Comments on: China Rises — Let’s Get Going!! http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:25:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lee Smith http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-868 Lee Smith Sun, 14 Jan 2007 23:18:38 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-868 Monday, January 8, 2007 China Rises I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the information presented in the video. Of course my favorite chapter was the discussion on food and agriculture (surprise, surprise) in Chinas growing economy. Chinas consumption of arable land and the rate at which it is being paved over sends chill down my spine. How could a country with so many starving people neglect such a resource? Easy, MONEY……. The video has it everywhere, the glamour’s lights of a shanghai night, zealous consumption of land, food, labor and natural resources for the soul purpose of becoming rich. Throughout the documentary hints of rebellion and uprising are common. There are many examples of how the government has oppressed the people and what negative influences it has had on the lives of not just individuals but families and entire communities. However, if what this documentary is saying is true, the balance of that power seems to be shifting slowly back toward the people. As artists and musicians are allowed to express themselves more openly, messages to the public can bring anger and uprising. In my opinion China is spending to much time focusing its energies outward on global superiority and not inward on its peoples well being. This may just be the beginning though. Do not get me wrong, I see Chinas growth as a positive thing for both the world’s economy and China. The opportunity and increasingly better life style available to an urban Chinese citizen proves progress is being made, though the conditions in there outlying provinces are nowhere near the level I believe necessary to be considered a developed nation. As negative as I was in the above paragraphs on land consumption, I also see it as an opportunity for myself. If China continues to neglect its natural resources, like the leather factory river and the sand dunes which once used to be fields of green, nations such as the US can profit by either supplementing these resources or consulting on there rejuvenation. Simply based upon the information given in the video, I have a very pessimistic view of Chinas ability to sustain there growth under current conditions. What if the 2008 Olympics turn into a peasant revolt, unlikely as that is, how then will China be perceived by the world? How would it handle the situation if it did happen? Would countries such as France and UK approve of there tactics? Monday, January 8, 2007
China Rises

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the information presented in the video. Of course my favorite chapter was the discussion on food and agriculture (surprise, surprise) in Chinas growing economy. Chinas consumption of arable land and the rate at which it is being paved over sends chill down my spine. How could a country with so many starving people neglect such a resource? Easy, MONEY……. The video has it everywhere, the glamour’s lights of a shanghai night, zealous consumption of land, food, labor and natural resources for the soul purpose of becoming rich.

Throughout the documentary hints of rebellion and uprising are common. There are many examples of how the government has oppressed the people and what negative influences it has had on the lives of not just individuals but families and entire communities. However, if what this documentary is saying is true, the balance of that power seems to be shifting slowly back toward the people. As artists and musicians are allowed to express themselves more openly, messages to the public can bring anger and uprising. In my opinion China is spending to much time focusing its energies outward on global superiority and not inward on its peoples well being. This may just be the beginning though.

Do not get me wrong, I see Chinas growth as a positive thing for both the world’s economy and China. The opportunity and increasingly better life style available to an urban Chinese citizen proves progress is being made, though the conditions in there outlying provinces are nowhere near the level I believe necessary to be considered a developed nation. As negative as I was in the above paragraphs on land consumption, I also see it as an opportunity for myself. If China continues to neglect its natural resources, like the leather factory river and the sand dunes which once used to be fields of green, nations such as the US can profit by either supplementing these resources or consulting on there rejuvenation.

Simply based upon the information given in the video, I have a very pessimistic view of Chinas ability to sustain there growth under current conditions. What if the 2008 Olympics turn into a peasant revolt, unlikely as that is, how then will China be perceived by the world? How would it handle the situation if it did happen? Would countries such as France and UK approve of there tactics?

