China in the News

[Anonymous]

LA Times 2/21

Suddenly I am noticing how frequently the LA Times has a major article related to China. I wonder if we were studying Argentina, would it have the same effect? I don’t think so. Yesterday a front page article with picture, “Feeling the Tug of Tradition,” related how many Chinese Americans are regaining an interest in Chinese traditions, culture and the language. Some read it as an outgrowth of China’s emergence as a global economic and political power.

The other fascinating article was in the Food section; it traced LA’s intriguing history with Chinese food, dating back to the 1870’s. It all started with chop suey! I haven’t heard that term for forty years. It was an excellent article and made me nostalgic for LA’s Chinatown of my childhood. As an eight year old, it left a life-long impression of exotic mystery. The four column story is well-worth reading

[Anonymous]

Kate thanks for the idea of the Olympic website. I am having my kids do extra credit assignments to research my trip. I will put the link on edline and have them do some research if they want. I will look at it too.

Thanks, Cathy

[Anonymous]

Last week I was showing my seventh graders a movie on Confucius and at the end of the film when the great teacher's legacy was being discussed Mao was mentioned and the effect he had on China. The Tienemann Square incident was mentioned in the film and how the protestors wanted change in China much like Confucius had wanted change. So I tried to make the links from ancient to modern China with the kids. I will share the article I found in the LA Times today falled "They're seeing red over Mao" The article said after a complaint the city of Alhambra evicted a Warhol-style painting of the communist leader. It inspried anger from some and amusement from others. Many of the immigrants from China who were trying to escape the Cultural Revolution settled in Alhambra. They have no humor for Mao and remember only the horror their families endured because of his dictatorial decrees. A Chinese immigrant of 1981, Chen, who played on the Chinese basketball team was quoted. He said," his family endured political persecution during the most oppressive years of Chinese modern history- the Cultural Revolution. "This is sa moral issue. You cannot commercialize Mao," he said. "They will repress Mao's true image to save face and for national pride. This is a perversion." When we visited Mao's tomb last spring on our trip I was overwhelmed by the experience and could not understand why people were laying roses at his feet. There seems to be a love/hate relationship around Mao. Once again it makes me wonder where China will be in 20 years and what place Mao will have in Chinese history.

[Anonymous]

"The Yin-Yang of Chinatown" There was an interesting article about Chinatown in the Times Sunday. In 1870 CHinatown was a block-long portion of downtown known as Calle de Los Negros. Many inhabitants were laundrymen,gardners, road builders, and ranch hands. On Oct 23, 1871 a Causcasian mob shocked the nation and massacred nearly two dozen CHinese. By 1910 3,000 lived in the neighborhood which included an opera house, three temples and a newspaper. Plans for Union Station displaced many Chinese who were foced to look for new homes. In 1938 they dedicated Central Plaza on NOrht Broadway; its colorful lanterns, grand gates and shops made it a hit. Today it's one of the most revered tourist spots in L. A. It would be interesting to visit downtown and see how much it reminds me of the "real thing."

[Anonymous]

On March 3 from noon to 7 P.Mhi the Chimese American Museum will host the Lantern Festival 2007 to coincide with its exhibit called "Celebrate Chinese Holidays Through the Eyes of Children." At the event L. A. based artists will teach visitors how to make traditional CHinese arts and crafts. There will also be live entertainment, including martial arts and lion dancers. Festivities culminate after dark, when participants and their handmade lanterns follow dancers and musicians in a spirited parade. 425 N. Los ANgeles ST., El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, http://www.camla.org. (from article in West Magazine, LA Times, February 25).[Edit by="cathy rieder on Feb 25, 10:02:41 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

Really interesting and short article in last week's Newsweek about ways in which China is getting ready for the 2008 Olympics:

1) spending $56,000 painting south west China's Laoshou Mountain green to cover up scars left by a strip-mining operation. DAMON'S THOUGHT: Why wouldn't they replant the trees?

2) Bejing has implemented a $6.50 fine (a day's salary) for anyone caught spitting on the street.

3) Because of a 40% drop in fish population due to pollution in the Yellow River, they will be duping in 2 million new fish each year. DAMON'S THOUGHT: Why wouldn't they just try to clean up the river? Won't the new fish also die?

