Sheng Xue

Sheng Xue or Reimonna Sheng (; born 1962), is the pen name of Zang Xihong (), a Chinese-Canadian journalist and writer, and human rights activist.

Background

Sheng Xue grew up in Beijing, and moved to Canada soon after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.

Xue is a member of PEN Canada, and also a member of The Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC), both of which belong to International PEN. She is a member of the Writers in Prison Committee of ICPC.

Xue is the Canadian correspondent of Radio Free Asia and the North American correspondent of ''Deutsche Welle'' (Voice of Germany). She is also a regular commentator or columnist for a couple of media.

In 2001, she received th
Canadian Association for Journalists Award
for Investigative Journalism, and the Canada'
National Magazine Award
for an investigative report, "The Smuggler's Slaves", on the lives of Chinese boat refugees published in the Canadian magazine ''Maclean's''. She is the first Chinese Canadian to win such prestigious awards.

In 2005, Sheng won the Journalism and Media Award from th
National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada
for her outstanding achievements, contributions, and community service and in recognition of her efforts in promoting understanding the traditions and the interests of Chinese-Canadian communities, her leadership, courage and dedication for the promotion of multiculturalism, human rights, respect of human and cultural values, integrity and equality among all Canadians.

In 2001, Sheng Xue investigated China's most prominent smuggling case and published a book (in Chinese), ''Unveiling the Yuan Hua Case'' (), which soon became a best seller in Chinese communities outside mainland China and created shock waves both inside and outside China. The Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China immediately banned the book.

A collection of Sheng Xue's poems (in Chinese), ''Seeking the Soul of Snow'' (), was published in Jan 2008 by United Writers Press, Hong Kong. The poetry collection has also been banned by authorities in mainland China.

United Writers Press also published a collection of Sheng Xue's essays (in Chinese), ''Lyricism From a Fierce Critic'' () in August 2008. This book has also been banned in China.

She also starred two Canadian movies, ''Small Pleasures'' () in 1993,''Small Pleasures'' on www.imdb.com website
/ref>Yan Ming (): ''Pro-democracy activist becomes a star -- Sheng Xue and the movie she stars, Small Pleasures''] (), ''China Spring'' magazine , Sept. 1993, New York and ''Chinese Chocolate'' () in 1995.''Chinese Chocolate'' on www.film.com website
/ref> She also starred a stage drama (in Chinese), ''He Zhu Xin Pei'' (), in 1997.Ya Yi ()

(), ''China Spring'' magazine , July 1997, Page 74-82, New York

Sheng Xue was the Writer in Residence at Carlton University, Ottawa, in the winter of 2007, the Writer in Residence at McMaster University for the winter of 2009, and the Writer in Exile of Edmonton during September 2009 – August 2010.

Sheng Xue is a key leader of overseas Chinese pro-democratic movement and is an outspoken critic of the Chinese government's human rights record. She is the chairperson of June 4 Massacre Investigation; Vice-Chairperson of The Federation for a Democratic China, Board member of Forum for Democratization of China and Asia. She established a group "Ten Dollar Can" in 2004, which is to encourage people to donate Ten Dollars per month and send to writers and journalists in prison, as well as other political prisoners, in China. She is also a founder of China Rights Network, a coalition of a number of organisations united by their opposition to the policies of the Chinese Communist Party, including Falundafa Human Right Association, Federation for a Democratic China, Students for a Free Tibet, Taiwanese Human Right Association of Canada, Tibetan Women's Association of Ontario, Tibetan Youth Congress, Uyghur Canadian Association, World Federalists of Canada, and others.

On September 29, 2012, during a function held in Sheng Xue's home by about 50 Asian political exiles to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, on behalf of the Canadian government, awarded Sheng Xue the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

On October 8, 2012, during the FDC's 11th Global Congress held in Budapest, Sheng Xue was elected as the Chairperson of Federation for a Democratic China.

Books

*Unveiling the Yuan Hua Case (), Mirror Books, New York, USA, 2001. .
*Seeking the Soul of Snow (), United Writers Press, Hong Kong, Jan 2008. .
*Lyricism From a Fierce Critic (), United Writers Press, Hong Kong, August 2008. .

All of these three books have been banned in China.

Starring

''Small Pleasures''
(), 1993 film, Canada. (Reimonna Sheng as Zhao Qing)

''Chinese Chocolate''
(), 1995 film, Canada. (Remona Sheng as Francis Huang)
* ''He Zhu Xin Pei'' (), 1997 stage drama in Chinese, Canada. (Sheng Xue as He Zhu)

Family

Grandfather Zang Qifang (, 1894–1961) was the Mayor of Tianjin from 1930–1931, and the president of Dongbei University from 1937–1947. He also held some other important government/academy positions in China before 1949, and in Taiwan after 1949.

* Father Zang Pengnian ()
* Mother Li Guiqing ()
* Husband Dong Xin ()

References

External links

Litfest2009ARC:authors

Federation for a Democratic China Official Website

Shiyuan (10 Dollar) Relief Project

Sheng Xue's personal website

''Reimonna Sheng'' on www.film.com website

''Remona Sheng'' on www.film.com website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheng, Xue
1962 births
Living people
21st-century Canadian poets
Canadian writers of Asian descent
Canadian activists
Canadian journalists
Canadian women poets
Charter 08 signatories
Chinese democracy activists
Chinese emigrants to Canada
Naturalized citizens of Canada
Writers from Beijing
21st-century Canadian women writers
Canadian women activists
Canadian women non-fiction writers