If you are interested in hosting a viewing of this show with your classmates at your house, below please add your comment re: the when, where, what to bring, how to RSVP, etc. Let’s get these going and start to build our foundation for China!!
Please give the below issues and questions some thought as you watch the show, and, then return to this blog post to respond to at least one or two of them (or an item that stood out in your own mind about the show) as required by the syllabus.
1. One thing that struck me while watching this feature was that a number of the Chinese citizens interviewed spoke of the perceived limitless opportunities that China now offers (many of) its people (admittedly not all). Yet many Americans seem to believe that most Chinese people are in a constant state of repression. Even though you have yet to travel there, who do you agree with (at this point in time and your life) and why?
(In my own travels in China, most of the people I have met are quite proud of their country, content with their lives and optimistic about their future. I am curious what you think. See related post on this issue from the Diligence China blog.)
2. Why do the Chinese elite concur with the government’s “go-slow†reform policy of “crossing the river by feeling for stones“?
In the show, a wealthy banker talks about how this policy, first coined by Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s and early 1980s in referring to China’s step-by-step liberalization, makes sense for China. Do you think the urban elite of China concur with this not because they feel compelled to do so by the government, but because this policy has, at least so far, served them so well?
Will China be plunged another one of its nightmares of political instability and revolution and dynasty overthrow if the current Communist government loses the tacit support of the Chinese elite (this is also why you need to read a good history on China to learn about how one thing people liked about the Communists was that they at least brought some desired stability to the country after years of turmoil, abuse and corruption by the Nationalists and most people again had food on their tables)?
3. What character/person in the show would you most like to meet and have dinner with in China, and why?
4. Though China is not yet a country that is built on the “rule of law†to the extent the US is, it appears to becoming more so each day (see, e.g., this related post from the China Law Blog), and the people are more and more turning to China’s courts to address their legal problems. These courts do not always rule fairly, but they apparently rule fairly enough for the people to generally believe in and support them. Do you agree or disagree?
5. When you see poor uneducated people in Chinese factories create the things you and I buy on the cheap at Wal-Mart, Ride Aid or Target, it may make you feel sad and/or angry and/or disillusioned. If so, how do or will you reconcile those feelings with your purchases of such products? What plans do you have to change your purchasing habits, if any? Do you help or hurt these workers by purchasing such prodcuts?
Relatedly, upon seeing these types of factories, I commonly see foreigners jump to the quick and easy conclusion that such workers are abused and/or suffering. That may be, but what additional facts, other than visiting these factories (which we will do), do you/would you need to conduct a thoughtful analysis and come to a conclusion re: where the “truth” is in this complex debate?
6. Re: the extensive environmental pollution you saw in the feature, many of my friends in China argue that the US/the West is in no position to lecture them on such an issue given what we did to the environment only a century ago when we industrialized as a nation (I even remember as a kid in the 1970s watching on television some American rivers burning, yes, that’s right, burning!, due to their heavy chemical and polluted content). How do you feel about this issue, who do you agree with, and why?
Relatedly, why is China and whether it gets issues of sustainability and wise enviromental policy right so important to all of us, the rest of the world and our respective futures? What can you do to help?
If you were a consultant working in China on such issues, what “course corrections” or American “best practices” would you recommend to the Chinese that they could realistically and politically adopt and execute? See also this related and interesting post from Thomas Barnett’s blog (this this one too) — Barnett has written some great stuff on China (what I like about him is that he is not afraid to go against the proverbial tide). He seems to truly understand world politics and he also understands how countries develop. He argues (controversially, of course) that before enviromental awareness and sophistication of a society and country can kick in, you must run the unpopular gauntlet of development and the heavy pollution that goes along with it, and that the sooner and more quickly you can move a country into developed country status (China is not yet there) the better chance you have of raising (faster) overall societal interest in environmental issues and sustainability. See also the related Stewart Brand “The Long Now” post on this blog. What are the strengths and weaknesses of his argument?
7. Per Dr. Morris’ November 3 Chinese history session with us, has the CBC, with its title of China “Rises” missed the mark in how it views and reads China (along with those book authors whose title may go along the lines of China “Wakes”).
I.e., would a more historically accurate title for this CBC show be “China Is Quickly Moving Back To Where It Sees Its Proper Place In The World”?
For the NON-PROCRASTINATORS:
I’d like to offer up my house to watch China Rises for anyone who is interested in seeing it sooner than later. Here’s what I’m proposing:
-Saturday November 4 at 5pm
-We’ll have a potluck dinner, then pop the movie in
To RSVP, come over to my blog at china.slayterfamily.com and leave a comment. I’ll email you directions to my house.
Total emersion Friday!
To keep the China learning going for Friday we are going to meet Friday night to wach “China Rising” at Kristin Moran’s House. The plan is to grill up carne asada taco’s at about 5 and then start watching the movie.
bring something to share / money for meat ($2-3)
Please let me know if you are coming by Friday afternoon
The address is 1015 ella st.
off Johnson near French Hospital
Mike Johannsen
(925)270-5248
Question #1 – After watching “China Rises,†I believe that most Chinese have increased opportunities for success. In particular, the movie described how Liu Yong, the migrant worker, left her home to take advantage of new job opportunities. While the working conditions are less than those in the United States (twelve hour days standing in front a machine, for example), the work gives her the opportunity to achieve future goals. For instance, Yong described how she hoped to save enough money to become a lawyer. Yong would not have had this opportunity twenty years ago. Other Chinese have also accumulated great wealth, such as Jack Ma, the developer of “Alibaba.com.†Although, Liu Yong, Jack Ma, and other Chinese do not have the same freedoms as Americans, it does not mean they are constantly in a “state of repression.†China has made people optimistic about their future and their place in the world. Compared to sixty years ago, the opportunities have increased dramatically. These increased chances for success may not be as great as in America, but they are possibilities for a better life nonetheless.
#3 – I would most like to meet is Zhou Litai, the worker’s rights lawyer, so I could understand more about his personal crusade to help increase work standards. Bringing cases against companies for worker abuse effectively impedes the unrestricted growth of business. From a pure business standpoint, I would like to meet with Litai and know how he makes enough money to stay in business. Does he collect a portion of any rewards a client receives? If only 10% of if clients win cases, how does he stay in business? Furthermore, how does the government view his actions? It would seem that bringing lawsuits against companies would increase the costs of doing business in China. Meeting with Litai would help me better understand how the government views his actions and if he has their support. Another question concerns ethics and clients that literally are begging on the street. China Rises showed a man whose foot was injured but lacked the money to buy crutches. Litai never offered to purchase crutches for the man. Why? Does he give charity to a disabled worker if he knows they will not win their case? It would be interesting to sit down with Litai and get his perspective on these ethical issues and his goals for increasing working condition standards.
