studying public administration at the University of New Haven,...