Hmm.... points to ponder. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Daily Breeze article: Hong Kong debates benefits of baby boom. It stated an influx of Chinese women having their children born in Hong Kong b/c it entitles their babies to permenant residency, free education, and subsidized health care. It also allows them to evade the mainland's one child policy. Hong Kong wants to discourage this by having the women pay $5000 for hospital care before they are allowed to enter and any women who have not paid are sent back. (very sad) This is leading to debate b/c some say Hong Kong needs more citizens b/c of low birth rates and when these babies grow up they can care for the ever increasing elderly population. Others oppose b/c they feel permenant residency should be for babies born to Hong Kong parents. Very interesting!

[Anonymous]

Pollution in China:
In the China news, China has promised to cut major pollution emissions by 10 percent between 2006 and 2010, but last year the country failed to meet the annual target. Therefore, China will add $250 million into measuring pollution and enforcing controls.

[Anonymous]

Young people spend more spart time on art activities:
A recent report compiled by the China Youth and Children Research Center indicates that Chinese youth will expand the range of their leisure activities by spending more time on art activities, entertainment and physical exercise. As a result, more high-class cultural venues, sci-tech venues, art centers, museums, libraries, and parks will be built in China. Therefore, Chinese young people's leisure activities will be greatly expanded in the new 2006-2010 period.

[Anonymous]

According to the Shanghai Municipal Health Administration, the life expectancy of Shanghainese in 2006 reached 80.97 year and the mortality rates of maternity and infant have been successfully controlled.

[Anonymous]

In the China news, currently Chinese citizens in cities take various actions to lose weight. A latest survey shows that most of them believe losing their weight is one of the best ways to demonstrate their beauty and confidence in life. The survey also finds that people intend to have a healthy diet and do more exercises to lose their weight.

[Anonymous]

According to a recent poll by JJL Group, an international education agency, Chinese students like to study in the US, Australia, and Britain. Therefore, it can be estimated that the US will be the most favored destination in 2007 especially since it has eased visa restrictions. Britain now allows foreign students to apply for working visas after graduation which is an important attraction to Chinese students.

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! I was intrigued by the China group's discussion yesterday.... We were talking a lot about the countryside and the discrepency between the rich and the poor. We were also talking about China's efforts to make itself look good, particularly in light of the upcoming Olympics. Well, I found an article on China.org.cn that links the two! It states that yesterday an economist held a news conference where he warned that efforts to build a new socialist countryside must become more than a mere attempt at bolstering image and reputation.

[Anonymous]

I have always been a proponant of finding alternative energy sources, so we don't have to use fossil fuels which are rapidly being depleted. I have a particular problem with mining, since not only does it involve obtaining fossil fuels (coal), but the way it goes about getting these fossil fuels is extremely destructive to the environment. Well, Time (March 12,2007) gave me another reason to be opposed to mining: it is recklessly dangerous! Obviously we have all heard about mining accidents in the US, but mining is China seems to be exponentially worse. In fact, I found out being a coal miner in China is one of the world's most dangerous jobs. In addition the mining industry seems rather corrupt. Officially, 5,000 died in mining accidents last year. Unofficially, nobody knows. The head of the State Administration of Work Safety Supervision described it as "unprecedented" and blamed the deaths on collusion between local officials and mine owners.

[Anonymous]

And speaking of alarming information, a report released last week by Beijing authorities indicated that China is likely to overtake the U.S. this year or in 2008 as the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases! Data from the Intern'l Energy Agency revealed that China's greenhouse gas emissions have been recently growing by a total amount much greater than all of the industrial nations put together. (San Francisco Chronicle, Mar 5, 2007) "Today's global warming problem has been caused mainly by us in the West, but China is contributing to the global warming problem of tomorrow." China's top environmental official admitted that the results show the government's environmental agenda of the past few years has been ineffective. Also, China has recently admitted that global warming will dramatically impact China's ability to feed its people. The production of wheat, corn and rice may drop as much as 37% over the next 50 years. Seventy percent of its energy comes from coal, usually burned in highly inefficient power plants. Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday that China will step up its efforts to rein in surging energy use and clean up environmental damage by closing its dirtiest steel mills and developing more efficient technology. (Press Wire Services)

[Author]

Posts