‘Never the tween shall meet’
While my general takeaway from the series is that the Chinese are similar to Americans in more ways than I would have known – an aspect of the film that really jumped out displays a dichotomy that exists in the way our two countries view Culture. I believe the sculpture of the shovel handle leading into the violin speaks volumes about the place of fine art in Chinese society as compared to its place in the US/West.
It seems that a recurring theme of the series was the appreciation that (all) Chinese place on fine art – be it sculpture, architecture, painting or cuisine. In China, art is for the common man, there is little separation between ‘Culture’ and popular culture. Labor inspires art; art inspires and is for laborers. This is in stark contrast to the United States, where a shovel and the miner that wields it have no place in the symphony.
From the video it appears that all Chinese of all classes are encouraged to appreciate fine art. In America, art seems more polarizing – those who appreciate art are often seen as snobbish, bourgeois, rich, stuffy, nerdy etc… Those who do not appreciate fine art are low-class, poor, dumb, etc… This opinion is based on extremely limited (and possibly biased) information, but it is something I will explore moving forward in my study of China.
#6
It is true the US practiced similar environmental damaging processes during the industrial revolution. However, given that the US has experience from such rapid growth and the resulting environmental effect, there is an obligation to the world as a whole to share the lessons learned.
The environmental studies on the past effect and on present / future processes to reduce negative environmental impact should be of importance to both the US and China. Knowing what the US knows now, there are many things that could have been done differently that would have resulted in a healthier environment today without sacraficing industrial progress or profit.
The sharing of information on sustainable processes that help an industrialized country from the environmental and profitability perspectives is critical to the world. I hope both countries address the need and work with each other for the benefit of future generations.
#7
The title chosen by the CBC for the China television series, “China Risesâ€, is accurate from a marketing perspective, but could be misinterpreted from a historical perspective. As the question above suggests, China has been a dominant country in past centuries and firmly believes they will be again. After a short period of global economic leadership by the US, China is quickly making strides to regain that position.
When you consider the targeted North American audience for the television series, the title is perfect. The title plays to the common belief in North America that China is a country that has been suppressed for centuries and is gaining momentum for the first time in the country’s history. As Dr. Morris explained, the last 100 years have been an aberration in China’s economic position when you consider the last 2700 years.
One thing that struck me while watching the video is the pressure placed on young people to perform. School is extremely important. The photographer’s daughter was shown leaving one Saturday morning to spend the whole day studying. Also, the woman whose home was destroyed was giving up much so that her son might continue in school. She was very worried because he wasn’t performing as well as she hoped. It seems that success in school is perceived as the gateway to success in life, to a much greater extent than in the US.
Not all pressure to perform is found in school. The gymnast was another example. Her family, coach, and country placed high expectations on her. She and the other gymnasts were pushed to work very hard to “bring honor†to China.
It seems to me this concentration on performance is further evidence of China’s focus on the future. China desires to be seen, noticed, and respected on a global scale. Individual performance is another way to accomplish that. This desire is felt and held, not only by the government and leaders, but also very strongly by the young.
#6
I agree with Brian regarding this issue. We have faced these problems in the past and, while we may not have all the answers, we do have valuable experience that can be shared. Pollution is not simply a local problem.
In addition, due to the fact that we have struggled with these same problems, we may possess insight into better ways to implement environmental policy and preservation. Often, learning by observation is a lot less painful than by experience.
3. I would like to meet the man who started the EBAY competitor company. He had such a drive and was so confident in his business. His company kept growing as his vision and esteem grew. He seems like a man who would be successful and could give advice to anyone, no matter their career or aspirations, because of his sureness of himself and what he wants. Many people lack drive and self esteem in their work and just do it to pay bills. This man could push anyone, I think, to attain what they want. I also would like to interview the girl who moved to China for opportunities, that works in the stocking factory. She makes little a day, yet feels she has been given a gift (shelter, food, a little bit of money to send home). She makes the best out of a situation and has hope. Like the man I previously mentioned, she has pride, even though she is in an environment that most don’t prefer.
5. I have mixed feelings on the debate whethere these factories are ethical or not. Before I entered college, I used to not buy products at places where I was positive about the sweat shops (mainly because of the media). I still refuse to purchase where the company not only treats their factory workers bad, but their employees, by paying them minimum wage and requiring a lot.
I feel that by companies moving factories over seas, and putting them up in housing and giving them food, they are giving them something they would otherwise not have. On the other end of the spectrum I feel that they are treated poorly, in many cases, and we ruin the environment and land by entering these places. With our purchses we encourage these bad actions, but we also give the workers money that they might not have (or would they, through farming?). I have mixed feelings and hope to strengthen my view through this trip.
6. This issue of sustainability has been raised many times in regard to China, not just economic sustainability, but environmentally. The video portrayed the negative aspects of China’s development with regard to environmentally sustainable issues. Most vividly, the river which no longer is a home to fish due to its deep silt and chemical pollution (possibly from the leather factory and other factories beyond) allows us to see the affects of the development on the natural resources of China.
However, I was most disturbed by the comment made by the land developer for company factories on existing farmland. She said that China must focus on what makes the most money for their economy, farming or computer chip factories. Her dream was to have the farmland turn into a city of factories for foreign companies.
From the small amount I’ve learned thus far about China, they seem to pride themselves in not needing resources from other outside sources, however, by destroying their farmland to create factories, they are diminishing their food resources, which helps to feed their incredibly large population. Not to mention, the pollution of their water sources is also destroying their large populations of fish and seafood, which the movie proclaimed was once one of their strongest markets. Although the factories may be a greater source for economic wealth now, a disconnect exists between their thoughts of the future. This topic intrigued me to research more, where headlines state China has been under a sustainable focus since 1994. I am really interested to learn more about sustainability in China and its actual implementation into their exceedingly fast development.
#6:
I admittedly don’t remember much from my history classes where I’m sure I learned about the United States’ own industrial revolution and the harm we did to our environment during that time frame. I wonder if our prominent companies from that time frame would have been interested in some consultant from across the world to come in and advise us on how to not harm the environment. I am guessing they wouldn’t have been interested unless it could be shown that the better ways would also increase profits or was a regulatory requirement.
