Archive for February, 2012

Scholars and Survivors Discuss China’s Great Famine at Laogai Research Foundation Conference

Posted: February 28, 2012 in Events, Laogai News
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On February 15th and 16th, Laogai Research Foundation hosted an international conference on China’s Great Famine in Washington, DC. From 1959 to 1961, the Chinese people suffered history’s largest famine, which killed an estimated 40 million people. LRF’s conference, “The World’s Greatest Famine: Witnessing, Surviving, Remembering”, brought together academics and authors from around the world to discuss the role Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Party played in bringing about the starvation and unnatural deaths of millions. Keynote speakers included Yang Jisheng, author of Tombstone, a comprehensive account of the Great Chinese Famine during the Great Leap Forward; Jasper Becker, author of Hungry Ghosts: Mao’s Secret Famine; and Frank Dikotter, author of Mao’s Great Famine. Visit the Heritage Foundation website to view full video of Day 1 of the conference.

To continue reading, view photos, and download conference participant essays, click here.

Day 2 of the conference was held at the Laogai Museum.

Great Famine experts Yang Jisheng and Frank Dikotter answer questions from participants with moderater Harry Wu.

International Conference on the 50th Anniversary of the Great Chinese Famine of 1959-1961

Posted: February 13, 2012 in Events
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Wednesday-Thursday, February 15-16, 2012

The year 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Great Chinese Famine, recorded by Beijing as lasting from 1958 to 1961, but actually extending from 1958 to 1962. The death of at least 40 million Chinese were not caused by bad weather or foreign plots, but by Mao’s unfeasible and reckless agricultural policies during the so-called Great Leap Forward. As human history’s most fatal famine, its death toll exceeded that of both World Wars combined.

The Chinese government has consistently withheld records of the mass devastation, twisting history to shift the blame off of the Communist Party. Half a century later, as the voices of the victims of the Great Famine disappear one by one, it is up to us to ensure this tragedy is not forgotten. For this reason, the Laogai Research Foundation and the Heritage Foundation’s Asian Studies Center are holding a special international conference entitled “The World’s Greatest Famine: Witnessing, Surviving, Remembering“. Remaining survivors of the Great Famine will share their harrowing stories, never before heard outside of China, while Great Famine experts will present their latest research on the tragedy.

Agenda

DAY 1

Heritage Foundation, 15 February, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m

Allison Auditorium, 7th floor, 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20002

INTRODUCTION: Harry Wu, LRF Executive Director

SESSION 1: Chinese expert (name to be published upon exiting China)

SESSION 2: Jasper Becker, author of Hungry Ghosts

LIGHT LUNCH

REMARKS: Lee Edwards, Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation

SESSION 3: Frank Dikötter, author of Mao’s Great Famine author

SESSION 4: Panel Discussion of Great Famine survivors & researchers

Please RSVP on Heritage’s event page.

Invite your friends on Facebook!

U.S. FILM PREMIERE of MAO’S GREAT FAMINE

Laogai Museum, 15 February, 6-7 p.m.

PRODUCED BY: Arturo Mio

DIRECTED BY: Patrick Cabouat and Philippe Grangereau

FEATURING: Frank Dikötter, author of Mao’s Great Famine

Please RSVP by emailing laogai@laogai.org with your full name and affiliation.

Invite your friends on Facebook!

DAY 2

Laogai Museum, 16 February, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

INTRODUCTION: Harry Wu, LRF Executive Director

SESSION 1: Chinese experts (names to be published upon exiting China)

SESSION 2: Alternative views of the Great Famine

LIGHT LUNCH

SESSION 3: Survivors’ Seminar (in Mandarin Chinese; no translation)

CLOSING REMARKS

Please RSVP by emailing laogai@laogai.org with your full name and affiliation.

Invite your friends on Facebook!

LRF Contact: Andrew Yang (202) 408-8300

Taipei International Book Exhibition Update

Posted: February 7, 2012 in New Museum
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February 1st was the opening day of the 2012 Taipei International Book Exhibition at the World Trade Center in Taiwan. Laogai Research Foundation is selling its full collection of Chinese language publications at the exhibition, including the two newest, Qincheng Prison by LRF Executive Director Harry Wu and If It Is for Freedom, by currently imprisoned dissident writer Liu Xianbin. On the exhibition’s opening day, Harry Wu gave a speech about these works and LRF’s best-selling publications, Strive for Freedom and Civil Awakening: The Dawn of a Free China, two collections of writings by Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo. Mr. Wu said he hoped that Taiwanese people will pay closer attention to the human rights abuses that are occurring on the other side of the Taiwan Strait.

In the opening ceremony on Wednesday morning, President Ma stated proudly that in Taiwan 40-50,000 books had been published in the last year, while 140,000 were published in mainland China in the same time period. Although China published three times as many books, its population is 57 times larger than Taiwan’s, and by comparison, Ma asserted, Taiwan’s publishing industry is much stronger. He urged more cooperation and communication between the publishing industries of Taiwan and China. Harry Wu had the chance to present Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou with a copy of Qincheng Prison, which Ma praised as helping to reveal the dark story of China’s gulag. As President Ma continues to engage in cooperative relations with the PRC, Mr. Wu hopes that Taiwan will not stay silent on these issues due to political pressure.

Check out some photos from the exhibition below:

Laogai Research Foundation’s booth, Hall 1, A806, Taipei World Trade Center

Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou participates in the opening ceremony of the 20th Taipei International Book Exhibition.

Harry introuduces Laogai Research Foundation’s most recent publications, Qincheng Prison and If It Is for Freedom.