]]> By: Jared Samarin http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-831 Jared Samarin Wed, 10 Jan 2007 07:34:56 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-831 5. I think that we all can agree that the sweatshop is not the type of working environment that any of us want to participate in, and it certainly tugs at the heartstrings to realize that so many the world over are working in such conditions. However, the one good thing that the sweatshop provides is gainful employment, even if the gain is only fractions of a dollar per day. Even before watching China Rises Pietra Rivoli’s Travels of a T-Shirt… had started me analyzing the debate of working conditions between the wealthy consumers of goods and their poorer counterparts who make the goods. The reality that I noticed both from the movie and my reading is that no matter how deplorable the conditions are, it beats starvation, this is the mind set of many of the employees. Unfortunately, the gruesome facts in China are that better than 70% of the population lives below the poverty line and many, including the woman who walked along side her mule for 4 hours per day collecting water from the only fresh water source so that all in her village could drink, the American definition of poor simply doesn’t describe their situation. What is actually more deplorable to me than the conditions of the workplace is the lack of property rights that the employees have. It is certainly terrible that they are paid a low wage for doing a very dangerous and unhealthful job, but what adds insult to injury is the realization that even after a person scrimps and saves and buys a home, or leases a small amount of land, or is fortunate enough to inherit a home or land, it can be unjustly taken for a minute fraction of its worth, so that something more important to the state can be built in its place. This reality runs rampant in the growing coastal regions of China, and it is unfortunately a fact that will hinder the overall growth and expansion of the country. Many leading researchers and economists have noted that the most important factor to economic development through capitalism is property rights (of all kinds). And, as much as China’s industrial rise is closely related to ours in the early decades of the last century the one overwhelming difference is that much of what the workers purchase as a reward for their labor isn’t truly theirs. As a final thought I believe that simply not purchasing goods on the grounds that the labor used is not receiving proper compensation or treatment does not really help the conditions of the employee if anything it hurts those lowest on the ladder and sends them back to the farms that they don’t own (not to say that they couldn’t still make a decent living, its just pretty hard). Historically in the industrialization process those who go to work in the factories find the work preferable to the work on the farm. An interviewee in Rivoli’s book who worked in China put it quite nicely, stating that at least she has shade and a chair and that’s more than she had on the farm. 5. I think that we all can agree that the sweatshop is not the type of working environment that any of us want to participate in, and it certainly tugs at the heartstrings to realize that so many the world over are working in such conditions. However, the one good thing that the sweatshop provides is gainful employment, even if the gain is only fractions of a dollar per day. Even before watching China Rises Pietra Rivoli’s Travels of a T-Shirt… had started me analyzing the debate of working conditions between the wealthy consumers of goods and their poorer counterparts who make the goods. The reality that I noticed both from the movie and my reading is that no matter how deplorable the conditions are, it beats starvation, this is the mind set of many of the employees. Unfortunately, the gruesome facts in China are that better than 70% of the population lives below the poverty line and many, including the woman who walked along side her mule for 4 hours per day collecting water from the only fresh water source so that all in her village could drink, the American definition of poor simply doesn’t describe their situation.
What is actually more deplorable to me than the conditions of the workplace is the lack of property rights that the employees have. It is certainly terrible that they are paid a low wage for doing a very dangerous and unhealthful job, but what adds insult to injury is the realization that even after a person scrimps and saves and buys a home, or leases a small amount of land, or is fortunate enough to inherit a home or land, it can be unjustly taken for a minute fraction of its worth, so that something more important to the state can be built in its place. This reality runs rampant in the growing coastal regions of China, and it is unfortunately a fact that will hinder the overall growth and expansion of the country.
Many leading researchers and economists have noted that the most important factor to economic development through capitalism is property rights (of all kinds). And, as much as China’s industrial rise is closely related to ours in the early decades of the last century the one overwhelming difference is that much of what the workers purchase as a reward for their labor isn’t truly theirs.
As a final thought I believe that simply not purchasing goods on the grounds that the labor used is not receiving proper compensation or treatment does not really help the conditions of the employee if anything it hurts those lowest on the ladder and sends them back to the farms that they don’t own (not to say that they couldn’t still make a decent living, its just pretty hard). Historically in the industrialization process those who go to work in the factories find the work preferable to the work on the farm. An interviewee in Rivoli’s book who worked in China put it quite nicely, stating that at least she has shade and a chair and that’s more than she had on the farm.

