On air: Your questions about the violence in China

We can see by looking online that you’re interested in this story, and your questions and discussions are more about wanting to know more about the people and places involved, than about the rights and wrongs. So we’ll have a panel of experts ready to answer your questions about the violence between Han Chinese and Uighurs in the city of Urumqi. Please post them here.

On air: Has all perspective been lost on the death of Michael Jackson?

UPDATE : On yesterday’s programme we discussed both issues : The first edition, which   goes out to the rest of the world MINUS Africa, the mood was clear ; generally speaking, you thought we  shouldn’t be talking about Michael Jackson at all.

The second edition, broadcasting to Africa, the response was equally clear : we can talk about China any day, you said, but today is about MJ.

Just thought i’d share that with you.

Mark 

Ever since we devoted a whole programme to his death, some of you have been fuming at the extensive media coverage and the outpouring of emotion that’s followed Michael Jackson’s passing. Put this in perspective, you’ve told us time and time again. Surely there are more important things for the media to be worrying about, you’ve argued. Some of you will think much the same when we discuss this today, but today’s memorial service is right at the top of the most read subjects online and we can’t ignore it.

60 years of Communism in China – a cause for celebration ?

   156 dead, over 1000 injured and 1400 arrested in China’s deadliest crackdown  since Beijing’s Tianemen Sqaure in 1989. China’s no stranger to brutal clampdowns. Some say it throws doubt on China’s “ideological clue to Communism”