ResoNet_Green Bay on Store Str.

Finally, ResoNet_Green Bay are on Store Street. More images and stories will be followed when I recover from the busy schedule.

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resonet_greenbay_onsite_02.JPG Continue reading ‘ResoNet_Green Bay on Store Str.’

Zaha’s Mega Shoe for Melissa

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Funny video, not sure why Zaha Hadid tried to create this mega shoe. experiment the ‘technology’? (I meant the technique is pretty much a century old. no? apart from precise CNC cutting wooden mould.) testing psycho-size? or shouting to the world ‘I am a giant shoe maker!’;);)

Very entertaining in deed, watch the creation process of a pair of Zaha Hadid designed shoes in collaboration with Brazilian shoe brand Melissa.

CDR@V&A

cdr_fridaylate_invitation_whchen.jpg

 

www.cdregion.com
CDR at V&A Fridaylate Beijing 27th June

Cutting Edge
Room 47c
18.30-22.30

Pick up a pair of scissors and join William Hailiang Chen and members of Chinese Designer’s Region in creating this cut-paper installation. Inspired by traditional Chinese paper-cutting and responding to the mosaic floor throughout the V&A, the installation will run along the floor of the galleries like a carpet strip. At the end of the night, you can even take a piece home!

Sound Message Board
India, Room 44
18.30-22.30, live performance 19.00, 20.00, 21.00 (duration approx 15 mins)

What does the sound of writing convey? Write your message on these textured message boards with improvised writing instruments and hear your ideas resonant. Devised by sound artist Zhu Tiantian (Chinese Designer’s Region), she will create live soundscapes in response to your aural messages.

For CDR programs on the event, please visit
www.cdregion.com
For other programs on the event, please visit
www.vam.ac.uk/fcfridaylate  

ResoNet_Green Bay Competition

resonet_greeningbays

ResoNet_Green Bay
by Mark Francis Tynan, William Hailiang Chen and Tai Hollingsbee

ResoNet_tensegrity at Finalist on ‘Greenbay’ competition
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=725&storycode=3115612&c=

Architects to stage urban intervention at LFA 2008
11 June, 2008

Parking bays and design aren’t two words which normally trip off the tongue together, but a competition run by Ramboll Whitbybird is using design to draw attention to just how much space is given up to cars in the city.

It has shortlisted 14 teams to create a series of “urban interventions” during the 2008 London Festival of Architecture to turn a series of parking spaces green.

Overnight on Thursday 3 July, volunteers will turn 14 car parking spaces on Store Street ‘green’ to highlight how much space in the city is given up to cars. Each team will have a budget of £200. The shortlisted teams were chosen based on the designs ability to create discourse and to challenge perception, its use of sustainable materials, and its buildability.

Also on London Festival of Architecture website:

http://www.lfa2008.org/event.php?id=858&name=Ramboll+Whibybird%27s+Greening+Bays

Leal Bao’s attitude of mind on Design

Leal Bao who is one of founders for CDR has written down his thoughts about the attitude on design, particularly for those Chinese students who are eager to study abroad, look for ‘fame’ and try to enter famous school. Frankly, if I have time and write something about my thoughts on studying at AA, I probably will point out some similar issues. Surely, below is from his bottom of heart even I have known him for a while but I never really know what he is thinking. He is a person who seldom talks too much(I meant ‘to speak out his opinions’), very quite and focus ‘On line’/his pretty apple ’toy’;) ……pitty, CDR loses a design ‘Geek’!

Please visit his blog for comments. http://luvpixel.net/blog/ 

Attitude 1

我一直不是很多話的人,但是在長期的海外生活和工作積累中難免還是會產生許多想法和思考,偏偏自己又是典型的懶散型天平座,每次思考過後卻又懶得提筆記下, 在英國的最後幾天終於可以利用這段真空期塗上幾筆。

關於攝影
確切地說是拍照,我從來沒把自己當成過攝影師,自然也到不了”攝影“的高度。經常有人看了照片之後來問用的是甚麼相機,甚麼鏡頭,甚麼膠卷,如何PS等等。其實我自己也是個半路出家的人,大學畢業後才開始摸相機,頂多算個愛好者,對於那些專用術語我至今也沒搞清除是怎麼回事,拍照對我來說只是一種感覺,一個記錄生活的方式,它不需要參雜過多的器材知識和理論,感覺對了,按下快門就好,畢竟我也不靠它吃飯。但現實中的情況是很多人跟著昂貴的器材跑,一個鏡頭拍不好就換一個,便宜的拍不好就換貴的,新手一上路就買上萬的機器,人手一本”紐約攝影教材“,集體外拍數十人盯著一個做作的模特狂按快門,攝影論壇裡成千上萬的花鳥魚蟲照片,看照片先看光圈快門數據等,這些都是讓我看不懂的,我也越來越不懂現在的”攝影發燒友“們舉起相機的最終目的是甚麼了。目前自己最常用的是eBay上買的二手小μ2傻瓜機,如果旅行的話會多帶一台FM2,也是eBay上拍來的。雖然數碼相機越來越強,但我總覺得只有拿著膠片機才真正感覺自己是在拍照。不過話說回來,許多男人天生就對精密機械有種與生俱來的狂熱,我能理解這樣的群體,玩相機的和玩鐘錶玩HIFI的其實沒有本質區別。當理科頭腦發達的人玩相機時發現自己並不具備攝影相關的藝術細胞和審美眼光後,就只能用一連串的數據來評判一張照片的好壞,看起來有點荒誕,但的確有許多人樂此不疲。

