Zhao Liang and the South-North Water Diversion Project

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A conversation with Edward Wong on independent filmmaker Zhao Liang. Also, two other guests discuss China's South-North Water Diversion Project.

China makes an about-face on Libya, we discuss a recent controversy in Beijing’s arts community over independent filmmaker Zhao Liang. We also get an on-the-ground update on the state of China’s South-North Water Diversion Project: a little-publicized infrastructure effort that already dwarfs the Three Gorges Dam in both its human and environmental impact.

We’reย lucky to have an incredible lineup of guests. Joining Kaiser Kuo in our studio this week is Edward Wong from The New York Times, whose recent profile of independent filmmaker Zhao Liang sets the stage for our discussion today. Kathleen McLaughlin from the GlobalPost is also here, fresh back in Beijing from a trip to Shaanxi to investigate the state of China’s plans to redirect southern water to the country’s parched north. We are also lucky to be joined by Sinica-stalwart Will Moss of Imagethief fame.

Recommendations:

Edward Wong

Crime and Punishment (Zuรฌ Yว” Fรก), Petition (Shร ng FวŽng): https://www.amazon.com/Liang-Collection-Petition-Punishment-Airplane/dp/B006Z1H4M0

Still Life (SวŽn Xiรก HวŽo Rรฉn): https://www.amazon.com/Still-Life-%C3%82-Zhou-Sanming-Zhao/dp/B001CD6GL6

Will Moss

When A Billion Chinese Jump, by Jonathan Watts: https://www.amazon.com/When-Billion-Chinese-Jump-Mankind/dp/141658076X

Kaiser Kuo

Dรฉcadence Mandchoue, by Edmund Trelawney Backhouse: https://www.amazon.com/Decadence-Mandchoue-Memoirs-Trelawny-Backhouse/dp/9881944511

The Hermit of Peking, by Hugh Trevor-Roper: https://www.amazon.com/Hermit-Peking-Hidden-Edmund-Backhouse/dp/190601101X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk>