CRI 中国国际广播电台 2010-03-28

Broadcasting Time: 07:00-08:00, GMT+08:00, 2010-03-28

Hello and Welcome to News and Reports on China Radio International.

In This Edition

People in more than 120 countries dim the lights in the fourth annual Earth Hour, a gesture to re-energize efforts to strike a binding 1 pact 2 on cutting greenhouse gas emissions 3.

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says his secular 4 political alliance is open to bringing any of his rivals into a governing coalition 5 that can restore Iraq's place in the Arab and Muslim world.

South Korea's military divers 6 search the waters off Baengnyeong Island for the missing marines but had so far not succeeded in reaching the wreckage 7.

Some of the world's leading academics and government officials discuss reforms needed both inside and outside China for global stability.

Hot Issue Reports

The Fourth Earth Hour Falls on Today

People in more than 120 countries were dimming the lights Saturday in the fourth annual Earth Hour, a gesture to re-energize efforts to strike a binding pact on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

Among the first landmarks 8 to switch off the lights for an hour were New Zealand's parliamentary buildings in Wellington and the Sky City tower in central Auckland.

The renowned 9 white-shelled roof of the Sydney Opera House followed.

The event rolled out across the world as places that have signed up to join the climate action each turned off their lights at 8:30 pm local time.

Andy Ridley, founder 10 of the idea of Earth Hour, emphasized the far-reaching significance of taking concerted efforts to cut emissions.

"It crosses all boundaries. So, it doesn't matter where you're from, what culture you're from, where you are geographically 11 or economically, this is a one big problem that we all share and we are all part of the solution."

He added that he hoped this year's event would inspire world leaders to strive for a much stronger climate agreement than that struck at December's Copenhagen climate change summit.

Sydney Marks 4th Earth Hour

In Sydney, Australia, where the Earth Hour was initiated 12 three years ago, thousands of people gathered in public spaces for the official ceremonies to show their support for action on climate change.

Al-Maliki Challenges Poll Results while Allawi Aims to Negotiate

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says that his secular political alliance is open to bringing any of his rivals into a governing coalition that can restore Iraq's place in the Arab and Muslim world.

Allawi's Iraqiya bloc 13 won the March 7 parliamentary elections, according to full results released over the weekend.

Allawi edged out his chief rival, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who refused to accept the results.

Allawi, chief of the Iraqiya list, is also a secular Shiite politician and former prime minister who appealed across sectarian lines to minority Sunnis, who have been out of power since the downfall of former President Saddam Hussein.

"The decision of the Iraqiya list is to be open to all other lists, starting with the State of Law of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the INA (Iraqi National Alliance), the Kurdish coalition, the Accordance front and others, even to those who did not win, because Iraq is not for one side or one sect 14, but for all Iraqis."

The results do not automatically mean that Allawi will become prime minister. Allawi's Iraqiya coalition won 91 seats to 89 for al-Maliki's State of Law bloc. That narrow margin 15 sets the stage for months of political wrangling 16.

Al-Maliki, flanked by supporters, announced on national television that he would not accept the results. He said he would challenge the vote count through the legal process.

Rescue Work for South Korea Missing Ship Under Way

Rescue work for the South Korean missing ship is under way.

Military divers, navy and coast guard vessels 17 searched the waters off South Korea's Baengnyeong Island for the missing marines but did not succeed in reaching the wreckage.

South Korean Defence Minister Kim Tae-young said on Saturday that a rescue ship was on its way to the scene of the incident, but it was not due to arrive until later on Sunday.

"When the rescue ship, of 3,000 tons size, arrives tomorrow, the rescue team will immediately be on board. Since we can come and go from the rescue ship itself, I believe the rescue operation will be able to proceed with a much faster speed."

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak ordered officials to quickly determine what caused the ship to sink and make all efforts to rescue the crew.

Choi Won-il, the captain of the missing ship, who survived the incident, gave a briefing describing the incident.

"When I was planning the next day's operation schedule in the captain's cabin, the ship shifted to the right about 90 degrees and there was the sound of a bang. At the same time, the generators 19, and all communication and contacts were cut off."

The Joint 20 Chiefs of Staff said an explosion tore a hole in the rear of the Cheonan late on Friday night, shutting off the engine, wiping out power and taking the ship down in a little over three hours time.

Despite early fears of an attack, there was no immediate 18 indication that North Korea was to blame.

Light News

Experts: Global Stability Requires Reform Both Inside and Outside China

Over 500 participants have descended 21 on central Beijing to listen to some of the world's leading academics and members of the government talk about the growing importance of China in today's world.

The forum 22, organized by the London School of Economics, covered a wide range of topics under the four main themes of economic development, China's role as a diplomatic power, climate change and China's healthcare system.

Jia Qinglin: China-Namibia Relations Growing Stronger

During his ongoing 23 state visit to Namibia, top Chinese political advisor 24 Jia Qinglin stressed the progress made in relations between the two countries at a reception marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides.