撰此短文不是諷刺器材發燒友,而是希望有更多對拍照感興趣的人對攝影有一個正確的理解。

Attitude 2

關於設計
5年前從上海一所不知名大學的環境藝術設計專業畢業後我毅然飛到英國轉修視覺傳達,三年前順利拿到學位並在倫敦開始我的第一個全職工作,現在我坐在反鄉的飛機上琢磨這幾年我到底學到了甚麼樣的設計…

我離開的這段時間恰好是創意產業在中國大陸蓬勃興起的5年,主題各異的設計展在一大批年青策展人的推動下不斷湧現,新興的創意園區一個接一個在上海北京等大城市出現,國外優秀設計公司為了在這片巨大的市場中搶得先機紛紛進駐大陸,形形色色的外國藝術家,設計師,建築師也都開始把中國作為他們新的試驗田。新一代的本土設計師們也都躍躍欲試,在這股大潮之下互相叫勁。不知是遺憾還是幸運,我並沒有身在其中,這反而讓我異常冷靜地從一個側面去觀察種種有趣和奇怪的現象。 Continue reading ‘Leal Bao’s attitude of mind on Design’

Chinese Designers’ Region(CDR)@V&A

Finally, CDR has been set up formally as a non-profit organisation. Starting from the first meeting with Get It Louder curator Ou Ning in April 2006 and also ‘Post Awakening’ party at my flat on 8th October 2006, CDR has held quite a few meetings now. We have tried to curate a collective exhibition for almost 2 years now. Finally, we begin our first step.  www.cdregion.com

CDR @ V&A Museum
As part of varied programmes and events to complement China Design Now exhibition, currently CDR is commissioned by V&A Museum to participate Free Schools and Colleges Event on 26th June as well as Friday Late Beijing event on 27th June.

Free Schools and Colleges Event
Thursday 26 June 2008
A unique opportunity for your students to gain an insight into what is happening in the Chinese design world and to meet up and coming designers and artists. Events include workshops and talks on fashion, animation, architecture, plus performances and a visit to V&A’s major spring exhibition China Design Now.

Friday Late Beijing
Friday 27 June
18:30 - 22:00
Experience China’s vibrant youth and popular culture with live bands and VJs from Beijing screenings of short films and animations, workshops and more.

For more information visit
www.vam.ac.uk/chinadesignnow

A bit of Wednesday afternoon humour!

An e-mail – “A bit of Wednesday afternoon humour!” is sent out by my colleague Andy Edge: 

—‘ I attended a party this past weekend.  After checking out all the well-dressed guests at the party, I spotted an attractive woman (standing alone) across the room.   When I approached and asked her name, she coyly replied… “Carmen.”
      
Trying to maintain some sort of conversation with her, I responded with
      

“That’s a beautiful name, is it a family name?” “No,” she replied. “I gave it to myself, because it reflects the things I like most in the world - cars and men.”
      
Then she asked, “What’s your name?” “Golftits,” I replied. ’—
 

Sure, he just copied and pasted. Not sure who is the original author.

Protected: Cutting Edge_FridayLate@V&A

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Arts for aid - Sichuan Earthquake

Just got an e-mail from artist Andrew Chong Boon Pok, just want to pass on the message:

Call for Art Works for the China Earthquake Fundraising Art Exhibition @ The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art

Dear artists,

The recent earthquake that hit China with a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale has already claimed more than 68,000 lives, and left more than 300,000 people seriously injured. Countless other victims have lost their homes and are struggling to cope with the tragic loss of family members. Urgent support is now needed to help these survivors rebuild their homes, a necessary first step to rebuild their lives.

As a Chinese artist from the disaster-affected area, I hope to help through the way I know best: through art. For this reason I am writing to appeal on artists to donate works to the Fundraising Art Exhibition. They can be any form of artwork that you think appropriate (2D or 3D). Please support our cause, your valued assistance will help to bring real changes to the lives of earthquake victims!!

Where and when: The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Arts 25th – 26th June 2008

Where funds raised will go: 100% of the sales will go to Red Cross Society of China, http://www.redcross.org.cn/index.htm

Handing in: you can hand in or post the works to

Attention to: The China Earthquake Fundraising Art Exhibition

The Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Arts, 74 High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG

Before 23rd June between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday

*Please indicate prices and your contacts (email and phone) - Unsold work will be returned

Our countless thanks!!

Wang Ruobing

seeded@gmail.com, or 077 2685 2777

Phoenix Mars Lander

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Having watched the news from BBC, Phoenix Mars Lander has successfully landed on Mars. It is so amazing and beautiful ‘machine’. The best part I like is the simple piston trangle legs and the beautiful unfurled solar panels which uses the simple geometric mechanism like the Chinese fan. (I remember they used to have a problem on unfurling the solar panels with another geometric shape.)

I should develope my folding panel paper to be like that!!!!!…..mmmm….one day maybe!….

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20070709_prt.htm 

Please click the following link for high resolution image

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/181789main_PIA09344.jpg 

Protected: From traditional houses to today’s Olympics

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Poly&Chai by Yung Ho Chang_张永和@V&A

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‘Poly & Chai’ by Yung Ho Chang - photo © Zhang Feng

I have received an invitation for private view at Yung Ho Chang’s exhibition - ‘Poly & Chai’ at V&A on 30th May. For such a long time, his reputation is much higher than what I expected to experience his works. Almost two years ago, his ‘perspective box’ - a small installation at ‘China Power Station’ exhibition at Battersea Power Station did not convience me. Perhaps, it is due to the limited time for preparation. (That exhibition is more like a modern ’fast meal’ gives you the taste of what is contemporary art and architecture in China.)  V&A has been curating this show for more than 4 years since I met the curators few years ago. This time, it suits my ‘taste’ and expectation. Well, I haven’t seen it on site yet. At least from the image, it has the quality - materality, light, texture,space,form etc…….oh, looking forward to seeing him on the openning.

