'Let us speak!' Social debate is opening up China ... but the Communist Party still dictates. Chris Richards tracks the boundaries of the new political space.(Keynote)(Cover Story) From: New Internationalist | Date: September 1, 2004| Author: Richards, Chris | COPYRIGHT 2004 New Internationalist Magazine. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

YOU could not help but notice it. A huge red banner--always popular in Beijing--strung high over the entrance of Renmin University, welcoming NGOs to a meeting about the environment. Inside more than 200 people from 150 organizations from all over China (with a sprinkling of international representatives) talk for two days about strategies to raise public awareness of environmental issues and lobby government officials.

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Within minutes o...