Jia Qinglin, who chairs the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addressed the reception with an upbeat speech.

"Over the past two decades, the friendship between our two countries has withstood the test of time. Our time-honored and valued friendship is an example of bilateral 25 relationships not only for African countries but also for the broader developing world."

Jia stressed the significance of strengthening bilateral ties on the basis of mutual 26 respect, equality and reciprocity.

He said international affairs call for closer cooperation and that, in issues regarding each other's interests, the two sides are mutually supportive and respect each others common interests.

Sam Nujoma, the first president of Namibia, echoed Jia Qinglin's comments.

"We pride ourselves in our enduring bond and friendship. China has always supported our efforts to boost social and economic development."

Sino-Namibia relations have witnessed two decades of healthy development with an increasing amount of trade.

Trade between the two sides is still robust 27 despite the lingering global economic crisis.

Joining Hands to Get Through the Drought

As drought continues to ravage 28 southwestern China, relief work is also making progress. In Yunan province, the government, NGOs and local people are joining hands to get through this difficult period.

Aerospace 29 Technology Applied 30 at Shanghai Expo

The 2010 Shanghai World Expo will see the greatest use of solar energy in the event's history.

With the Building Integrated Photovoltaic systems, or BIPV, the solar panels on the World Expo 2010 Theme Pavilion can generate 2.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, enough power for 2,500 Shanghai families for a year, while reducing carbon dioxide discharges by 2,800 tons.

Wang Houquan, director of the World Expo Photovoltaic Power Station, says China will accelerate the application of aerospace technology to civilian 31 use.

"The technology is highly reliable, efficient and clean. China pioneers the area of transfering it to civilian industries. We'll push forward the process to make aerospace technology serve people's life sooner and more."

BIPV systems are initially 32 included in the construction planning and built along with the building to supply its future electricity use. Three of the four permanent building structures in the Expo Park use the Building Integrated Photovoltaic System.

Solar power has long been utilized 33 in displays in the expo history. It was first used in the United States, at the 1982 Worlds' Expo in the Knoxville, Tennessee.

Media Digest

Global Times: Better Strategy Needed for Climate Disasters

The ongoing drought gripping huge areas of Southwest China has affected 34 around 60 million people, and with the situation looking to get even worse, we need to do much more than simply quench 35 the immediate thirst of local residents.

An editorial in the Global Times newspaper says the current drought was predicted by a foreign company seven years ago. As a report offered by the company bluntly put it, "The mega-drought will begin in key regions in Southern China and Northern Europe around 2010 and last throughout the full decade."

Yet some in China doubted the credibility of the report although a number of Chinese meteorologists and government officials did read the paper when it was first released.

The editorial points out that though most current climate warning predictions in China focus on short-term forecasts for technical reasons, the lack of attention paid to the urgency and importance of medium- and long-term forecasting research is inexcusable.

China, with its complex climatic conditions, fragile ecological 36 environment, massive population and frequent natural disasters, is especially vulnerable to climate change.

Another editorial in the China Daily newspaper further points out that we need to look at how local economic development over the past decade have impacted the environment in Southwest China, especially if the developments have played a part in causing the drought.

In the past decade, an increasing area of native forestland has been razed 37 to make room for plants such as rubber and eucalyptus 38 trees, which have brought benefits to the local economy. However, these artificial forests are harmful to the environment. Instead of conserving 39 underground water, these trees reduce the water table, negatively impacting the environment.

The editorial warns that while the campaign to promote development of the southwestern region has indeed accelerated economic growth there, the environmental cost may be too high.

Dangerous Oil Sold Back to Restaurants

Tons of waste oil from drains and gutters 40 treated to look like edible 41 cooking oil have been found being used in the kitchens of some of China's less scrupulous 42 eating establishments. The event has caused public concern since waste oil contains harmful toxins 43 that might cause cancer or other diseases.

One senior official from Beijing Administration for industry and commerce recently denied this practice saying that waste oil cannot be sold back to restaurants because the cost of purification is too high. The waste oil can only be used by chemical plants for industrial processing.

A commentary in China Youth on line however casts deep doubt on the official's statement and argues that while the cost of reprocessing waste oil is high this is not stopping some restaurants from using the waste product.

The article says the official failed to acknowledge that much of the waste oil that is returned to the restaurants is not filtered properly and is actually inedible 44.

If ingested, the oil destroys white blood cells and mucous 45 membranes 46 in the digestive system, causing food poisoning.

The commentary regrets that the senior official still refuses to accept the fact that this dangerous substance is being sold back to restaurants. The writer says this is just one of many instances when senior officials speak out on an issue without a full understanding of the social situation and people's opinion.

The commentary warns that there are many similar arguments made by officials that do not comply with real experience of everyday life. Ignorance of such facts shows that sometimes local officials lose touch with the people, and therefore lack the social responsibilities they are supposed to hold.