CHINA: 23 June UPDATE: Rebel Artist Ai Weiwei Released...After 81 Days.

LINK CHANGE / WSJ / OPINION : Jerome H. Cohen

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, 54, was finally released on bail...after 81 days in detention...and just ahead of Chinese premier Wen Jiabao's visit to London.
Police said that Ai was released after he confessed to "economic crimes"... and agreed to pay some back taxes.


For 3:23 UK Video report:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deq9agqeQtg&feature=player_embedded#at=72

CHINA: 04 April UPDATE: Dissident Artist Weiwei...Still Missing After Trying To Board A Plane.

LINK CHANGE/ WSJ /

    Internationally famous Chinese activist and artist...Ai Weiwei, 53 (pictured)...profiled here with a link on 30 March...was stopped by authorities from leaving Beijing...and remains missing-- without any contact.
    An assistant says Weiwei was held by border guards while trying to get on a flight to Hong Kong.
   Weiwei's wife and eight of his assistants were also taken in for questioning but eventually released after his Beijing studio was raided. 
    Ominously, all references to him have been deleted from popular Chinese news portals.
    Observers speculate that Chinese authorities tolerated the activist artist because of his international reputation and because his father was a famous poet.
    Last week, the USA's PBS Frontline profiled him.
 http://thehypervigilantobserver.blogspot.com/2011/03/china-off-topic-but-interesting-ai-wei.html

CHINA: Off Topic But Interesting: Ai WeiWei...Rebel Artist...With A Cause.

FRONTLINE: PBS / Alison Klayman 
17:58 Documentary 
Profile of Chinese artist and "troublemaker" Ai WeiWei
Sloooow Load / NO TRANSCRIPT !

  Ai WeiWei is China's most famous artist...and is feared by the government...for his fearlessness.

 FROM WIKIPEDIA: Ai Weiwei :
  Besides working in art and architecture, he has investigated the corruption and cover-ups of the government, exposing the shabby construction of Sichuan schools that collapsed during the 2008 earthquake and killed thousands of children. He also uses the internet (pictured below) to communicate with people all over China, especially the young. He was badly beaten by police, suffering a serious head injury. Later his extensive studio/home complex...was illegally demolished by the government.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ai_Weiwei


  Anyone who has ever railed against authority or injustice...but felt powerless...even impotent...to do anything...will take heart...and caution...from this documentary. 
  Having lived in Cuba for a total of almost 3 years...and learned to HATE its system and injustices...the editor certainly qualifies.