]]> By: James Towers http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-814 James Towers Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:13:24 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-814 The most interesting part of the movies by far was the section on the electoral process in China. I had always assumed that the Communist Chinese State allowed its citizens no voting rights. However, their system of restricted Democracy provides a good avenue for social growth in China. From the videos, it appeared that, after seeing what happened to Russia, the Chinese government is extremely wary of a sudden glasnost-like movement in China. To mitigate the chances of this happening, the government has, according to Dr. Morris, allowed more prevalent freedom of speech along with the right to vote in local elections. Their attempts at openness first evoke the imagery of a bather slowly getting into a pool. As he acclimates to the water, he moves deeper. If this were the case, it would seem that China is moving in the right direction. On the other hand, these small liberties that China has allowed its citizens might be more of an exercise than any real change. By giving the people what amounts to near worthless local elections, is the Chinese government really just giving the people a false sense of social and political responsibility? Once elected, how much effect can these local magistrates have if they have an infallible mega-government to report to? As an aside, I thought it was funny to hear how the Chinese view American Democracy as inferior to the Chinese Democracy. There definitely seem to be many positives in the Chinese form (eg- a populace that truly cares about what they are voting for and a high voter turnout), but Democracy limited even a little is still not Democracy. It will be interesting to see if once the Communist establishes more prosperity in China, if they begin to concede more civil liberties to their citizens. The most interesting part of the movies by far was the section on the electoral process in China. I had always assumed that the Communist Chinese State allowed its citizens no voting rights. However, their system of restricted Democracy provides a good avenue for social growth in China.

From the videos, it appeared that, after seeing what happened to Russia, the Chinese government is extremely wary of a sudden glasnost-like movement in China. To mitigate the chances of this happening, the government has, according to Dr. Morris, allowed more prevalent freedom of speech along with the right to vote in local elections. Their attempts at openness first evoke the imagery of a bather slowly getting into a pool. As he acclimates to the water, he moves deeper. If this were the case, it would seem that China is moving in the right direction.

On the other hand, these small liberties that China has allowed its citizens might be more of an exercise than any real change. By giving the people what amounts to near worthless local elections, is the Chinese government really just giving the people a false sense of social and political responsibility? Once elected, how much effect can these local magistrates have if they have an infallible mega-government to report to?

As an aside, I thought it was funny to hear how the Chinese view American Democracy as inferior to the Chinese Democracy. There definitely seem to be many positives in the Chinese form (eg- a populace that truly cares about what they are voting for and a high voter turnout), but Democracy limited even a little is still not Democracy. It will be interesting to see if once the Communist establishes more prosperity in China, if they begin to concede more civil liberties to their citizens.

]]> By: Katie Hofman http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-785 Katie Hofman Sat, 16 Dec 2006 00:45:03 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-785 #1 Repression has many different forms: economic, ideological, social, familial, the list goes on. Asking whether China’s people are in a constant state of repression is like asking how many galaxies are in the universe. There is so much to uncover on the topic that no one could come up with a definitive answer. In watching China Rises I was immediately struck by the self-awareness and purposeful development of “new” China. Each step that China takes seems to be calculated and each person interviewed seemed to have not only awareness of the situation but also a strong opinion on the merits or demerits of the different movements. It seems difficult to imagine that a nation of “repressed” people would have so many different viewpoints and so many people willing to voice them. I remember in Dr. Morris’s talk that China has the freedom of speech but not the freedom of assembly. I wonder how long that will last, seeing as, according to the video, many Chinese people are already risking their livelihood to assemble and protest what the government has been doing. This is highly reminiscent of any revolution in any country and, as an observer, I can’t help but feel that the Chinese people will be afforded the freedom of assembly before too long. Unfortunately, though, for now the fight seems futile. There is the woman who lost her home in Shanghai, the fishermen fighting against the leather factories and the farmers seeking to preserve the land that they depend on. The one thing they have in common is that they are losing their individual battles. When change does come, it will be thanks to them, but more than likely, they will not get to experience the benefits. As more of the Chinese people gain more wealth and security, there is the possibility that the fighting spirit and the personal acquisition of knowledge will subside. That was seen in the clothing designer who, now that she was among the comfortable middle class, knew very little of what was happening politically in China. This complacency is also seen in the American middle class. When that time comes, the Chinese people may no longer be politically repressed, but may, in turn, find themselves repressed in other ways. #1 Repression has many different forms: economic, ideological, social, familial, the list goes on. Asking whether China’s people are in a constant state of repression is like asking how many galaxies are in the universe. There is so much to uncover on the topic that no one could come up with a definitive answer. In watching China Rises I was immediately struck by the self-awareness and purposeful development of “new” China. Each step that China takes seems to be calculated and each person interviewed seemed to have not only awareness of the situation but also a strong opinion on the merits or demerits of the different movements. It seems difficult to imagine that a nation of “repressed” people would have so many different viewpoints and so many people willing to voice them.

