themeridiansociety.org.uk blogs

The many lives of the literary translator

Events — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:24:17 +0000

The Meridian Society/BBCN will be hosting a talk on Tuesday 17th November, 2009 in association with the CSSA of London School of Economics. The lecture will be delivered by Ms Nicky Harman Lecturer at Imperial College.

This lecture talk will look at a number of different aspects of literary translation. She will draw on examples from her own work to illustrate the linguistic and cultural challenges of Chinese-to-English translation, and will also examine how the translator needs to present their work to the outside world, that is, publishers and, beyond them, the readers. Just as literary translators have to assume many roles - talent scout and promoter, as well as translator - so this talk will touch on a whole kaleidoscope of issues. The aim will be to communicate to the audience some of the passion which she feels for translation as a whole, and Chinese-to-English literary translation in particular.

Time and Venue
Date: Tuesday 17th November, 2009
Time: 7pm-9pm
Venue: D302 Clement House
Address: The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Houghton Street, Aldwych, London, WC2A 2AE

Transport: The nearest tube stations are Holborn and Temple (both are 5 mins walk)
The nearest Main Line stations are Waterloo and Charing Cross (both are 10 mins walk)

Tickets are not required but you are urged to RSVP to reserve a seat. Tel: 07973796866 or Email: themeridiansociety@gmail.com. TMS/SACU Members free Non-members £3 donation Note: This talk will be conducted in English

The Meridian Society elects new Board of Directors

News — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:53:25 +0000

At this year's AGM, held on October 7th at Ah King Restaurant, London WC1A, two new directors were elected to the Board, namely, Mr Mark Cheang(Secretary), Ms Ling Hearne (Treasurer), Ms Peng Wenlan continues as Chair and Mr Michael Sheringham as Director in charge of Talks.

Ms Wong Lai Sheung continues as our Administrator and Mr Hi Ching as Cultural Coordinator (non-Board director) to assist the society in its artistic and heritage-related endeavours.

Enabling China: Disability and the Rise of Civil Society in Mainland China

Events — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:40:15 +0000

The Meridian Society/BBCN will be hosting a talk on Wednesday 28th October, 2009 in association with the CSSA of The School of Oriental and African Studies. The lecture will be delivered by Stephen Hallett.

Over the past 30 years power and decision-making structures in China have become increasingly diverse and complex. The Communist Party no longer wields absolute authority and must now consider a multitude of concerns and interests. Yet faced with a largely unreformed political system, civil society in China still has to tread carefully, seeking subtle and creative ways to express its concerns. In this talk Stephen will describe how a group of disabled people are challenging the status quo and developing innovative solutions to problems facing their society.

Stephen was born in Dar-es-Salaam, grew up in Oxford and Cape Town and has spent much of his adult life in China where, since 1980, he has taught, made TV documentaries and became increasingly involved in civil society initiatives. From 2005-8 he worked as the BBC World Service Trust’s China Country Director, developing (amongst other things) a scheme to create a radio training and production centre for visually impaired people. Since 1999 he has chaired a UK-based charity, China Vision, which is currently supporting projects run for and by disabled people in China. He believes that disability offers an important insight into the challenges facing civil society in China today.

Time and Venue
Date: Wednesday 28th October, 2009
Time: 7pm-9pm
Venue: G3, SOAS Main Building, SOAS, University of London
Location: Russell Square, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG
Transport: The nearest tube stations are Russell Square and Goodge Street.

Tickets are not required, but you are urged to RSVP to reserve a seat. Tel: 07973796866 or Email: themeridiansociety@gmail.com. The Meridian Society/SACU Members free Non-members £3 donation Note: This talk will be conducted in English

Lecture Talk: China at 60 – still going strong? – National growth and Social Responsibilities

Events — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:41:44 +0000

The Meridian Society/BBCN will be hosting a lecture talk on Wednesday 30th September 2009. The talk will be delivered by Mr Wang Liwei.

Date: Wednesday 30th September, 2009
Time: 7pm-9pm
Venue: The Highbury Centre (www.thehighburycentre.org)
Location: 20-26 Aberdeen Park, Highbury, London, N5.
Nearest Underground station: Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line)

Mr Wang Liwei will be examining China’s development over the period of 60 years since the founding of the People’s Republic, a momentous event in the long history of China, which is being celebrated in China on a grand scale at the beginning of October.

In discussing this theme, he will focus on a particular dilemma which confronts Chinese society and his own present work, under the heading “Corporate Development, Social Responsibility – the need to get rich before you get righteous or the need to get righteous before you get rich”?

The speaker: Mr Wang Liwei combines political position (vice-mayor), with media connection (CEO 4 Chinese media companies) and non-profit empathy (runs his own vocational school in Shandong). Wang Liwei’s career brings together a number of stakeholders critical to China’s future development. He will provide unique insight into how China will create a harmonious society from diverse interest groups. His key focus in the area of CDSR (Corporate Development Social Responsibility) or GSR (Government Social Responsibility). As CEO of China’s only philanthropy magazine he works with UNDP, Peking University and the Ministry of Commerce to provide advice on the future of civil society in China.

