Free speech and religion in China and other news and views

The Chinese govt's hijacking of religions is nearly complete - Is religion still religion if it is under the Communist Party's total control? - La Croix
In recent years, the Chinese communist government has not only been suppressing religions but has also increasing manipulation of them to serve its political aim of "Unity of Religion and State".Of course, its purpose is not to show how open its religious policy is, but to hijack religions to serve a political agenda of legitimatizing, embellishing and varnishing its regime. In other words, the Chinese government wants religions to become their accomplices.
Free speech fears after book critical of China is pulled from publication - Canberra Times
Australian publisher Allen & Unwin has ditched a book on Chinese Communist Party influence in Australian politics and academia, citing fear of legal action from the Chinese government or its proxies.
The publisher's chief executive, Robert Gorman, said last week that it would abandon publication of a completed manuscript by Clive Hamilton, a professor of public ethics at Charles Sturt University, called Silent Invasion: How China Is Turning Australia into a Puppet State.
Radio, TV ditched in Michelle Guthrie’s digital-first ABC - The New Daily

Louie and Roy - The hypocrisies of the left and the right fail women - The Baffler
Contemporary iterations of purity ideology continue to shape public policy, from abstinence education that keeps young women vulnerable to the threat of pregnancy and disease, to laws that increasingly restrict access to legal abortion—rendering reproductive health care unthinkable or shameful. It’s this shaming of women for male sexual behavior that allows men to continue predatory sexual behavior without consequence.
A steed to be harnessed: science for the benefit of the nation - The Mandarin
The 2017 Henry Parkes Oration, delivered by emeritus professor Ian Chubb. Whatever happened to “one people, one destiny?”
Rebuilding a broken party: Where do Democrats go beyond Bernie vs. Hillary? - Salon
A post-election “autopsy” from the progressive wing argues that grassroots activists must do what leaders can’t
What is a yimby? Meet the campaigners hoping to ease the housing crisis - New Statesman
“yes in my backyard”
Trump and Tillerson Are Gutting the State Department for No Good Reason - Washington Monthly

Cigarette smuggling gouges Asia's taxes, anti-smoking drive - Nikkei Asian Review
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines see billions in revenue go up in smoke

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