That being said, I recently read an article from the November 2006 issue of the magazine Business 2.0 about an architect named William McDonough who is considered to be a leader in “green design”. In this article it discussed Mr. McDonough’s leading edge designs in ecologically sound buildings – with ideas such as planting native grasses on the office buildings of The Gap in San Bruno, CA. These native grasses provide noise insulation from all the jets flying into SFO. Mr. McDonough has also been contracted to design seven new Chinese communities (six cities and one village). All of these contracts call for high ecological sustainability. Some concepts being employed are water strategies for a town with open sewers, solar power for a central city, and replacing farmland with buildings, then placing that farmland on the buildings’ roofs.
Mr. McDonough’s contributions to China demonstrate that the Chinese are open to learning from anybody who can introduce a fresh idea.
# (no number)
The most significant thing I am noticing about China from watching China Rises and from listening to Dr. Morris speak is that it appears to me that the Chinese are redefining Communism. It looks to me as if they are taking the qualities of free enterprise and the desire to turn a profit from the West, yet maintaining the high level of government influence that is associated with Communism. On the surface this seems to be a contrast that is hard to reconcile in my small Western brain. I hope to learn more about how this master plan will work as I learn more about where the Chinese have been and where they are going in terms of ideology since my knowledge base is fairly limited at the onset of this expedition
The person I found most interesting in the video was Jack Ma. He is the owner of Taobao.com, the company competing with EBay. His ambition was inspirational. He does not seem intimated by EBay, which is the largest company in the world in the online auction business.
Jack Ma is a very tenacious individual. He said that when Wall Street told him not to compete with EBay and it drove him to want to overcome the challenge even more. Jack said that “if EBay was strong, it was a shark in the ocean, but we are like a crocodile in the river. When a crocodile fights with a shark in the ocean, the crocodile will lose, but if the shark swims into the river, it will have big trouble.†I think this quote summarizes how a lot of the Chinese feel about their place in the world market.
I found the pollution in China disappointing. There is some truth to the point that Americans are in no place to lecture the Chinese on environmental issues. However, it is unfortunate that the Chinese government has not learned from our mistakes. The West did not have the luxury of having a bad example to learn from. With the information that is available today about the dangers or polluting the environment, it is unfortunate the government is not intervening more to prevent pollution.
3. I would most like to meet and have dinner with two people in the China Rises video. The two people are Zhou Litai and Wang Canfa.
Zhou Litai is the lawyer who defends workers rights in the ‘Getting Rich’ section of the video. He is famous for defending thousands of migrant workers who have been injured and lost limbs because of injuries while working in factories. Not only does he defend them, but he houses and feeds many of them as well. His motivation stems form the fact that he was once a factory worker and knows what it was like to be treated poorly.
Wang Canfa is a lawyer who helps peasants being hurt physically and economically by factories causing environmental pollution. He appears in the ‘Food is Heaven’ section of China Rises. The industrialization of China is having many negative effects on the environment and the people who depend on the environment to make a living. He is shown in the video trying to help fisherman who are being hurt by a contaminated river. They think source of the contamination is a leather factory dumping waste into the river. Wang Canfa’s motivation stems from the fact that he used to be a peasant and knows the hardships they are going through.
I really like what these lawyers are doing and the reasons they are doing it for. I would like to find out about many things such as: their strategies used in the cases; reasons why they won or lost cases; how they think they are making an impact on peoples lives and on workers rights; how they made the transitions from factory/peasant worker to lawyer; how is they are impacting the future in such a period of transition; how they are viewed by the government, business, and the common people of China; etc…I might need to go to several dinners with these two in order to get all of my questions answered!
#3
I would like to meet Wang Canfa, the lawyer searching to find clear evidence that a river was being polluted by a leather factory. Canfa placed himself in danger when trying to find this proof. Regardless of these consequences, he even went to the leather factory to find evidence. I would ask him what cases he sees as top priorities and why, the types of impacts he hopes to make in five and 10 years, and just to get his perspective on how the government handles environmental cases.
#7
I believe that the title “China Rises” does not portray China in the most accurate way. This title implies that China is just starting to grow as a country and is starting to catch up to the rest of the world.
As Dr. Morris stated, China has had an amazing history that is over 2000 years old. With the rich culture and technology of China (Admaral Zheng He’s armada and treasure ships, the Great Wall, art, food, medicine, and so much more), the title of the series would be better as “China Reawakens” or something similar. China was, and continues to be a powerful country and it is important to understand this reality.
The extent in which the Chinese go to prepare for the Olympics is amazing to me. And with the upcoming 2008 Olympics to be held in Beijing, this passion and need to excel, and the drive to be recognized as the best is intensified.
I have always thought the Chinese training practices to be a bit extreme, but this is an accurate display of the overall Chinese mentality of dedication, determination, and their duty to the country. The life of the young gymnast in the film is not uncommon of most young Olympic hopefuls in China. The training begins when the candidates are very young. As with the girl in the film, often times the parents sign their children over to the country, and the children spend the next few years of their lives training, living in dorms with other Olympic hopefuls, and they don’t get to see their families very often. The young girl in the film mentioned that after 3 years of training, she didn’t even want this anymore, but it would have been a waste of the past 3 years. Even still, she is proud to represent her country. This dedication always amazes me. I cannot imagine people in the US using these same training methods. There isn’t the same patriotism here; there isn’t the same dedication and determination.
Even the pride of the entire country is different than any other place. In all the years of the Olympics, I have never seen a country put so much effort into the beautification of the event location, or such anticipation by the entire country. The clock in the center of Beijing that is counting down the minutes to the 2008 Olympics is a good exhibition of this anticipation. The Olympics are two years away, and yet there is already excitement in the air. China and its people could not be prouder to host an event as prestigious as the Olympics. Crowds went wild and celebration broke out at the announcement of China’s hosting and the preparation began. Even a specially designed arena is being built to house the events. The building’s design was created to represent China’s culture and power. It is almost a landmark to the concept of “China Rising.†As the building itself rises and is built, the presence of China’s power also rises and is being re-built.
Question #3 – The character from the movie that I would most like to have dinner with was the gentleman that own the Chinese version of Ebay. I found his entrepreneurial drive to be very interesting. It is always fascinating to hear successful business people give their views and strategies on business because their strategies are obviously good ones. However, the reason I would like to have dinner with him is because he said something that really changed my perception of China. Paraphrasing, he said, “I used to always question the Chinese government. Why are they doing things this way? Why did they make this decision? But when I started my company I realized that it is difficult to manage so many people.â€
This made me realize that the problems in China aren’t as easy to fix as I, and others, think they would be. It’s not fair for us to judge the decisions made by the Chinese government. I look at our own country. How many problems do we have? We have 1/5 of China’s population, a lot more resources, and we still have huge problems in this country that politicians can’t fix. So how can I sit here and say, there are so many poor people in China, why doesn’t the government do something to solve this? I realized that the government is trying, but with so many people it is not easy and it takes time. I had never thought about this until the Chinese Ebay president made that comment. By having dinner with him, I think that he would make me see the other side of the coin for so many issues.
