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Chinese Netizens Organize To Identify & Rescue Child Beggars

Chinese netizens rally on microblogs posting photos of child beggars and suspected abducted children.

Chinese netizens rally on microblogs posting photos of child beggars and suspected abducted children.

From Sohu:

“Photograph and Rescue Child Beggars” began with one mother asking for help finding her son

Photos of children uploaded

Recently, as long as you were on weibo [microblog] following the “Photograph and Rescue Child Beggars” official microblog account set up by Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Rural Development professor Yu Jianrong, you would have seen a long list of updates from this microblog every day you opened your weibo, with all of them being photos and information of child beggars on the streets posted by netizens throughout the country. According to this reporter’s rough calculations, amongst the photos and information of child beggars uploaded, there are a total of 50 child beggars from the Guangzhou area.

Searching for son information attracts netizen’s attention

Yesterday, Yu Jianrong expressed on a telephone interview with this reporter that “Photograph and Rescue Child Beggars” was first started because on January 17th, a mother asked him to help her by posting a microblog message searching for her missing child Yang Weixin. After posting the weibo message, it immediately attracted the attention of netizens, with one netizen claiming to have seen a child that resembled Yang Weixin begging in Xiamen at the beginning of 2010, even uploading a photo of the child begging. Afterward, the child’s family immediately rushed to Xiamen to search for the child’s whereabouts.

Yu Jianrong said: “After this, many netizens asked me to help post information about searches for children. So I created a dedicated ‘Photograph and Rescue Child Beggars’ weibo. I hope that through the power of netizens, mothers who have lost their children can find hope in this weibo.

On February 3rd, Professor Yu Jianrong posted on his Sina Weibo microblog account the following image, a collection of the photographs of child beggars and missing children submitted to him by Chinese netizens, including a graph at the bottom showing in which cities many of the photographs were taken. Along with this image was a status update by Yu Jianrong that reads:

[Photograph and Rescue Child Beggars] Developments 2: 1. Seven days after beginning, a total of 415 child beggar photographs have been received; 2. There have been parents who have recognized their children [in the photographs]; 3. The Public Security Bureau has placed a high level of attention [to this effort] and have dispatched police many times; 4. CCTV, Guangdong, and other media have reported [on our efforts]; 5. [Jet Li’s] One Foundation has expressed that they will financially aid in the development of a database and netizen rescue effort system. Please continue to gei li [do your best, impress everyone with your efforts].

Collection of photos of child beggars and missing children submitted by Chinese netizens to Yu Jianrong as posted on his Sina Weibo microblog account.

From NetEase:

Netizens around the country take photos on the streets to rescue child beggars

A weibo [microblog] campaign against suspected child trafficking and to rescue child beggars started by Chinese Academy of the Social Sciences professor Yu Jianrong began on January 25th, appealing to microblog netizens to take and upload photos of child beggars they encounter on the streets, urging the police to take action, and within a short two weeks, nearly a thousand photographs have already been uploaded by netizens.

