Furor is all over the place. In its continuing paranoid control of the Internet, the new “mandatory software” is one more step. Government officials declare that in China the “Internet is free”. What a joke. So where is You-Tube and all the other sites, now busted?
Those goons are afraid of their own shadow. Of course, Iran and other so-called “governments” are even worse. It makes China look ridiculous and insecure.
I will make sure nothing of the kind is on my MAC. You bet. Nobody can trust those goons. You want parental control, great. Buy the right software. That’s your decision.
Instead, they illegally appoint a supplier – without the mandatory open bidding, wasting tax payers’ money (I’m one of them!). They ever heard about the “Government Procurement Law” and “China Bidding Law”?
Now see this exciting news from tech.qianlong.com in China:
“California-based Solid Oak says it has found pieces of its CyberSitter program in China’s Green Dam – Youth Escort screening software. China has required that all new PCs contain filters to protect children from pornographic content on the Internet. The Chinese firm that made Green Dam – Youth Escort, Jinhui Computer System Engineering – denies any wrongdoing. Solid Oak President Brian Milburn says, “We’re in contact with Dell, HP and others to stop compromised material from being shipped.” He says the compromised software contains code from CyberSitter and has already been installed on 9 million computers in China. He also says that Solid Oak will file a complaint with the FBI’s Computer Crime Task Force.”
If that is not enough – maybe to raise employment? – Beijing is setting up an army of mini spies (on top of the tens of thousand other censors):
“The Beijing municipal government is to experiment with a new (???) model of internet control that will see a team of 10,000 “freelance” censors monitor “unhealthy” Web content and name registration.
Deputy Mayor Cai Fuchao, also head of the municipal propaganda department, said the capital would implement a series of internet monitoring measures in an effort “to purify the internet environment”, the Beijing News reported yesterday.” (reported by SCMP)
Define “unhealthy”?
International Copyright Exchange (Beijing)
On 8 May Gilbert Van Kerckhove took part as a VIP guest and speaker in the official opening of the International Copyright Exchange (ICE). It is established jointly by the Copyright Protection Center of China, China Beijing Equity Exchange and Beijing Dongcheng District Government.
In his speech, Gilbert underlined the importance of the ICE for Bencham and the European Chamber. ICE was set up on 16 February, serving as the biggest trading platform for copyright business to improve the copyright market and protect IPR in China.
ICE is located in the Yonghe Plaza, which is part of the Zhongguancun Science Park and is a hub for cultural & creative industries. With the west tower of Yonghe Plaza being its main office building, ICE’s office area also extends to Gehua Tower and its neighboring area. ICE’s members include copyright management organizations under the direct leadership of central and local governments, industry associations, major enterprises, service providers and agencies. ICE aims at constructing a complete industrial chain, making Yonghe Plaza the largest and most influential copyright industry hub and accelerator in China as well as a international copyright trading base.
Pig Flu Alert in our Beijing Office!
In light of recent events, you are hereby encouraged to be more vigilant and take extra precautions against contracting colds and flu. Please find attached a picture of a member of staff who has contracted what doctors confirm to be swine flu. The identity of the employee is being withheld until his next of kin are informed.
Regards
The Health Committee
Our poor affected employee
Gilbert on Up-Close – CCTV9 (updated)
On Sunday 14 June, Gilbert was interviewed by Ms. Eyee Hsu, the host of the famous program of CCTV9 “Up-Close”. See here intro and also the list of questions I got. Should be on air in about one month. It is the Chinese version of the “Oprah or Larry King” talk shows.
Up-Close is a program on CCTV International (CCTV9). CCTV International is the English language 24-hour news channel of China Central Television, and is China’s foremost English Channel. Along with its viewers within China, CCTV International covers the whole globe via six satellites. Its programs can be seen by 65 million subscribers in over 120 countries across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Central/South America.
Up-Close is an interview program featuring intimate discussions with extraordinary individuals who are making news in China and the world. Broadcast each Sunday, the 45-minute program focuses on exciting newsmakers discussing topics of regional and global concern today. As CCTV9’s only program with a studio audience, our show is an “Up Close” conversation between our inspiring guests and YOU. Touch the times with Up-Close!
