I was fortunate enough last month to share a remarkable Olympic experience with my Chinese colleagues and about 100,000 other Chinese. The Nationalism and the excitement over the Olympic Torch, which was supposed to go by our office building was an unprecedented event.
We waited and watched from 19 stories high, for over four hours for the Olympic Torch Relay to pass through. We saw police and military and tow trucks and buses and motorcycles trying to keep people off of the streets which formed a path for the Torch runner to go by. As you can see from the video, the path kept closing in. The Chinese people were so excited to see the torch and be as close as possible to view the torch that the planned path kept closing in and the security could not control the crowd.
After about four hours there was an announcement that the Torch runner would not go down our street because, the announcement in the media stated, "they ran out of time". Sending approx. 100,000 Chinese back to their homes or offices disappointed and frustrated.
After you review the video let us know your thoughts. Were the organizers telling us the truth that they really did not have time or were they worried about the safety of the runner on this route.
____________________________
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
ONE CHILD POLICY---CHINA EARTHQUAKE
I wrote yesterday on how many Chinese families have lost their ONLY child and are upset with this unfair system.
What happens now that these families have lost their only child? Can they have another child?
From my experience from living in China the past four years-----The people that have suffered the most are the peasants.
I have met many families that have two and three and four children. I did not understand how this was true. Before I came I thought one family one child was mandatory but soon found out that those with money can pay a penalty for having more than one child.
It is hard to agree with this policy as it is unfair BUT, China does have a huge growing population problem. How else can they quickly fix this problem? Educating the masses as to why having less children is better for their country takes decades or more to instill in the culture.
The two biggest reasons why the ONE child policy hurts Chinese peasants and the lower middle class is this: 1) these large demographics of Chinas population want to have more than one child or have as many boys as possible for help farming the land and animals to make money and survive. 2) their is little to no social security system with this demographic and the Chinese have a great system set up that has been working well for decades. The children go to work and send back money to the retired parents. As long as the parents are living, the children will take care of them even when they are sick and in the hospital. This also says a lot about the respect Chinese give to the elderly.
I recently had a personal experience of running into the one child policy when I enrolled my step daughter into a local Shenzhen government school and they made me and my fiancee sign a contract stating that we would NOT have another child or we do NOT have another child in our family. I was taken back by this contract as I told her I was an American and why do I have to sign this. She said, "because you are in China now". My past frustrations with living in this complex culture, have taught me to accept "what is" and move on. So I signed the contract and we finished the enrollment successfully with only a few other minor problems that were later fixed.
Westerners have a tough time understanding the complex policies and Chinese culture. However, until you fully experience and live in this culture can you understand why the Government has set up the One Child Policy rule. (remember there are many families that have more than one child--generally families that are in upper middle class and above)
Even if westerners do not understand the policy. We should respect these policies (whether unfair or not) for the good that they were intended to accomplish and know that they will change based on the needs of the country. And I see them rapidly changing. The Earthquake has brought this issue with the poor peasants and "one child" to the fore-front of the problems Beijing must solve in the near future. Will the Government allow these families of recent deceased children have more children? Without fines? We will find out very soon.
What happens now that these families have lost their only child? Can they have another child?
From my experience from living in China the past four years-----The people that have suffered the most are the peasants.
I have met many families that have two and three and four children. I did not understand how this was true. Before I came I thought one family one child was mandatory but soon found out that those with money can pay a penalty for having more than one child.
It is hard to agree with this policy as it is unfair BUT, China does have a huge growing population problem. How else can they quickly fix this problem? Educating the masses as to why having less children is better for their country takes decades or more to instill in the culture.
The two biggest reasons why the ONE child policy hurts Chinese peasants and the lower middle class is this: 1) these large demographics of Chinas population want to have more than one child or have as many boys as possible for help farming the land and animals to make money and survive. 2) their is little to no social security system with this demographic and the Chinese have a great system set up that has been working well for decades. The children go to work and send back money to the retired parents. As long as the parents are living, the children will take care of them even when they are sick and in the hospital. This also says a lot about the respect Chinese give to the elderly.
