The Read International for 11/20/08: China's Government Concerned As Job Losses Increase In The Far East

Photo from BBC.com

Definitely a story lost in amidst of our numerous problems here and our change in governmental leadership is what is taking place over in China.

The BBC reports today that the Chinese government is very weary of the continued growth in unemployment taking afoot in their country.

Chinese leaders are already warning that an economic downturn could lead to further protests by those facing financial hardships.

It could also undermine the Chinese leadership, whose legitimacy has been built on improving living standards.

Believe it or not, protests have become the norm.

Meng Jianzhu, minister of public security, this week warned the police to be "fully aware of the challenges brought by the global financial crisis".

He said officers should be careful about how they handle "mass incidents", Beijing's euphemism for protests by ordinary people.

These protests are common in China, although they are often isolated incidents sparked by particular local grievances.

Several dozen protesters went on the rampage this week in the city of Longnan in China's western Gansu province.

According to reports from the state-run media, they attacked government buildings, damaged vehicles and injured police officers

And here's the penetrating quote in the article, from Professor Joseph Cheng of Honk Kong's City University :

"If people see that economic growth can no longer be maintained, then the very basis of the government has been eroded," he said.

This economic global crisis. Have a ripple effect around the whole world.

The Rest at the BBC:
1. While this country continues to give some of its citizens uncertainty with regards to their pension plans, look at what Argentina did today.
2.If you thought the Republicans are having a bitter party fight, you need to read with this story regarding France's Socialists and their own "family battles" for power.
3.Brazil is targeting illegal abortions. Seriously.

From the CBC:
1. Meteors streak across the sky in Canada
2. Those pirate attacks you may have been hearing about keep on coming and coming. And if you haven't, you read right. Pirates.
3. And those astronauts did not make the same mistake they did last time.

From the Al Jazeera:
1. Despite the aforementioned economic, job unemployment mess in China, this report from US intelligence stats that the Far East country and India will be equal to the United States.

In fact, the rest of that article, in itself, is a very good read. It may also get highlighted as well.
2. The United Nations imposed sanctions on Somalia today.
3. And finally, Vladmir Putin talks about the Russian economy. And to do a fine report justice, it is much more than the Prime Minister talking about the money situation over there.

The Read International. Because The Whole Delivery wouldn't be "whole" without the rest of the world.