【大紀元11月5日訊】（大紀元記者南希美國維州報導）10月26日中午，美東中區人權聖火全球傳遞及法輪功受迫害聯合真相調查團，在維吉尼亞州首府瑞曲曼市的州議會及市議會前，分別舉行了支持「全球人權聖火傳遞」的公眾集會﹐呼籲關注在中國的人權迫害。社會各界人士﹑族裔社區代表﹑教師學生﹑醫生等都趕來參加集會﹐他們持用橫幅標語，向過往市民傳遞著集會信息﹕「奧運和反人類罪行不能在中國同時進行」、「釋放法輪功學員」、「沒有人權就沒有北京奧運」等。
瑞曲曼市聖凱撒琳女子高中及聖克里斯多福男子高中的20多名學生及多位教師來到集會現場表示支持。(南希攝影/大紀元)
瑞曲曼市聖凱撒琳女子高中及聖克里斯多福男子高中的20多名學生及多位教師來到集會現場表示支持。他們與聲樂歌手王女士合唱了「人權聖火傳遞」主題歌，祈盼自由、和平與公正的『人權聖火』永遠照耀在人間。
瑞曲曼市聖凱撒琳女子高中及聖克里斯多福男子高中的20多名學生來到集會現場表示支持。(南希攝影/大紀元)
參加集會的高中生馬修在接受採訪時說：「全世界的人，無論生活在哪裏，都理應享有最基本的人權和自由，可是中國人的人權卻被剝奪了。雖然今天這種情況發生在中國，距離我們很遙遠，可是如果我們不站出來制止，將來可能會發生在我們家門前，所以這種事情一發生，我們就要全力制止。」華特說﹕「我們瞭解到在中國發生的（人權迫害）的事情，我們想做點什麼來制止。」凱撒琳說﹕「有人不能得到他們應有的權力，我們在乎這些，不管他們是中國，德國或任何地方的人。我們要阻止這些威脅人權的源頭，把邪魔消滅在搖籃裏。」
聖克里斯多福高中11年級學生基南‧湯普森 (Keanan Thompson) 代表兩所高中學生支持全球人權聖火傳遞並在集會上發言。(南希攝影/大紀元)
聖克里斯多福高中11年級學生基南‧湯普森 (Keanan Thompson) 代表兩所高中學生支持全球人權聖火傳遞並在集會上發言，他譴責中共迫害大量無辜的法輪功追隨者及活摘器官殺人牟利﹐希望世界各國對中共的壓迫人民﹐採取強硬立場反對﹐抵制2008 年北京奧運會或進一步嚴格的經濟制裁。
聖凱撒琳高中經濟學教學組長及獎助學金辦公室主任史提夫‧堪比司歐 (Steve Cambisios) 先生也在集會上發言。(南希攝影/大紀元)
聖凱撒琳高中經濟學教學組長及獎助學金辦公室主任史提夫‧堪比司歐 (Steve Cambisios) 先生也在集會上發言。他評論了中國經濟發展引發的環境惡化問題和侵犯人權罪行﹐呼籲國際社會關注中國人權問題﹐共同制止罪行。
以下是學生代表湯普森及經濟學教師堪比司歐在集會上發言的中文翻譯及英文原稿 (小標題乃記者所加)﹕
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(以下是學生基南‧湯普森在集會的發言)
奧運會是個禮物 中共不夠資格享有
人權聖火全球傳遞 活動是採取漸進式步驟，使世界認識到中國的共產主義政權侵犯人權的行為。這一活動由奧運會的發源地﹐希臘的奧林匹亞開始﹐已經陸續的傳遞到25個以上的歐洲城市﹐訴說中共（中國共產黨）對廣大民眾的不公正對待。
當中國獲得國際奧林匹克委員會決定給予主辦奧運會的任務時，曾應允奧委會對改善中國人民生活水準和公民 自由權的要求條件。但是中共沒有認真的向這方面努力改善，反而中共選擇壓制那些敢言者。奧運會是一個禮物，中共這幾年的作為不夠資格享有她。
中共是個殘暴 寡頭壟斷集團
環境狀況在中國是惡劣的。這些惡劣環境的影響，使得絕大多數﹐百分之七十 (70%)﹐的中國財富被百分之零點四 (0.4 ％)的人口佔有。中國政府表面上繼承了共產主義的名稱﹐實質上是一個殘暴的﹑寡頭壟斷的集團。這是一場悲劇，非常少數的人能享有人類必需的基本生活權利。而廣大中國人民群眾遭受的蹂 躪，就像中共鐵蹄下對生態系統的破壞。今天，有五億的中國民眾沒有乾淨的飲用水可使用。
根據大紀元時報有關太湖的報導： “整個太湖屈服於今年工業和農業的廢料排放，變成了螢光綠色。至少有兩百萬生活在太湖沿岸稻田區和化工廠區的民眾﹐不得不停止拿來烹飪用或飲用這個他們的主要水源。 “中國生態環境變得越來越差。雖然中國簽署和答應執行京都議定書﹐但是預料於不久的將來﹐中國將超過美國成為世界最大的碳排放量國家。作為世界第四大經濟體﹐令人驚奇的是大部分中國民眾﹐許多仍然生活在貧困之中，和第三世界國家類似。
中共迫害大量法輪功追隨者及活摘器官殺人牟利
中國的人權環境狀況和她的生態環境狀況是鏡像般的同樣惡劣。中國共產黨中的一夥人特別熱衷於迫害法輪功。這個非宗教的法輪功群體已經證明帶給中國人民的完全只有真誠和善意。法輪功學員靜坐演習只不過為了發展和壯大流通一個人的“氣”（也許科學上解釋為一種暗物質），以改善身體健康和幸福感受。中共害怕任何 (它認為) 不受其直接控制的大的人民團體。因此大量的法輪功追隨者﹐成為中共無辜迫害的受害者。