TMS Members free Non-members £3 donation.

Space is limited to 30 people. We advice you to book your place either by phone or email to the contact details below.

Tel: 07973796866 or Email: themeridiansociety@gmail.com
Note: This talk will be conducted in English

This House believes Confucianism is the Chinese way of life

Events — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:35:43 +0000

Dinner-Debate

Following on from our hugely successful dinner-debate last spring, we're holding this year's verbal jousting on Wednesday 7th October 2009 at 7.30pm at Ah King Restaurant, 31-33 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2SA. (Nearest Underground Station is Holborn-Central Line).

The Motion

This House believes Confucianism is the Chinese way of life.

Words will fly! So come listen and have your say!

Meridian Society and SACU Members: £12

Non-members: £15

RSVP to themeridiansociety@gmail.com by 25th September to reserve your place.

If you'd like to put yourself forward as a speaker, please email us. Names will be drawn out of a hat.

THE DRAGON BOAT PAGEANT 2009

News — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:26:27 +0000

www.artcouncil.org. www.awardsforall.org.uk

Sunday 28th June, Royal Albert Docks, 10am - 5pm

The Meridian Society is presenting a famous slice of ancient Chinese history in our exciting pageant at this year’s Dragon Boat Races. It is a wonderful opportunity for members of the British Chinese community to find out about their cultural heritage and for the general public to learn a little about the origin of the Dragon Boat Races.

This project commemorates the poet Qu Yuan (parading on stilts) who drowned himself in protest against a corrupt government. We are presently holding workshops with the Chinese Association of Tower Hamlets and The Forest Gate Youth Centre to create some marvelous waves and an on land dragon boat for the pageant. The waves will be an ingenious design of the calligraphy of Qu Yuan’s poetry and painted with fish and dumplings.

The Meridian Society has received funding from the Arts Council and Awards for All to make all this possible and we are counting on our volunteers, community and groups and artists to make this a stunner!

Come and join us for this speci al cultural celebration!

2009 Lecture Talk Calender

Events — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:15:05 +0000

Stephen Hallet : Disability and the Rise of Civil Society in China - September 2009

Elizabeth Morrell & Neil Taylor : Travelling in China: personal perspecives from the 1970s till the present - November 2009

Nicky Harman: Translating contemporary Chinese literature: pleasures and pitfalls - December 2009

Joint Event with The Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU)

Events — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:04:08 +0000

The Meridian Society and the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU) are pleased to announce our joint event on Saturday, 20th June. This will mark the beginning of what we hope will be a fruitful and longstanding collaboration between the two societies.

12:30pm Lunch - Lunch boxes at a bargain price of £4.50 for members and £5.50 for non members. Email us for the lunch box menu.

2:00pm - Illustrated talk by Martin Jacques: 'When China rules the World'

3:00pm - Tea and biscuits

3:30pm - Illustrated talk by Kathy Hall: 'Experiences of Introducing Chinese Opera to schools'

4:30pm - Close

If you would like to attend this event, would you please email themeridiansociety@gmail.com. As seats are limited, early booking is advised!

Dragon Boat Race - A call for rowers

Events — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:15:04 +0000

To celebrate this year’s Dragon Boat Festival, the London Chinatown Lions Club is organizing a Dragon Boat Race on 28th June 2009 at the Royal Albert Docks. This event is sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office. For more details of the race, please visit www.lclc.co.uk Last year, our team managed to raise a fantastic £2225 from sponsorship for the Sichuan Earthquake Appeal. We were 14th out of a total of 42 participating teams. Building on last year’s success, The Meridian Society (TMS) and the British-Based Chinese Network (BBCN) will take part again this year, and will need 16 rowers and a drummer to make up our team. Men and women, Chinese and non-Chinese are equally welcome to join us. Two days of training will be arranged at further notice. We will provide refreshment and light snacks for rowers on the day. If you are looking for a whole day’s fun, exercise and socializing with other wonderful people, or showing off your rowing skills, do let us know before 7th June by sending an email to themeridiansociety@gmail.com Although we are not raising funds for any charitable cause this year, our operation depends entirely on donations and volunteers. In order to cover the cost of participating the Dragon Boat Race, such as entry fee, cost of refreshments and transportation etc, we are looking for a small contribution of £10 from each participant. The shortfall will be met by TMS and BBCN.

Lecture talk 'After the G20 summit: China on the international stage'

Events — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:24:16 +0000

The Meridian Society/BBCN will be hosting a talk on Tuesday 12th May, 2009 in association with the CSSA of The School of Oriental and African Studies, Imperial College and London School of Economics. The lecture will be delivered by Ms Jenny Clegg, who is the author of the book called ‘China’s Global Strategy’. This book will be on sale on the evening for a reduced price from £20 to £16.

Time and Venue

Date: Tuesday, 12th May, 2009

Time: 7.15pm – 8.15pm

Venue: Rm L67,SOAS Main Building, SOAS, University of London

Location: Russell Square, Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG

Click here for more detailwww.themeridiansociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/Press_Release_12_05_09_Jenny_Clegg_2__10.05.pdf