Zhang believes Rudd’s knowledge of Chinese culture and thinking would enable him to talk tactfully about sensitive subjects. “He won’t stand back from raising topics like Tibet or human rights, but nor will he pursue the US line in the same way as the Howard administration.”

It is pleasing that China will not see Australia under Rudd’s leadership as a vassal of the USA and that will be good for all of us!

Read article 

In no particular order:

AS the China - Tibet story catches the western world’s attention we are now beginning to see press stories (see below) decrying the wicked Chinese and their imperialistic tendencies while lauding the Dalai Lama. Having seen personally the economic and social havoc caused by having a large proportion of a country’s male youth sidelined into prayer rather than gainful activity, I find the veneration of the Dalai Lama perverse. In essence I think that Lobsang Rampa who idealised the position of the Dalai Lama from a seat in a British museum has a lot to answer for as he successfully perpetrated a fraud that led to the veneration of a religious despot, for want of a better description, by much of the west. (Rampa’s book The Third Eye was widely read by western youth involved in the psychedelic revolution / change of consciousness movement and has in my opinion continued to cloud the West’s judgement.)

The Bloomberg article: “Rudd, Bush Urge China to Hold Talks With Dalai Lama, Supporters” … March 28 (Bloomberg) — Excerpt: “Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and President George W. Bush today urged the Chinese to meet with the Dalai Lama to discuss human rights in Tibet” end excerpt– is almost bizzare in that Bush’s America with 1 in 10 black males in jail and Australia’s woeful record on Aboriginal health and longevity qualify both countries as being prime human rights deniers suddenly have become arbiters of human rights and seek to lecture the Chinese. Perhaps Bush and Rudd’s positions should be checked until their own back yards reflect better on them.

By many measures China has helped the Tibetans live longer, healthier lives: “After the Democratic Reform in Tibet, mortality declined by a large margin. The decrease in the mortality rate has slowed down since 1970. The mortality rate had fallen from 28 per 1,000 in the 1950s to 6.60 per 1,000 in 2000. The model of age-specific death rates is in the stage of transferring from the traditional “U-shaped” model to the modern “J-shaped” model. The death rates for males were higher than those for females. There was a wide gap between urban and rural people in the death rates. Mortality at all ages in Tibet was much higher than the national average. The death rates in each age groups in rural areas were higher than those in urban areas. The infant mortality rate was very high in Tibet with a great difference between the sexes. But the infant mortality rate had fallen from 430 per 1,000 in 1951, 91.8 per 1,000 in 1990 to 35.3 per 1,000 by the year 2000. In 1990, life expectancy in Tibet has reached 59.64 years, 57.64 for male and 61.57 for female.” http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/population/database/chinadata/tibet.htm“

The interesting part is that he is still given a voice and is allowed to pollute with his thinly veiled venom. Piers it is time to re-tool for the 21st century!

March 16, 2008 12:00am

“Writing in The Asian Age, foreign affairs expert Brahma Chellaney said Rudd had no qualms about selling uranium to China but would not export to India, even though the latter is accepting what the former will not brook: stringent, internationally verifiable safeguards against diversion of material to weapons use.” Read article in Daily Telegraph

Rudd, who speaks fluent Mandarin, discussed ways Chan could help Australia strengthen its ties with China, which is now Australia’s biggest trading partner.

Chan, who is an ambassador for the Beijing Olympics, invited Rudd to attend the Olympics later this year, and said he would be available to help Rudd at any time, but he refused say how.

“There’ some secret, I cannot say it,” Chan said. “I’ve known Kevin for a few years. Whenever he calls, I’ll be there.” Read full article

washingtonpost.com
By James GrubelReuters
Saturday, March 8, 2008; 10:40 PM

The Prime Minister’s final destination, China, is central to Australia’s long-term interests, particularly as the US economy continues to decline. It is also where the former diplomat Mr Rudd stands to make the strongest personal impression to a nation notoriously suspicious of foreign leaders: he literally speaks their language, and was personally invited to the August Olympics, while still Opposition leader, by China’s President Hu Jintao at last year’s APEC summit in Sydney. Read full article

The booklet: The First 100 Days - Achievements of the Rudd Government
presents an overview of the pre-election commitments that have been
implemented and other work of the first three months.
A copy can be downloaded here:

Visit: http://www.pm.gov.au/docs/first_100_days.pdf

100,000 new & affordable rental homes

The Rudd Government’s Rental Affordability Scheme will fund tax
incentives for investors to build up to 100,000 new affordable rental
properties - double what was promised in the election campaign.

Visit: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0308/mspm030.php

Teen Dental Plan has July 1 startup

With its Teen Dental Plan, the Rudd Government will offer eligible
families up to $150 towards the cost of dental checkups for each of
their teenage children - thus honouring another major election
commitment.

Visit: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0308/msheagpm020.php

Buying back water for the Murray

There have been 11 consecutive years of dry conditions and six years of
record low inflow on the Murray, yet this will be the first time the
Australian Government has ever directly purchased water.

Visit: http://www.alp.org.au/media/0208/msccw260.php

ALSO: Cook up some love

A new cookbook featuring the favourite recipes of federal,
state and territory Labor MPs. By
purchasing this book, you will help raise money for the Young Labor Canberra Study Tour.

Visit: http://eherald.alp.org.au/articles/0308/newstas04-01.php

AND: Have your say

If you’d like to express a view about Labor’s way forward, complete
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Pulling the levers in corporate China
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia

Rudd to see Bush before trip to China
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
PRIME MINISTER Kevin Rudd will make his first major overseas trip when he visits the United States and China next month.  It is understood Mr Rudd plans to visit the US about April 5 or 6, meeting US President George Bush before talks in China from April 9 to 12.

http://www.abc.net.au/ra/connectasia/stories/m1547584.asx

http://www.abc.net.au/centralwest/stories/s2176370.htm?nsw