有無數的報告和確鑿的證據指出中共往往活摘法輪功練習者的器官﹑殺人牟利。在最近召開的第17次全國共產黨及人民的代表大會﹐中共官員拒絕面對這個問題﹑拒絕解決任何其他侵犯人權的問題﹑甚至拒絕承認1989年6月4日在天安門廣場的公眾大屠殺。中國政府是一個嚴厲壓制的政權﹐逼得她的公民除了逃亡外別無更多選擇。中共企圖把人民洗腦﹑愚化群眾﹑鉗制新聞﹔它進行對大部份網際網路的過濾檢查和根據模糊的”破壞國家完整”為借口來監禁比其他任何國家都多的新聞記者。
希望對中共強硬 抵制北京奧運或經濟制裁
世界上各個國家都必須對中共這樣的壓迫人民﹐採取強硬立場反對。中國人民被剝奪了基本的人權和公民自由，這是與生俱來﹑無論男女都有的權力。這個反對迫害的立場，可經由採取抵制2008 年北京奧運會來表白。這將對中共的威信和經濟造成衝擊。如果這樣還不足以引導中共作出重大改變，那麼各個國家就必須制定嚴格的經濟制裁。儘管這將給經常與中國作貿易的國家帶來經濟困難，但是這將是他們必須為此而承擔的必要手段。
是的，民眾一起抗議的聲音會很有意義，但是要是沒有大國的奧援共鳴，將無疑是停滯而難有進展的。 艾略歐特所著的“中空的人群 (The Hollow Men) ”中有言：“這是一個世界結束的方式﹐不是轟然巨響而是嗚咽抽泣﹗”個體群眾及握有權力的私營機構，他們的結合﹑發出共同聲音，只能是給中共的一個嗚咽抽泣。而世界各國都可以擔任引發大變革催化劑的轟然巨響。確實，如果世界各國只提供口頭上的應付支持，而不選擇用行動糾正中共治下的這種不公正對待﹐那麼也許中國人民會被拋棄而沉淪。而將來的某一天﹐這種不公正對待輪到其他國家﹐那他們也將會被拋棄而沉淪。
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(以下是教師史提夫‧堪比司歐在集會的發言)
人權聖火傳遞是幫助制止中國人權罪行的全球運動
人權聖火傳遞是一個全球性運動，其目的在幫助制止在中國一切侵犯人權的罪行。作為一種條件被授予2008年承辦奧運會，中國政府承諾遵守奧林匹克憲章並改善其不良的人權記錄。迄今為止，這一承諾並沒有得到履行。我很榮幸能在這個集會上演講﹐聲援人權聖火全球傳遞。作為一個經濟學教師﹐我想從中國經濟發展引發的環境惡化問題和侵犯人權罪行來討論﹐呼籲國際社會關注中國人權問題﹐共同制止罪行。
中國政府宣稱在過去的25年中﹐有2億2千5百萬人脫離了絕對貧困的深淵。這是根據中國政府對中國人絕對貧困的定義﹐即每人每天少於0.30美元的購買力。但是如果使用聯合國對絕對貧困的通用標準﹕每人每天少於1美元的購買力﹐來審查的話，那麼差不多有2億2千萬人﹐近六分之一的中國人口﹐又回到了“世界”絕對貧困的深淵。這些絕對貧困戶多數生活在未開發的農鄉地區或是公認的偏遠少數族裔。例如在西藏地區﹐百分之五十的人口是文盲。基尼係數（即衡量收入不均的指標）顯示﹐中國在過去20年中快速增加致很大，亦即人民收入差別累積大到使現在的共產中國比資本主義的美國的財富不均還嚴重。
經濟發展引發環境惡化及嚴重侵犯人權
經濟發展帶來的環境惡化問題與中國嚴重的侵犯人權的後果有密切關聯。在應中國政府請求修改之前，一份2007年世界銀行報告的早先草案中估計，中國污染有害的空氣和水的質量每年造成近75萬人死亡。在中國有一半的下水道污水是未經淨化處理而排放的。而每年中國有超過50萬例痢疾患者。
中國現在已是世界第四大經濟體。在過去十年中，由於其經濟的快速擴張，中國已經把超過五分之一的農業可耕地改用於非農業用途﹐2千萬的農民因此被迫賦閒而流離失所。直接造成的結果之一即是﹐中國不再是自給自足的糧食生產國。地下水位線在華北平原以每年下降5英尺的速度進行。這更加劇了農業生產問題，迫使更多農業人口從農村向城市地區轉移，進而造成更多的環境壓力。
中國政府的國家環境保護局估計，污染的費用每年在2兆美元左右﹐這個天文數字只是經濟快速增長的一部分代價。這些污染造成的損失侵蝕著經濟收益與成效，同時還增加了大多數人的環境痛苦。就在今年﹐中國首次超過了美國，成為世界上最大的二氧化碳溫室氣體總和排放量污染國。雖然中國現有的人均二氧化碳排放量﹐每年3噸半﹐還少於美國的每年20噸的人均水準，但是在中國預見的快速增長的長程發展下，中國將在人均二氧化碳排放量趨於平緩之前﹐增加成現在的四倍。
同住地球村 共同制止中共人權罪行
大家共同住在一個地球上﹐我們都是這個地球村大社區的一部分。侵犯人權的罪行可以發生在任何一個國家﹐也有許多不同的表現途徑。無視一個人群的人權﹑和為了一些人的利益及經濟所得而傷害另一群人，這就是一種侵犯人權的罪行。你們有能力從你們自己的心中做起去阻止它，並在世界範圍內制止侵犯人權的罪行。想想你們可以採取什麼行動﹖用你們正義善良的思想指導你們制止人權罪行的行動吧﹗