Some of former guests:
Ma Yun (Alibaba.com), Juan Antonio Samaranch, He Zhenliang (China’s Olympic Committee), Hein Verbruggen, Fidel V. Ramos, Serge Abou, Jet Li, Geoff Raby, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Jane Goodall etc.
-
- Preparing for the interview
-
- Gilbert and host Eyee Hsu
-
- The stage
-
- Part of the audience (with Valerie)
Questions:
1. The Beijing community nicknames you the “fireman”. Why do they call you that?
2. You became well-known in the Beijing community when you became a senior adviser for the Beijing Municipal Gov’t in 1999 and later became involved in the Beijing Olympics. How did this opportunity come about?
3. What were your responsibilities? People call you the “spokesperson” for Beijing. Or should they call you the Beijing “Salesman”?
4. In the middle of Olympics planning came the SARS epidemic. How did you convince foreign delegates to come to Beijing during that sensitive period?
5. Why do you think you were chosen to play such an important role in the Beijing Olympics?
6. You were a consultant for the large-scale Olympics venues. Today, a big challenge is the revenue potential of the Beijing Olympic venues. What are your thoughts?
7. People say you are probably one of the most influential of the Beijing Municipal government’s foreign experts. Why do you think you have been so successful in this aspect?
8. How has being Belgian played a factor in your success as a “facilitator”?
9. You came to China in 1980. Why did you decide to move here?
10. When you planned on coming to China in 1980, how supportive were your family and friends?
11. What were your first impressions of China back then?
12. Did you enjoy your life here back in the 80s? Did you experience culture shock? What did you do in your free time?
13. How and when did you decide China would become your second home?
14. Compared to the China of the 80s, how would you describe the China of today?
15. I know you have an intelligent and beautiful wife that shares many of your same ideals. She is also Chinese. Did you expect to find your soul mate in China?
16. How “Chinese” have you become?
17. I hear you are one of few foreigners who have a Chinese “green card”. What does this mean to you?
18. You have received a number of awards – from the Chinese government, and your own Belgian Prince bestowed the title of Knight to you! What did this mean to you? What do you remember of that day?
19. The Beijing Olympics are over. What are you focusing your efforts on now?
20. Rumors are there is a book on the way. What is it about?
21. What strikes you the most when you think of your 30 years in China?
22. Do you see yourself ever leaving China?
As for the answers… watch the program…
Overall, nice experience. Working with CCTV people is overall nice – they are very professional – often better than with foreign journalists who can be pretty annoying, abrasive and tricky at times.
New position with Ministry of Civil Affairs
5 June 2009 – News Release
Gilbert Van Kerckhove has been appointed as International Director of the “The Managing Committee of the China Ageing International Development Foundation”.
He reports to the Executive Director, Mr. Li Shu Chun, formerly Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs who has the rank of minister. Mr. Li attended the Rotary Ball as a VIP guest on 23 May 2009 and the Foundation’s website shows pictures of him during the Ball, see here more.
The Foundation has recently been set up to contribute to the improvement of the growing elderly population. The Committee is under the leadership of National Ageing Office and supervised by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. For further details please visit the website: http://www.caidf.org.cn/en_index.html
The Leadership list:
See:
– http://www.caidf.org.cn/leadershiplist.html (English)
– http://www.caidf.org.cn/show.aspx?id=58&cid=17 (Chinese)
In 1989, China designated the “Ninth day of the Ninth month of the Lunar Calendar” to be the Festival Day for the Elderly. This day, also known as the Chongyang Festival, promotes respect, love and assistance towards the elderly. With the strong support of the Chinese government, the Committee will host the “First China International Chongyang Festival”. In 2009, Chongyang Day will be on October 26th, 2009.
The Committee wishes to invite international representatives who are over 60, enjoy good standing and are famous in their country because of their previous career or through their success after retirement. The Committee will hold a lucky draw to select 99 illustrious representatives from 99 countries out of 171 countries having diplomatic relationship with China, to celebrate the Chongyang Festival in Beijing together with Chinese VIP guests.
Further details are available through Gilbert.