Question #7 – I don’t think the CBC’s title “China Rises†missed its mark. In fact, I think Dr. Morris’ lecture even helps to confirm this. I think that we have to view the documentary in its proper context. As Dr Morris pointed out China has been at the top of the ladder for thousands of years. They were the brightest and the best, and were a good millennium ahead of the rest of the world for so long. The video does not discount this or degrade this at all. The video uses the last century and a half as its reference point as the basis for its title.
Nobody can honestly say that China has been at the top of the world the last 150 years. It has really been at near the bottom of the civilization ladder. In my mind to say China rises does not been that China has always been at the bottom of the world. It simply means that it is rising from its dreary state. For example: if I say that I rose this morning, it does not discount the fact that I was up yesterday. It means that I was asleep for the night, and I woke and rose. I don’t feel that the documentary was ever implying that this is the first time China is actually rising. Perhaps other titles may be more appropriate, but if this title is view in its proper context, one will see that it is not misleading or misrepresentative of China’s past glory. For something to rise, at some point it must have dropped, and China has dropped over the past century as compared to its past glory.
The biggest thing that stood out for me in China Rises is that China is so nearly impossible to classify under any one “-ism.â€
As I’m learning more about China, I’m finding that it really is difficult to understand China. The image of China that I had been taught for years is being shaken off its foundation. I had been given the impression, even in academic classes, that China has a completely different definition of human rights. I was told that their definition of human rights did not encompass democratic freedoms of speech, religion, or press, like it does in the United States, but that it covers the communist/socialist rights to healthcare, food, housing, and employment. In seeing China Rises, I’m finding that this is completely refuted. Some of the anecdotal cases we saw may be outliers, but it seems that so many Chinese are left to fend for themselves in the arena of food, housing, health, and employment. China seems to follow a laissez-faire economic policy, rather than communism or socialism. While China is rising, or coming back, many people are getting left behind or pushed back.
It seems like rather than stepping stones across a river, China has switched to taking a boat to the other side. They have transitioned quickly from Maoist socialism to a laissez-faire market economy. Traditional farming and housing systems are being completely replaced for the needs of growth and advancement in the new market. The way of life in China is changing so rapidly that many are not on board. They still expect the China that they knew before-a Maoist state. Perhaps some are resistant to change and perhaps some are simply not prepared for the change. This could cause problems in the future as new challenges emerge-pollution, arable land scarcity, food shortages, population migration, housing shortages, job shortages, etc.
I would like to have dinner with the official who discussed the idea of stepping stones across a river. I am curious how he feels China is still in a period of incrementalism if it is experiencing such extreme change. Does he feel that the traditional Maoist ideal of balancing the needs of all is still relevant in China? Or are the needs of the many now the ideal in China’s economic goals? Does the Communist Party still feel that all Chinese are entitled to social security in the form of housing, food, and health? Are these old-fashioned ideas in a new China?
It seems that the founder of TaoBao.com was correct in saying that one cannot truly understand China. I believe that in learning more about China, I now know less about China than I thought I knew before. One of the obstacles to understanding China is that it is changing so vastly that your understanding of China so quickly becomes outdated.
There are a lot of people I would like to meet from the China Rises video…it’s hard to pick.
I’d like to meet the girl who was a factory worker (was she making pany-hose?). I am on the fence right now about whether she is being abused or if her working conditions aren’t horrible. I don’t understand China or its culture very well, so I don’t think I can make a very fair judgement. I’d like to know what she thinks. She didn’t sound unhappy. She sounded glad that she could save money and send some to her family. She sounded ambitious – wanting to become a lawyer. Her job looked pretty boring, but there are plenty of boring jobs in the world. Even if she doesn’t feel mistreated, it could just mean that she does not know any better and does not have better working conditions to compare. I think it would be interesting to hear her full side of the story and her opinions on factory conditions.
As my comments are related to the Wal-mart question, I feel like I should address that too. I don’t really shop at Wal-mart, I’m more obsessed with TJ Maxx, but I wouldn’t NOT shop there because they have factories in China. I feel very ignorant about this subject, BUT, I think that maybe it would hurt the Chinese workers more than help them if people stopped shopping at Wal-mart. If companies who have factories in China shut down, all the workers will without a job. Sure, Wal-mart could be paying them more money, but I don’t know what money is worth in China. Maybe 2 dollars to them in 2006 is like 2 dollars to us in 1950. There is so much I don’t understand about this subject that I don’t feel like it is my place to say that the factories are inhumane. They didn’t look pleasent when I saw them in the video, but neither did the towns with no roads and starving people. If the people working in those factories can afford to feed themselves, send money home to their families AND save for law school, it can’t be THAT low of a wage. Maybe when I go to Chine and see the factories for myself, I’ll be better able to address this problem.
5) For most of the people, these are the best jobs they can get and they are glad to have them. It’s better than starving or resorting to illegal means of income. Most uneducated Chinese make more at the factory jobs than they would anywhere else. I believe that we help these workers by purchasing these products. If we don’t these people will not have jobs and be without a means to survive.
I believe that you definitely need to conduct a thorough analysis before you judge the working conditions of the factories. Many of the people we saw in the movie were farmers. They were farmers living on polluted land or farmers whose land had been taken away. These people are not making any money and living in poverty. Getting a job in a factory would be more profitable than trying to fish out of a polluted river.
Party Games
I am torn about what the girl gymnast is going through. She obviously lives a more comfortable lifestyle in the dormitory than her parents. However, gymnastics is her only opportunity to succeed since she does not receive much schooling. Even if she wanted to quit it would be difficult because she already behind in school. Her Olympic opportunity means sacrificing her family time and education. Sacrifice seems to be a common theme in all four parts of the documentary.
The nationalist guy was scary! I even replayed part of it to make sure I heard correctly, “Hatredtism is about loving this country.†Hopefully he is an extreme case because 1.2 billion people who think that way is dangerous. I can see why the government blocked his website to maintain order.
Getting Rich
It was refreshing to see the environmentally conscious millionaires when the rest of the documentary painted most Chinese companies has money-hungry anti-environmentalists. It was surprising to see an organic garden on the company’s premise and an entrepreneur who makes environmentally friendly air conditioners.
