How should the US view China’s developing relations with her neighbors? Should the US modify its foreign policy toward these same nations in light of their changing relations with China?
The U.S. should view China's developing relations with her neighbors as a "top priority". The United States is a super power and must develope positive relations with China and her neighbors. As mentioned in our reading, China and the United States share many of the same obstacles, i.e. "terrorism". The U.S. must adopt the motto, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". In that context, we must reach out to China's neighbors. We can use our instruments of power, i.e, military aid, economics, and diplomacy to build stronger ties in the Southeast Asia region. We must also modify our foreign policy towards these nations. We should not sell out our beliefs but we must be willing to not to change the beliefs of these nations. A few years ago, I attended a National Security Seminar through the War College. This seminar focused on communicating with other nations. The U.S. must communicate well in this region. Our strategy should not be just a nation building or an intent on creating democracies but also on gaining consensus.
- Tom
Monday, April 28, 2008
Naxi People
The Naxi people are an interesting group of people in China. Although a minority group, consisting of only 250,000 to 300, 000, they have learned to survive amongst the Han majority. The Naxi embraced Communism prior to 1949. They were survivors and went with the winning team. The Naxi continue to survive based on skills they obtained from the past. Most Naxi are not poor and neither are they wealthy but they get along. The women are the backbone of this community. The women operate small business and are known for 3 things, managers of their household, their business and for being ceaseless workers. The men operate small businesses also but not as successful as the women. Education is a plus for the Naxi people and their students are denied the "affirmative action" bonus points due to excelling in education. The Naxi people also believe in Party membership and look at Party membership as an asset. For future survival, the Naxi will have to continue doing what they do best, economic success. They manage their businesses well and have for the most part fully integrated themselves in the main stream. The challenge for the Naxi will be migration from other groups seeking to move in on a good thing. Here is an article I found about the Naxi people. This article does more justice for the Naxi people. Again, the Naxi people are an interesting group.
- Tom
UPDATED: 08:42, March 05, 2006
Young minorities keep old traditions alive
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He Xiangguang has been living in Beijing ever since he left Lijiang, Yunnan, to study in the Central University for Nationalities 17 years ago.
Four years back, He, 35, and a few Naxi friends started a website which has grown into a virtual community of the Naxi people.
From just about 40 people in the beginning, the website (www.lijiangtime.net) now has more than 500 registered members.
According to the Lijiang city government, some 600 people of Naxi ethnicity, working in different professions, have made their home in Beijing.
Many of them are just in their 20s and 30s, but they cherish their ethnic identity and maintain links with their hometown, thousands of kilometres away.
When the website was first started, "there were very few Naxi students in Beijing and the online community could provide us much needed help and support," said He, who works in the Alcatel Shanghai Bell Co Ltd in Beijing.
"We call it the 'spiritual home of the Naxi people'," said Qiu Yuhua, 26, one of the earliest participants in the website. "I will always have a soft spot for Lijiang."
Qiu was born and raised in the old town of Lijiang. She earned a master's degree in ethnology from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences last July and now works at the China Tibetan Studies Institute. She is working on a project on the history of Tibet.
"I'm learning the Tibetan language to better understand the Tibetan people, who share many similarities with my own in terms of origin," she said.
The website has become a platform for Naxi and other people interested in this minority group to discuss topical issues such as the impact of tourism and the latest news in Lijiang.
"We don't want to see our ethnic culture blossoming and withering quickly like a flower," said He.
He and his friends have invited some scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to talk about the ancient Dongba hieroglyphs on their website.
The website also serves to help Naxis living away from their hometown.
"We talk about buying a house, getting a car, or finding a job. Economy and daily life are as important as culture," said He.
Every year, during the Sanduo Festival, He and Qiu organize the Naxi people in Beijing for a celebration. Besides students, there are also scholars, artists, journalists and people from other fields among the Naxis in Beijing.
Everyone prepares some cultural programme and all conversation is in the Naxi language. The celebrations conclude with all of them holding hands in a circle and performing the Naxi group dance.
In the past two years, the Naxis have held ceremonies to commemorate the Naxi ancestors at the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park in northern Beijing.
Apart from the Sanduo Festival, the Naxis also meet for other occasions such as the Torch Festival (in the sixth month of the lunar calendar) and the Ghost Festival (seventh lunar month). They hold painting exhibitions and seminars on Naxi culture.
Cherished traditions
Zhang Jiangtao, 29, is another active website participant. The young man has been away from his home in Lijiang for 11 years. As he works in the IT industry, he spends one to two hours every day to maintain the website.
Zhang pointed out that the Naxi minority comprises just about 300,000 people. "We can easily be inundated by other cultures. So I feel an obligation to work for our own people."
He is worried about the increasing impact of tourism on Lijiang. But he says: "Economic development has positive effects: While more people outside come to appreciate Lijiang and the Naxi culture, the local people also widen their horizons and realize the uniqueness of their own culture."
Yang Huayun, 27, is also a native of Lijiang. She graduated from Peking University and now works in a digital television company.
Yang remembers following her grandparents and parents to the Beiyue Temple at the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain where the Sanduo God is enshrined during the Sanduo Festival and paying homage to the Naxi people's ancestors. She has been participating enthusiastically in the gatherings of Naxi folk in Beijing.
He Ling, also 27, has been working in the media since graduation from the Central University for Nationalities.
She said although living in a big city such as Beijing means missing out on the cultural atmosphere of Lijiang, she cherishes the traditions. "We all persist in speaking our mother tongue, which is very important to maintain our identity," she said.
She has been to other small old towns such as Fenghuang in Central China's Hunan Province and Pingyao in North China's Shanxi Province, but finds her hometown the most charming.
At this year's Sanduo Festival, she will join her friends to watch the special cultural performance.
"What is most important for me is not seeing the programmes, but enjoying being part of a big family," she said.
Li Ling, 30, regrets that she did not learn to play the kouxian, a plucked bamboo instrument, from her mother Li Xiuxiang, who will come to Beijing and perform in next week's show.
Her grandmother had been a famous folk singer in Lashihai, about 8 kilometres from the old town of Lijiang. But Li said both folk songs and the kouxian are difficult to learn. Although the songs have set tunes, a good singer is expected to improvise with lively lyrics.
"Without a deep understanding of Naxi culture, such improvisation is almost impossible," said Li, who has a master's degree in minorities' literature from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
While playing the kouxian with the hands, one needs to sing in a certain, peculiar way, which makes the kouxian very hard to learn.
Li has been away from home for 10 years, but often goes back. Living in Beijing, she values her hometown and its culture even more.
Although she and her brother did not learn much music from their mother, their nephew has picked up a lot. Barely 3, the boy who lives in Lijiang knows several Naxi lullabies.
Li works in the Nationalities Pictorial, which was founded in 1955 and covers minority issues in Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, Korean and Kazak.
The pictorial's current editor-in-chief Che Wenlong is also a Naxi native and a distinguished photographer. This January, a picture album entitled "The Impression of Naxi" was published by the China Nationalities Photography Publishing House. Many of the pictures in the album have been taken by Che in the 31 years since he started working at the pictorial.
He Xiangguang said people in Lijiang hold grand celebrations to mark the Sanduo Festival. The elderly go to the hot springs near the Beiyue Temple to take a bath, while the young go to the old town to buy things and find love through song and dance.
Before supper, families lay out the dishes in front of the wooden plates carved with their ancestors' names.
"We believe that our ancestors come home to enjoy the meal. We Naxi people are special."
Source: China Daily
- Tom
UPDATED: 08:42, March 05, 2006
Young minorities keep old traditions alive
printResizeButton();
He Xiangguang has been living in Beijing ever since he left Lijiang, Yunnan, to study in the Central University for Nationalities 17 years ago.
Four years back, He, 35, and a few Naxi friends started a website which has grown into a virtual community of the Naxi people.
From just about 40 people in the beginning, the website (www.lijiangtime.net) now has more than 500 registered members.
According to the Lijiang city government, some 600 people of Naxi ethnicity, working in different professions, have made their home in Beijing.
Many of them are just in their 20s and 30s, but they cherish their ethnic identity and maintain links with their hometown, thousands of kilometres away.
When the website was first started, "there were very few Naxi students in Beijing and the online community could provide us much needed help and support," said He, who works in the Alcatel Shanghai Bell Co Ltd in Beijing.
"We call it the 'spiritual home of the Naxi people'," said Qiu Yuhua, 26, one of the earliest participants in the website. "I will always have a soft spot for Lijiang."
Qiu was born and raised in the old town of Lijiang. She earned a master's degree in ethnology from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences last July and now works at the China Tibetan Studies Institute. She is working on a project on the history of Tibet.
"I'm learning the Tibetan language to better understand the Tibetan people, who share many similarities with my own in terms of origin," she said.
The website has become a platform for Naxi and other people interested in this minority group to discuss topical issues such as the impact of tourism and the latest news in Lijiang.
"We don't want to see our ethnic culture blossoming and withering quickly like a flower," said He.
He and his friends have invited some scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to talk about the ancient Dongba hieroglyphs on their website.
The website also serves to help Naxis living away from their hometown.
"We talk about buying a house, getting a car, or finding a job. Economy and daily life are as important as culture," said He.
Every year, during the Sanduo Festival, He and Qiu organize the Naxi people in Beijing for a celebration. Besides students, there are also scholars, artists, journalists and people from other fields among the Naxis in Beijing.
Everyone prepares some cultural programme and all conversation is in the Naxi language. The celebrations conclude with all of them holding hands in a circle and performing the Naxi group dance.
In the past two years, the Naxis have held ceremonies to commemorate the Naxi ancestors at the Chinese Ethnic Culture Park in northern Beijing.
Apart from the Sanduo Festival, the Naxis also meet for other occasions such as the Torch Festival (in the sixth month of the lunar calendar) and the Ghost Festival (seventh lunar month). They hold painting exhibitions and seminars on Naxi culture.
Cherished traditions
Zhang Jiangtao, 29, is another active website participant. The young man has been away from his home in Lijiang for 11 years. As he works in the IT industry, he spends one to two hours every day to maintain the website.
Zhang pointed out that the Naxi minority comprises just about 300,000 people. "We can easily be inundated by other cultures. So I feel an obligation to work for our own people."
He is worried about the increasing impact of tourism on Lijiang. But he says: "Economic development has positive effects: While more people outside come to appreciate Lijiang and the Naxi culture, the local people also widen their horizons and realize the uniqueness of their own culture."
Yang Huayun, 27, is also a native of Lijiang. She graduated from Peking University and now works in a digital television company.
Yang remembers following her grandparents and parents to the Beiyue Temple at the foot of the Yulong Snow Mountain where the Sanduo God is enshrined during the Sanduo Festival and paying homage to the Naxi people's ancestors. She has been participating enthusiastically in the gatherings of Naxi folk in Beijing.
He Ling, also 27, has been working in the media since graduation from the Central University for Nationalities.
She said although living in a big city such as Beijing means missing out on the cultural atmosphere of Lijiang, she cherishes the traditions. "We all persist in speaking our mother tongue, which is very important to maintain our identity," she said.
