Finding a Voice

I received the following email from my friend Crystal, with whom I lived and traveled in China. She’s living there now and frequently sends me quirky news items.

> Thought you would enjoy this!!! Colleen, I always remember you telling those guys to stop smoking on the train!!!

>

> --- On Thu, 12/25/08, spsark <spsark@yahoo.com wrote:

> From: spsark <spsark@yahoo.com>

> Subject: SCN -  SOCIETY:  Chinese man detained for 3 days for smoking on train

> To: Steves_China_News@yahoogroups.com

> Date: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 2:58 AM

Chinese man detained for 3 days for smoking on train

Wed Dec 24, 2008

BEIJING (Reuters) A man was given three days in detention for breaking a non-smoking rule on a new high-speed rail line, Chinese state media said, an unusually severe punishment in a country where smoking bans are routinely ignored.

He was caught smoking in the toilet just after the train had left Tianjin for Beijing, triggering an alarm and causing the train to stop, the official Xinhua news agency said on its website (www.xinhuanet. com).

 The high-tech line connects the capital with neighbouring Tianjinin. It opened in time for this year's Beijing Olympics and features carriages more luxurious than usual in China, including swivel chairs and spacious, plush interiors.

No-smoking signs and rules are generally given short shrift in China and about half of all Chinese men smoke.

"It is strictly forbidden to smoke on the Beijing-Tianjin Express, and they hope everyone respects the rules, travels in a civilised manner and ensures the train's safety and punctuality," Xinhua said.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Editing by David Fox)