[HotHotHeat]

CTV reports media is being given access to censored internet:

A new report from an international human rights organization takes aim at China, claiming the nation has failed to live up to its pledge to improve human rights ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

The report from Amnesty International, released just 10 days ahead of the opening ceremonies, says China's human rights record has actually worsened as the Games approach.

"By continuing to persecute and punish those who speak out for human rights, the Chinese authorities have lost sight of the promises they made when they were granted the Games seven years ago," said Roseann Rife, Asia-Pacific Deputy Director at Amnesty International in a release.

"The Chinese authorities are tarnishing the legacy of the Games. They must release all imprisoned peaceful activists, allow foreign and national journalists to report freely and make further progress towards the elimination of the death penalty."

The report "The Olympics Countdown: Broken Promises", also says China has failed to live up to its promise to allow greater media freedom. China made the pledge when it was first granted the 2008 Olympics.

As of Tuesday, reporters working in China were no longer able to access the Amnesty website where the report was published.

Other sites were also blocked in China, according to the Amnesty report, including The China Debate, Taiwan's Liberty Times, and the Chinese versions of the BBC and Germany's Deutsche Welle.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories

NY Times runs a piece about the Chinese government 'hiding messes' all over the city: (Free subscription required to read full article)

BEIJING — Tourists leaving the west gate of the Temple of Heaven next month will probably not notice Song Wei’s home across the street. Nor are spectators along the Olympic marathon route likely to stop by Sun Ruonan’s restaurant nearby. Mr. Song and Ms. Sun live along Beijing’s central axis in neighborhoods that have been gutted to make the city look clean and orderly for the Olympics. Both have held on despite pressure to move. They will spend the Olympics behind walls or screens erected to keep their property out of public view.

A veil of green plastic netting now covers Ms. Sun’s restaurant. Mr. Song’s house and several shops that he rents to migrant families were surrounded by a 10-foot-tall brick wall last week, part of a last-minute beautification campaign. The authorities deemed his little block of commerce an eyesore.

“We all support the Olympics,” said Mr. Song, 42, a Beijing native who lives along the cycling and marathon routes. “But why are you building a wall around us?”

A mysterious notice appeared beside the shops on July 17, typed on white paper and signed by no one. It read, “In keeping with the government’s request to rectify the Olympic environment, a wall will need to be built around No. 93 South Tianqiao Road.” The next morning, several bricklayers showed up with a police escort.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/sp...jing.html?_r=1

I'm sure this is only the beginning of a long few weeks for the Chinese...