I recently had a personal experience of running into the one child policy when I enrolled my step daughter into a local Shenzhen government school and they made me and my fiancee sign a contract stating that we would NOT have another child or we do NOT have another child in our family. I was taken back by this contract as I told her I was an American and why do I have to sign this. She said, "because you are in China now". My past frustrations with living in this complex culture, have taught me to accept "what is" and move on. So I signed the contract and we finished the enrollment successfully with only a few other minor problems that were later fixed.
Westerners have a tough time understanding the complex policies and Chinese culture. However, until you fully experience and live in this culture can you understand why the Government has set up the One Child Policy rule. (remember there are many families that have more than one child--generally families that are in upper middle class and above)
Even if westerners do not understand the policy. We should respect these policies (whether unfair or not) for the good that they were intended to accomplish and know that they will change based on the needs of the country. And I see them rapidly changing. The Earthquake has brought this issue with the poor peasants and "one child" to the fore-front of the problems Beijing must solve in the near future. Will the Government allow these families of recent deceased children have more children? Without fines? We will find out very soon.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Crushed Classrooms
After the three days of morning was completed yesterday in most of China, with most entertainment venues closed and Newspapers reporting in Black and White and TV only reporting 24 hours a day on the earthquake and fund raising drives. Other problems hidden in the devastation are starting to raise to the top like boiling water in a coffee pot.
Parents seething over the earthquake-triggered collapse of school buildings that killed their children are starting to take action.
There have been reports of petitions floating around the devastated areas and people talking about lawsuits.
Senior officials in Beijing have been reported as saying they will take action against those that built the list of at least 175 schools that collapsed.
My take---I believe they will take action. However, the first and most important to the Government is taking care of the sick and injured and finding homes for all the reported "millions of homeless people". And secondly, continue to raise money and supplies and medical support to assist those masses of people in need.
As of today the hospitals and make shift tent hospitals are sending severely injured to our city in Shenzhen. And many cities around the country. 67 injured people landed last night in our city of Shenzhen-- reported by Shenzhen Daily.
In closing, while the media and those that have lost their ONLY child , (I have unconfirmed reports of some Sichuan local township government officials have also lost children in the tragedy) will continue to stir this pot until it is the main issue and a problem that Beijing will have to deal with immediately. Especially with the Olympics coming soon. There have been no reports yet on how many children have been killed.
Parents seething over the earthquake-triggered collapse of school buildings that killed their children are starting to take action.
There have been reports of petitions floating around the devastated areas and people talking about lawsuits.
Senior officials in Beijing have been reported as saying they will take action against those that built the list of at least 175 schools that collapsed.
My take---I believe they will take action. However, the first and most important to the Government is taking care of the sick and injured and finding homes for all the reported "millions of homeless people". And secondly, continue to raise money and supplies and medical support to assist those masses of people in need.
As of today the hospitals and make shift tent hospitals are sending severely injured to our city in Shenzhen. And many cities around the country. 67 injured people landed last night in our city of Shenzhen-- reported by Shenzhen Daily.
In closing, while the media and those that have lost their ONLY child , (I have unconfirmed reports of some Sichuan local township government officials have also lost children in the tragedy) will continue to stir this pot until it is the main issue and a problem that Beijing will have to deal with immediately. Especially with the Olympics coming soon. There have been no reports yet on how many children have been killed.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Earthquake in China - Survivor
China Earthquake Survivor-- a blessed baby
Today I was greatly touched by a picture showing a PLA soldier holding an infant and the powerful story behind it.
The surreal photo shows a young fully camouflaged military man carrying a 3 month old baby wrapped in pure white cloth along with a white hat to keep his head warm. The baby is sleeping in the soldiers arms as he is carrying the baby through the woods to safety---the baby not knowing the tragedy that has taken place in her Sichuan Province town of Dujiangyan.
