Rally! Rally! Rally!

My friend told me she had seen a large banner in Guangzhou saying “Be civilised, speak the civilised language.” (What? You don’t know what the civilised language is? It’s not Cantonese, that’s for sure.)
I’m so sick of these people who think the behemoth mandarin needs any help at all to devour all before it.

But all is not lost! Sorry about the short notice, but I only got the message ten minutes ago. There are going to be rallies against the mandofication of the world – well, PRO Cantonese really – today and tomorrow, 2pm Southorn Stadium in Wan Chai. Wear white! Stand up and be counted! I include the invitation in its entirety:

Please support Chinese regional languages rally on 18, 19 September.

We would like to inform you there is another rally coming up to support Cantonese and other Chinese regional languages.

This week is nation wide pro-Mandarin week in China. Earlier (Guangdong) Dongguan Government had released a guideline regulating the use of languages, measures included -1. Local radio, TV Channel cannot have more airtime in Cantonese than Mandarin, 2. In public area ie restaurants, shops, streets, schools, workplaces–only Mandarin should be spoken, civil servant need to pass a standard Mandarin exam. This act shown that local government in order to follow central government’s promotion of Mandarin, strictly control and discourage the use of Cantonese. We worry about the impact of these new measures on regional languages, so we are calling for a worldwide rally on 18, 19 September.

This event is organized by different supporters through Internet. Please support and help us promote this event.

Support Chinese regional languages rally
Date: 18 and 19 September 2010
Time: 2 pm

Location (multiple):
Hong Kong: Southorn Playground in Wan Chai
Macau: Ruins of St.Paul’s Cathedral
Guangzhou: Guangzhou Park A1 exit
Dongguan: Central Plaza
Foshan: Nanhai Qiandeng lake
Guangxi: Guangxi Nanning International Airport
Shanghai: World Expo Hong Kong Hall
Vancouver: Vancouver International Airport

Chicago protest will take place on 18 Sept
time: 2pm (local time)
location: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (meeting point: International arrival Terminal 5 Concourse McDonald’s)
It will be a sit-in. The protesters will prepare posters/ placard and flyers.
Contact person: Louis Ng isdesign@yahoo.com

San Francisco protest will take place on 17 September
time: 1pm- 3pm (local time)
location: San Francisco Consulate General Of People’s Republic of China
Contact person: Jun-he Tse xterry2222@hotmail.com