[11/30] The Economist - China's leaders seek to calm the protesters

1. Quote of the day

Only dull people are brilliant at breakfast.

from Oscar Wilde

 

 

2. China's leaders seek to calm the protesters

After years of living under covid lockdowns- or with the threat of them - many people in China have had enough. Over the weekend tens of thousands took to the streets in Beijing. Shanghai and elsewhere, in an unprecedented wave of protests expressing anger with the goverment. "We don't want lockdowns, we want freedom", they chanted.

 

The goverment will not grant the freedom of expression that many protesters want. But it hopes to calm some of the anger by loosening restrictions without unleashing a wave of sickness that would crippler the country's health system. On Thuesday the National Health Commission announced a plan to "accelerate the promotion of covid vaccines for the elderly". So far only 66% of over-80s have received a booster shot, according to officials, although that is up from 40% earlier this month. That is a practical first step. But for the people who spent the weekend chanting "Down with XI jinping", it may not be enough to mollify their rage. 

 

 

unprecedented /ʌnˈpres.ɪ.den.tɪd/

adj. never having happend or existed in the past

 

chant /tʃɑːnt/

v. to repeat or sing a word or phrase continuously

v. to sing a religious prayer or song to a simple tune

 

grant /ɡrɑːnt/

n. an amount of money given especially by the government to a person or organization for a special purpose

 

unleash /ʌnˈliːʃ/

v. to suddenly release a violent force that cannot be controlled

 

cripple /ˈkrɪp.əl/

n. an extremely offensive word for a person whose legs or arms do not work in the usual way

 

accelerate /əkˈsel.ə.reɪt/

v. when a vehicle or its driver accelerates, the speed of the vehicle increases.

v. to happen or make something happen sooner or faster

 

mollify /ˈmɒl.ɪ.faɪ/

v. to make someone less angery or upset

ex) i tried to mollify her by giving her flowers.

 

 

3. Opinion

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