World Agenda: Putin’s grand gesture cannot hide Russia’s woes

Posted by Matt in June 10th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Economy, Russia, Anger, Business Leaders, Denunciation, Discontent, Economic Crisis, Financial Crisis, Flames, Global Financial Crisis, Grand Gesture, Grievances, kremlin, Mr Putin, Pikalyovo, Potent Cocktail, Revolt, Russia, Unrest, Woes, World Agenda

It is a potent cocktail that has the Kremlin fearful that discontent in an anonymous town such as Pikalyovo could spark a wider revolt.
Hence Mr Putin’s furious denunciation of Mr Deripaska — long seen as the Kremlin’s favourite oligarch. The broader message he sent to business leaders was that they would be held responsible if [...]

Civil unrest in Russia mounts

Posted by Matt in April 14th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Russia, Activists, Civil Unrest, Communist Party, Discontent, Dozens, Economic Decline, Leadership, moscow, Observers, Political Demonstrations, Prime Minister, Protest, Russia, Security Fears, Social Unrest, Spite, Vladimir Putin, Vladivostok

In spite of security fears, activists try to capitalize on discontent caused by economic decline.
Dozens of demonstrations were held across Russia this weekend, attracting about 2,000 people in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and about the same number in Moscow, where a Communist Party protest had the largest showing.
The numbers are small, but in [...]

A tidal wave of discontent threatens China

Posted by Matt in January 13th, 2009 | no comment

Published in China, beijing, China, Chinese Government, Chinese Money, Concentration, Consumers, Country Population, Discontent, Disparity, Drowning Man, Economic Crisis, Foreign Currency Reserve, Government Money, Incomes, People, Tidal Wave, Trillion

The whole world is suffering from an economic crisis. Some in the West, like a desperate drowning man clutching at a straw, have said the Chinese Government has a lot of money, let us beg them to save us from the crisis. But they do not realise that the Government in Beijing does not know [...]

Retired teacher detained in China after decrying shoddy construction

Posted by Matt in June 26th, 2008 | no comment

Published in China, Chengdu, China, Chinese Authorities, Corruption, Deaths, Devastating Earthquake, Discontent, Hong Kong, Human Rights Group, Information Center, Quake Relief, Relief Efforts, Rights And Democracy, School Construction, Shoddy Construction, Subversion

Chinese authorities have detained a retired teacher who criticized the shoddy school construction that led to the deaths of thousands of children in May’s devastating earthquake, a Hong Kong human-rights group said Wednesday.
The Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said Zeng Hongling, who wrote about official corruption in school construction and post-quake relief efforts, [...]

China: Superpower or Basket Case?

Posted by Matt in May 8th, 2008 | no comment

Published in China, Basket Case, Central Government, China Superpower, Chinese Leadership, Discontent, Income Disparities, Inevitable Collapse, Opposition, Patriotic Feelings, Propaganda, Regime, Tibet, Unhappiness, Western China

China as an “emerging superpower” makes for a compelling story line in the media. It is reinforced by the propaganda image that the current Chinese leadership would like us to accept. But the reality is quite different. Although recent events in Tibet and western China – and the central government’s response – appear to be [...]