The Public Security Bureau's anti-trafficking department director Chen Shiqu has also expressed support on the microblog, even contacting the police departments of various places to pay attention to it. Some National People's Congress representatives have also stated that they will raise the issue during the Two Meetings this years. Various public security organs are paying attention in support. Photo is of a child beggar in Shenzhen.
The Public Security Bureau's anti-trafficking department director Chen Shiqu has also expressed support on the microblog, even contacting the police departments of various places to pay attention to it. Some National People's Congress representatives have also stated that they will raise the issue during the Two Meetings this years. Various public security organs are paying attention in support. Photo is of a child beggar in Shenzhen.
February 8th, taken by a netizen at the entrance to Zhongshan Road in Xiamen.
February 8th, taken by a netizen at the entrance to Zhongshan Road in Xiamen.
Taken by a netizen within Guandu Old Town in Kunming of Yunnan province.
Taken by a netizen within Guandu Old Town in Kunming of Yunnan province.
February 8th afternoon at 5 o'clock, in front of the A.Best supermarket at Shatoujiao, a young teenage girl sells songs for money.
February 8th afternoon at 5 o'clock, in front of the A.Best supermarket at Shatoujiao, a young teenage girl sells songs for money.
Taken by a netizen at the Sanya pedestrian street.
Taken by a netizen at the Sanya pedestrian street.
Taken by a netizen next to National Defense College in Guangzhou province.
Taken by a netizen next to National Defense College in Guangzhou province.
Taken by a netizen on the Huangsha Metro entrance overpass in Guangzhou province.
Taken by a netizen on the Huangsha Metro entrance overpass in Guangzhou province.
A child beggar on North Avenue in Anyang City of Henan province photographed by a netizen.
A child beggar on North Avenue in Anyang City of Henan province photographed by a netizen.
Taken on the south side of the temporary overpass at the Wuyi Plaza in Changsha. This little girl lowered her head upon seeing the camera, so the shot could only be taken from the side.
Taken on the south side of the temporary overpass at the Wuyi Plaza in Changsha. This little girl lowered her head upon seeing the camera, so the shot could only be taken from the side.
A little girl singing songs for money on Beijing Road in Jingzhou of Hubei province.
A little girl singing songs for money on Beijing Road in Jingzhou of Hubei province.
Kunming: Missing both arms, age looks to be approximately 15-years-old. On Nanping Street, have also seen a girl who begs with her back exposed with what looks like burn scars, probably near the Xinhua Bookstore on Nanping Street.
Kunming: Missing both arms, age looks to be approximately 15-years-old. On Nanping Street, have also seen a girl who begs with her back exposed with what looks like burn scars, probably near the Xinhua Bookstore on Nanping Street.
2011 February 8th around 16:00, location of shot: Chongqing City Jiulongpo District Yangjiaping Pedestrian Street Xichengtian Street Shopping Center, two little boys around 10-years-old, a girl about six or seven years old, perform acrobatics on the street.
2011 February 8th around 16:00, location of shot: Chongqing City Jiulongpo District Yangjiaping Pedestrian Street Xichengtian Street Shopping Center, two little boys around 10-years-old, a girl about six or seven years old, perform acrobatics on the street.
A child beggar in front of the Wenzhou Railway Station, hope his family can see this.
A child beggar in front of the Wenzhou Railway Station, hope his family can see this.
2011 February 8th afternoon 5:10, Guangxi province Nanning city Gucheng Road near Mengzidao Department Store, didn't get a shot of his full face, the child was experienced, lowering his head to beg the moment someone walks near...hope his parents can see this.
2011 February 8th afternoon 5:10, Guangxi province Nanning city Gucheng Road near Mengzidao Department Store, didn't get a shot of his full face, the child was experienced, lowering his head to beg the moment someone walks near...hope his parents can see this.
2011 February 8th at 14:00, Wuhan City Hongshan District Guangzhou Military Region General Hospital entrance, a little girl with delicate features, her hand disabled, and upon seeing me take a photo, she shut both of her eyes. Hope her family can find her.
2011 February 8th at 14:00, Wuhan City Hongshan District Guangzhou Military Region General Hospital entrance, a little girl with delicate features, her hand disabled, and upon seeing me take a photo, she shut both of her eyes. Hope her family can find her.
February 8th, a child beggar photographed on the Line 2 Metro in Shanghai by a netizen.
February 8th, a child beggar photographed on the Line 2 Metro in Shanghai by a netizen.
February 6th afternoon at 3 o'clock, Fujian province Gulangyu Ferry underground tunnel entrance.
February 6th afternoon at 3 o'clock, Fujian province Gulangyu Ferry underground tunnel entrance.
February 8th at 19:20 at the Communications Bank on Jiangnan West Road in Guangzhou were two little child beggars, the boy about 4-years-old, the girl about 6-years-old, written on the floor is a request for two yuan for food. I asked if they were hungry and the children replied that they were. I went nearby to buy bread and then came back but the children had already disappeared, the entire journey lasting only 3 minutes.
February 8th at 19:20 at the Communications Bank on Jiangnan West Road in Guangzhou were two little child beggars, the boy about 4-years-old, the girl about 6-years-old, written on the floor is a request for two yuan for food. I asked if they were hungry and the children replied that they were. I went nearby to buy bread and then came back but the children had already disappeared, the entire journey lasting only 3 minutes.
Taken by a netizen at the Badachu Parking Lot in Beijing.
Taken by a netizen at the Badachu Parking Lot in Beijing.
Taking by a netizen on the Jinsha Station overpass.
Taking by a netizen on the Jinsha Station overpass.
She said her name is Zhang Feiyan, from Choukou of Henan province, 6-years-old.
She said her name is Zhang Feiyan, from Choukou of Henan province, 6-years-old.
February 8th, taken by a netizen near the KFC at Dabanglou in Yibin of Sichuan province.
February 8th, taken by a netizen near the KFC at Dabanglou in Yibin of Sichuan province.
A netizen photographed this child beggar on North Avenue of Anyang City in Henan province.
A netizen photographed this child beggar on North Avenue of Anyang City in Henan province.
Taken 2011 February 8th afternoon at Hefei Pedestrian Street. Hope this little child can quickly be found and rescued by his parents. The temperature is dropping again today, and the human trafficker didn't even give him any clothes to wear.
Taken 2011 February 8th afternoon at Hefei Pedestrian Street. Hope this little child can quickly be found and rescued by his parents. The temperature is dropping again today, and the human trafficker didn't even give him any clothes to wear.
This girl was seen in Panzhou Park in Gaozhou City of Guangdong, wearing ethnic minority clothes, with the paper on the ground probably saying how her mother has some kind of illness, and how she has no money for treatment. However, what isn't logical is that the speaker system she is using to sell songs appears to be very good/expensive!
This girl was seen in Panzhou Park in Gaozhou City of Guangdong, wearing ethnic minority clothes, with the paper on the ground probably saying how her mother has some kind of illness, and how she has no money for treatment. However, what isn't logical is that the speaker system she is using to sell songs appears to be very good/expensive!
2011 February 8th around 8 o'clock at night, Yunnan province Kaiyuan City Renmin Middle Road Jinfang Supermarket entrance, two child beggars, this being one of them.
2011 February 8th around 8 o'clock at night, Yunnan province Kaiyuan City Renmin Middle Road Jinfang Supermarket entrance, two child beggars, this being one of them.
2011 February 8th, afternoon 2:07 taken on the Shanghai Line 2 Metro near Zhangjiang High Technology Park. The girl boarded at the Longyang Road station, and immediately afterward skillfully carried a box begging for money. She has double-eyelids, her skin complexion slightly dark. She had someone near watching her, could not get a picture of her face, could only get a photo from this angle. Hope it can be of some use.
2011 February 8th, afternoon 2:07 taken on the Shanghai Line 2 Metro near Zhangjiang High Technology Park. The girl boarded at the Longyang Road station, and immediately afterward skillfully carried a box begging for money. She has double-eyelids, her skin complexion slightly dark. She had someone near watching her, could not get a picture of her face, could only get a photo from this angle. Hope it can be of some use.
February 2nd (Chinese New Year Eve) afternoon, discovered a woman with a boy begging opposite Henglong Mall on Quancheng Road in Jinan City of Shandong province.
February 2nd (Chinese New Year Eve) afternoon, discovered a woman with a boy begging opposite Henglong Mall on Quancheng Road in Jinan City of Shandong province.