The story says on May 13th, the second day of the quake, rescuers in Dujiangyan found a woman beneath the debris of a building. She was kneeling, her body bent, supported by her hands. She was dead. Then the rescue members found a baby under her. The baby was still alive!
Evidently, the dead mother was protecting the baby by using her own body. When rescuers unwrapped the blanket from around the 3-month-old baby, they read a test message on the phone screen. " My dear baby, if you live, you must remember that I love you."
Today I was greatly touched by a picture showing a PLA soldier holding an infant and the powerful story behind it.
The surreal photo shows a young fully camouflaged military man carrying a 3 month old baby wrapped in pure white cloth along with a white hat to keep his head warm. The baby is sleeping in the soldiers arms as he is carrying the baby through the woods to safety---the baby not knowing the tragedy that has taken place in her Sichuan Province town of Dujiangyan.
The story says on May 13th, the second day of the quake, rescuers in Dujiangyan found a woman beneath the debris of a building. She was kneeling, her body bent, supported by her hands. She was dead. Then the rescue members found a baby under her. The baby was still alive!
Evidently, the dead mother was protecting the baby by using her own body. When rescuers unwrapped the blanket from around the 3-month-old baby, they read a test message on the phone screen. " My dear baby, if you live, you must remember that I love you."
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Earthquake Affects Exports
NEWS-----The China earthquake started to directly effect my business----today as we were preparing a quote for an order for one of our US customers in Missouri, our factory called and informed us that the China Government has STOPPED, until future notice, all exports of raw materials and finished goods related to TARPS. And any materials like Tarps that can be used in their earthquake emergency relief efforts in Sichuan Province.
This decision could affect the US supply chain and prices will double or triple in the next few weeks. Especially if there are any emergencies in developed countries like the US.
We have heard there may be more industries soon that will be effected-- related to the Earthquake emergency relief efforts
Even though this will hurt our export business of tarps to the US we agree with Chinas decision as human safety and life is more important than making a dollar.
This decision could affect the US supply chain and prices will double or triple in the next few weeks. Especially if there are any emergencies in developed countries like the US.
We have heard there may be more industries soon that will be effected-- related to the Earthquake emergency relief efforts
Even though this will hurt our export business of tarps to the US we agree with Chinas decision as human safety and life is more important than making a dollar.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Mourning
I experienced a remarkable feeling today on how this culture is mourning the Earthquake victims.
Starting at 2:28 today all of China stopped.
It was an eerie halt of the masses of people, traffic jams and industry. Air horns and sirens and automobile horns blasted for three minutes. I was on the 19th story of my skyscraper office looking down at the masses of people that stood outside and payed their respect. The madness of everyday traffic stopped and at that moment blared their horns for three minutes while the horns echoed, bouncing off of the large skyscrapers like an echo bouncing through a valley in the farmlands of the Midwest. As the horns screamed I viewed the faces of my Chinese friends, our neighbors and their friends. I could see the deep thoughts and prayers they were sending to the victims and workers in the devastated areas of their Sichuan Province. It was a sobering moment for myself as well. I didn't think I would be touched by this planned moment of mourning but, in that very moment at 2:28 I felt connected to all of China and the Nationalism and the hurt that the victims were going through. What a powerful experience to be with people of a different culture and feel what they were feeling.
Also heard and read in local papers---the Government has called THREE DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING and for a halt to all entertainment for three days. Including sports, Theme parks, Karaoke Bars, all TV programming--except for stories (good and bad) being aired on all the China TV channels. What I see when I turn on the TV is blank screens and live video of Fundraising and positive stories of finding survivors. What a great idea to give their people time to reflect and mourn. (Why didn't the US do this while we were mourning during our tragedies? Were we too busy to mourn?
It is also reported that over 130,000 military and police are helping find buried people and helping aid the injured and another 70,000 civilian workers. I was very disappointed that the China Government has not invited American Emergency workers (only the US relief supplies) but instead invited four other countries(Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and S. Korea). I am sure it is a political issue and they don't want to "give face" to the US. As the US has not tried to "give face" to the Chinese (make them look good).