She has been to other small old towns such as Fenghuang in Central China's Hunan Province and Pingyao in North China's Shanxi Province, but finds her hometown the most charming.
At this year's Sanduo Festival, she will join her friends to watch the special cultural performance.
"What is most important for me is not seeing the programmes, but enjoying being part of a big family," she said.
Li Ling, 30, regrets that she did not learn to play the kouxian, a plucked bamboo instrument, from her mother Li Xiuxiang, who will come to Beijing and perform in next week's show.
Her grandmother had been a famous folk singer in Lashihai, about 8 kilometres from the old town of Lijiang. But Li said both folk songs and the kouxian are difficult to learn. Although the songs have set tunes, a good singer is expected to improvise with lively lyrics.
"Without a deep understanding of Naxi culture, such improvisation is almost impossible," said Li, who has a master's degree in minorities' literature from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
While playing the kouxian with the hands, one needs to sing in a certain, peculiar way, which makes the kouxian very hard to learn.
Li has been away from home for 10 years, but often goes back. Living in Beijing, she values her hometown and its culture even more.
Although she and her brother did not learn much music from their mother, their nephew has picked up a lot. Barely 3, the boy who lives in Lijiang knows several Naxi lullabies.
Li works in the Nationalities Pictorial, which was founded in 1955 and covers minority issues in Chinese, Mongolian, Tibetan, Uygur, Korean and Kazak.
The pictorial's current editor-in-chief Che Wenlong is also a Naxi native and a distinguished photographer. This January, a picture album entitled "The Impression of Naxi" was published by the China Nationalities Photography Publishing House. Many of the pictures in the album have been taken by Che in the 31 years since he started working at the pictorial.
He Xiangguang said people in Lijiang hold grand celebrations to mark the Sanduo Festival. The elderly go to the hot springs near the Beiyue Temple to take a bath, while the young go to the old town to buy things and find love through song and dance.
Before supper, families lay out the dishes in front of the wooden plates carved with their ancestors' names.
"We believe that our ancestors come home to enjoy the meal. We Naxi people are special."
Source: China Daily
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Olympics will happen: Bird's Nest's First Medal Winner!!!
The summer Olympics is just around the corner. Congrats need to go out to Jared Talent from Australia. He won the first race in Bird's Nest.
Tom
Light the Torch
Jared Tallent Wins 2008 Olympics Test Race
by Jeanne Dupuis on April 18th, 2008
Australian walker, Jared Tallent, won the very first Olympic test event held in China’s National Stadium (also known as "the Bird’s Nest"). Tallent solidified his position as a medal contender by winning the men’s 20km walk in Beijing, beating Chinese favourite, Wang Hao, with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes and 11 seconds.
"I was happy with the race, with the result, but the main thing is we have to do it again in August," the 23-year-old Tallent said. "To be the first to win in the Bird’s Nest is a fantastic feeling. I couldn’t be more happy."
Congratulations to Jared Tallent!!! That’s pretty exciting! He also mentioned that the air pollution, at least at the lower temperatures, was not a problem for him. Let’s hope that holds out through the games!
Tom
Light the Torch
Jared Tallent Wins 2008 Olympics Test Race
by Jeanne Dupuis on April 18th, 2008
Australian walker, Jared Tallent, won the very first Olympic test event held in China’s National Stadium (also known as "the Bird’s Nest"). Tallent solidified his position as a medal contender by winning the men’s 20km walk in Beijing, beating Chinese favourite, Wang Hao, with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes and 11 seconds.
"I was happy with the race, with the result, but the main thing is we have to do it again in August," the 23-year-old Tallent said. "To be the first to win in the Bird’s Nest is a fantastic feeling. I couldn’t be more happy."
Congratulations to Jared Tallent!!! That’s pretty exciting! He also mentioned that the air pollution, at least at the lower temperatures, was not a problem for him. Let’s hope that holds out through the games!
Hui (How to get wealthy)
I chose to look at how the Hui people are faring. In this week’s reading, I found their story very interesting. Although the PRC does not promote religion, it appears that the Hui people are faring very well. This article, if completely true indicates that many of the Hui people are becoming wealthy while at the same time continuing to practice their faith. This week’s text indicated how devoted the Hui people are to their religion. They appear to be equally dedicated in gaining wealth.
Tom
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 08, 2003
Muslims rich, faithful in southernmost Chinese city
Hui People, one of a dozen ethnic groups practicing the Islamic faith in China, have been known for their business skill since their forefathers crossed vast deserts and oceans to get to China several hundred years ago.
In China's southernmost city of Sanya in Hainan Province, many local Muslims are among the new rich, while still remaining very devoted in their faith. Liu Hua, a 38-year old Hui businessman, now owns a travel agency, a pearl and souvenir shop and a seafood restaurant locatedin the Tian Ya Hai Jiao (Sky's Limit and Sea's Corner), one of thebest-known scenic spots in China, where he lures almost 1,000 eaters a day. But Liu is also a very devout prayer. He stops whatever he is doing and prays to Mecca five times a day. Strictly abiding by the Koran, he donates 2.5 percent of his annual income to poor Muslims. "I've made up my plan to do a pilgrimage to Mecca in the near future, to accomplish the most important thing in the life of a Muslim," he said. Tens of millions of Muslims live across China, mostly in the northwestern areas and Yunnan Province, in the southwest, and Henan Province, in the center.
