NOVEMBER 30, 2004

THE CADRE @ 8

UPEI expansion in China — Is this really the direction we should take?

Ray Keating Copy Editor

Recently, the Cadre reported that UPEI was working on a partnership with two Chinese universities, Sichuan University and the Beijing School of Business. While this may seem to be an exciting opportunity for this small university in Eastern Canada, there is more to it than meets the eye.

China has a dismal record when it comes to human rights. Amnesty International has stated that they are “deeply concerned at reports of serious human rights violations committed throughout China.” Many of these violations involve the Chinese population’s quest for knowledge, and the Chinese government’s refusal to allow this natural pursuit. Bearing this in mind, UPEI’s expansion is a good thing for the Chinese people, right? Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. In Canada we generally accept as fact that universities are here to promote free thinking. Students here are encouraged to challenge accepted ideas and expand on them. Would you find this in China? We should consider that in China, people are being imprisoned for seeking knowledge of the outside world on the internet. Many followers of the Falun Gong movement have been imprisoned, tortured and murdered at the hands of the state. Do we as Westerners have a responsibility to help the people of China? I would suggest that we do. I would also suggest that playing into the hands ofa tyrannical regime known to be guilty of countless atrocities is not the way to help the people.

Consider Tibet; in 1949, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army first crossed into the small peaceful country. After defeating the Tibetan army and occupying half the country, the Chinese

government imposed the so-called “17- Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet” on the Tibetan government. This agreement was signed under duress, and as such lacked validity under international law. Since that time, over 1.2 million Tibetans have died as a direct result of China’s illegal occupation, and human rights conditions remain dismal. In Tibet today, there is no freedom of speech, no freedom of assembly, no freedom of press and no freedom of religion. Should we really consider supporting a system such as this?

Participation by the university in a program such as this collaboration is tantamount to writing a letter of support for the Chinese government. Our own governments and businesses have been “warming up” to China lately; they would suggest that they are doing their part to help “open” China to the west. This may make for good PR, but it’s a huge rationalization. The real reason governments and corporations are becoming increasingly involved with China is money, plain and simple. China is a huge market; from a financial standpoint it makes sense to try to break into that market. China also has plentiful cheap labor, free of encumbrances such as trade unions and such pesky issues as workers’ rights. Again, it’s not hard to see the financial appeal, but contrary to popular belief, life is not all about money; we all have an obligation to make a stand and head for the moral high ground on this issue.

For more information on China’s track record on human rights and what you can do about it, go to” http://;www.studentsforafreetibet.org/ or http://Awww.amnesty.ca/.

Shaun Coady Contributor

Well folks, there has been a lot of talk lately about the U.S. Commander in Chief. Poor George W. Bush has been at the wrong end of some mean comments from members of the public, a member of the Liberal government, and even our own ARants of a University Student@ by Cadre Editor Ryan Gallant. Caroline Parish MP, was released from her Liberal seat after calling George W. an Aidiot@ , and stomping on the throat of a George W. action figure. I want to help President Bush redeem himself. Here are ten quotes from the man himself; they should help you appreciate his knowledge of Politics, World Relations, America, Medicine, Education and even the English

- Language.

“I’m the commander - see, I don’t need to explain - I do not need to explain why I say things. That’s the interesting thing about being president.” - George W. Bush, as — quoted in Bob Woodward's “Bush at War”

“T’m not the expert on how the Iraqi people think, because I live in America, where it’s nice and safe and secure.” - George W. Bush, —

Washington, D.C., Sept. 23, 2004

“The enemy understands a free Iraq will be a major defeat in their ideology of hatred. That’s why they’re fighting so vociferously.” - George W. Bush, first presidential debate, Coral Gables, Fla., Sept. 30, 2004

“When a drug comes in from

Canada, I wanna make sure it cures

ya, not kill ya... I’ve got an obligation

Bushisms

to make sure our government does everything we can to protect you. And one - my worry is that it looks like it’s from Canada, and it might be froma third world.” - George W. Bush, second presidential debate, St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 8, — 2004 “Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too

- many OB-GYNs aren’t able to

practice their love with women all across this country.” - George W. Bush, Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004 ; “You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.” - George W. Bush, Feb. 21, 2001

“There’s an old saying in Tennessee - I know it’s in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can’t get fooled again.” - George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002

“The problem with the French is that they don’t have a word for entrepreneur.” - George W. Bush, discussing the decline of the French economy with British Prime Minister Tony Blair

“I couldn’t imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah.” - George W. Bush, at a White House Menorah

- lighting ceremony, Washington,

D.C., Dec. 10, 2001

“T’ve coined new words, like, misunderstanding and Hispanically.” - George W. Bush, March 29, 2001 BONUS “T hope you leave here and walk out and say, ‘What did he say?’” - George W. Bush, Beaverton, Oregon, Aug. 13, 2004