China in the News

[Anonymous]

Glad you found the article( I found it in SEED magazine, March 2007) I put in your box on Friday regarding China's initiative that sets out to train 1.3 billion scientists -- one farmer at a time! The concept of "science trains", aka " science circuses" on tour throughout the rural areas of China is interesting, and actually reminds me our traveling classrooms here in the USA. The Cultural Revolution of the late 60's and early 70's promoted anti-intellectualism; this has resulted in widespread science/technology illiteracy. A recent survey suggested that as much as 98 percent of the population lacks the education necessary to comprehend the basics of science. President Hu Jintao has called on government workers to "on all fronts vigorously publicize scientific development...and to instill it in the hearts of people." Challenges include getting the people living in the countryside to appreciate scientific development, getting peasants to discuss these developments and steering the debate about this science literacy campaign away from a secondary discussion about boosting democracy in the countryside.

[Anonymous]

This is the wrong thread to reply to, but I couldn't find the correct one. I'm replying to jtoombs post about children begging in the street. Yes, this is true, but it's not just kids. At many of the touristy places you visit, you'll see people with all sorts of birth defects. I remember one guy in particular. It looked like he had some sort of accident, but he had no eyes. Just skin. These afflicted people usually have a family member helping them approach you and ask for money. It is a little disturbing, but it's really not all that different than what you'll see on 3rd street promenade, or a street downtown. Can you blame them?

[Anonymous]

In a recent article in the Chinanews, the central government will allocate some 3 billion yuan in order to set up a minimum living allowance scheme in rural areas. Regardless of how hard they are working with the poverty situation, there still remains 21 million people who live in poor conditions. This year children in these rural areas are going to receive free education. The government will provide textbooks free of charge and for resident students, the government will subsidise living expenses. It is expected that the problems that bother most farmers will be solved in the future.
Jewell

[Anonymous]

Today, in the Daily Breeze,It was reported that "China's top leaders have approved a program to build large commercial aircraft, lending crucial government support to plans to challenge the domination of Boeing and Airbus in the country's fast growing aviation market."
Make sure to read the article on page C3. It is very interesting.
Jewell

[Anonymous]

Apparently Yao's popularity has slipped to 6th in China while Bryant is the most popular NBA player.. hmmm, I have no idea what that means. Clay? Care to interpret? 😉

Bryant has the top-selling jersey in China so far this season, significantly better than Houston...the fourth-most-popular jersey last season in China. Yao, third in China last season, has slipped to sixth.

[Anonymous]

Six years in prison for website editor
From Times Wire Reports
March 20, 2007

A Chinese activist accused of posting subversive articles on the Internet was sentenced to six years in prison for defaming the government, state media said.

The New China News Agency said Zhang Jianhong was the former editor in chief of a Chinese website called Aegean Sea and had written articles that defamed the Chinese government and amounted to agitation aimed at toppling the government.

The sentence comes amid a government campaign to tighten control over China's media and the Internet.

[Anonymous]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-ft-oil19mar19,1,5926913.story

The "new seven sisters," or the most influential energy companies from countries outside the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, have been identified by the Financial Times in consultation with numerous industry executives. They are Saudi Aramco, Russia's Gazprom, CNPC of China, NIOC of Iran, Venezuela's PDVSA, Brazil's Petrobras and Petronas of Malaysia.

International oil companies and the leaders of the main consuming nations have come to accept Saudi Aramco's dominance. But the recent shift in the international influence of smaller national oil companies has been harder to swallow. By the end of last year, companies such as BP and Shell had lost their leading positions on the world's stock exchanges. Russia's Gazprom and PetroChina Co. (88% owned by CNPC) had pushed their way into second and third place, after ExxonMobil, among publicly traded energy groups.

[Anonymous]

The Chinese are making the news in not only economic growth but athletics, as well. Two-time world champions Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo of China skated their best short program at the World Figure Skating Championships on Tuesday taking the lead in pairs. A great topic of discussion for Physical Education classes.
Jewell

[Anonymous]

There was an interesting article from the LA Times on March 6, 2007 called "Asian air pollution affecting weather." The article covered findings from recent studies about the growing amounts of microscopic pollutant particles in the air due to new factories, power plants, and vehicles. I was shocked to read that scientisist are finding these pollutants all the way over here along the U.S. West coast. It said on any spring or summer day alost 1/3 of the air over LA and other CA cities can be traced to Asia!!!!

[Anonymous]

Yahoo new today had an article on illegal land use soaring in China. This reminded me of what my group (China Group) shared about the conflict between urban and rural China.

Last year there were a reported 130,000 cases of illegal land use. There have been more and more protests from these farmers in the past two years. China's parliment this month passed a new lay giving unprecedented legal rights to private property. They are hoping this will help curb illegal land use and give farmers the rights they deserve.

[Anonymous]

China is becoming World champions in figure skating. The final results for the pairs free program in the World Championships currrently being held in Tokyo was dominated by the Chinese taking 1st, 2nd, and 4th place. An area to incorporate into a Physical Education lesson plan would be for student's to investigate the training techniques of these skaters, their personal background, and family experiences.
Jewell

[Anonymous]

Not only is China excelling in the Figure Skaing World Championships this month in Tokyo, but they are also making a remarkable showing in the Swimming World Championships being held at Melbourne, Australia. In the men's 3-Meter Springboard Diving Preliminaries, China is currently in 2nd and 3rd place ahead of the United States. The results will prove to be very interesting. The Chinese women are also ranked in the top in the 1-Meter Springboard Preliminaries. China is holding on to a 1st and 7th place ranking with the United States following in 8th place. It looks like China is out to make quite a showing in the Olympics.
This is another way to incorporate the world of athletics into a Physical Education lesson plan.
Jewell

[Anonymous]

There was an interesting article about Chinatown in San Fransisco in Sunday's LA Times. It is the largest in the country and the place where most Chinese immigrants lived when immigrating to California in the 1800's. I read Dragon Wings with my summer school class this summer. It is a book that chronicles the lives of the Chinese in the 1800's in the early days of San Fransisco. THe article in the Times would be great to share with students when you talk about the early days of the Chinese in San Fransisco. It also describes the vibrant life in Chinatown right here in California. I feel really lucky to know I am going to experience "Chinatown" first hand on our trip the the "real thing." I am getting excited.

Cathy Rieder

[Anonymous]

An interesting article in Saturday's LA Times taled about how difficult it is for Chinese start-up businesses to get the capital they need. One man is trying to raise 4 million to create a water-saving poach to let trees thrice with less water in arid regions. They want to help CHina fight the fierce sandstorms that plague Beijing in the early spring. It is hoped they can host sand-storm free games, the government is planting a "green wall" of trees around the capital to keep the desert at bay. This is just another example of the environmental struggles the Chinese are having.

[Anonymous]

If you are interested in early Chinese history in California - a great book is On Gold Mountain by Lisa See (author of Snow Flower & the Secret Fan). She traces her families history in California.

Christina Varela

[Author]

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