Nearly 7,000 schools have been destroyed (some of the buildings as new as two years) and the Government is going after these construction companies and corrupted officials. Shenzhen Daily even reported three emergency managers being "sacked" because of mishandling relief efforts during the days after the earthquake happened.
Newspapers in China reported today that up to 10 billion Yuan have been raised from Chinese people and support from other countries. The city I live in has raised over 120 million Yuan. This shows the power of Nationalism and the power of the Chinese economy. People have money and want to give their support.
Companies and individuals alike are quickly joining adoption programs and adopting children that have lost parents. They are supporting them through school scholarships and actually bringing them to our city in Shenzhen to take care of them.
This has been both an amazing and a sad experience. I get to see how other cultures react in times of crises. The Chinese seem organized, willing to give and they care about their people. They have come together stronger than what I expected which is wonderful to see.
Starting at 2:28 today all of China stopped.
It was an eerie halt of the masses of people, traffic jams and industry. Air horns and sirens and automobile horns blasted for three minutes. I was on the 19th story of my skyscraper office looking down at the masses of people that stood outside and payed their respect. The madness of everyday traffic stopped and at that moment blared their horns for three minutes while the horns echoed, bouncing off of the large skyscrapers like an echo bouncing through a valley in the farmlands of the Midwest. As the horns screamed I viewed the faces of my Chinese friends, our neighbors and their friends. I could see the deep thoughts and prayers they were sending to the victims and workers in the devastated areas of their Sichuan Province. It was a sobering moment for myself as well. I didn't think I would be touched by this planned moment of mourning but, in that very moment at 2:28 I felt connected to all of China and the Nationalism and the hurt that the victims were going through. What a powerful experience to be with people of a different culture and feel what they were feeling.
Also heard and read in local papers---the Government has called THREE DAYS OF NATIONAL MOURNING and for a halt to all entertainment for three days. Including sports, Theme parks, Karaoke Bars, all TV programming--except for stories (good and bad) being aired on all the China TV channels. What I see when I turn on the TV is blank screens and live video of Fundraising and positive stories of finding survivors. What a great idea to give their people time to reflect and mourn. (Why didn't the US do this while we were mourning during our tragedies? Were we too busy to mourn?
It is also reported that over 130,000 military and police are helping find buried people and helping aid the injured and another 70,000 civilian workers. I was very disappointed that the China Government has not invited American Emergency workers (only the US relief supplies) but instead invited four other countries(Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and S. Korea). I am sure it is a political issue and they don't want to "give face" to the US. As the US has not tried to "give face" to the Chinese (make them look good).
Nearly 7,000 schools have been destroyed (some of the buildings as new as two years) and the Government is going after these construction companies and corrupted officials. Shenzhen Daily even reported three emergency managers being "sacked" because of mishandling relief efforts during the days after the earthquake happened.
Newspapers in China reported today that up to 10 billion Yuan have been raised from Chinese people and support from other countries. The city I live in has raised over 120 million Yuan. This shows the power of Nationalism and the power of the Chinese economy. People have money and want to give their support.
Companies and individuals alike are quickly joining adoption programs and adopting children that have lost parents. They are supporting them through school scholarships and actually bringing them to our city in Shenzhen to take care of them.
This has been both an amazing and a sad experience. I get to see how other cultures react in times of crises. The Chinese seem organized, willing to give and they care about their people. They have come together stronger than what I expected which is wonderful to see.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Gary reports on the China earthquake:
First---we are very lucky that the earthquake did not happen in our large city of 10 million people. Our 33 story buildings are not built for large catastrophes like a large earthquake and with the many 100s of skyscrapers in our city, we all have agreed this would be even more devastating.