The palaces and a few of the corporate offices that these millionaires have built are amazing. But some of the homes are very typical “nouveau riche†with the tacky gold and ornate decor. Their palaces and crew of hired help reminds me of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers during the Industrial Revolution. It would be interesting to see which families maintain their wealth and which ones squander it-or if the government takes over the company.
I was surprised to see that the Alibaba.com founder did not send his son abroad for school. Most wealthy people in Taiwan and Hong Kong try to send their children abroad for school. I’m guessing that his son attends an American or international school in China for foreigners.
Food is Heaven
The Chinese are more preoccupied with food than most other cultures. It was shocking-but I should not be too surprised-to see farmers use polluted water for crops. The standards in China are obviously less stringent than in other modernized countries. That is why I do not purchase foods imported from China. I always check the country of origin on the packaging and pay a slightly higher price for foods from Taiwan and Hong Kong over China.
City of Dreams
I can see why the designer and artists are not very political. They are successful, live comfortably and have no reasons to complain to the government. Even if they were to become complain, it would fall on deaf ears. The poor on the other hand are sacrificed for “improvement†and end up destitute. I read that the Chinese government is trying to slow growth to a manageable pace so that the non-city dwellers can have a share of the wealth. From watching this documentary I find it very possible that the poor could be pushed to a point where they riot on a very large scale. The government will need to find a way to ease the imbalance in distribution of new wealth.
1. The program China Rises successfully portrayed the differences in the social classes in Chinese society. I think the program made a good point of contrasting the hardships of certain individuals with the success of others. The video displayed the numerous opportunities that exist and touched on the new social classes that are emerging as a result. I believe the program sought to challenge the stereotype many Americans hold about those in the Chinese society. I believe that many Americans view the Chinese government as a repressive force. The communist shadow that follows the nation shapes the way it is viewed by the world. China’s newfound position in the world economy gives it the opportunity to challenge these stereotypes and demonstrate its belief in free markets.
The video also showed the hardships of many Chinese citizens struggling with low wages and inferior living conditions. The absence of corporate responsibility and its dramatic effects are shown through these stories. China is trying to shed its image of repression by giving more power to its people and highlighting their success, but it must work to improve the issues of corporate responsibility since their effects are far-reaching and greatly impact their reputation as a society. There will always be someone facing hardships, but the act of repression depends on the government’s efforts to assist them. I believe China is doing its part to increase the well being of its citizens. Economic reform is a slow process but I think China is on the right track.
7. In my opinion, I feel the program did a nice job of showing the success and the potential of success for many Chinese citizens. Although China’s government still has a strong grasp on the future of the country, there are many opportunities for individuals to succeed in this growing economy. I do have some concern with the title of the program “China Risesâ€. My perspective of China’s presence in the business world changed during Dr. Morris’ lecture on the history of China. This perennial nation has seen the rise and fall of many civilizations. To say that China now “rises†is a misstatement implying that China has somehow fallen. The fifty-year gap where communism limited the potential growth of China is large chapter by American history standards, but relative to the length of Chinese history, this fifty-year gap is merely one-step in the wrong direction. A more appropriate title would be “China, back on trackâ€.
#1 I think the huge gap between the rich and the poor is outcome of who is fortunate enough to get the opportunities and who doesn’t. It is also locational, depending on where you are in China.
In the show’s “getting rich†section, watching the rich lifestyle of Zuo Zongshen (the motorcycle manufacturer) was jaw-dropping. I mean, who hires people for jobs to get a brush and brush dog hair off of your pants? Zuo’s riches provided him with a mansion live in, a Hummer to ride around with, servants to brush off dog hair and more. To me, Zuo would be the one speaking of the perceived limitless opportunities. .
At the same time, it breaks my heart to see these old couple that lived in the high desert where water is so scarce that the wife walks for hours with a donkey just to find a little stream of water that “sometimes†dries up. Food is also scarce that the only food available is noodles. The husband says there is no opportunity to live in the desert and looks up in the heavens for “rain†to come soon so they do not starve. Food and water are such necessities here in the US; it made me appreciate our lives here so much more.
Finally, I agree that many Americans seem to believe the Chinese people are in a constant state of repression because the optimistic riches are located at the east coast where the opportunities are. But even in Shanghai, we see the repressed Wei Qin, the protestor who lost her home due to the city’s developments. The rest majority of the population still remains inlands west of the country who are poor and repressed. Unless we venture out west into China during our trip, I don’t think we the repression protrayed by the show’s extent.
While I disagree with the sweatshop business model, I do not let it play a factor in my purchasing decisions. There are so many unethical practices that take place in the business environment, if I restricted myself to purchasing from companies with a clean track record, I’m afraid I would be without anything. Besides, the people that work in the factories are better off them many of their comrades. In America, we don’t understand the meaning of the word poor. When we use the term poor we imagine someone that can’t afford the newest pair of Michael Jordans. As the movie “China Rises†demonstrated, many of the poor in China have barely enough to eat. The government has taken their homes and they have lost their factory jobs. One couple lives in the country and survives on a noodle diet because they can afford nothing else.
In a perfect world, sweat shops would not exist. Everyone would work in a healthy environment and be paid a wage that would provide them with food, shelter and clothing. Unfortunately, this is and probably will never be the case. If I was to adjust my purchasing decisions accordingly, I believe it would only adversely affect the factory workers. If the factories go out of business then those “poor and uneducated†people will be out of work. These workers possess no skills and have had no formal education wand thus are unable to acquire another job. While they only make a couple dollars a day, this is much more than they would receive elsewhere.
To provide a thorough analysis, I would want to find out whether they could find a job that paid more money, if they were forced into the position, how many people are injured at work, the safety measures in place, the age of the employees, and most importantly whether or not they were happy with their job.
While watching China Rises one question continually came to my mind? Why? What in Chinese culture caused this phenomenon? I repeatedly tried to breakdown and create a cause and effect scenario explaining what was taking place. After watching the four videos I realized that trying to understand the complexities of a society of 1.3 billion people was impossible. I created my own moral from the story that could be applied to my life. The path you chose to take in life or business might not be the best path, but whatever it is that you choose, do it extremely well. I came to this conclusion when comparing Chinese Communism, to American Democracy, and what I found were many similarities. Whether we are willing to admit it or not, both countries are run by the wealthy elite, with profit and commercialization as their focus. Both systems put environmental waste at the bottom of the list of important things to do. Both countries tend to ignore the poor starving poverty-stricken members of their society.
