Sit or Squat: Chinese Toilets Refitted for Olympics

Sit or Squat: Chinese Toilets Refitted for Olympics: "Sit or Squat: Chinese Toilets Refitted for Olympics


In preparation for the upcoming Olympic games in China, organizers in Beijing are having to refit toilets at three of the Olympic venues after complaints of having to squat by foreign athletes.

MERKEL TO BOYCOTT OLYMPICS...

Many of the toilets in China are still of the squatting variety, instead of the sit-down versions used by Western cultures. Currently, Beijing has 5,200 public toilets available, more than any city.

Yao Hui, senior official for Olympic venues management, said that the Water Cube aquatic stadium, the Bird's Nest (Indoor Stadium), and the National Indoor Stadium will be changed to sit-down toilets, and will expand to many of the 31 venues also."

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Sorry but I could not resists the humor. Nonetheless, my salute to Germany. Some people apparently can learn from their mistakes!

I realize the government can do little about Tibet, but wouldn't it be great if there were an international tourisdt boycott?

Readers may want to look at my essay on the "Ugly Chinaman."

The Ugly Chinaman

McClatchy Washington Bureau | 04/15/2008 | An angry China is lashing out at its foreign critics: "BEIJING — Bristling at criticism in the run-up to the Summer Olympics, China is lashing back at its foreign critics — by name.

Earlier this week, the state Xinhua news agency called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'disgusting.' And on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu lambasted a CNN commentator, Jack Cafferty, for his 'vicious' commentary on China.

'We solemnly request that CNN, and Cafferty himself, take back the malicious remarks and apologize to the Chinese people,' Jiang said at a news briefing.

Protests plaguing the global Olympic torch relay, along with mounting criticism of China's handling of domestic unrest by Tibetans, have embittered many Chinese. As foreign leaders discuss whether to boycott the Olympics' opening ceremonies on Aug. 8, Chinese Internet sites are replete with their own mounting calls for boycotts of foreign goods, souring the mood as the nation prepares to host its biggest international event ever.

A mood of angry nationalism has spurred government officials to lash out at foreign critics, trying to stay ahead of public resentment — even fury — that foreigners may spoil the Summer Olympics party with what some see as unwarranted criticism.

Several foreign journalists, including correspondents for USA Today and"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

The Ugly Chinaman

More Chinese and Russian peace mongering.

Click on title for more of the same old same old.

The Ugly Chinaman

China labels Dalai Lama a supporter of "cults" - Yahoo! News: "In a lengthy signed commentary in English carried by the official Xinhua news agency, the piece said the Dalai Lama 'not only has no hatred toward evil cults but instead shows a great deal of compassion for them.' The Dalai Lama supported Shoko Asahara and his Aum Shinrikyo cult, who carried out a sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995 which killed 12 and made thousands sick, Xinhua said, in a piece signed by somebody calling themselves Shi Shan. 'It was the support and connivance of the 14th Dalai Lama who took the foe for his friend that made Asahara feel secure in the knowledge that he had strong backing,' Xinhua said, in typically strong language. 'It is the 14th Dalai Lama's own deeds that have step by step betrayed his real intentions and political ambitions put under the guise of Buddhism and peace,' it added. The Dalai Lama also provided succor to the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned by China as an 'evil cult,' and its leader Li Hongzhi, Xinhua said. '... Even such an evil cult leader who is denounced by many people and had to flee abroad to escape the punishment of laws secured compassion and admiration from the 14th Dalai Lama,' it added. Critics have accused China of repressing religious freedom in Tibet and other parts "

Bush to meet privately next week with Dalai Lama: "US President George W. Bush will meet privately on October 16 with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, the White House announced Thursday, despite the risk of angering China. Bush will meet with the Dalai Lama in a private part of his White House residence away from the prying eyes of the press, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. The US leader has always met privately with the exiled Tibetan leader in the past, probably in a bid to lessen Beijing's fury at such a meeting. The day after their meeting here Bush will attend a ceremony at which the Dalai Lama will receive the Congressional Gold Medal at Capitol Hill."

China Cancels Rights Talks With Germany: "China Cancels Rights Talks With Germany Oct 14 09:30 PM US/Eastern BERLIN (AP) - China has canceled December human rights talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday, just weeks after Beijing criticized her for meeting with the Dalai Lama. A German Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said the planned meeting in Beijing had been canceled 'in the last few days,' but refused to give reasons. China criticized Merkel for meeting in Berlin in last month with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, whom China views as a beacon for pro- independence sentiment in Tibet. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said the meeting 'seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people and undermined China-Germany relations.' Soon after the Berlin meeting, China abruptly called off other talks scheduled for the end of September in Munich, citing 'technical reasons.' Germany's Der Spiegel magazine, citing 'diplomatic sources in Beijing,' reported that China was particularly irritated that Merkel did not mention the upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama when she was in China in August. China routinely criticizes visits abroad by the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet for India in 1959 during a failed uprising against Chinese rule. The 1989 Nobel Peace laureate remains popular a"