In Sanya, with a population of 500,000, there are about 7,000 Hui Muslims, mostly living in the Huihui and Huixin villages of Fenghuang Town. Few people know why this small group of Hui people moved to thesouthern tip of the country in ancient times, and in the first years of the last century, many foreign scholars from Germany, Japan, Britain and France visited this second largest island of the country to find clues for the mysterious resettlement. These foreign experts concluded that during China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), Hainan Island was the transitional spot for theinternational spice trade, and Muslim merchants began living on there. Later, some other Muslim families moved to Sanya from the neighboring Vietnam. In the 1980s, local archeologists discovered a large number of old Muslim tombs in Sanya, which indicated that they had lived in the area for quite a long period. Fu Guicai, the 68-year old chairman of the city's Islamic association, insisted that local Hui people have well preserved their Islamic culture and firmly believe in the religion. "Local Muslims follow the Sunni sect and we practice the highest Islamic rites," he noted, adding that foreign researchers were surprised about this when they visited the city recently. According to the local Muslim leader, there are nine mosques, including three for women, in Fenghuang, meaning there is one mosque for every 1,000 Muslims. Fu is among the busiest in the town. He presides over five daily services, preaches on Islam and government policies on religion. In addition, he performs weddings and funerals and helpssettle disputes among neighbors. Yang Zihua, another Muslim leader in the city, said that most young Muslims in the city want to become clergy to pass down Islamic culture and religion generation by generation. Since China launched its opening and reform drive two decades ago, local Muslims have kept close ties and had trade and religious exchanges with Islamic nations, he said.
Currently, over 20 local Muslims are studying in these countries. Most of local Muslims are involved in farming, tourism and service sectors. Their average annual income is 5,000 yuan (about 600 US dollars), more than the average of the whole city. Fifteen percent of local Muslim households have their own car.
Tom
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, July 08, 2003
Muslims rich, faithful in southernmost Chinese city
Hui People, one of a dozen ethnic groups practicing the Islamic faith in China, have been known for their business skill since their forefathers crossed vast deserts and oceans to get to China several hundred years ago.
In China's southernmost city of Sanya in Hainan Province, many local Muslims are among the new rich, while still remaining very devoted in their faith. Liu Hua, a 38-year old Hui businessman, now owns a travel agency, a pearl and souvenir shop and a seafood restaurant locatedin the Tian Ya Hai Jiao (Sky's Limit and Sea's Corner), one of thebest-known scenic spots in China, where he lures almost 1,000 eaters a day. But Liu is also a very devout prayer. He stops whatever he is doing and prays to Mecca five times a day. Strictly abiding by the Koran, he donates 2.5 percent of his annual income to poor Muslims. "I've made up my plan to do a pilgrimage to Mecca in the near future, to accomplish the most important thing in the life of a Muslim," he said. Tens of millions of Muslims live across China, mostly in the northwestern areas and Yunnan Province, in the southwest, and Henan Province, in the center.
In Sanya, with a population of 500,000, there are about 7,000 Hui Muslims, mostly living in the Huihui and Huixin villages of Fenghuang Town. Few people know why this small group of Hui people moved to thesouthern tip of the country in ancient times, and in the first years of the last century, many foreign scholars from Germany, Japan, Britain and France visited this second largest island of the country to find clues for the mysterious resettlement. These foreign experts concluded that during China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), Hainan Island was the transitional spot for theinternational spice trade, and Muslim merchants began living on there. Later, some other Muslim families moved to Sanya from the neighboring Vietnam. In the 1980s, local archeologists discovered a large number of old Muslim tombs in Sanya, which indicated that they had lived in the area for quite a long period. Fu Guicai, the 68-year old chairman of the city's Islamic association, insisted that local Hui people have well preserved their Islamic culture and firmly believe in the religion. "Local Muslims follow the Sunni sect and we practice the highest Islamic rites," he noted, adding that foreign researchers were surprised about this when they visited the city recently. According to the local Muslim leader, there are nine mosques, including three for women, in Fenghuang, meaning there is one mosque for every 1,000 Muslims. Fu is among the busiest in the town. He presides over five daily services, preaches on Islam and government policies on religion. In addition, he performs weddings and funerals and helpssettle disputes among neighbors. Yang Zihua, another Muslim leader in the city, said that most young Muslims in the city want to become clergy to pass down Islamic culture and religion generation by generation. Since China launched its opening and reform drive two decades ago, local Muslims have kept close ties and had trade and religious exchanges with Islamic nations, he said.
Currently, over 20 local Muslims are studying in these countries. Most of local Muslims are involved in farming, tourism and service sectors. Their average annual income is 5,000 yuan (about 600 US dollars), more than the average of the whole city. Fifteen percent of local Muslim households have their own car.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Migrant Workers - Are They Really Happy?
I chose an article on migrant workers. I was shocked to see the lives of the migrant workers in China and how they are treated. Before enrolling in this course, I did not know much about China and had never heard of a migrant population in China. The article I found is entitled “Migrant workers need a life of fulfillment”. This article states that most migrants are happy with their life despite missing many basic necessitites. I believe that people can find happiness even in despair. However, it seems impossible that there is true happiness in the migrant workers and I see happiness as an impossibility of happening in China due to the migration rules.
I have worked in labor law for over twenty years and never have I been so shocked about labor working conditions as I have with the migrant work force in China. I see so many similarities of migrant workers in the US and the migrant workers in China. I do believe that the US should take a look at the Chinese migrant issue and develop a fair immigration policy in the US. The migrant workers in the US should never be comparable to the Chinese migrant worker. The US can do better. I will follow the Chinese migrant issue with hopes of improvement for their lives.
-Tom
Migrant workers need a life of fulfillment
By Chong Zi (China Daily)Updated: 2008-03-24 07:13
Economists and psychologists - and the rest of us - have long wondered if more money would make us happier.
