Wow, I can actually access Wikipedia without resorting to a proxy service. On top of that, I can even access Technorati, at least through a search engine or any address other than the home page, direct access to which still appears to be blocked, and results in the typical “check your network settings” error. (Yeah, I’d love to check those network settings.) I’m quite used to access being given then taken away again, so I’ll take this in stride and enjoy it while I can.
[tags] Great Firewall of China, China, Beijing, internet, censorship [/tags]
Some new regulations regarding the environment, among others, have gone into effect in China this month.
A regulation issued by the Ministry of Construction will fine individuals up to 200 yuan (26 U.S. dollars) for dumping trash illegally.
Work units that dump their daily garbage in unauthorized areas face fines from 5,000 to 50,000 yuan (6,579 U.S. dollars), according to the new regulation.
It requires both work units and individuals in urban areas to promptly pay garbage collection fees, which are set by local governments.
Another regulation effective on July 1 will levy a new “car and ship” tax policy in China, which will double the tax rate on the usage of automobiles and ships.
China, which had 148 million automobiles by the end of March, has been plagued by increasing pollution from exhaust emissions.
Taxes on bicycles have been scrapped, an effort by the government to lessen the financial burden on China’s hundreds of millions of bicyclists, according to the new regulation.
As usual, we’ll have to wait and see how well the new regulations are enforced, but it looks like a step in the right direction. Easy for me to say, though, because I have no desire to own a car in Beijing.