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(photo taken by William Hailiang Chen on ‘Tu Mu’ exhibition at AEDES Berlin 2001.)

I still have one of his photo which I toke on ‘Tu Mu’ exhibition at AEDES gallery in Berlin 2001 when I was in second year at AA School. Since then, I haven’t seen him in person.

Above first Photo and below news are copied from Designboom, please click following link for more images
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/2926/yung-ho-chang-installation-at-the-va-museum.html

Yung Ho Chang in the V&A’s john madejski garden
from: june 2nd until september 1st, 2008

to coincide with the V&A’s major exhibition ‘china design now‘, one of china’s leading architects, yung ho chang will create a specially designed installation ‘poly & chai’ in the V&A’s john madejski garden.

for the latest in the V&A’s summer garden commissions, chang has devised a set of free standing screens inspired by traditional chinese garden design that will be arranged around the space for visitors to walk through.  the screens will be made from green recyclable plastic paving blocks, commonly used in parking lots and construction sites in china‘.

yung ho chang established china’s first private architecture firm, atelier FCJZ, in 1993. as well as overseeing a number of high profile architectural projects in china, chang is head of architecture at MIT (massachusetts institute of technology). his work can be seen in china design now, which showcases the latest in architecture, fashion and graphics to emerge from china’.

yung ho chang’s website: http://www.fcjz.com
V&A’s website: http://www.vam.ac.uk

1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die

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I got a ‘bonus’ money from Valerie at AA Photo Library. One of my photos about Naoshima Islands in Japan was selected and published by Quintessence in the following book. AA Photo Library  has hold more than hundreds photo slides taken by me. This one actually is the first one got published by other publications apart from AA publication and Chinese publication. I have not seen the book yet so I am not sure which photo was selected. As this is quite a ‘bonus’ for me, I am just a fan who like to take photos of buildings. I have donated the money to Sichuan Earthquake relief program. Hopefully, more photos will be picked!!!

 1001 Buildings You Must See Before You Die: The World’s Architectural Masterpieces
Quintessence Books) (Hardcover)
by Mark Irving (Editor)

ResoNet Video Presentation

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For such a long time, I wanted to upload this video but I never had time to manage it. Having researched on youtube, I have found out Tiantian has uploaded this video which she have done the sound design for. This video was produced for internal exhibition in my company HOK Sport. Tiantian and her boyfriend Simon has helped us to put all information about ResoNet project together to produce a documentary short film. Please also see post of ArtHOK-ResoNet launched .

ResoNet
Designed by: Mark Francis Tynan, William Hailiang Chen, and Shireen Hamdan
Film Edited by: Simon R. Odonnell
Sound design: Tiantian Zhu

ResoNet employs Low-Fi techniques to visualise the resonance frequencies inherent in the natural environment, via the interaction of the public and surrounding elements detected by a LED net.

ResoNet for FRED 07 has won 1st prize in Bright LED international competition co-organized by Designboom and Gwangju Biennale Foundation, Korea. Entrants were required to demonstrate experimentation and innovation on the theme of LED lighting. Total 3431 designers from 92 different countries have participated.  

ResoNet is a collaborative installation and would like to thank all people involved in its production, especially: Tai Hollingsbee, Francesco Anselmo, Andrew Cowell, Patrick Tynan, Amr Assaad,Fred Pittman, Chong Boon Pok. Steve Messam, Fold Gallery, FRED and the people of Kirkby Stephens. 

©reso-net.org 2008
For more information please visit:
www.reso-net.org/
www.reso-net.org/blog
www.fredsblog.co.uk/2007
http://www.designboom.com/contest/winner.php?contest_pk=19

ResoNet: Interactive light installation

共鸣网: 互动的灯光装置 

Designed by Mark Francis Tynan, William Hailiang Chen, Shireen Hamdan

Contributors: Tai Hollingsbee, Francesco Anselmo, Andrew Cowell, Patrick Tynan, Amr Assaad, Fred Pittman, Chong Boon Pok, Steve Messam 

来自大陆毕业于英国建筑联盟学校的陈海亮与校友Mark TynanShireen Hamdan  组成的设计小组的参选作品ResoNet (共鸣网) 赢得‘Bright LED’ 国际竞赛一等奖: 光州市市长奖。Bright LED是由意大利的Designboom 韩国光州设计双年展(Gwangju Biennale Foundation) 联合举办。竞赛主题要求作品在LED灯光设计上有实验性及创意。此次竞赛吸引了3431位来之92个国家的设计师。获奖作品在韩国光州设计双年展期间(05.10.2007-03.11.2007) 展出。( Gwangju Design Biennale ) 

ResoNet是一个在户外的LED灯光装置作品。作品是由英国艺术协会赞助委托,特别为每年秋季在坎布里亚郡 (Cumbria) 举行的欧洲最大的户外艺术活动FRED 07而制作的。ResoNet是由Resonance(共鸣)Network(网络) 两个词汇合并而成;意译便成共鸣网 。作品通过一个LED的网络与公众以及周边环境产生互动,将自然环境中截取的共鸣现象视觉化。运用Low-Fi技术, 通过共鸣网结构上振感器的触发,创造了一个光影闪烁的瀑布效果。  ResoNet的张力网像一个蜘蛛网一样横跨于树干之间。360个的振感器和LED布满在结构网上的节点上,去探测感应周边环境及人类每一刻的动静。风吹草动,这轻微的能量被转变成光影与整个网结构共鸣, 使观者沉浸于星光闪烁的光影瀑布中