Beyond these similarities I found a second point of great interest. China in my eyes is a window into the world’s future. First some statistics: China has over 1.3 billion citizens, 700 million of which are below the poverty line. China has only 7% of the world’s farmable land in combination with approximately 18% of the world’s mouths (All statistics were taken from the films and are approximate). China is NOW faced with a fundamental problem that the world will be faced with in the next couple hundred years. There are too many people, not enough space and, not enough food. China is running out of their natural resources. Their water is polluted as a result of the great industrialization and what little farmland China has is being devoured by the expanding industrial centers. The rich elite are becoming exhibitionists, attempting to spend as much money as possible, much like the rich elite of this country. Right now, today, China is dealing with these problems: a polluted world, with too many people and not enough food, or natural resources. Soon enough, the United States, and the rest of the world will have to stop ignoring the Inconvenient Truth and face the problem head on.
Before going over the questions mentioned I would like to give a general picture of what I understand from the movie. Looking at the history of China including the near history, I see a collective culture of building a civilization and ensuring sustainability both considering city life and agriculture. This movie however showed me that, Chinese people went into a transformation, where they are no more associated with their collective culture but interested more individual wins. The new masters of China attracting world’s production into the country seem like to skip those two aspects. Is this a change? Absolutely. Is this a development? I have doubts.
1. I have very limited idea what do Americans think about the repression of people in China, however the movie showed me that fundemental human rights in China are violated by the government. The lady who suffered a forced move-out from her house was an excellent example of my claim. Her rights to defend were taken and her rights to accomodate freely were strongly violated for the future’s skyscrapers.
6. According to the movie, another reason that attracts the rest of the world in China is the poor regulation of environmental pollution. Since it’s more expensive to filter the disposal rather than leaving it in nature, entrepreneurs are more interested in investing in China, where they don’t have to filter. However, going back to the understanding of sustainability, the nation that built all those long channels for farming, now allows others to pollute their rivers. Seeing the fisher in the movie complaining about the recent scarcity of fish made me to ask the question, if China one day will start to import river fish from Europe. Farming will be affected negatively on the pollution of water reserves. The nation who thought how to farm to the whole world, nowadays afraid to loose its farming areas with the increasing pollution.
2. For a country whose culture dates back thousands of years, history dictates that time is on their side, that slow and steady wins the race. The reason that the Chinese elite concurs with the “go-slow†policy is that they are comfortably in charge, and a stable, slow-growth plan works to their advantage much more so than a volatile one. Now that the tenets of communism have faded away and the Chinese government has seemingly become the moderator for a capitalist society, losing the tacit support of the Chinese elite could very well bring about a political system overhaul. The main reason Chinese citizens have high expectations for the future is due to the transition to capitalism and a free market economy. The citizens are feeling empowered with their future in their own hands. Should the government attempt to infringe upon these newly acquired rights, it risks losing the support of its people.
5. There are poor, uneducated people working on assembly lines the world over, including here in the U.S. Having worked on an assembly line myself, I feel bad that anyone has to work on one. When I see the ones in Chinese factories, I realize that for many, this was an opportunity to get a reliable job. Even thought the job might not pay much, since the cost of living is incredibly low, the wages earned for many are commiserate with their expenses. If I tried to reconcile any remorseful feelings by no longer purchasing certain products, I fear that the workers might actually lose their jobs. Instead, I assume that wages will naturally rise, and as that cost is passed on down to me as the consumer, I will gladly pay the increased price, knowing that someone at the other end of the line is getting rewarded.
After watching China Rises, I was struck with the dramatic differences in the lifestyles of different classes within China. The upper middle class citizens in the large cities are able to enjoy a very comfortable life with all of the luxuries that American have grown accustomed too. High rise condominiums, Louis Vuitton handbags, and American fast food all seem like common staples to this class.
However, this was much different than the poor farming families located away from the economic growth of the large cities. Rather than enjoying a comfortable life style, this people had to work hard to ensure that there was enough food on the table to feed the entire family. If lucky, they would be able to save enough money to visit McDonalds once a year to SHARE a single cheeseburger. While the economic growth of China is creating comfortable lifestyles for many Chinese, it also seems to be leaving many behind.
7. I saw a striking number of similarities between the CBC production and Dr. Norris’s lecture on China. One of the points that Dr. Norris emphasized during his discussion of the Chinese people was their belief that China was historically a superpower and would quickly regaining this status. Both the video and lecture displayed the Chinese people as very proud of their country. Rich or poor, the majority of people appeared to be proud of the direction their country was headed. This was obvious in the pride and effort that the country is putting into preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Question #1 — Though the opportunities that China offers its people may not be quite the same as those in the U.S., I don’t think there is any way you could say that the Chinese are “repressed.” As shown in the video, many Chinese citizens are working hard to better their lives or the lives of their children, and progress is clearly being made. The widespread migration from rural to urban occupations is evidence of this. Even though the migrant worker Liu Yong is living in a cramped dormitory and earning pennies an hour on long shifts, she is clearly happy and optimistic about her future. Her opportunity to save up money for school in order to advance her career is one that citizens of many developing countries do not have. The Chinese government has undoubtedly come to the realization that it cannot compete on the world stage economically if it represses its own citizens. I believe China will continue to improve on the significant progress it has already made and that more opportunities for its citizens will result.
Question #3 — The person that I would most like to meet is Zhang Yue, the CEO of Broad Air Conditioning. It fascinates me that though we constantly hear about the environmental troubles of China, this man has made millions by taking an environmentally friendly approach to air conditioning. I would love to talk to him about his thoughts on China’s environmental situation, and whether he thinks improvement is necessary (as many people in the U.S. do). He clearly cares about the environment, and realizes that good, uncontaminated food is difficult to come by. I would ask him about his theories on employee morale, and if he has seen an improvement in productivity since he has started growing his own organic food for his employees. Is he breaking from the norm by providing his employees with such a luxury? Does he think work conditions in China need to be improved? I think it would be a very enlightening conversation, and would allow me to gain a deeper understanding of environmental and labor issues in China.
#3. I would enjoy having dinner with Ai Weiwei, the Artist who is building the stadium for the 2008 Olympics. This man seemed very intriguing the way he was expressing himself, both with his company (recall the 4 letter acronym), and through his creative artwork. He seems to be very powerful, but in a reserved and entrepreneuring way. I feel a connection with him, and believe the way he is showing his skepticism towards authority is constructive, conducting himself it in an expressive way (which seems to be unlike most Chinese). Due to the fact that his father was a leader, you could feel his tension and aggression towards leading a reform. I was impressed with the fact that he was able to stand out and be imaginative in a society that has condemned such individualistic characteristics for a long time. I believe it will be individuals like Ai Weiwei, which will help provide some power back to the people, and let China rise to their full potential.