Whether the affluent are happier as a whole than their less well-to-do counterparts is becoming an increasingly hot topic for debate. In recent years, much has been written regarding the "science of happiness". We are told that money does not buy us happiness.
Such an assumption was verified again when I came across a survey on migrant workers.
They live in the basements of high-rise residential buildings, in temporary sheds on construction sites, and dilapidated houses on the outskirts of big cities. They are found working on a sort of treadmill in factories, starting their own businesses like selling vegetables, or in the case of women, as maids.
The hard work and living conditions have not scared them away from East China's boomtowns. On the contrary, they said they were pleased with the way it was.
This was part of the survey's conclusions.
The www.39.net and Southern Weekly interviewed 3,889 migrant workers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen from November 2007 to January this year. They published a white paper early this month on the physical and mental health of the migrant workers.
More than 80 percent of the respondents said their living conditions in cities were acceptable, and a majority of them accepted the quality of their life. More than 70 percent of the farmers-turned workers were happy, 22 percent anxious, and only 3 percent on "knife's-edge".
The white paper presented us with quite a rosy picture of the migrant workers, in striking contrast to other reports. A report on migrant workers by the Research Office of the State Council, and a report on the living conditions of migrant workers in cities by the National Bureau of Statistics, gave an insight into the not-so-optimistic situation of these people around the country.
The white paper might have left urban white-collar workers with a sense of inferiority. More than half of netizens surfing the www.39.net claimed to have psychological problems.
Happiness, which has no physical attributes (even if some neuroscientists claim they can see it in the brain), is a feeling, not a thing. This may account for the fuzziness and disagreement that occurs when definitions are made.
Deciding to become happier entails making a choice about which perspective you take and acknowledging that the choice is in your hands.
According to the white paper, the farmers-turned workers, if not all, were happy with their life in cities.
Were they?
As Harvard University psychologist Daniel Gilbert points out in his best-seller Stumbling on Happiness, "all claims of happiness are claims from someone's point of view".
In this sense, we have no reason to doubt the migrant workers' claims of being content. But the white paper with a generalized conclusion and irresponsible suggestions is misleading. It said that the general habit of having a regular physical check-up did not pertain to 83 percent of the migrant workers.
The picture of the farmers-turned workers' being content with their status and life in the cities also seems hard to believe.
So many changes have taken place among this group of people. For Li Tao, who set up a non-governmental organization in Beijing three years ago to help the farmers-turned workers, these changes are amazing.
In 1996 he opened a free training program for migrant workers who could not read and write. Now he is teaching young farmers-turned workers New Concept English.
A large group of rural laborers are now dreaming different dreams in the cities.
The farmers-turned workers above the age of 40 were well-prepared psychologically before they headed for the cities. They were prepared to put up with any difficulties because they had suffered hardships in their hometowns. The second generation of migrant workers, however, do not take hardship as part of their life. They change jobs all the time. They left their rural hometowns to ride the growth wave of the boomtowns in East and South China.
Hometowns are the final destination for the first generation of migrant workers when they think they have raised enough money.
The second generation wants to stay in the cities for good. But they are confused as to which city they should move to. The country's residence registration system has kept them outside most of the social security umbrella. Pension funds, managed by local authorities, and which cannot be transferred, have covered none of the farmers-turned workers.
When the country opened itself to the outside world, our cities' doors were also opened to rural folk. We have so many names for them such as migrant workers, farmers-turned workers, and floating people. Whatever their names, one thing they have in common: the road ahead is not so clear for them.
They find it difficult to be a real part of the cities where they reside. Also, they have no say in the affairs of these cities.
"They have placed their time, energy, skills and fate at the disposal of their urban folks. These individuals, are viewed by their urban counterparts merely as laborers, their rights and interests have practically been ignored," Li said.
In addition to hard work, migrant workers are regularly stigmatized by city dwellers who blame them for everything from crowded buses to street crimes.
The white paper of the www.39.net and Southern Weekly has made a hasty generalization of migrant workers. It has painted an inaccurate picture of them and this could send the wrong message to the decision-makers.
The number of migrant workers -120 million - is steadily rising, prompting the country's legislature and government to consider improving their welfare conditions, healthcare and education rights. They had three representatives at this year's National People's Congress that concluded last Tuesday. The new labor law that took effect on January 1 this year is supposed to give better protection for employees, especially the farmers-turned workers.
While white-collar urban people suffer frequent bouts of self-reproach, most of the farmers-turned workers, according to the white paper, are said to be pleased with their life in the cities.
If money does not buy happiness, what does? Grandma was right when she told you to value health and friends, not money. Or as some psychologists put it, when basic needs are met differences in wellbeing are less frequently due to income and more to factors such as social relationships and enjoyment at work. Other researchers add fulfillment, a sense that life has a meaning.
If migrant workers are still working hard to meet their basic needs, then how come most of them are happy with life? It is a question not answered by www.39.net and Southern Weekly.
(China Daily 03/24/2008 page4)
I have worked in labor law for over twenty years and never have I been so shocked about labor working conditions as I have with the migrant work force in China. I see so many similarities of migrant workers in the US and the migrant workers in China. I do believe that the US should take a look at the Chinese migrant issue and develop a fair immigration policy in the US. The migrant workers in the US should never be comparable to the Chinese migrant worker. The US can do better. I will follow the Chinese migrant issue with hopes of improvement for their lives.
-Tom
Migrant workers need a life of fulfillment
By Chong Zi (China Daily)Updated: 2008-03-24 07:13
Economists and psychologists - and the rest of us - have long wondered if more money would make us happier.
