Citizens’Political Participation Inspired by the Internet

IN general, I surf the Internet to get to know what issues netizens are concerned about, and their opinions and suggestions on the work of the Party and the government," said Chinese President     

Pros and Cons of Home Help

SHEN Shulan earns RMB 2,400 （US $320） per month, hourly-paid, as home help in two Beijing households. This sounds modest, but compares favorably to the RMB 300 （US $40） she earned in the year 2000 when she first started this type of work.     

Charity Online

MAO Lihui, a teacher in a remote mountainous area, changed his deprived students＇ lives with the help of the Internet. The article he wrote on his blog,which included pictures of his pupils in their tattered clothes and often bare feet, aroused public sympathy and prompted an influx of donations.     

Zhongguancun Seeks Greater Innovation

FOR over 20 years Zhongguancun in northwestern Beijing has been a commercial colony of IT companies and a veritable beehive of promotion for the latest electronic products. Dominating a swath of commerce bordering several top Chinese universities, including Peking and Tsinghua, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this former suburban community is often compared with Silicon Valley. Today however, its leadership in the nation＇s IT industry faces new challenges. Local companies and government alike hope the region can retain its dynamics by leading and fostering greater innovation.     

Freedom of Speech on the Internet

AS more non-governmental voices are heard on the Internet, "it is becoming a force for change, a force highlighting social issues     

Olympic Merchandise： Money, Memories and Memorabilia

Many local shoppers are buying merchandise as gifts, especially around traditional Chinese festivals. Olympic souvenirs are considered a generous and tasteful choice.     

Geng Yanbo： Datong＇s Scholarly Mayor

SPEAKING to Geng Yanbo, the new mayor of Datong, it is difficult not to be swept up by his enthusiasm for the history of his city. And it is that enthusiasm which a majority of the city＇s residents agree also accounts for Geng＇s unique approach to modernizing Datong while preserving its long cultural heritage. Looking about, the evidence of that commitment is everywhere, from the newly opened shops to ihe freshly paved roads. Since being transferred in March from Taiyuan to Datong to become acting mayor and deputy secretary of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, Geng has acted resolutely to turn this industrious coal town into a cultural showpiece.     

Application of Alternative Energy in the Countryside

LIUMINYING Village, 30 kilometers south of downtown Beijing in Daxing District, is a modest settlement, populated by modest, hardworking people. But their commitment to achieving energy diversity has marked them out as true conservation pioneers. The solar-powered street lamps of the village are the most visible manifestation of a concerted drive by the villagers and municipal authorities to promote alternative energy.     

Call to Oversee Cyber Spree

AS a result of the disclosure of his illegal activities on the Intemet, Zhou Jiugeng, former director of the Jiangning District Housing Administrative Bureau in Jiang-su＇s Nanjing City, was removed from his office in late 2008. The dismissal was the result of ＂renrou sousuo,＂ or ＂human flesh search,＂ a cyber search conducted by thousands of passionate netizens. However, the cyber allegation that ＂Zhou Jiugeng conspired with the developer＇s brother＂ oroved groundless.     

Fizz Returns to an Old Biz

PAWNSHOPS, the oldest financial institutions in China, have been undergoing a dra- matic revival since the lifting of a 30-year ban in 1987. Over the 2007/08 new year period, Beijing pawnbrokers reported a 30 percent rise in transactions, with an increasing share involving medium-sized and small businesses needing fast loans. “Twenty years after its comeback in China, pawnbroking is regaining some of the buzz it had in the old days,” declares Hao Fengqin, secretary general of the Beijing Pawn Trade Association.