共鸣网’作品在自然,艺术与科技的边界中探究,试图创造一个瞬间浮现的物理现象。在这里,光是自然永恒的主题。 

相关信息链接
www.designboom.com/contest/view.php?contest_pk=19&item_pk=18021&p=1
 
www.reso-net.org 
www.fredsblog.co.uk/2007 
(: LED 发光二级管(light-emitting diode陈海亮是07大声展的参展艺术家之一,现在在英国伦敦的霍克体育建筑事务所HOK Sport Ltd. 参与伦敦2012年奥林匹克体育场的设计工作。)

Shanghai City Weekend @V&A

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Finally, through an over night hard work; we finished the paper folding panel wall for ‘Shanghai City Weekend’ -a fashion catwalk show for ‘China Design Now’ in V&A Museum. 

Thanks all the help from Wang kai,  Hu Xingzhu, Quan Shanshan and her boyfriend Alex.

I am very pleased with the final result in terms of the timing and budget.  (only 3days planning and one day for production.)

Organisor Xiaoyi Li asked me to design a ’screen’ background for the fashion show  on Monday and requested me to finish it by Saturday. I really had to do something magic about it. Finally, I came out the solution which used the invention from my third year academic project about paper folding.

More report will come out later.

You will still be able to see the fashion show again today at lunch time from 12:30 to 1pm and also from 3:30-4pm. It is a free event inside V&A’s Raphael Gallery as part of satellite events for ‘China Design Now’.

Continue reading ‘Shanghai City Weekend @V&A’

Ma Ke’s fashion show@ V&A

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Fashion in Motion
China Fashion Now
Friday 16 May 2008
14:00, 17:00, 20:00
Raphael Gallery

The V&A 2008 Fashion In Motion series opens with a show of work by Zhuhai-based designer Ma Ke. Coinciding with the V&A’s China Design Now exhibition, the event focuses on the artistic label of one of China’s most talented and prolific fashion designers. Ma Ke graduated from the Suzhou Institute of Silk Textile Technology in 1992 and four years later set up her own label Exception de Mixmind.

Her interest in the cross over between art and fashion led her to establish the brand Wuyong (Useless) in 2006. Wuyong is an examination of the concept of ‘uselessness’ and how this interpretation varies when seen from different points of view. Ma Ke is an advocate of sustainability in fashion and with Wuyong she invites the audience to consider the idea of recycling and reusing found objects and old textiles to create beautiful and unique garments. For Ma Ke this focus on persona; interpretation and transformation is a way of highlighting the importance of the individual and the inestimable value of life.

In February 2007 Ma Ke became one of the first contemporary Chinese fashion designers to show at Paris Fashion Week. Her collection’s dramatic style and unexpected presentation attracted much attention within both art and fashion circles. Continue reading ‘Ma Ke’s fashion show@ V&A’

Time to pray:18.05.08@SOAS

I received the following post from Leal Bao and not sure who designed it. Basically, the post says there will be a pray and condolence service in SOAS sunday night at 8pm on 18th of May 2008. It is organised by CSSA-UK, SOAS Chinese Student Union and Sichuanese Association.

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China Sichuan Earthquake * 因为爱

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Following text copied from video above.

We need your help!
My best friend is still missing!
Mercy Corp online donation.
http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/c…
Canada Red Cross Online Donation.
http://www.paypaq.com/redcross/new/in…
China Red Cross Online Donation.
http://www.redcross.org.cn/

British Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.uk/

If you reside in the US,especially if you are in greater Los Angeles area, you can call 1-626-974-0153 to get details on how you can help. Monetary and Material donations are both urgently in need.
Asian American associates on that phone line will help you complete and allocate your donations in the most efficient way.

Open Letter to Prime Minister

My british colleague recently circulated around this funny e-mail about HYPOCRISY of British government. Hope you enjoy it.

Don’t you wish that you had written this?

Subject: Passport Application

Dear Minister,
I’m in the process of renewing my passport but I am a total loss to understand or believe the hoops I am being asked to jump through.

How is it that Bert Smith of T.V. Rentals Basingstoke has my address and telephone number and knows that I bought a satellite dish from them back in 1994, and yet, the Government is still asking me where I was born and on what date?

How come that nice West African immigrant chappy who comes round every Thursday night with his DVD rentals van can tell me every film or video I have had out since he started his business up eleven years ago, yet you still want me to remind you of my last three jobs, two of which were with contractors working for the government?

How come the T.V. detector van can tell if my T.V. is on, what channel I am watching and whether I have paid my licence or not, and yet if I win the government run lottery they have no idea I have won or where I am and will keep the bloody money to themselves if I fail to claim in good time.
Do you people do this by hand?

You have my birth date on numerous files you hold on me, including the one with all the income tax forms I’ve filed for the past 30-odd years. It’s on my health insurance card, my driver’s licence, on the last four passports I’ve had, on all those stupid customs declaration forms I’ve had to fill out before being allowed off the planes and boats over the last 30 years, and all those insufferable census forms that are done every ten years and the electoral registration forms I have to complete, by law, every time our lords and masters are up for re-election.

Would somebody please take note, once and for all, I was born in Maidenhead on the 4th of March 1957, my mother’s name is Mary, her maiden name was Reynolds, my father’s name is Robert, and I’d be absolutely astounded if that ever changed between now and the day I die!

I apologise Minister. I’m obviously not myself this morning. But between you and me, I have simply had enough! You mail the application to my house, then you ask me for my address. What is going on? Do you have a gang of Neanderthals working there? Look at my damn picture. Do I look like Bin Laden? I don’t want to activate the Fifth Reich for God’s sake! I just want to go and park my weary backside on a sunny, sandy beach for a couple of week’s well-earned rest away from all this crap.