Whether the affluent are happier as a whole than their less well-to-do counterparts is becoming an increasingly hot topic for debate. In recent years, much has been written regarding the "science of happiness". We are told that money does not buy us happiness.
Such an assumption was verified again when I came across a survey on migrant workers.
They live in the basements of high-rise residential buildings, in temporary sheds on construction sites, and dilapidated houses on the outskirts of big cities. They are found working on a sort of treadmill in factories, starting their own businesses like selling vegetables, or in the case of women, as maids.
The hard work and living conditions have not scared them away from East China's boomtowns. On the contrary, they said they were pleased with the way it was.
This was part of the survey's conclusions.
The www.39.net and Southern Weekly interviewed 3,889 migrant workers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen from November 2007 to January this year. They published a white paper early this month on the physical and mental health of the migrant workers.
More than 80 percent of the respondents said their living conditions in cities were acceptable, and a majority of them accepted the quality of their life. More than 70 percent of the farmers-turned workers were happy, 22 percent anxious, and only 3 percent on "knife's-edge".
The white paper presented us with quite a rosy picture of the migrant workers, in striking contrast to other reports. A report on migrant workers by the Research Office of the State Council, and a report on the living conditions of migrant workers in cities by the National Bureau of Statistics, gave an insight into the not-so-optimistic situation of these people around the country.
The white paper might have left urban white-collar workers with a sense of inferiority. More than half of netizens surfing the www.39.net claimed to have psychological problems.
Happiness, which has no physical attributes (even if some neuroscientists claim they can see it in the brain), is a feeling, not a thing. This may account for the fuzziness and disagreement that occurs when definitions are made.
Deciding to become happier entails making a choice about which perspective you take and acknowledging that the choice is in your hands.
According to the white paper, the farmers-turned workers, if not all, were happy with their life in cities.
Were they?
As Harvard University psychologist Daniel Gilbert points out in his best-seller Stumbling on Happiness, "all claims of happiness are claims from someone's point of view".
In this sense, we have no reason to doubt the migrant workers' claims of being content. But the white paper with a generalized conclusion and irresponsible suggestions is misleading. It said that the general habit of having a regular physical check-up did not pertain to 83 percent of the migrant workers.
The picture of the farmers-turned workers' being content with their status and life in the cities also seems hard to believe.
So many changes have taken place among this group of people. For Li Tao, who set up a non-governmental organization in Beijing three years ago to help the farmers-turned workers, these changes are amazing.
In 1996 he opened a free training program for migrant workers who could not read and write. Now he is teaching young farmers-turned workers New Concept English.
A large group of rural laborers are now dreaming different dreams in the cities.
The farmers-turned workers above the age of 40 were well-prepared psychologically before they headed for the cities. They were prepared to put up with any difficulties because they had suffered hardships in their hometowns. The second generation of migrant workers, however, do not take hardship as part of their life. They change jobs all the time. They left their rural hometowns to ride the growth wave of the boomtowns in East and South China.
Hometowns are the final destination for the first generation of migrant workers when they think they have raised enough money.
The second generation wants to stay in the cities for good. But they are confused as to which city they should move to. The country's residence registration system has kept them outside most of the social security umbrella. Pension funds, managed by local authorities, and which cannot be transferred, have covered none of the farmers-turned workers.
When the country opened itself to the outside world, our cities' doors were also opened to rural folk. We have so many names for them such as migrant workers, farmers-turned workers, and floating people. Whatever their names, one thing they have in common: the road ahead is not so clear for them.
They find it difficult to be a real part of the cities where they reside. Also, they have no say in the affairs of these cities.
"They have placed their time, energy, skills and fate at the disposal of their urban folks. These individuals, are viewed by their urban counterparts merely as laborers, their rights and interests have practically been ignored," Li said.
In addition to hard work, migrant workers are regularly stigmatized by city dwellers who blame them for everything from crowded buses to street crimes.
The white paper of the www.39.net and Southern Weekly has made a hasty generalization of migrant workers. It has painted an inaccurate picture of them and this could send the wrong message to the decision-makers.
The number of migrant workers -120 million - is steadily rising, prompting the country's legislature and government to consider improving their welfare conditions, healthcare and education rights. They had three representatives at this year's National People's Congress that concluded last Tuesday. The new labor law that took effect on January 1 this year is supposed to give better protection for employees, especially the farmers-turned workers.
While white-collar urban people suffer frequent bouts of self-reproach, most of the farmers-turned workers, according to the white paper, are said to be pleased with their life in the cities.
If money does not buy happiness, what does? Grandma was right when she told you to value health and friends, not money. Or as some psychologists put it, when basic needs are met differences in wellbeing are less frequently due to income and more to factors such as social relationships and enjoyment at work. Other researchers add fulfillment, a sense that life has a meaning.
If migrant workers are still working hard to meet their basic needs, then how come most of them are happy with life? It is a question not answered by www.39.net and Southern Weekly.
(China Daily 03/24/2008 page4)
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Olympic Woes!!!
I read this article from Diversity.com today. This is most likely one of many stories that will be published before 08.08.08 (the start of the olympics). I am wondering how many corporate sponsors will bail out before the olympics as a protest to China's human rights violations. I am also curious about the corporate sponsors who don't bail out. I thought everyone might like this article.
Tom
www.diversityinc.com
Spielberg Quit; Should Olympic Sponsors Follow?
By Yoji Cole. Date Posted: April 03, 2008
Corporations sponsoring the Beijing Olympic Games could suffer guilt by association as critics and protesters voice their concerns over China's involvement in the Darfur region of Sudan and its controversial rule over Tibet.
