A friend of mine recently blogged about the inadequate compensation for her parents' three-story house soon to be demolished by a town government in Fujian province. Comments left by readers were mostly of scorn and outrage at the local government. Many suggest the author should fight for her parents' rights.

It is a fight not just for her retired parents, who built the house with their lifelong savings and whose son's livelihood depends on the street front business. It is also a fight for every Chinese who should learn how to defend themselves against violations of their rights.

Forced demolition, inadequate compensation and abuse of power by local government have become a major cause for social tensions between residents and local governments these days.