Well, I have to go now, because I have to go to back to Salisbury and get another copy of my birth certificate because you lost the last one. AND to the tune of 60 quid! What a racket THAT is!! Would it be so complicated to have all the services in the same spot to assist in the issuance of a new passport the same day? But nooooo, that’d be too damn easy and maybe make sense. You’d rather have us running all over the place like chickens with our heads cut off, then find some tosser to confirm that it’s really me on the goddamn picture - you know… the one where we’re not allowed to smile in case we look as if we are enjoying the process!
Hey, you know why we can’t smile? ‘Cause we’re totally jacked off!

I served in the armed forces for more than 25 years including over ten years at the Ministry of Defence in London. I have had security clearances which allowed me to sit in the Cabinet Office, five seats away from the Prime Minister while he was being briefed on the first Gulf War and I have been doing volunteer work for the British Red Cross ever since I left the Services. However, I have to get someone ‘important’ to verify who I am — you know, someone like my doctor…
who, before he got his medical degree 6 months ago WAS LIVING IN PAKISTAN…

Yours sincerely,
An Irate British Citizen.

A Frenchwoman living in China “I was very shocked by media coverage”

Marine, a French woman living in China, “I was very shocked by media coverage.” original it was written in French, link below.

http://kockai.blogspot.com/2008/05/marine-une-franaise-vivant-en-chine-jai.html

Translation is copied from http://www.anti-cnn.com/forum/en/thread-1603-1-1.html

 A Frenchwoman living in China “I was very shocked by media coverage”

Saturday, May 3, 2008

This page was automatically translated from French, View original web page

Testimony of Marine, an English teacher in Shanghai, completely outraged about the anti-Chinese propaganda which we are subjected on a daily basis

I am French and live in China, where I come for the first time in 2002, just by chance. J’enseignais English in France at the time and I came across an ad for a job in a Chinese University. I did not know China, but out of curiosity, I applied, and a few months later, I was there! Currently I teach English in Shanghai, in a French school. Before that, I lived and traveled in many parts of the world, especially Southeast Asia, my little bag on his back. I am neither communist nor a “fana” of China, and I think this writing in any neutrality.

I was very shocked by the coverage of recent events in Lhasa by the dominant Western media, and I was not surprised to find on the Internet articles in line with my belief: I thought that my relatives would also be pleased that I read and see unveiled the farce … But I am struck by their disbelief.

It is an intuitive feeling foremost I admit, and I personally lack of concrete evidence, but it is my firm conviction that the U.S. and other Western countries are seeking purely and simply to split China by using the “Tibetan issue” and the Tibetans, in their own interest.

Worse still, I am convinced that this is not an isolated case and that the EU create bloody conflicts throughout the world, in their sole interest, while camouflaging their motives behind the major causes ( “Human Rights “, Etc..): I find it absolutely scandalous and unacceptable, and I think it is high time that these tactics are uncovered and prevented, in order to spare us new wars!
I am convinced that American interests are the root cause of conflicts that are innocent victims in a camp as in the other, and the four corners of the world.

I note that many Westerners (manipulated by the media certainly …), are wary of China, which is constantly placed on the hot seat, about the environment, for example, while the Central Government today is d ‘enormous efforts. As regards human rights, freedom of expression, I think the accusations of the West are also totally exaggerated. What is more, with the Internet, we have access to all information circulating in the world and you can write anything you want! Incidentally, I personally do not see any censorship of the Internet, I will not go so far as to say that there is none, but in any case I have always been able since the China to sites that I was looking for. They sent me the addresses of sites today, telling me that they would surely censored: this was not the case and I was able to get there in a few seconds!

I will make a brief digression on the Chinese media, which are extremely simple for my taste, far from CNN passing loop atrocious images to firmly press the nail … None of that here! Not even propaganda anti-American or anti-anything. On the other hand, I see at this time on television, including on the international channel in English, reports detailed and very interesting history of Tibet, with documentary films to support ( “files”), which m ‘learn things we did not usually heard in France. Especially before 1959, Tibetans were subject to the system of feudal serfdom, and that their living conditions were extremely difficult. They were even tortured. Look and feel by yourself on CCTV.com / english. Continue reading ‘A Frenchwoman living in China “I was very shocked by media coverage”’

The Rise of Asia and the Decline of the West

A great conversation by Kishore Mahbubani (b. 1949, place of birth unknown) is dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. From 1971 to 2004 he served in the Singaporean Foreign Service, ending up as Singapore’s Ambassador to the United Nations. In that role he served as president of the United Nations Security Council in January 2001 and May 2002.

To comprehend what he was talking about, I also suggest you to watch my another post The Future of Europe.

For short discussion, you can watch his interview on BBC about democracy and human right.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/7370851.stm

The Rise of Asia and the Decline of the West

Conversations host Harry Kreisler welcomes Kishore Mahbubani for a discussion of the changing relationship between the West and Asia. In the interview, he describes the major transformations occurring because of the march of modernity made possible by the ideas and global institutions created by the West. He goes on to criticize the West for failing to adapt to the changing balance of power which follows from Asia’s rise.

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What’s Motivating Western-Born Islamic Terrorists? 

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BBC’s puts words in Tibetan’s mouth!

