Jesse+and+Ryan+-+CP+-+SP11




 * Tank Man's Perspective**


 * Human Rights - Freedom of Speech**

The tank man believes firmly in freedom of speech. He had the courage to stand in front of a fully armored military vehicle to make a point about his lack of freedoms. He also had the courage to climb up on the tank to stop it from moving. He was not afraid of being killed or being put in jail for his actions. His belief in freedom of speech was strong enough to encourage him to stand up to the Chinese type 59 tanks. If the tank man didn't believe strongly in freedom of speech, he would not have risked his life to stand up for something he didn't believe in. No man would risk their life in order to stand up for what they did not believe in.


 * Global Interdependence - Specific Focus on economic relationships**

China is economically in relationships with mainly the US and some other countries. The tank man really doesn't care about China's economical relationships with other countries. His demonstration wasn't about China's global interdependence. It was about his anger towards his government and for what they had done in Tiananmen Square. He felt like he needed to act on his beliefs and freedoms. This really doesn't have much to do with China's Economic Relationships.


 * Environment - Air and Water pollution**

The tank man believes that China is falling deeply into air and water pollution. The recent water crisis in China has lead to the tank man to believe that China needs a change in how they are distributing and using their limited water supply. The tank man has seen the build up of garbage in the rivers, mainly the Yellow River, near his home in China. He strongly believes that China needs to manage waste by building incinerators to burn their trash, rather than having landfills and illegal dump sites. The tank man also can see how China is polluting the air. The recent spike in the build of industrialized buildings that emit harmful smog into the air angers the tank man. He can see that the buildings are seriously polluting the air with their smoke stacks and waste emitting pipes. The tank man recently learned that 16 of the worlds 20 most air polluted cities are in China. This angers the tank man because the cities smell like coal, smog and gasoline. The tank man has also seen many of his fellow Chinamen developing caner and other diseases that did not previously appear as often in China before the serious pollution of China.

Here is a link to a video that shows how there are actual 'Cancer Villages' located in China:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2010/jun/07/china-cancer-pollution

Here is another video about the pollution of China's Yellow River, as mention above:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2006/11/17/world/asia/1194817103057/china-s-yellow-river-part-1.html


 * Tolerance of Diversity - Acceptance and treatment of other groups (some who oppose the government)**

The tank man obviously has strong feelings on China's tolerance of Diversity. After his display of disgust and protest against the things that were done in Tiananmen Square, he was pulled away by several people. No one really knows who these people were, if they were secret police or if they were just concerned citizens. His fate is also still a mystery. Most people think that he was killed for his protests against the government. Some say it was as soon as 2 weeks later, some say a few months. According to China's official statement, he is still alive, hiding in China's mainland. In a 1990 interview with The Communist Party of China's General Sec retary Jiang Zemin first stated (through an interpreter), "I can't confirm whether this young man you mentioned was arrested or not," and then replied in English, "I think never killed". Obviously the Chinese government is not accepting with groups who oppose the government.


 * What efforts have you taken to interact with China?**

I have gone through extreme efforts to interact with my country. I have stood up for what I believe in, through demonstrating my strong belief in freedom of speech. I have stood in front of Type 59 military tanks to prove the oppression that China is putting on its people to the world.


 * Have you promoted a positive relationship with China?**

No, the relationship with China has not been a positive one. China has oppressed its people for too long. The lack of freedom of press, and speech has pushed many people over the edge. Journalists, bloggers, and artists cannot say or express themselves in way they want. This has caused my feelings towards the Chinese government to become bitter. They put us under the oppression like the white man did to the slaves from Africa. That is why I decided to stand up for what I believe in. The governmental corruption has proceeded to go too far. The fact that my people cannot even protest peacefully, without the treat of government opposition, shows their oppressive power. I will never promote a country that keeps its people from their freedoms in a positive way.


 * Do you intend on promoting the progress of China?**

If China continues on this path of corruption, oppressiveness and greed, I will not promote their progress. But, if Chain makes a turn for the better, I will glady support my country. For example, if China becomes capitalist again, is able to manage their water and air pollution, and give their people their freedoms back, I will start to promote their progress.


 * What impact will China have on the next 50 years of world history?**

I believe that China will have a major part of the next 50 years of world history. With the amount of money that US owes China it is very easy for China to consider war as a way to secure their money. They have used force in the past, I don't think that they will show restraint in the future. If China does go to war with the US, that will have a huge impact on the next 50 years if not more.