My two partners who are from Sichuan (see the latest map on our blog for the relation to their cities and the epicenter) said today that they have had several phone calls from their friends but several they cannot connect with because the phones are down. They both have heard from their families but they all have several friends that are missing or have not been heard from. Within the past two days we have had several phone calls to our office from their friends and family that are in one of the hardest hit areas ( Wen Chuan city) they have talked about how bad the destruction is and how much help they need to quickly get more food and water and medical help there. And they continue to keep looking for survivors.
This is why we are so emotionally connected and have set up fundraising efforts with people in our city---people that we are connected to personally, like friends and family.
Two days ago the reports from the ground were that 20,000 people were dead and now today they have raised the estimates up to 50K because of so many people trapped or buried that the military and volunteers cannot get to.
There are many small towns in the area (about 60 cities) within 50km to 200km of the epicenter-- to gather all the information of people buried and dead is tough to manage the correct information. For example, there were 12 Americans out of contact or missing and today they were found. Also, the worst hit cities have 80% of the buildings destroyed. It looks like several Midwestern tornado ripped through the towns.
There has been a report of a group of Americans living in the area that have volunteered to help the victims. One was a doctor and he had given the media only his Chinese name. This tells me he has been in China for some time and knows the area well. Maybe he was in the area observing the Giant Pandas.
The most shocking thing to me is the graphic photos in the local newspapers. One photo shows the school kids that were crushed while taking an afternoon nap at school. There are many more schools that have fallen and volunteers and Military are trying diligently to get to the buried kids.
I can now understand why so many Chinese Nationals and westerners are coming together and donating time and money to the victims.
More tomorrow.
My two partners who are from Sichuan (see the latest map on our blog for the relation to their cities and the epicenter) said today that they have had several phone calls from their friends but several they cannot connect with because the phones are down. They both have heard from their families but they all have several friends that are missing or have not been heard from. Within the past two days we have had several phone calls to our office from their friends and family that are in one of the hardest hit areas ( Wen Chuan city) they have talked about how bad the destruction is and how much help they need to quickly get more food and water and medical help there. And they continue to keep looking for survivors.
This is why we are so emotionally connected and have set up fundraising efforts with people in our city---people that we are connected to personally, like friends and family.
Two days ago the reports from the ground were that 20,000 people were dead and now today they have raised the estimates up to 50K because of so many people trapped or buried that the military and volunteers cannot get to.
There are many small towns in the area (about 60 cities) within 50km to 200km of the epicenter-- to gather all the information of people buried and dead is tough to manage the correct information. For example, there were 12 Americans out of contact or missing and today they were found. Also, the worst hit cities have 80% of the buildings destroyed. It looks like several Midwestern tornado ripped through the towns.
There has been a report of a group of Americans living in the area that have volunteered to help the victims. One was a doctor and he had given the media only his Chinese name. This tells me he has been in China for some time and knows the area well. Maybe he was in the area observing the Giant Pandas.
The most shocking thing to me is the graphic photos in the local newspapers. One photo shows the school kids that were crushed while taking an afternoon nap at school. There are many more schools that have fallen and volunteers and Military are trying diligently to get to the buried kids.
I can now understand why so many Chinese Nationals and westerners are coming together and donating time and money to the victims.
More tomorrow.
Red Cross China and Earthquake Relief
Here is a map showing where my partners grew up and where their families are currently living.
You can see how I am effected by the earthquake 1,000 miles away from where I live.
My office has been raising money the last two days for the earthquake victims and then we will give the donation to the China Red Cross Division.
I will tell you tonight how much we have raised. It is amazing how many people here are giving money (and the amount of money) to the victims.
Hong Kong alone is giving 45 million USD to earthquake victims.
My step-daughter's school is also raising money today to give to the Red Cross.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Gasoline, Gas, Oil, Fuel, Cars: a quick email from Gary
Mike,
This all is taken from Shenzhen Daily on Tuesday May 13, 2008.
Vehicle sales in China rose 14% in April , the slowest pace in almost two years as a combination of inflationand a slumping stock market curbed demand for passenger cars.
Sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles rose to 922,600 in April, reported by the China Assoc. of Automobiles Manufacturers. The growth rate was 21% the first three months.
At least 3/5ths of domestic stock market investors used their profits to buy new cars, the automakers group said. last year.
Vehicle production rose 20% to 981,300 units last month . In the first Four months, production rose 16% to 3.5 million vehicles while sales increased 19% to 3.5 million vehicles. (does this make sense?) I typed exactly how it read in the Shenzhen Daily.
more later.
gk
Gas Prices
There's a great deal of online discussion involving gas prices and oil companies' profits. China is often figured into the equation of elevated gas prices, and I've asked my co-author, Gary Kellmann, to investigate how locals are using gas, the growth of auto ownership, and how much the Chinese pay for gas.
Earthquake in China
Hello,
Thanks to all of you who were thinking of me while I am in China.
The Earthquake epicenter was approximately 1000 miles away from where I live. My friends and family are thankful that it did not happen in our large city of 10 million people. With everyone living in skyscrapers it would be devastating.
The earthquake took place outside of Chengdu, China a city of over 11 million people. I have several colleagues and friends from Sichuan province and cities close to the epicenter. We were even more fortunate as I was invited to travel with one of these friends to this province last weekend and come back on this Monday (the day of the earthquake) Because I was to travel by car for 10 hours and didn't feel like going we escaped from any harm again.
The earthquake was felt in Shanghai and Beijing and Vietnam and some say here in Shenzhen. I did not feel it as I was traveling to factories or in factories with big machinery that shake the buildings and could not distinguish between the earthquake and a big machine stamping out metal parts.
I will update you more on the earthquake and other stories from China soon.
On a more positive note. I was invited to my step daughters school last week by her teachers. What a wonderful experience. I took some video from her Chinese grade school. It shows how Chinese students learn and interact with their Teacher.
________________________---
Thanks to all of you who were thinking of me while I am in China.
The Earthquake epicenter was approximately 1000 miles away from where I live. My friends and family are thankful that it did not happen in our large city of 10 million people. With everyone living in skyscrapers it would be devastating.
The earthquake took place outside of Chengdu, China a city of over 11 million people. I have several colleagues and friends from Sichuan province and cities close to the epicenter. We were even more fortunate as I was invited to travel with one of these friends to this province last weekend and come back on this Monday (the day of the earthquake) Because I was to travel by car for 10 hours and didn't feel like going we escaped from any harm again.
The earthquake was felt in Shanghai and Beijing and Vietnam and some say here in Shenzhen. I did not feel it as I was traveling to factories or in factories with big machinery that shake the buildings and could not distinguish between the earthquake and a big machine stamping out metal parts.
I will update you more on the earthquake and other stories from China soon.
On a more positive note. I was invited to my step daughters school last week by her teachers. What a wonderful experience. I took some video from her Chinese grade school. It shows how Chinese students learn and interact with their Teacher.
________________________---
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
China and Tibet - Lessons
Today I had some important history lessons from my Chinese Mentor regarding China and Tibet. After listening to the THREE PART raw video series of his important fact filled conversations you might change your thinking on the westerners perception of how China has treated Tibet.
After my long three hours of history lessons from Mr. Johnson (my Chinese Mentor) I have a different perspective on the history of Tibet, China and Buddhism. Which is refreshing as we only get filtered information on what the western media wants us to hear.
Take a look and hope you learn something too.
_________________________-
PART ONE ON CHINA AND TIBET
PART TWO ON CHINA AND TIBET
PART THREE ON CHINA AND TIBET
After my long three hours of history lessons from Mr. Johnson (my Chinese Mentor) I have a different perspective on the history of Tibet, China and Buddhism. Which is refreshing as we only get filtered information on what the western media wants us to hear.
Take a look and hope you learn something too.
_________________________-
PART ONE ON CHINA AND TIBET
PART TWO ON CHINA AND TIBET
PART THREE ON CHINA AND TIBET
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