The persecution of Falun Gong prisoners is a recent issue in which they harvest their organs without their consent and destroying the remains. For years Falun Gong followers have alleged that the Chinese government harvests and sells the organs of imprisoned Falun Gong members in a very profitable organ trade. China admitted to the organ harvesting but insists that they had prior consent of the prisoner or family members. Further investigation shows that the Chinese government tortures the prisoners to forcefully obtain their consent to harvest the organs. The ruthless denial of ones life and freedom with addition to constant abuse and torture is horrifying. There is already enough evidence to consider this a serious matter. It is evident that this is crime against humanity.
Premises
There are reports and testimonies regarding the issue of harvesting organs from Falun Gong prisoners. One of the testimonies comes from a wife of a surgeon who testifies that her husband had removed cornea while other surgeons took out other organs of a prisoner. According to the woman, her husband removed corneas out of approximately 2000 Falun Gong prisoners all of whom would die as a result. The report quotes an organ price list on a website for a transplant center in Shenyang City, which offers corneas for $30,000 US, kidneys for $62,000 US, and livers for $130,000 US and lungs for up to $170,000 US. According to figures from Chinese government departments, the number of liver transplant centers in China jumped from 22 in 1999 to 500 in 2006, while the number of liver transplant operations increased from 135 to 4,000 during that same period. China has no organized organ donations thus resulting in China failing to record the donors` names and 41,500 transplants have no explained sources. In addition to the reports there are also recordings of a conversation between the Chinese government and hospitals regarding the organ transplants.
Religion
Every life is sacred and should not be subject to cruel and vile treatment as displayed within China. The harvesting of organs for profitable trade is inhumane. It is not limited to the Christian community to recognize that the harvesting of organs is against human rights. Many, if not all, existing religions come together with one defining statement, that life is sacred. Buddhism is a religion that does not believe killing of living creates stated in one of their 5 precepts and is thriving in China and many of its concepts and teachings are well known, yet the Chinese government willfully turns a blind eye and continues to carry out these outrageous acts. The Chinese government is not only going against the Christian faith and beliefs, but it is also violating the teachings of life from all the main religions.
Universal Declaration Agruements
Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the actions taken by the Chinese government directly violates articles 3 and 5. Article 3 states that all people have the right to life, liberty, and security. Everyone has the right to life, but due to the inhumane imprisonment and harvesting of the organs, the Chinese government is depriving them of this right. The Chinese government harvested the organs knowing that it will cause the death of the Falun Gong member. This reckless act denies the victims of life and without their consent or that of their family furthermore adds to the severity of the crime. The prisoners should have the right to live their own lives, hence right to liberty. They should not be treated in a way that is not approved by them. They chose to live a lifestyle as a Falun Gong member but this lifestyle has been cruelly disrupted. The government is usually seen as a figure that looks for the better interest for the people in which it governs. It is the government that creates law and makes sure that they are being followed. The Chinese government ignores all factors but the dollar sign. They seek to gain profit with the cost of their own people. The Chinese government, head of the country, is not only disregarding their duty to ensure the safety and protection of their people, but is the cause of their deaths which is in violation of the right to security as stated in article 3.
The Chinese government admits to the harvesting of the organs but insists that they have the prisoners’ consent. Further reports show that they torture Falun Gong prisoners for their consent. This act of torture is defined as cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment and is a direct violation of article 5. The Chinese government does not see the Falun Gong prisoners as an equal. This degrades them to a level lower than a human being, such as an animal. They treat the prisoners as if they were nothing at all, that their lives are not important, when in fact, each and every one of them holds the same importance as you and I. Torture treatments resemble those of the past, the Nazi concentration camps, which is seen to be inhuman and cruel then, so why now?
Social and Cultural Aspects Paper will never be able to conceal fire, such as this incident. Events like this will only cause more criticism and negative appeals to the Chinese Government. By what means are they willing to take in order to gain money? Resorting to black market methods? This is an issue that will hinder the social and cultural aspects of China. People will no longer be able to trust in the Chinese government, knowing that in their sights they only see the dollar figure. Society itself would never have thought that such actions would have been taken place. Harvesting of organs would directly go against the people of society thus causing riots, protests and much more! This act will not be culturally accepted, since most people value life as something important and meaningful. With a rich culture filled with arts, language and drama these actions do not nearly reflect the amount of education China has.
Ethical and Moral Issues Do ethical and moral issues not apply when concerning this issue? The knowledge that free and innocent men/women are being killed needlessly is enough to awaken ones conscience. These men and women are sons and daughters, husbands and wives of families that love and care for them! Families are being destroyed, torn apart by the hands of the Chinese government and yet none of this appeals to them at all. In the eyes of the world there is without a doubt that China is being looked down upon, and this issue should bring shame to the Chinese government! Life as we all know it is equal; no one is of greater or lesser importance than another. This inhuman treatment sparks the question to whether or not the Chinese government value people as they should and if moral/ethical values exist.
Conclusion History of the Nazi concentration camps should never be repeated yet such a similar issue has resurfaced. As a student in the Christian community, these actions are morally wrong and go against all teachings, but Christianity is not the only one. Many main religion of the world, including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islamic etc believe in the thing with regards to life. This issue is in direct conflict with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Chinese government should take notice of this. Right to life, liberty, and security are rights that every human being is entitled to and no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment. The harvesting of organs will result in protests and riots since it does not comply with the greater populace and society itself will be in an uproar. A major concern needs to be directed to the question of ethical/moral dilemma. Remedies are available to aid this situation but things cannot be taken lightly. Suggestion would include the halting of all organ transplants that are not of consent with the Falun Gong member/family member. Even if organ transplant is a profitable trade, there are other ways of gaining money besides the black market such as investing more in trade with foreign countries. Finally a greater interest should be put into protecting the people of China seeing that they make up the present and future. China is growing and should change for the better and with the upcoming Olympics in Beijing; they’ll be put on the spotlight and with the necessary changes, this will result is the increase the reputation of China will be well respected all around.