#5. I am looking forward to viewing the Chinese factories as it will be a realization to all of us how well off we are in the US, even if you’re in the lower class. At first, I think about not purchasing these products as it only creates a higher demand for poor uneducated workers in China. At the same time the movie claimed that these people would otherwise be struggling, eating noodles in the hills of Loess Plateau if these workers had not migrated to work at the factories. Still, does this really justify us buying these products?
Personally, I do not believe it is fully justified nor do I believe that we fully understand the full facts on this matter. This is why it will be an eye-opener to view a factory in person. I believe if the living conditions were improved and these factory workers were fed, and fully compensated than I would not think twice about purchasing their products. I thought it was great that Zhang Yue, the CEO of Broad Air Conditioning was able to create a business that was more sustainable, which grew healthy organic food for their workers, and helped the employees live a healthier life. After all, what is the point of having wealth, if you are not healthy or happy with your life?
In contrast, looking at a business like Zongshan’s motorcycle factory, the workers seemed unhappy as the company was run like a military installment. Some people flourish under this structured environment, yet this organizational style provides little room for individuality or inventiveness within a company, which is imperative for a business’s growth. Repressing rights and originality will lead to unhappy, less productive workers and over time anarchy. Additionally, it seemed that many of these factories are forgetting about their environment in their rush to build a middle class and become a more wealthy China. As the past may give China confidence in the future, perhaps factories and the government should take a step back and recognize if precautions are not taken now regarding their environmental degradation, it will probably have devastating consequences for the next billion Chinese. As the movie pointed out, is it ethical that your country cares more about having economic success and wealth than protecting the health and lifestyles of the majority of its people?
I agree with a couple of the people above who mentioned that they would like to meet Zhou Litai, the lawyer who defends workers rights. He is known all over China for his work in defending factory workers who have been injured and in one scene of the video a man who lost an arm while working in a factory. I think anyone could stand to learn something from his compassion for others. Whenever anyone asks me what my dream job would be, I respond that if given the opportunity to do anything I would volunteer. I would volunteer anywhere and in anyway I could. I really think it is the responsibility of people who have been as fortunate as I have been (who have grown up in a home, never having to worry about whether or not I was going to have food, money, or shelter) to take care of those who have not been as fortunate. In a perfect world that is what I would do. Unfortunately, the world is far from perfect and volunteering doesn’t pay the bills. I am always interested in seeing different ways in which people are living at least part of my dream. Zhou Litai is doing just this. He is using his knowledge, resources, and heart to defend the less fortunate. As a lawyer he could choose to make much more money if he practiced another area of law. However, he is making a conscious and extremely unselfish decision to use his talents to help others. For these reasons, I admire and would be honored to have an opportunity to have dinner with him.
Another person from the movie that caught my attention was the little girl who is practicing to be an Olympic gymnast. It is humbling to know that I could learn a lot about hard-work and motivation from an 8-year old. Her drive blows my mind. She continues to work extremely long days, and obsessively overexert herself regardless of the fact that the easiest way out would be to quit. I would love to have dinner with her and to ask her what it is that keeps her striving to do better. I was so impressed with how well she articulated that she was fortunate to be given this opportunity to represent her country, and that all her hard-work was worth the shot at Olympic gold.
1. I think that compared to the freedoms we have in the U.S., it seems like Chinese citizens are repressed, but compared to what China was like a few decades ago they have a lot more freedom. The movie had many examples of stories that give the impression that Chinese citizens are repressed as well as many that show the new freedoms they are experiencing. One way that Chinese citizens seemed repressed is the fact that not everyone can join the communist party. I was surprised when I learned this because it had never occurred to me that you would have to get permission to join a party because in the U.S. you just sign up for one. This practice seems strict compared to what we experience in the U.S. Another way Chinese citizens seem more repressed is because of the control that the government and army have. The movie gave the example of the army slaughtering students who were demonstrating and how the police sent text messages to citizens warning them not to demonstrate. Freedom of speech is a basic right in the U.S. so comparatively it seems as though people in China are not as free. China Rises also portrayed how the government can be corrupt and as a result take freedoms away from citizens. Two stories that portrayed this were that of the factory worker who had his hand chopped off and then was unable to get any compensation because the company found a way around it and the old fisherman who was no longer able to make a living because the river was so polluted with illegal waste. These occurrences in China give the impression that they are more repressed than we are in America.
On the other hand, there were many stories in China Rises that showed how the Chinese people are becoming less repressed as time goes on. For example, in recent years citizens have been allowed to open their own businesses and own their own land. In the movie they tell the story of the man who created his own motorcycle business and as a result became very wealthy. This is something that would happen in the U.S. as well so in this case it doesn’t seem like the citizens are as repressed. The movie also gave the example of the woman who owned her own health clinic. When she first got out of college, she was assigned to work in a hospital, but now she is allowed to choose. This shows the progression that has been made by the Chinese society and may be the reason Chinese citizens believe there are limitless opportunities in their country.
#6
In response to those in China that make the claim that the US and other countries capitalized on the destruction of the environment to get where we are so China should likewise be able to do the same. A lot has changed since then and we are still paying the price for the damage done and continue doing. The main difference is when the US was industrializing there were few alternatives and we were very ignorant about the long term effects on the world. It would be a wise decision for China to heed the warnings to advert the long term damage the US faces. The US is still paying for the damage done to the environment, look at the superfund sites particularly the Berkeley pit mine in Montana where millions of dollars are spent to clean up an abandoned copper mine.
The argument that many countries capitalized on the destruction of the environment is a hallow argument that will only lead to greater problems down the road. I am not saying that China should not use their natural resources; I believe that they need to manage the resources and avoid the costly mistakes that other countries made and use the available technology to do so.
This is a point that Thomas Barrett misses. It is not that I expect China to curb growth to save the environment, but by taking measures to minimize the impact on the environment and growing smart China can be a much more powerful force.
#7
The CBC title “China Rises†is an accurate title for the movie. It captures what Dr. Carr Mentioned about returning to its proper place in the world in a much more powerful way. Using rises implies that it has been up before, but like the sun it set for a dark period of time. The sun is again rising, and this time the whole world is taking notice.