Protesters disrupted a Chinese official's address during the Olympic torch-lighting ceremonies in Greece, and more protests are planned in cities along the route as the torch travels around the globe. Protesters, however, are not yet targeting the companies or the athletes involved with the Olympic Games. Instead, they want them to use their status and influence to call attention to and show support for ending the genocide in Darfur and China's involvement in Tibet.
"Companies need to release a statement addressing the issue of Darfur and say 'As a major worldwide corporation, we feel we need to play a positive role in ending the genocide.' If they want to get positive media from the Olympic Games, they should take into account what the world is asking," says Brad Greiner, cofounder and director of athlete outreach for Team Darfur, a coalition of more than 250 Olympic and professional athletes from 45 different countries who support Darfur's refugees.
China's involvement in the Darfur conflict received increased media scrutiny following film director and producer Steven Spielberg's resignation in February from his position as artistic director of the games' opening ceremonies.
"I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual," Spielberg said in a statement. "At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur." Read DiversityInc's exclusive interview with a Darfur expert who helped Spielberg with his decision to resign.
In Darfur, nearly 400,000 people, mostly Black Africans, live in refugee camps after having been driven from their homes by Arab-African militias called Janjaweed, who are supported by the Sudanese government. China imports 7 percent of its oil from Sudan, and critics say China needs to pressure Sudan to stop the violence and bring stability to Dafur.
The "Free Tibet" movement seeks autonomy from China for the three traditional provinces of Tibet. Supporters of Tibet are asking that China honor the country's "autonomy where there is democracy, freedom and justice that could exist," says Giovanni Vassallo, president of San Francisco--based The Committee of 100 for Tibet.
"Companies should feel free to sponsor the Olympics but understand the risk," warns Vassallo. "At the same time, millions of people around the world will view the Olympics and the torch as it travels around the world as blood-stained."
Tibet's supporters plan protests in cities along the torch relay's route to keep their demand for an autonomous Tibet in the news. Vassallo said the torch will pass through San Francisco April 9 and he expects tens of thousands of protesters to march in the streets.
Torch relay sponsors include The Coca-Cola Co., No. 2 on The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Coca-Cola is also a worldwide sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee along with Johnson & Johnson, No. 8.
The U.S. Olympic Committee's domestic sponsors include AT&T, No. 22 on the Top 50, Bank of America, No. 3, and General Motors, No. 44.
A Coca-Cola representative said in March that the company is being watchful. "We're keeping an eye on the situation," Kerry Kerr told The New York Times. "We feel that using the torch relay to put political pressure on China is not appropriate." Coca-Cola met several times with protest groups, Kerr added, and is sharing the groups' concerns with the International Olympic Committee.
Vassallo suggests companies feature programs that will benefit Darfur's refugees or Tibet to show support for human rights.
"They should conduct awareness campaigns with their employees to tell them what to do to support [Darfur's refugees and Tibet]," says Vassallo. "If they want, they should pressure China to enter into discussions with the Dalai Lama who is recognized by Tibetans as their country's leader. And I think they should steer away from [partnerships with] companies owned and operated by the People's Liberation Army."
Tom
www.diversityinc.com
Spielberg Quit; Should Olympic Sponsors Follow?
By Yoji Cole. Date Posted: April 03, 2008
Corporations sponsoring the Beijing Olympic Games could suffer guilt by association as critics and protesters voice their concerns over China's involvement in the Darfur region of Sudan and its controversial rule over Tibet.
Protesters disrupted a Chinese official's address during the Olympic torch-lighting ceremonies in Greece, and more protests are planned in cities along the route as the torch travels around the globe. Protesters, however, are not yet targeting the companies or the athletes involved with the Olympic Games. Instead, they want them to use their status and influence to call attention to and show support for ending the genocide in Darfur and China's involvement in Tibet.
"Companies need to release a statement addressing the issue of Darfur and say 'As a major worldwide corporation, we feel we need to play a positive role in ending the genocide.' If they want to get positive media from the Olympic Games, they should take into account what the world is asking," says Brad Greiner, cofounder and director of athlete outreach for Team Darfur, a coalition of more than 250 Olympic and professional athletes from 45 different countries who support Darfur's refugees.
China's involvement in the Darfur conflict received increased media scrutiny following film director and producer Steven Spielberg's resignation in February from his position as artistic director of the games' opening ceremonies.
"I find that my conscience will not allow me to continue with business as usual," Spielberg said in a statement. "At this point, my time and energy must be spent not on Olympic ceremonies, but on doing all I can to help bring an end to the unspeakable crimes against humanity that continue to be committed in Darfur." Read DiversityInc's exclusive interview with a Darfur expert who helped Spielberg with his decision to resign.
In Darfur, nearly 400,000 people, mostly Black Africans, live in refugee camps after having been driven from their homes by Arab-African militias called Janjaweed, who are supported by the Sudanese government. China imports 7 percent of its oil from Sudan, and critics say China needs to pressure Sudan to stop the violence and bring stability to Dafur.
The "Free Tibet" movement seeks autonomy from China for the three traditional provinces of Tibet. Supporters of Tibet are asking that China honor the country's "autonomy where there is democracy, freedom and justice that could exist," says Giovanni Vassallo, president of San Francisco--based The Committee of 100 for Tibet.
"Companies should feel free to sponsor the Olympics but understand the risk," warns Vassallo. "At the same time, millions of people around the world will view the Olympics and the torch as it travels around the world as blood-stained."
Tibet's supporters plan protests in cities along the torch relay's route to keep their demand for an autonomous Tibet in the news. Vassallo said the torch will pass through San Francisco April 9 and he expects tens of thousands of protesters to march in the streets.
