China, My China and Two Sun Cities
From SFGate.com:
U.S. tech giants are helping the Chinese express themselves online -- as long as they don't write about democracy, Tibet, sex, Tiananmen Square, Falun Gong, government corruption or any other taboo subject.
Microsoft bans "democracy" and "Dalai Lama" from the Chinese version of its blog site. Yahoo recently turned over information that helped the Chinese government track down and imprison a journalist for the crime of forwarding an e-mail. Google omits banned publications from its Chinese news service.
Critics say that cooperating with governments to suppress free speech violates human rights, international law and corporate ethics. But what the experts can't agree on is what the companies should do about it. The Internet -- even with limitations -- is generally considered a powerful democratizing force. If international companies withdrew from the Chinese Internet market, the result might mean even fewer chances for free communications there....
Professor Tom Donaldson, director of the doctoral program in ethics and law at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, compared tech companies helping China squelch free speech with Polaroid's providing photographic technology for the passport system used under South African apartheid to control the movements of black citizens.
Donaldson said that while what China is doing may not seem as insidious as the apartheid system, free speech is a human right just as important as freedom of movement....
Despite the controversy, U.S. companies aren't likely to willingly forgo doing business in China, a market of huge promise. More than 100 million people there are online, yet that still represents less than 8 percent of the population. By 2009, Chinese e-commerce is expected to be a $390.9 billion market, according to research firm IDC. By then, there are expected to be more Internet users in China than in the United States.
Cisco, which provides many of the routers the Chinese Internet is based on, is far from considering withdrawal from the Chinese market. John Chambers, CEO of San Jose's Cisco Systems, said he feels good about doing business there....
Some suggest that U.S. companies continue following Chinese law but be a little less cooperative about it. Danny O'Brien, activism coordinator for San Francisco's Electronic Frontier Foundation, suggested that Yahoo call attention to any future requests for information from the Chinese government.
"A perfectly reasonable thing for Yahoo to do within the legal framework is to comply but announce it publicly," O'Brien said. That's a strategy Google has used when complying with legal requirements in the United States to remove links to copyrighted material.
Interesting strategy, considering that Shi Tao was jailed because he reported on a ban on reporting about the Tiananmen Square anniversary. Of course, The Great Firewall of China would block any mention of Yahoo's action to the Chinese themselves.
Reminds me of a situation in the early 1980s when a church worker got in trouble for serving Nestle products at a social functions. Or that big song "I'm not gonna play Sun City." This despite the fact that Sun City is the place for guys to go:
Population (year 2000): 17,773
Males: 7,837 (44.1%), Females: 9,936 (55.9%)
OK, let's read on:
Median resident age: 66.1 years
Median household income: $29,814 (year 2000)
Median house value: $104,200 (year 2000)
Interestingly enough, there's an on-line record of Sun City political contributions. I wonder if any of the residents contributed to banned political organizations:
Stimmel, Marcie Mrs. (Self-Employed/Rancher), (Zip code: 92584) $250 to REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE on 07/02/03
Friedman, Jean Mrs. (Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $750 to REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE on 08/12/03
Harris, Norma A. Mrs. (Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $375 to REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE on 08/04/03
Mayda - Lara, Andres A. Mr. (Self-Employed/Auto Cad Drafter), (Zip code: 92586) $500 to REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE on 10/07/03
Stimmel, Marcie Mrs. (Self-Employed/Rancher), (Zip code: 92584) $500 to REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE on 06/08/04
De Rita, Mary Ms. (Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $750 to REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE on 07/15/04
MESZAR, MARCELLE (RETIRED), (Zip code: 92586) $300 to JEFFORDS FOR VERMONT COMMITTEE INC on 03/26/04
GILMORE, NORMA, (Zip code: 92586) $10 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE on 04/09/04
ZELLNER, VIRGINIA, (Zip code: 92686) $10 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE on 04/09/04
OSTER, ROGER, (Zip code: 92588) $1000 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE on 06/29/04
SPANGLER, TIMOTHY D (SELF TRAVEL), (Zip code: 92586) $300 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL COMMITTEE on 06/02/04
Spangler, Timothy D Mr. (OWNER), (Zip code: 92586) $1250 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE on 05/12/03
Sannipoli, Dale C Mr. (Hauler Racks/President), (Zip code: 92585) $300 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE on 09/19/03
Larriabee, Julie Ms. (Southland Mortgage Lenders/Owner), (Zip code: 92586) $250 to NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE on 09/29/04
Mr. Lionel J Bogut (White Star Laundry Publishing/SELF), (Zip code: 92586) $210 to VICTORY 2004/CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY on 02/14/03
J Bogut, Lionel MR. (White Star Laundry Publishing/SELF), (Zip code: 92586) $210 to VICTORY 2004/CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY on 02/14/03
BOGUT, LIONEL (WHITE STAR PUBLISHING), (Zip code: 92586) $675 to LINCOLN CLUB OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY on 02/20/03
Warmoth, Mark E., (Zip code: 92587) $2000 to RICHARD POMBO FOR CONGRESS on 08/15/03
Warmoth, Mark E., (Zip code: 92587) $1000 to RICHARD POMBO FOR CONGRESS on 08/15/03
Meszar, Marcelle (Not employed/Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $300 to DEAN FOR AMERICA on 05/06/03
Meszar, Marcelle (Not employed/Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $400 to DEAN FOR AMERICA on 06/25/03
Meszar, Marcelle (Not employed/Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $200 to DEAN FOR AMERICA on 05/12/03
Meszar, Marcelle (Not employed/Retired), (Zip code: 92586) $250 to DEAN FOR AMERICA on 09/10/03
Madden, Ethel, (Zip code: 92586) $250 to DEAN FOR AMERICA on 12/30/03
PETERSON, ARTHUR L. MR. (WATHEN FOUNDATION/EDUCATION/ADMINIS), (Zip code: 92586) $2000 to BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC. on 10/14/03
COREY, PATRICIA A MRS. (N/A), (Zip code: 92585) $440 to BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC. on 02/23/04
BIERMAN, DANIEL MR. (PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO/TABLES GAM), (Zip code: 92587) $250 to BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC. on 03/29/04
OSTER, ROGER A MR. (SELF-EMPLOYED/TRUSTEE), (Zip code: 92586) $2000 to BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC. on 07/02/04
MAYDA - LARA, ANDRES A MR. (SELF-EMPLOYED/AUTO DEALER), (Zip code: 92586) $500 to BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC. on 09/07/04
BLOWERS, RICHARD (RICHARD T BLOWERS), (Zip code: 92587) $200 to FRIENDS OF LARRY KLAYMAN on 11/28/03
Let me break away from the Sun City, California vs. Sun City, South African Homeland joke for just a moment to wonder: why would ANYBODY contribute to the Bush Cheney '04 primary? I mean, what's the point of the contribution? Did they really think they were making a difference in whether or not Bush and Cheney would get the nomination?