I can’t believe that: on BBC’s program ‘A year in Tibet’ documentary. The commentator put his own word ‘judgement’ on a local Tibetan Chinese’s words about British Empire invasion on Tibet in 1904 and Chinese PLA liberatoin of Tibet in 1951 then goverment got rid of serfdom society. That reminds me a comment I saw by a Hongkongnese on Tibet Riot discussion forum. (don’t remember where I seen it) He complained: yet, all I read and knew in Honkong and UK on BBC propoganda is ‘Opium War’ was not British fault. Bravo, BBC propoganda!………..

Pretty sure, BBC has ‘accused’ anyone who agreed with government as ‘brainwashed’….well, I have been brainwashed by BBC for 9 years. ‘OMG, save the Queen!’

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杨恒均: CNN为何爱国 (Interview with Rebecca McKinnon and others)

Source: (via Wenxuecity) YHJ Blog

对于西方媒体报道中国时的那种片面和偏激,我是早就领教过的。记得十几年前第一次到美国工作,为了尽快让英语听力过关,每天趴在电视机前看新闻实事或脱口秀节目。起初,由于熟悉新闻背景,完全能够听懂的几乎只有关中国的新闻报道和评论。说实话,从美国新闻里看到报道中国的新闻和他们的评论,确实很让人不爽。

即便在我自己把批评中国当作己任,自认通过批评自己的国家从而促使其进步就是最好的爱国的今天,看到西方媒体对中国的负面报道,我心里还是很不舒服。有时真想找人教训他们一下,可是找谁呢?西方的新闻媒体好像没有主管单位,看看他们如何整天批评甚至攻击总统和政府就知道了。特别是美国的福克斯新闻(FOX)攻击起克林顿夫妇,简直可以用极尽侮辱之能事。

但我也注意到一个现象,那就是在美国遭受到911袭击,以及美国先后出名阿富汗和伊拉克期间,美国的各大新闻媒体包括CNN等都显得非常爱国。这真让我迷糊了。因为那时我也对美国媒体有了一定的了解,确实知道这些媒体是享受充分独立和自由的,和政府没有什么关系,更不是什么上下级关系。那么他们怎么都那么爱国起来?好像是白宫统一安排了舆论导向似的。

这个问题也就放下了,直到两个月前我到香港参加文学节,正好和前CNN驻北京首席记者芮贝卡(Rebecca Mackinnon)同台主持我的作品研讨会。芮贝卡父亲是汉学家,她自己说很流利的中文。她以前长期在CNN工作,从1992年到2001年在CNN驻北京站任首席记者。我最早见到她就是从电视屏幕上开始的。她目前在香港大学从事媒体教学工作。以她对CNN的了解,我想,我自然会为自己的问题找到最准确或者最接近真相的答案。

在我们一起吃中饭时,我提到了这个问题。我说,一向对美国政府桀骜不驯的新闻媒体特别是CNN怎么一到了阿富汗和伊拉克战争时就忽然爱起国来,弄得我不得不怀疑白宫有幕后黑手在操纵。我想,芮贝卡一向对美国的媒体拥有比较独立和公正的看法,对中国人民也持友好的态度,她会给我一个满意的答案。

芮贝卡的回答证实了我的观察没有错。那段时间,CNN等美国大媒体确实“挺爱国的”。但她纠正我说,政府没有给压力,白宫更不敢干涉,也不会是因为CNN的老板是美国人这些原因,主要原因是有一双更加有力的无形的大手在操控。芮贝卡要用自己的亲身经历来向我解释。

阿富汗战争期间,她曾经带一个(日裔)摄影师前往阿富汗前线,为CNN作现场报道。她说,作为一名记者,她自然知道该报道些什么。当时,阿富汗战争刚刚打响,很多阿富汗人因为战争而流离失所。当时芮贝卡所在地方(名字我记不起)正是遭受战乱的阿富汗穷人逃乱的必经之地。芮贝卡看不断涌来的阿富汗难民在美国的炮火下不得不逃离家园,扶老携幼,有的妻离子散。于是,具有敏锐新闻头脑和人文关怀心的芮贝卡把这些难民的真实生活都一一拍摄下来,不停地发回美国CNN总部。 Continue reading ‘杨恒均: CNN为何爱国 (Interview with Rebecca McKinnon and others)’

How British colonial government intended for HongKong to upset China

Following article is quoted and written by ‘mangosteen’ from http://www.anti-cnn.com/forum/en/thread-117-5-1.html

How British colonial government intended for HongKong to upset China

The British pushing Opium against the interest of a weakend China resorted to gun boat diplomacy to force China to give them HongKong island in perpetuity. Again in a second opium war they exacted Kowloon and other territories from China for 99years. When the lease expired in 1997 the British had little choice but return all of HongKong back to China because China is no longer a weak puppet under Western controls and the mordern world cannot countenance such moral misconduct of colonialism anymore.

The handover is really Western attempt to wag China with the HongKong tail. Suddenly the colonial master wanted full democracy for their subjects guarranteed in the Basic Law. They won’t consider HongKongites for British citizenship. The British hongs that made huge fortunes from the privileges of the colonial government, some even from the opium trades, began relocating their headquarter and other key functions out of HongKong to London, Sydney, Bermuda, etc. HongKong and Shanghai bank rebranded themselves as HSBC corp, delisted in HongKong and move HQ to London. HSBC has also refocus their business to USA, LatinAmerica, and EU. HSBC paid dearly when their Argentine business collapsed and now the US subPrime mortgage stink effectively wiped out their multi-billion US business. Latest HSBC financial results were saved by their Asian operations.