Torch relay sponsors include The Coca-Cola Co., No. 2 on The 2008 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Coca-Cola is also a worldwide sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee along with Johnson & Johnson, No. 8.
The U.S. Olympic Committee's domestic sponsors include AT&T, No. 22 on the Top 50, Bank of America, No. 3, and General Motors, No. 44.
A Coca-Cola representative said in March that the company is being watchful. "We're keeping an eye on the situation," Kerry Kerr told The New York Times. "We feel that using the torch relay to put political pressure on China is not appropriate." Coca-Cola met several times with protest groups, Kerr added, and is sharing the groups' concerns with the International Olympic Committee.
Vassallo suggests companies feature programs that will benefit Darfur's refugees or Tibet to show support for human rights.
"They should conduct awareness campaigns with their employees to tell them what to do to support [Darfur's refugees and Tibet]," says Vassallo. "If they want, they should pressure China to enter into discussions with the Dalai Lama who is recognized by Tibetans as their country's leader. And I think they should steer away from [partnerships with] companies owned and operated by the People's Liberation Army."
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Hopes and Prayers
During the interview with Alex Hu, Alex expressed his hopes and dreams in modern day China. Alex is a college student and looking toward the graduation. He indicated that it was most youth's goal to help their family, the society and the country. He stated that his parents were concerned about basic needs, whereas he is concerned about getting a meaning job that will ensure a good future for himself and make him financially comfortable. He believes that the future of China looks good. The article I located talked about 2 - 20 year olds who were caught racing. The article went on to discuss the rapid decline in the price of cars. This opened a market for youngsters who want to buy cars and "change their sluggish lives". The article also puts Chinese youth in the same boat as youth all over the world; they are racing and their parents are praying for their safety.
My conclusion about Alex and this article reveal that Chinese youth are no longer the secluded youths behind the "Great Wall". They are behaving just like the youth in Raleigh, NC, New York City, NY and London, England. They have wants and desires to be financially secure and live a good life. China and the West have almost completed the merger of western culture and Chinese culture within the ranks of its youths.
Tom
Drag racing in China; Sanlian and FHM
Posted by Jeremy Goldkorn, April 4, 2006 3:08 PM
Boy racers of Beijing
San Lian Life Week's April 3 issue features the cover line Drag racing youths. With the steadily-decreasing price of cars, speed-loving Chinese youngsters are taking to illegal drag racing with the same enthusiasm as their counterparts in other countries.
The 'boy racer' phenomenon has been a source of worry to parents and society all over the world since James Dean made drag racing famous in Rebel Without a Cause, and it's no different in Beijing.
The trend has become a subject of public discussion in Beijing since February 10 this year, when the police arrested two 20-year-old men for racing around the city's Second Ring Road at death-defying speeds - nearing 150kph, or fast enough to complete the circuit in under 13 minutes and place them in the Beijing racing pantheon with the legendary "Sir 13 of the Second Ring" (a title the Sanlian article conspicuously avoids). The article profiles one of the youths, and looks at the influence on China's high octane youth culture of Formula 1, which entered the country in 2004 when Shanghai opened an F1 racing track.
The April issue of FHM's Chinese edition gets in on the drag racing vocab trend, using the Chinese word for drag racing (飙 - biao1) in a coverline: You can drag race whatever you ride: Donkey, horse, camel: completely change your sluggish life.
Inside the magazine are adverts for automobile brands KIA and Buick, and a special section sponsored by Cadillac. The San Lian Life Week issue contains ads for Ford and Buick, as well as a co-branded ad for Nokia and BMW.
For more on drag racing in greater China, have a look at blogger Glutter's Hong Kong street racing section.
My conclusion about Alex and this article reveal that Chinese youth are no longer the secluded youths behind the "Great Wall". They are behaving just like the youth in Raleigh, NC, New York City, NY and London, England. They have wants and desires to be financially secure and live a good life. China and the West have almost completed the merger of western culture and Chinese culture within the ranks of its youths.
Tom
Drag racing in China; Sanlian and FHM
Posted by Jeremy Goldkorn, April 4, 2006 3:08 PM
Boy racers of Beijing
San Lian Life Week's April 3 issue features the cover line Drag racing youths. With the steadily-decreasing price of cars, speed-loving Chinese youngsters are taking to illegal drag racing with the same enthusiasm as their counterparts in other countries.
The 'boy racer' phenomenon has been a source of worry to parents and society all over the world since James Dean made drag racing famous in Rebel Without a Cause, and it's no different in Beijing.
The trend has become a subject of public discussion in Beijing since February 10 this year, when the police arrested two 20-year-old men for racing around the city's Second Ring Road at death-defying speeds - nearing 150kph, or fast enough to complete the circuit in under 13 minutes and place them in the Beijing racing pantheon with the legendary "Sir 13 of the Second Ring" (a title the Sanlian article conspicuously avoids). The article profiles one of the youths, and looks at the influence on China's high octane youth culture of Formula 1, which entered the country in 2004 when Shanghai opened an F1 racing track.
The April issue of FHM's Chinese edition gets in on the drag racing vocab trend, using the Chinese word for drag racing (飙 - biao1) in a coverline: You can drag race whatever you ride: Donkey, horse, camel: completely change your sluggish life.
Inside the magazine are adverts for automobile brands KIA and Buick, and a special section sponsored by Cadillac. The San Lian Life Week issue contains ads for Ford and Buick, as well as a co-branded ad for Nokia and BMW.
For more on drag racing in greater China, have a look at blogger Glutter's Hong Kong street racing section.
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