Monday, June 16, 2008

Floods in China

Local media reports called the gale forced rains and winds on Friday "the worst in 100 years in our city of Shenzhen."

I have never experienced this type of non-stop rain for hours. Usually the mid-western thunderstorms will last for up to an hour. And it is convenient to stay out of the rain as we all have cars to hide in.

Our candy-purple electric motor scooter was not working because Kendy used it early that morning. Water soaked the battery, disabling the scooter until drier days.

I was outside for 10 minutes trying to find a taxi, with my oversized golf umbrella and gale forced winds and rain blowing sideways. The wind collapsed my umbrella.

I found a taxi but it was no use as my clothes and shoes were soaked, along with my back pack with my computer inside. I had to keep going as I had a meeting in our office 30 minutes away and decided to dry off when I got to work.

That night my friend tried to take me home in his car. We were not prepared for what was to come. All three roads leading to my home were lakes, at least two feet deep, and the bridges had large holes which many drivers did not dare to cross. When the waves hit our car it would lift it up and spin us sideways. Luckily we didn't float to long--- as the water would retreat low enough to allow our car to touch the pavement. I jumped out of the car and decided to try walking home through the lakes and across the unstable bridge with large horizontal holes where you could see the road below.

After an hour of walking I made it home, drenched, smelly from the dirty water, and ready for a shower. But I had made it to home sweet home with another experience in China that I probably would not have in the US.

See my 25 second video on you tube:
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Xinhua News Service --the main news agency for China reported this bad news during the weekend which I am not happy to think about more rain drenched clothing and walking home. I am sure this will also effect consumer goods being manufactured and shipped around the world as the big trucks were delayed when the roads were turned into lakes. If the drivers attempted to cross their car was disabled after water got in the engine or the electrical system got wet.

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Heavy rains were forecast for most parts of already-drenched southern China over the next 10 days, and some areas could experience torrential rains, strong gales and thunderstorms, the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said on Sunday.

Floods had forced more than 1.27 million people to evacuate, with 55 dead and seven missing in nine provinces as of 9 p.m. Saturday.Vegetable prices soared amid tight supplies in some flooded regions. In the worst-hit Guangdong Province, vegetable prices jumped 30 percent to 70 percent on Saturday alone in the cities of Guangzhou, Shantou, Chaozhou and Shaoguan.


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Friday, June 13, 2008

It Ain't Easy Being Green

I personally felt the effect of the No Plastic Bags in China rule this last weekend while shopping at the local Walmart. When the checkout lady did not load my groceries into plastic bags I didn't know what to do. How I was going to take all these goods home?

I was getting upset thinking about what to do and the cashier asked me if I wanted to buy a reusable "green" cloth bag to carry my groceries. I remember to carry my reusable cloth bag with me wherever I go shopping.

I did NOT think this rule would be enforced or followed by the Chinese store owners but many stores like Walmart, CarreFour and many smaller Chinese shops are complying. When I have forgotten to bring a bag I had to pay money to buy the bag.

What a great step for China to lead in the green movement.

What about the World Leader ---USA? Shouldn't we lead by example and do something extraordinary towards the Green Movement?

Monday, June 9, 2008

China Oil Subsidies: Are they affecting our prices?

Lately, I've found myself surfing the web for articles on China gas prices. I wondered, "What do they pay at the pump? Are they squeezed, too?"

One article, from the L.A. Times, suggests China's oil subsidies, which keep prices around $2.69 a gallon (jeez, remember when gas was THAT cheap?) might end after the Olympics are over. China doesn't want to rile up the population with higher gas prices, especially after the recent earthquake disaster:

"Before the Olympics, stability is paramount," said He Jun, an oil analyst at Beijing Anbound Consulting Co. He added that last month's earthquake in Sichuan province drove that point home for Chinese leaders and noted that large supplies of fuel are being diverted for reconstruction work in that area.

Other countries that subsidize fuel costs have boosted prices recently, in some cases stirring unrest. Protests flared late last week in India, where the government upped prices by about 10%, and there were calls for mass rallies in Malaysia after gasoline prices jumped 41% overnight.


Barrel prices are expected to hit $200 by next year, and with China's increasing energy consumption, I wonder if I'll be paying $5.00 + at the pump.

I've been pricing scooters recently, and I'll likely purchase one this month. I won't commute daily on it, but I'll try to intersperse my regular driving with it, and the 90 mpg I get on the scooter will balance out the 26 mpg my car returns.

Friday, June 6, 2008

Obama and China

OBAMA on FRONT cover of Chinese Newspapers

Yesterday as I looked at my colleagues' Chinese written newspapers. I said "looked" not "read" as it is all in Chinese and I am still learning the language, not memorizing how to read the thousands of characters. I was amazed to see Obama's large photo on the front page of most of the papers. The second and third pages of the papers analyzed McCain vs. Obama, according to my friends who translated the sections for me.

I was amazed by the details that they provided the reader for both of the candidates. It appears the papers are biased towards Obama as they see McCain just as another Republican that will follow Bush and promote war.

In the next month I will survey the Chinese; I'll ask who they would like to see as president, Obama or McCain. I will give them time to read more about the candidates, so this should take another week before I conduct another poll.

I believe the poll will be 90% to 99% Chinese people in favor of Obama as they see him as a better leader. His youth appeals to the Chinese as well. These are words I am hearing from people interested in the U.S. presidential race.

Sunday, June 1, 2008

The China Vote: Going to the Dogs

China Votes: Obama or Clinton PART THREE:



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The China Vote: Part 2

China Votes: Obama or Clinton Part TWO:



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The China Vote: Obama or Clinton?

Results of China ( Obama or Clinton) Poll:

80 Chinese polled---

40 people polled--Ages 20 to 35 male and female, working class, from most rural areas of mainland China, some higher education ---40 % picked Clinton as the nominee. 40% didn't know and didn't care. 20% Obama.

20 people polled--Ages 20 to 35 male and female, educated, well read and middle class and higher, owns companies or in upper management, 80% picked Obama. 10% didn't know and didn't care and 10% for Clinton.

10 people polled-- Ages 35 to 55 male and female, working class,

60% not sure and 30% Clinton and 10% Obama.

10 people polled----Ages 35 to 55 male and female, educated, well read, owns companies or in upper management with their employer. 80% not sure because they say it is hard to get unbiased information from the Chinese TV and other media sources. 10% for Obama 10% for Clinton.

In summary, most Chinese think either nominee will show a "good face" to America! It is amazing when you compare these results to the demographics of the person who votes for Obama and the voter picking Clinton.


The information below is taken from the National Journal.com on February 6, 2008, which is an example of how key demographics were split in the Super Tuesday primaries, notice education, age and income compared to the Chinese poll:

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By Ronald Brownstein, NationalJournal.com
© National Journal Group Inc.
Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2008

"...in nearly two-thirds of the states, voters who said their primary concern was the economy preferred Clinton over Obama...voters who cited Iraq as their top concern picked Obama over Clinton."



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