Switching to a discussion of Sun City in South Africa, what's the story today?
Deep in the rugged bushveld, in the heart of an ancient volcano, lies the world's most unique resort. This is the internationally acclaimed Sun City....
Sun City Resort has a unique heartbeat and an African rhythm of its own and is unlike any other Resort destination in the world. This is pure fantasy and your every desire is met. There are four world-class hotels including the magnificent Palace of the Lost City that glitters like a jewel beneath the African sun, brilliant in its rain forest surroundings and luxurious in its detail and design.
Adjoining the Resort, is the beautiful Pilanesberg National Park, which will delight game viewers as it is a malaria free zone and home to the Big 5....
And, naturally, there is a commitment to corporate social investment:
Sun City, through its fortunate position as a major role player within the NorthWest economic and business spheres, has accepted its responsibility and obligations to both the local communities and the surrounding areas. It’s aim is not only to make a difference in the physical sense, which would directly affect people’s lives in a positive manner, but also by creating awareness and shifting an existing mindset.
Into the fabric that is our company policy is woven vital aspects, which we feel, is the essence of responsible business practice: the threads of community involvement and that of environmental integrity. In order for our business and the surrounding community to co-habitat in a harmonious and beneficial fashion, Sun City gladly shoulders this mantle in our efforts toward community upliftment and empowerment by initiating and supporting various project.
LADY MOKWENA AIDS HOSPICE
Mma Mokwena started her work in the community of Chaneng in 1993 amongst pensioners. In 2002 she was distressed about the alarming rate at witch Aids left orphans behind, having to fend for themselves. She initiated an Orphans project with the assistance of the Department of Social Development. In October 2003 the project was appropriately launched in Welfare Month. Sun City was approached for sponsorship of the launch and the rest is history! Sun City committed to building a new 20 bed Hospice as patients were crowded in the old ward....
TAPOLOGO AIDS HOSPICE
Health care is a great concern amongst our youth and HIV/AIDS has affected many of the families in our communities. Through the construction of various health care facilities, Sun City are able to provide primary health care, maternity facilities and childcare to many of the outlying villages, saving them at least 3-4 hours bus ride....
SMALL CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS LEARNING FACILITIES
The Holy Family School is one of 6 schools built and equipped at a cost of R 2 million to ensure that all local learners have easy access and opportunity to a proper education. This school is situated in the Mogwase community that lies 10 km to the North of Sun City. They maintain the highest of academic standards and 40 learners have matriculated since Sun City’s involvement in 2002. 4 Pre-schools have been built since 1997, to value of R 775 000, providing hundreds of early learners a head start.
SUN CITY JUNIOR SOCCER LEAGUE
The absence of any sporting activity for the youth in the Pilanesberg region has long been a frustration for both parent and child....
The Sun City Junior Football League has been formed to address those needs. The association is a joint initiative between employees of the resort and 18 schools from our surrounding community. Forty teams are participating from schools in Ledig, Mogwase, Chaneng, Boshoek and Monokato (Moses Kotane Municipality)....
CULTURAL VILLAGE
Tourists visit SA for 3 main reasons being, scenic beauty, wildlife and climate, but moving more to the forefront also is the “African Experience”. Motseng Cultural Village @ Sun City is striving to offer the tourist a visual experience of true African Cultures and customs....
HIGH MAST LIGHTING PROJECT
Our lonely dark and desolate roads leading to Sun City have always been of great concern to Sun City Management. After intense negotiations with the Mogwase Municipality it was agreed that a percentage of the rates and taxes paid to the Municipality by Sun City, would be applied for the betterment of the community. Thus the High Mast Lighting Project was born....
Comments
The people who contributed to the Bush ‘04 primary are probably the same ones expecting him to be re-elected in ’08.
I was not aware of all the facts concerning Sun City. Thanks for the info.