#1 Repression has many different forms: economic, ideological, social, familial, the list goes on. Asking whether China’s people are in a constant state of repression is like asking how many galaxies are in the universe. There is so much to uncover on the topic that no one could come up with a definitive answer. In watching China Rises I was immediately struck by the self-awareness and purposeful development of “new†China. Each step that China takes seems to be calculated and each person interviewed seemed to have not only awareness of the situation but also a strong opinion on the merits or demerits of the different movements. It seems difficult to imagine that a nation of “repressed†people would have so many different viewpoints and so many people willing to voice them.
I remember in Dr. Morris’s talk that China has the freedom of speech but not the freedom of assembly. I wonder how long that will last, seeing as, according to the video, many Chinese people are already risking their livelihood to assemble and protest what the government has been doing. This is highly reminiscent of any revolution in any country and, as an observer, I can’t help but feel that the Chinese people will be afforded the freedom of assembly before too long. Unfortunately, though, for now the fight seems futile. There is the woman who lost her home in Shanghai, the fishermen fighting against the leather factories and the farmers seeking to preserve the land that they depend on. The one thing they have in common is that they are losing their individual battles. When change does come, it will be thanks to them, but more than likely, they will not get to experience the benefits.
As more of the Chinese people gain more wealth and security, there is the possibility that the fighting spirit and the personal acquisition of knowledge will subside. That was seen in the clothing designer who, now that she was among the comfortable middle class, knew very little of what was happening politically in China. This complacency is also seen in the American middle class. When that time comes, the Chinese people may no longer be politically repressed, but may, in turn, find themselves repressed in other ways.
The most interesting part of the movies by far was the section on the electoral process in China. I had always assumed that the Communist Chinese State allowed its citizens no voting rights. However, their system of restricted Democracy provides a good avenue for social growth in China.
From the videos, it appeared that, after seeing what happened to Russia, the Chinese government is extremely wary of a sudden glasnost-like movement in China. To mitigate the chances of this happening, the government has, according to Dr. Morris, allowed more prevalent freedom of speech along with the right to vote in local elections. Their attempts at openness first evoke the imagery of a bather slowly getting into a pool. As he acclimates to the water, he moves deeper. If this were the case, it would seem that China is moving in the right direction.
On the other hand, these small liberties that China has allowed its citizens might be more of an exercise than any real change. By giving the people what amounts to near worthless local elections, is the Chinese government really just giving the people a false sense of social and political responsibility? Once elected, how much effect can these local magistrates have if they have an infallible mega-government to report to?
As an aside, I thought it was funny to hear how the Chinese view American Democracy as inferior to the Chinese Democracy. There definitely seem to be many positives in the Chinese form (eg- a populace that truly cares about what they are voting for and a high voter turnout), but Democracy limited even a little is still not Democracy. It will be interesting to see if once the Communist establishes more prosperity in China, if they begin to concede more civil liberties to their citizens.
5. I think that we all can agree that the sweatshop is not the type of working environment that any of us want to participate in, and it certainly tugs at the heartstrings to realize that so many the world over are working in such conditions. However, the one good thing that the sweatshop provides is gainful employment, even if the gain is only fractions of a dollar per day. Even before watching China Rises Pietra Rivoli’s Travels of a T-Shirt… had started me analyzing the debate of working conditions between the wealthy consumers of goods and their poorer counterparts who make the goods. The reality that I noticed both from the movie and my reading is that no matter how deplorable the conditions are, it beats starvation, this is the mind set of many of the employees. Unfortunately, the gruesome facts in China are that better than 70% of the population lives below the poverty line and many, including the woman who walked along side her mule for 4 hours per day collecting water from the only fresh water source so that all in her village could drink, the American definition of poor simply doesn’t describe their situation.
What is actually more deplorable to me than the conditions of the workplace is the lack of property rights that the employees have. It is certainly terrible that they are paid a low wage for doing a very dangerous and unhealthful job, but what adds insult to injury is the realization that even after a person scrimps and saves and buys a home, or leases a small amount of land, or is fortunate enough to inherit a home or land, it can be unjustly taken for a minute fraction of its worth, so that something more important to the state can be built in its place. This reality runs rampant in the growing coastal regions of China, and it is unfortunately a fact that will hinder the overall growth and expansion of the country.
Many leading researchers and economists have noted that the most important factor to economic development through capitalism is property rights (of all kinds). And, as much as China’s industrial rise is closely related to ours in the early decades of the last century the one overwhelming difference is that much of what the workers purchase as a reward for their labor isn’t truly theirs.
As a final thought I believe that simply not purchasing goods on the grounds that the labor used is not receiving proper compensation or treatment does not really help the conditions of the employee if anything it hurts those lowest on the ladder and sends them back to the farms that they don’t own (not to say that they couldn’t still make a decent living, its just pretty hard). Historically in the industrialization process those who go to work in the factories find the work preferable to the work on the farm. An interviewee in Rivoli’s book who worked in China put it quite nicely, stating that at least she has shade and a chair and that’s more than she had on the farm.
Monday, January 8, 2007
China Rises
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the information presented in the video. Of course my favorite chapter was the discussion on food and agriculture (surprise, surprise) in Chinas growing economy. Chinas consumption of arable land and the rate at which it is being paved over sends chill down my spine. How could a country with so many starving people neglect such a resource? Easy, MONEY……. The video has it everywhere, the glamour’s lights of a shanghai night, zealous consumption of land, food, labor and natural resources for the soul purpose of becoming rich.
Throughout the documentary hints of rebellion and uprising are common. There are many examples of how the government has oppressed the people and what negative influences it has had on the lives of not just individuals but families and entire communities. However, if what this documentary is saying is true, the balance of that power seems to be shifting slowly back toward the people. As artists and musicians are allowed to express themselves more openly, messages to the public can bring anger and uprising. In my opinion China is spending to much time focusing its energies outward on global superiority and not inward on its peoples well being. This may just be the beginning though.
Do not get me wrong, I see Chinas growth as a positive thing for both the world’s economy and China. The opportunity and increasingly better life style available to an urban Chinese citizen proves progress is being made, though the conditions in there outlying provinces are nowhere near the level I believe necessary to be considered a developed nation. As negative as I was in the above paragraphs on land consumption, I also see it as an opportunity for myself. If China continues to neglect its natural resources, like the leather factory river and the sand dunes which once used to be fields of green, nations such as the US can profit by either supplementing these resources or consulting on there rejuvenation.
Simply based upon the information given in the video, I have a very pessimistic view of Chinas ability to sustain there growth under current conditions. What if the 2008 Olympics turn into a peasant revolt, unlikely as that is, how then will China be perceived by the world? How would it handle the situation if it did happen? Would countries such as France and UK approve of there tactics?