Beijing holds first human rights exhibition

Beijing is holding a human rights exhibition, the first of its kind, from November 17-26. The exhibit features all kinds of human rights related materials, such as documents, white papers, multimedia and interactive stations, as well as sculptures and other artistic works.

Dong Yunhu, a human rights expert, believes that one of the purposes of this exhibition is to set the record straight," regarding China's record and approach to human rights -- in other words, this a reply to China's critics.

“I believe the exhibition will help promote human rights in China and boost exchanges between China and the outside world on this topic,” said Dong Yunhu, vice chairman of the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

Dong Yunhu also elaborates the differences between the human rights theories of China and the West (in Chinese). For those of you that have followed this debate, there's nothing new:

西方文化比较强调自然人即人的自然属性、个人性、利己性以及个人与他人的分离性；而中国文化则比较强调社会人即人的社会性、道德性以及个人对他人的依存性。(Here he says that the west has always emphasized the individual and her selfish interests, whereas Chinese culture emphasizes social relations.) 从孔子开始，中国就强调人与人之间的相互联系，强调“人者，仁也”，用人与人之间的关系来规定人，把个人对他人的关爱和义务置于首位，注重行为符合道德要求，主张“君子爱财取之有道”。(Here he says that Confucius said "the gentlemen [jun-zi] must seek wealth only in accordance with the Way." This means that since the Way implies moral propriety and that propriety is based on the correct social relations between people, that such relations take precedence over making money at any cost or through any means. Just ask Chen Liangyu.) 相应地，在人权观上，西方比较强调追求私有财产和个人幸福的权利，注重个人权利，而中国则是比较强调个人权利与集体权利、权利与义务的相互联系。西方文化注重“争”，中华民族讲究“和为贵”，强调合作与对话，任何事情都可以对话。从一定意义上说，这也是中国在人权问题上主张对话、反对对抗的重要思想文化基础。(Here he says that Westerners emphasize "confrontation" whereas Chinese people emphasize harmony and therefore are much more open to to solving problems through dialogue. Just ask the Dalai Lama and the Taiwanese people.)

On the brighter side of things, the sculptures look kinda cool.

Photo from 163.com