Comments from QQ:

腾讯佳木斯市网友:

The state should establish severe punishments to crack down upon human traffickers including sentencing human traffickers to death to bring peace and security to all the children in the world.

腾讯上海市网友:

Ignorant people will always be ignorant. Why can’t the police can’t detain child beggars and their companions/handlers when they see them and use DNA tests to ascertain the truth? Why waste time messing around with these weibo (I suspect person behind the weibo [Yu Jiangrong] just wants to become famous)? I really don’t understand why the state is this indifferent towards the phenomenon of child beggars.

腾讯铜仁地区网友:

Yeah, even netizens have begun taking action, but the government, just being a bunch of “qualified” cadres swinging their arms back and forth doing nothing, because sitting on the toilet without shitting is their specialty.

腾讯江门市网友:

Ever since the government got rid of death sentences for corrupt officials and human trafficking, China became a black society [a criminal underworld, a world of organized crime].

腾讯网友:

Today I too saw a woman with a child begging on the pedestrian overpass at the intersection of Cangbian Road and Dongfeng Road, the child sleeping on the overpass, probably only two or three years old, I couldn’t see the child’s face clearly. At the time, I even scolded the woman for allowing her child to suffer with her for her failure in life, but I didn’t imagine that the child could have been abducted. Now that I think about it, those heartless human traffickers should really be run over by cars, being so cruel, how could they do it, to those innocent children? From this day forward, I too will join this group of rescuing abducted children, take photos, post them onto weibo, so those children separated [from their parents] may return home soon.

腾讯阜阳市网友:

Human traffickers and their families should all die! Too despicable, I feel sad just thinking about those abducted children, the parents suffering even more each day, the state should heavily punish human traffickers! Make it so they will never have the guts to abduct children again!

腾讯网友:

Let us do what we can on weibo, working together. For the children, for the love of human nature.

腾讯深圳市网友:

These human traffickers should be shot, how can those who also have children of their own be so cruel…hope those abducted children can return home soon…

腾讯绍兴市网友:

Look at how developed countries don’t have the death penalty and yet they’re still more “harmonious” than China.
Torture doesn’t solve everything. It was because the Tang Dynasty governed with benevolence and righteousness than people worshiped/admired it.

腾讯网友:

Ding this up. Having the thought itself is a good thing.

腾讯唐山市网友:

Should we complain? Or should we go do something? Though there are some things in the world that are very difficult to change, as long as we contribute our own strength, no matter how difficult it is there is still a possibility.

腾讯北京市网友:

So sad. The strength of us ordinary common people is too small, though we care and our hearts ache. Hope the government will do something, that those who abduct children be sentenced to death. Then let’s see who dares to traffic children.

腾讯东莞市网友:

The question is why did 2 years have to pass before everyone learned about it.

腾讯中山市网友:

The country has 10 trillion in fiscal revenues a year, and yet several children can’t be rescued. Where is the blood and sweat money of the ordinary common people going? No wonder America is so arrogant!!!!!!!!!!!!!

腾讯梧州市网友:

I truly, truly very much want to help them, as every one of them should have a better tomorrow!

On Youku:

Youku "Rang Bao Bei Hui Jia" special page.

Popular Chinese video sharing website Youku today unveiled on their homepage a special “So Our Babies Can Go Home” page dedicated to videos of child beggars filmed by netizens around the country. A map on the page shows where various videos were recorded:

Youku video mashup.

See also:

2010 February 11th UPDATE: More translated information about this story…

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Written by Fauna

Fauna is a mysterious young Shanghainese girl who lives in the only place a Shanghainese person would ever want to live: Shanghai. In mid-2008, she started chinaSMACK to combine her hobby of browsing Chinese internet forums with her goal of improving her English. Through her tireless translation of popular Chinese internet news and phenomenon, her English has apparently gotten dramatically better. At least, reading and writing-wise. Unfortunately, she's still not confident enough to have written this bio, about herself, by herself.

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