Bricks

Deng Hongshu’s Homecoming and the plight of the Chinese migrants

Bricks — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:33:33 +0000

“The only character to describe migrant workers is nan,” he said, tracing in even strokes the Chinese character for “difficult, not good” into his palm. “If we stay, it’s hard. If we go, it’s hard. Sure, this life has always been this way. But it’s especially tough now.” Lauren Keane of Washington Post Foreign Service [...]

THANK YOU

Bricks — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:04:10 +0000

Our Dearest Donors, Bricks has completed its first year, with your support.As we look forward to 2009, it is good to look back and say, on behalf of those you helped, THANK YOU for helping to build us build a Great Wall of Charity in China, Brick by Brick. Bricks has completed its first year, with your support.As [...]

NEWS - Poverty line raises number of poor. China growth fantasy.

Bricks — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:16:12 +0000

New poverty line raises number of poor China Daily The China Growth Fantasy Wall Street Journal

Change, but not Decay, in all around I see.

Joseph Loftus — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:33:38 +0000

Shijiazhuang, a city I often visit, is now liberally painted with “chai’s”, a character with which I am familiar with from earlier days in Beijing. It means “for demolition” and various buildings are already in the process of being knocked down. Unlike in Beijing, where important historical cityscapes were sacrificed to modernity, in provincial Shijiazhuang [...]

What are we waiting for?

Bricks — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:33:21 +0000

The pity is that this growing irritation with Xmas distractions me from the Advent season that is unfolding around me…. It reminds us that before we sing “Gloria” for His Birth, we need quietly to pray “Maranatha” (Come) for his return among us. This year I find myself irritated by the completely sanitized Christmas Holiday that [...]

NEWS: China Economy Slows Down.

Bricks — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:18:38 +0000

China Factory-Spending Growth Slows as Exports Fall Bloomberg China capital spending growth steady, economy slowing The Guardian related story With Strikes, China’s New Middle Class Vents Anger Washington Post

China Through Hopeful Eyes

Bricks — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 03:58:43 +0000

A young woman is spending a year in China and discovers a country that a lot of Westerners (and yes, even expatriates living in China’s mega cities) often don’t get to see and appreciate. China through hopeful eyes. International Herald Tribune related stories Chinese graduates recruited for rural work International Herald Tribune China’s poor rural areas in urgent need of teachers Xinhua

NEWS: China Celebrates 30 Years of Reforms and Opening Up

Bricks — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:31:43 +0000

30 Years of Reform and Opening up Official Page from Xinhua ‘Opening Up’ China’s Vocabulary Asia Times Online Hu Jintao pledges open China amid 30-year celebration AFP China Leaders Warn Crisis Threatens Reform Wall Street Journal EDITORIAL: China’s economic reform Asahi Shimbun