The British colonial government empties the HK coffers in projects mainly awarded to British firms, like the new airport. Almost immediately after the British colonials left HK, waves of hedge funds attacked Asian currencies ONE BY ONE from ThaiBaht, IndonesianRupiah, MalaysianRinggit, KoreanWon, and the HKDollar peq. China lend a financial support to HK, and the West speculate aloud when will the Yuan fall too and create another round of Asian currency falls, further enriching their loot. The IMF and WorldBank under the Western direction insisted on bankruptcies, interest rate hikes, and no bailing out of local firms but effectively bailed out foreign banks pulling out their loans suddenly. The G7, IMF, and WorldBank TODAY UNIVERSALLY PRESCRIBE EASY CREDIT TO BAIL OUT OR SUPPORT US & EU FINANCIAL BUSINESSES FROM BANKRUPTCIES!!! Continue reading ‘How British colonial government intended for HongKong to upset China’

James Reynold’s Blog

I don’t understand how this guy (See Who’s James Reynolds? No more than a BBC journalist or not??) still can work for BBC. The conclusion is his report reflected BBC’s agenda and propoganda. James, I suggest you should have a week trial - working for CCTV. Let’s make an exchange program - invite James Reynold to report ‘British Empire’ invaded Iraq.

Following quoted from http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jamesreynolds  

At 8:35 pm on 30 Apr 2008, netkeeper718 wrote:

Kishore Mahbubani was correct in BBC “hard talk”: the world is changing but the Western haven’t learnt how to listen.The first impression of any Chinese people to your blog will be disappointing as you again tried to connect “China” to “Communists” to which you didn’t say but still implying “evil”. If you the blog is mainly for entertaining white racists, there is nothing I can say. But if it is not, you are again prototyping China to your audience. Why can’t you wakeup and look at the millions people around you in Beijing, they are not rich, they are well educated and they work hard to make a change to the life as well as their country. Regarding all the show around the torch relay, A few things BBC fail to motion in the program even knows it is true.

First, back to 1950s, the reason so called “Chinese invasion to Tibet” was to give hundreds of thousand of poor Tibetans the basic human rights. They were treated as slaves under Dalai Lama’s regime.

Second, most of the pro-Chinese protester in San Francisco, Sydney and Japan will not be there if the pro-Tibet protester was peaceful as Dalai Lama told the Western media. The American/Australian/Japanese-Chinese tried hard to be part of the local community and they would be happier to watch TV at home rather than go on street waving flags. (No question BBC will say as per some unnamed person, the Chinese Embassy is behind all these). Give me a break; I would never go to the Embassy unless I need to change my passport. The Embassy would never know I lived here unless I was a wanted criminal in the list.

Third, yesterday a Tibetan policeman (the majority of local authority employee in Tibet are Tibetans, so it is normal the policemen is a Tibetan) was shot dead by the mob. His funeral was hold today. You know what, in a French media, the story become the Chinese Government admit opened fire and shot Tibetans. What can I say!!! 

I have watched your program for quite a while. To be honest, it is very hard to say your reports are objective without bias. I can not expect you to change in a day. All I can expect from you is to realize there are millions of audiences are connected with one country or other, you better not to humiliate their country on a regular basis by selectively show stories or even making up stories. The audiences are far smarter and they know both sides of the story. You personal credit will be damaged if you do so.Since you are staying in China now, when you are enjoying a half-dollar nice-cold beer with fantastic food in a restaurant or superb services from humble local driver, please slow down for one second and ask yourself how their feeling about your report are; are you showing any appreciation to them in your work.28.

At 9:06 pm on 30 Apr 2008, royalskepticism wrote:
He also falsely reported on Chinese state media’s reaction on the Olympic torch rely. It was first broadcasted on Sunday 6 April at 1900 BST. At the time he claims that no Chinese media had reported pro-Tibetan protests. He suggests that the Chinese state media tried to keep the news of the protests from the Chinese public. BBC “apologised” for the mistake in the Editor’s blog (which I had to use the website search engine to locate the page) and in an edition of In the News on an early Saturday morning (who watches News on early Saturday mornings?). He barely got a slap on his wrist and kept reporting and now has his own blog. Why are we, the licence fee payers paying thousands of pounds for a biased reporter to go to China and all he came up with are news bashing China and humiliating the people of China. Surely the Chinese has their problems, but who are we to judge them. The worst is none of the western media can produce a fair and balanced view on China. Same with the Tibet history page here on the BBC. It fails to mention the Dalai lama was a dictator when he was in power. It fail to mention during the British “expedition” Colonel Younghusband killed thousands of Tibetans. It also failed to mention what the Chinese had done to improve Tibet and abolition of slavery in

Tibet. I hope BBC can be fair towards the Chinese government. At the end of the day, their economy is improving, people’s lives are getting better (that’s why we have more and more Chinese students each year to pay ridiculous university fees), and people can now read news from the BBC website. I would like to see his personal apology on this Blog about the report. Otherwise, I don’t see what is point of listening to him any more, he is just another biased journalist. 

14. At 7:27 pm on 30 Apr 2008, Lightsoutbritain wrote:

James, no disrespect, you are obviously enjoying the life in China, but still holding a very biased tone of voice to please the main-stream western taste.

China is China, not communist China! Let’s make it clear! Do you ever call the UK Capitalist Britain?!!

I have grown up in China until I came to the UK when I was 20, and I found the UK is far more ’socialist’ than China. And there are certainly a lot of governmental dictatorship as well as propaganda in the west.

I appreciate your point of view, but by referring China every time as “Communist China”, you are too biased and ignorant.

I’d love to have a real ideal communist country as Karl Marx has envisioned a century ago down in the British Library, but the fact is, China is no different than any other western countries in terms of social structure, economy and so on, it is just part of the “globalisation”.

So, please respect this 7000 years old civilization and call China just China!

Thanks! 

