By Anthony James
 
In the fall of 2005, 36-year-old Chai Vang was convicted of first-degree murder and condemned to serve the rest of his remaining life in prison after shooting and killing six hunters in northern Wisconsin. It was an incident that created both shock and tension within Minnesota’s Asian community, where Vang and his family worked and lived. Was this a case of a maniac, vengeful killer or self defense? In the screening of his newest documentary film, Open Season, Twin Cities native Mark Tang hopes to illuminate the background of the Vang trial to encourage discussion within local communities.

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China: The Truth About Its Human Rights Record
 
By Frank Ching 
 
Synopsis
At a time when the world’s attention is focused on China, Asia-based journalist, Frank Ching, presents an intelligent and informed perspective on that country’s human rights situation. 
China is one of the great nations of the world, containing roughly twenty per-cent of the population of the globe. Its economy is booming, and its role on the world’s stage is increasingly influential. Yet this fascinating country is as complex as it is unusual, and a nation in which the population is denied many fundamental human rights.  
This powerfully written and incisive book throws light on China’s record today. From restrictions on free speech and worship to the lack of freedoms under the law, in the economy, in health matters and the environment, former Wall Street Journal Beijing bureau chief, Frank Ching, offers a well-informed perspective on what the inhabitants of this vast state might or might not do in the future.

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BEIJING– Despite the global recession, China’s economy grew 8.7 percent in 2009, and the growth momentum continued in the first months of 2010, according to the World Bank’s latest China Quarterly Update released [Mar. 17].

The Update, a regular assessment of China’s economy, finds that massive investment-led stimulus was key in driving the economy last year. But real estate investment gained prominence more recently and household consumption growth has held up very well.

Exports declined in 2009 as a whole, even as China gained global market share. With imports strong, net external trade was a major drag on growth in 2009 and the external current account surplus declined sharply. Exports rebounded strongly through 2009, though, and exceeded pre-crisis levels in early 2010. In a heated real estate market, surging property prices triggered policy measures to expand supply and curb speculation.

“We project 9.5 percent GDP growth for this year, with a shift in the composition,” said Ardo Hansson, Lead Economist for China. “Government-led investment is bound to decelerate. But, exports are likely to continue to recover amidst a pick up in the global economy, real estate activity is likely to grow strongly this year, and consumption should remain solid.” 

Inflation is on course to be significant in 2010, after being negative in 2009. But, with global price pressures likely to be subdued amidst large spare capacity internationally, China’s inflation is unlikely to reach high rates in 2010. We expect the external surplus to remain broadly unchanged this year.

Turning to policies, “the macroeconomic policy stance will have to be tighter this year than in 2009,” said Louis Kuijs, Senior Economist and main author of the Update. “Unlike in most other countries, overall output in China is close to potential. Thus, China needs a different macro stance than most other countries.”

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Protest film on Dalai Lama also scheduled

A strong trio of new films from China is set to grace the 28th Annual Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, opening Thursday, Apr. 15 for a two-week run at St. Anthony Main Theatre,125 Main St. SE, Minneapolis, MN through Apr. 30.

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Paul Krier to speak at UCBC meeting on April 7

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a speech on the Senate floor [Mar. 15], U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar called for the passage the Export Promotion Act of 2010 and the Travel Restriction Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2010.  In her remarks, Klobuchar discussed how the legislation will connect businesses with export promotion resources to allow them to expand into new markets and increase their bottom lines.  Klobuchar cited that more than 95 percent of the world’s customers are located outside the United States, and recently, 30 percent of U.S. businesses indicated that they would be interested in exporting but did not know where to begin.

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