Sunday, August 05, 2007

Family planning slogans in China

Three posts in two days. This has to be some kind of record for me.

Those who refuse to use birth control, have a ligation and pay the extra birth fine will be severely punished' - family planning banner in Guangxi

I read an article today that China has decided to update some of its harsh family planning posters and billboards.

Some of the existing slogans on walls and billboards say things like:
'Raise fewer babies but more piggies'
'Houses toppled, cows confiscated, if abortion demand rejected'
'One more baby means one more tomb'
'Better ten graves than one extra birth' (there's a human rights book by this name)

The slogans which have been approved to replace the questionable ones include:
'The mother earth is too tired to sustain more children'
'Both boys and girls are parents' hearts'

While searching for photographs of such posters, I came across this site which shows the population policy propaganda posters over time.

I also learnt about the incredibly sad case of Jin Yani in China, who is suing family planning officials due to the ramifications of a full term forced abortion seven years ago. Ugh.

4 comments:

LaLa said...

So sad...and it seems Guanxi province has it the worst. I like some of the new slogans ... the old ones are scary.

Susie said...

It is indeed sad. I thought the idea of having more than one child was becoming more readily accepted in China's cities. Maybe not.

Blondie said...

The heart breaking reality of it all is that the policies are still not changing the beliefs in the traditional communities - yet the government is restricting overseas adoptions... I just don't get it... My heart goes out to those parents who have to make the big decisions...

Blondie

PS. I have tagged you - hope you can join in. Visit my blog for details.

Anonymous said...

Australia
one birth every 2 minutes
one death every 4 minutes
one abortion every 5 minutes