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(11th Grader Keanan Thompson’s Speech at the Rally)
The Human Rights Torch Relay is taking a progressive step in making the world aware of the human rights violations being perpetrated by China’s communist regime. This event, which began in Olympia, Greece, home of the Olympics, has traveled through more than twenty five European cities spreading words of CCP (Chinese Communist Party) injustices.
Upon receiving the Olympic Games, China was given an International Olympic Committee mandate to improve Chinese living standards and civil liberties. No serious effort has been put toward reform – only towards silencing the outspoken. The Olympic Games are a gift that the CCP’s actions do not warrant.
Environmental conditions in China are atrocious. These conditions effect the vast majority of the Chinese population as 70% of Chinese wealth falls to 0.4% of the population. The Chinese government is communist only in name and a tyrannical, oligarchy in action. It is tragedy that so few enjoy basic human necessities while the Chinese masses suffer from the ravages the CCP has wreaked on the eco-system. Today, a half billion Chinese citizens go without clean drinking water.
It was reported in the Epoch Times of Lake Tai: “The lake succumbed this year to industrial and agricultural waste by turning fluorescent green. At least two million people who live among the rice paddies and chemical factories on the [the lake’s] shores must stop drinking or cooking with their main source of water.” China is only getting worse, and it is predicted to soon surpass the United States as the world’s leading nation in carbon emissions despite having signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol. As the world’s fourth largest economy, it is amazing that most Chinese citizens live in poverty comparable to that of third world nations.
The Chinese human rights situation mirrors its decrepit ecology. A group the CCP has taken special interest in pursuing is Falun Gong. This non-religious group has proven nothing but sincere and empathic to the Chinese people. Falun Gong meditation exercises focus only on developing and strengthening the flow of one’s chi (perhaps scientifically explained by dark matter) to improve health and happiness. The CCP fears any large group not under its direct control. Accordingly, the Falun Gong followers has become subject to undeserved persecution.
There have been countless reports and irrefutable evidence of organ harvesting of often live Falun Gong practitioners. During the recent 17th National Communist Party Congress, Chinese officials refused to address this, any other human rights violations, or even acknowledge the public massacre in Tiananmen Square June 4, 1989. The Chinese government is a repressive regime that leaves its citizens few options but escape. The CCP attempts to keep the masses ignorant – censoring many parts of the internet and justifying the imprisonment of more journalists than any other nation under the ambiguity of “disrupting national unity.”
The nations of the world need to take a strong stance against this oppression. Chinese people are being denied basic human rights and civil liberties that are the intrinsic right of all men and women. A stance can be taken by choosing to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This would hurt both CCP’s prestige and economy. If this is not sufficient to provoke change, nations must enact strict economic sanctions. Despite economic difficulties for nations who regularly trade with China, they must undertake any means necessary.
Yes, protesters’ voices mean something, but without the aid of major nations, progress will be undoubtedly stagnant. T.S. Eliot wrote in ”The Hollow Men”: “This is the way the world ends/ Not with a bang but a whimper.” Individuals and private organizations hold power, but in perspective their combined voice is a mere whimper to the CCP. The nations of the world can be the bang needed to be a catalyst for change. Truly if the world’s nations choose not to right this injustice, offering only verbal support, then perhaps the Chinese are forsaken, and if perchance injustice visits them one day, they will be as well.
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(Economics Teacher Steve Cambisios’ s Speech at the Rally)
The Human Rights Torch Relay is an international campaign that seeks to bring an end to all human rights abuses in China. As a condition of being awarded the 2008 Olympics games, the Chinese government pledged to adhere to the Olympic charter and improve its record in human rights. To date that pledge has not been fulfilled. I am honored to speak at this rally to support the Human Rights Torch Relay. As an economics teacher, I wish to comment on China’s deteriorating eco-systems and human rights crimes caused by the rapid economic development. And urge the international communities to pay attention to the human rights abuses in China and together to end these crimes.
While the Chinese government proclaims that in the last 25 years 225 million people have been lifted out of the depth of absolute poverty, the Chinese government’s definition of absolute poverty is less than $0.30 of purchasing power/person/day. If one were to use the United Nations’ standard of $ 1 of purchasing power/person/day, then almost 220 million more people, nearly one-sixth of China’s population live in absolute poverty. Many of the poor live in underdeveloped rural areas or are members of China’s recognized ethnic minorities. For example, in Tibet fifty percent of the population is illiterate. The GINI co-efficient (that measures income inequality) has increased so much in the past two decades that income inequality is greater in communist China than in the capitalist United States.
Environmental issues related to economic development have had serious human rights consequences. Before being modified at the request of the Chinese government, an early draft of a 2007 World Bank report estimated that dangerous air and water quality contributed to nearly three-quarter of a million deaths each year. Half of all sewage in China is untreated. There are over half a million cases of dysentery each year.
China, today, has the world’s fourth largest economy. In the past ten years, due to its rapid economic expansion, China has converted over one-fifth of its arable land to non-agricultural uses. Twenty million farmers have been displaced. One result is that China is no longer self-sufficient in food production. The groundwater table in the North China Plain is dropping by five feet per year. This exacerbates the problem of agricultural productivity, increases migration from rural to urban areas, and causes more environmental stress.
The Chinese government’s State Environmental Protection Agency estimates that pollution costs at $ 200 billion per year. This is only part of the cost of rapid economic growth and these losses erode economic gains and add to the suffering of many. Just this year, China surpassed the United States as the world’s largest contributor of CO2 emissions. While China’s 3.5 tons/person/year is less than The United States’ 20 tons/person/year, China’s long-range plans are to nearly quadruple its per capita carbon footprint before leveling off.
We all share the same planet. We are part of the same global community. Human rights abuses can occur in any country in a variety of ways. Ignoring the rights of some humans and mistreating them for the benefit and economic gain of other humans is a human rights abuse. You have the power to stop it in your own heart and to stop human rights abuses throughout the world. Think about what action you can take. Take action from your righteous thoughts.
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