Liu+Xiaobo


 * Liu Xiaobo: Fighting for Human Rights in China **

Xiaobo gave his life to fight for human rights in China. China is the only authoritarian super power in the world, enabling the country to infringe on the personal liberties of its citizens. Xiaobo has been in prison since 2009 on the suspicion of 'inciting subversion of state power', he has been sentenced to eleven years in prison. This year, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for "his long and non-violent struggle for fundamental human rights in China." Xiaobo helped to lead a huge charter, urging the Chinese government to recognize and protect universal liberties:

Specific demands are:
 * 1) Amending the [|Constitution].
 * 2) [|Separation of powers].
 * 3) Legislative democracy.
 * 4) An [|independent judiciary].
 * 5) Public control of public servants.
 * 6) Guarantee of [|human rights].
 * 7) Election of public officials.
 * 8) Rural–urban equality.
 * 9) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Freedom of association].
 * 10) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Freedom of assembly].
 * 11) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Freedom of expression].
 * 12) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Freedom of religion].
 * 13) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Civic education].
 * 14) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Protection of <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|private property].
 * 15) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Financial and tax reform.
 * 16) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Social security].
 * 17) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Protection of the environment].
 * 18) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|A federated republic].
 * 19) <span style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-image: none; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 3.2em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;">[|Truth in reconciliation] . <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[|[] <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;">[|7]]

I want my students to be aware of the basic information regarding Liu Xiaobo, but also how it relates to the establishment of our own nation and the creation of the Bill of Rights. I could do a quick classroom lecture/power point to describe who Xiaobo is, and the differences between a democracy/authoritarian government. This would set the foundation for exploring the topic of universal liberties. The students can also use Xiaobo's charter to delve into the structure of US government and how the Bill of Rights/Constitution protects its people.
 * Instructional Information:**


 * <span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #645a60; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">"Liu Xiaobo - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. 15 Oct 2010 http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2010/xiaobo.html **


 * <span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #645a60; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xiaobo **


 * <span style="border-collapse: separate; color: #645a60; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_08 **