Hypocritical values of human rights

Having lived in Beijing for a while now, I have experienced first-hand the difference between culture and pseudo-culture.

As most are aware, China is one of the oldest surviving civilizations, and a society's survival in itself is witness to the cultural development of a people. The common Chinese person in the face of hardships is basically happy, content. hospitable, and family-oriented. They do not need make appointments with their parents for dinner.

Historically, Western nations, the US in particular, have made it their self-appointed duty to police the world at the cost of developing countries and have displayed their hypocritical values, specifically in the area of human rights.

The near-annihilation of Native American people and their rich culture in the US is a case in point. To use "the Tibet issue" as they call it, to smear the Olympics in Beijing a joke indeed. It is high time for these nations to clean their side of the street.

Aloke Mukerjee from the US

via e-mail

Food should come first

Thank you for highlighting the impact that rising international food prices are having on people in Africa.

We welcome your recognition that food should come first. People who cannot afford to feed their families today cannot wait. No one denies the importance of infrastructure and economic growth in the long term, but immediate needs deserve urgent attention.

The UN World Food Program needs $3.4 billion to feed 73 million people this year. This figure has already risen by $500 million since our first estimates in June 2007 and is set to rise if prices of food and fuel continue their current trend.

We have issued an appeal to world leaders to help us avoid the need to cut rations or choose which beneficiaries will eat, and which will not.

China has worked hard to ensure it can grow enough food to feed its people and is taking strong measures to protect them from rising prices at home. It knows that people need full stomachs to be healthy, study well, work hard and get ahead.

Focusing on food and agriculture in Africa offers another opportunity for China -- as a fast developing country - to lead the way in improving the lives of many millions of people even beyond its borders.

Anthea Webb, World Food Program

via e-mail

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(China Daily 05/08/2008 page9)