Saturday April 16 2011 (diary, Ai Weiwei, China)

"Wir haben es nicht gewusst!" was the frustrated lament from the German people at the end of the war (WW2). Without a doubt the vast majority of them genuinely did not know of the concentration camps, the gas chambers, the atrocities in Poland etc. And the few who did hear about it kept their mouth shut in fear of being picked up by the Gestapo and end up in concentration camps themselves (or worse).
When an authoritarian government has complete control over the media and a much feared vicious internal police, the general public is easily kept in the dark and under control.
Even in the outside "free" world (like the UK and USA) the rumours and reports about the German concentration camps at the time were conveniently not believed to be true and ignored, even suppressed.

This was 75 years ago, but for most of the time since then not much has changed as far as repressive regimes around the world are concerned. They rape, torture and kill as they like, keeping whole populations under control by threat and force alone.

Finally such regimes are being put on notice. Modern technology of mobile phones, computers and the Internet have ensured that "Wir haben es nicht gewusst" no longer applies, either as an excuse or as a genuine state of ignorance. Modern wireless communications have become the most powerful weapon against suppression, as it enables the organisation of actions for freedom by the suppressed against a regime's police or army. Countries in North Africa and the Middle East are a shining example of that.

Looking on from a distance China too has become very nervous and reacted in fear with the severest crackdown against dissidents, demonstrations and even the mildest expressions of discontent in twenty years.

High profile personalities, such as the artists and Human rights activist Ai Weiwei (the famous co-designer for the Birds Nest Olympic Stadium in Bejing) are not safe from the regime either. He was picked up and arrested two weeks ago.

Like many Democratic Governments I am rather worried about China's intentions. Their massive arms build up, increasing economic stranglehold on developing countries and ruthless regime are not reassuring at all. But the present situation provides a glimmer of hope. Although the present Communist Chinese Government appears to be still firmly in control at present and in the short term, in the long term I don't believe the regime will be able to last.

Like Communist Russia twenty years ago I believe that Communist China will succomb by forces from within.
With Russia it was their failing economy which caused its downfall. With China it will be the evergrowing awareness and dissent (spread through the internet and mobile communications) from its own people.
This may take another 20 or 30 years, for the next generation of Chinese leaders (to be installed next year) are reportedly still in the old mould. But I am sure the change (for the better) will come eventually and from within.

Sunday - Wednesday April 17 - 20 2011 (diary)

When I slow down with mu Blog I am usually busy working on something else. This week it has been my website Jazclass, of which I have upgraded several pages, mainly to do with the various products I sell online.

After a pretty flat time during and after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), my sales have started to pick up again this month. If this just because of the approaching Easter holidays or a sustained lift in sales we will see in due course. Anyway it did motivate me in giving several pages a face lift.

Sunday evening I went for dinner at Jeroen and Lisa's place. They have just returned from their holiday in Bali (Indonesia) and also spend a few days on Gili Trawangan (on the foreground of above photo), one of the three atoll Gili Islands just south of the larger island of Lombok. They really loved the place.

I am not that interested in Bali, too much tourism there, but would not mind a trip to Lombok and Gili Trawangan. Beautiful nature and less crowded than Bali, although Lombok now too is getting increasing numbers of tourists. Accommodation is quite cheap, so I will think about it.