31. At 9:10 pm on 30 Apr 2008, simply111 wrote:

The Chinese do take the Olympic Games very seriously, but it is because it is a way to attract more people (especially those who think of China negatively) to come to China and see today’s China by their own eyes. I am very disappointed to see that there are very few news that protrait China positively.
To me, the Olympic Games is an international sport event, I don’t know since when it has become a political device. And since when trying to steal the torch has become a heroic act? I really think that it sets a very bad example. If the pro-tibetans are allowed to do this to the torch and not getting blamed, next time the terrorists could disrupt any event using violence and say, hey, it is allowed. Don’t get me wrong, it is alright for the pro-tibetans to voice their opinion, but it should be in a peaceful way.
Moreover, I am quite puzzle by one comment I saw above saying that Chinese are using their large population advantage to suppress the pro-tibetan. I wonder, if the pro-tibetan have the right to voice their opinions of being independent, shouldn’t the rest of the Chinese (Tibetan born in Tibet) have the same right to annouce their objections?
By the way, I have been toTibet recently, I saw through my own eyes that the tibetans are happy and content of their way of living(certainly not all, but most of them), and the tibetan heritage are well preseved. You don’t have to believe me, you can always check it out yourself.

56. At 1:23 pm on 01 May 2008, canberraman wrote:

To nonfamiliar:

two comments:

1. Your observation that “the concept of public debate and scrutiny of news issues is utterly foreign to a population reared on a state media diet” used to be correct untill recent years. If as you claimed you visit Chinese media sites regularly you would notice the change—the incidence of “Chinese tiger photos” is just one example.

2. Even if your claim were correct, Western media has no right (and it is immoral) to spin the “facts”. Unfortunately, this is the common practice of western media when they report internationally under the assumtion that the ones they humiliate and denounce do not have the microphone to tell the truth (they do not dare to do that domestically and probably that is why you trust it so much). Just a couple of examples, “Mass-destruction weapons in Iraq”; “massacre” by Serbs (and not the other way around); …
The “truths” are finally “found out” later? Alas, after tens of thousands of people have been killed?

Too bad, this time, they forgot there are too many Chinese observing in Western countries as well and are caught red-handed…

57. At 3:39 pm on 01 May 2008, sirFranzzz wrote:

James Reynolds wrote: “At the time, the Chinese government blocked access to this website - it had done so for years, for reasons that were never entirely explained.”
Reynolds, you must be pretty thick if you have not understood why the BBC has been blocked. I shall have to tell then. It is because the BBC is the most biased broadcaster in the world. How do I know? I have been listening to the BBC, especially World Service, for at least 50 years and I have not heard or seen bias and prejudice any where else. For at least TWO decades, World Service broadcast everything and anything on Tibet that they could find and almost all of it from Robbie Barnet of Tibet Information Network, one of the Tibetan apologists in the West. One broadcast was that “tibetan boys left footprints in the ROCKS”, which is something Jesus Christ never managed to do. As for BBC TV, it has always stereotyped the Chinese whilst boasting of its “pride in diversity”. I know the BBC for at least twice as long as Reynolds and I used to listen all night everynight and I know the BBC has at least a touch of racism, at least. Will the BBC have the courage to publish this?

60. At 4:33 pm on 01 May 2008, ravenblk wrote:

To be honest, you’ve told the some of the truth with a bit of personal feelings inside, I understand and I appreciate that. Afterall this is a blog where you are allowed to express your opinion as a person.

The news reports which you made on BBC weeks ago about the whole Olympics/Torch realy, however, were not so acceptable. The reasons being:

1) As a jourlist/reporter, you should ALWAYS report news/events WITHOUT your personal attitude/feelings. Your job is to present the WHOLE thing, including the up and downsides in front of the audience and leave the judgements to their OWN. NOT to influence them by willfully CHOOSE what to report.

Hence BBC/CNN/F2 had lost their ground as “media”, especially “FAIR media” as they marked themselves to be, in reporting only the downsides of the torch-relay and 3/14 Tibet riot and none of the upsides (the situation changed later after so many chinese called and complained BBC about their biased report on 4/19 London torch relay, it was until then we started to see footage of supportors and the violent movements of some pro-Tibet protests).

2)As someone has said previously - China is a big country that’s still recovering from wars/culture revolution, it’s still developing, and developments TAKE TIME! The change can’t be done in one day or year so STOP juding China by westernized oppinions. Do you have millions of poverty people to feed? Do you have 1.4 billion people to take care of?

China is changing, you have to admitted it, despite with a disdained tone. There’re tonnes of mistakes and wrong things that the government has done, and still doing. But China is changing. The Chinese people are eager for freedom of speech and HR more than you think, BUT we know that it’s not for YOU to bring the HR and democracy to us, it’s for us to GAIN it. The results started to show, some regions are more democrated than others, and we DO curse/comment on the faults of government online/everyday life and sometimes even on CCTV.

Our culture is so different from western culture, we are very fond of nationalism, it’s in our blood and it’s nothing to do with CCP or the government. All BBC/CNN/F2 etc. are doing now is to TAKE AWAY the better days of democracy in China and tighten the grips of government on Chinese people EVEN MORE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

64. At 7:37 pm on 01 May 2008, fairreport wrote:

Hi James,

I think you should consider handing over your notice to your line manager in BBC, who sent you to such a “terrible” place that you hate it entirely, I feel sorry for you …

It doesn’t matter how much you hate China and Chinese, we are destined to be stronger and stronger, we will disppoint you, I feel sorry for you again …

Come back London, I will buy you a few beers in a nice pub, for your suffering days in China - binge drinking is the only enjoyable thing for most British anyway…

I feel sorry for you , oh yes, really …

69. At