I remember in Dr. Morris’s talk that China has the freedom of speech but not the freedom of assembly. I wonder how long that will last, seeing as, according to the video, many Chinese people are already risking their livelihood to assemble and protest what the government has been doing. This is highly reminiscent of any revolution in any country and, as an observer, I can’t help but feel that the Chinese people will be afforded the freedom of assembly before too long. Unfortunately, though, for now the fight seems futile. There is the woman who lost her home in Shanghai, the fishermen fighting against the leather factories and the farmers seeking to preserve the land that they depend on. The one thing they have in common is that they are losing their individual battles. When change does come, it will be thanks to them, but more than likely, they will not get to experience the benefits.

As more of the Chinese people gain more wealth and security, there is the possibility that the fighting spirit and the personal acquisition of knowledge will subside. That was seen in the clothing designer who, now that she was among the comfortable middle class, knew very little of what was happening politically in China. This complacency is also seen in the American middle class. When that time comes, the Chinese people may no longer be politically repressed, but may, in turn, find themselves repressed in other ways.

]]> By: Mike Johannsen http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-780 Mike Johannsen Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:30:41 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-780 #6 In response to those in China that make the claim that the US and other countries capitalized on the destruction of the environment to get where we are so China should likewise be able to do the same. A lot has changed since then and we are still paying the price for the damage done and continue doing. The main difference is when the US was industrializing there were few alternatives and we were very ignorant about the long term effects on the world. It would be a wise decision for China to heed the warnings to advert the long term damage the US faces. The US is still paying for the damage done to the environment, look at the superfund sites particularly the Berkeley pit mine in Montana where millions of dollars are spent to clean up an abandoned copper mine. The argument that many countries capitalized on the destruction of the environment is a hallow argument that will only lead to greater problems down the road. I am not saying that China should not use their natural resources; I believe that they need to manage the resources and avoid the costly mistakes that other countries made and use the available technology to do so. This is a point that Thomas Barrett misses. It is not that I expect China to curb growth to save the environment, but by taking measures to minimize the impact on the environment and growing smart China can be a much more powerful force. #7 The CBC title “China Rises” is an accurate title for the movie. It captures what Dr. Carr Mentioned about returning to its proper place in the world in a much more powerful way. Using rises implies that it has been up before, but like the sun it set for a dark period of time. The sun is again rising, and this time the whole world is taking notice. #6
In response to those in China that make the claim that the US and other countries capitalized on the destruction of the environment to get where we are so China should likewise be able to do the same. A lot has changed since then and we are still paying the price for the damage done and continue doing. The main difference is when the US was industrializing there were few alternatives and we were very ignorant about the long term effects on the world. It would be a wise decision for China to heed the warnings to advert the long term damage the US faces. The US is still paying for the damage done to the environment, look at the superfund sites particularly the Berkeley pit mine in Montana where millions of dollars are spent to clean up an abandoned copper mine.
The argument that many countries capitalized on the destruction of the environment is a hallow argument that will only lead to greater problems down the road. I am not saying that China should not use their natural resources; I believe that they need to manage the resources and avoid the costly mistakes that other countries made and use the available technology to do so.
This is a point that Thomas Barrett misses. It is not that I expect China to curb growth to save the environment, but by taking measures to minimize the impact on the environment and growing smart China can be a much more powerful force.

#7
The CBC title “China Rises” is an accurate title for the movie. It captures what Dr. Carr Mentioned about returning to its proper place in the world in a much more powerful way. Using rises implies that it has been up before, but like the sun it set for a dark period of time. The sun is again rising, and this time the whole world is taking notice.

]]> By: Meghan Girvin http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-779 Meghan Girvin Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:57:23 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-779 1. I think that compared to the freedoms we have in the U.S., it seems like Chinese citizens are repressed, but compared to what China was like a few decades ago they have a lot more freedom. The movie had many examples of stories that give the impression that Chinese citizens are repressed as well as many that show the new freedoms they are experiencing. One way that Chinese citizens seemed repressed is the fact that not everyone can join the communist party. I was surprised when I learned this because it had never occurred to me that you would have to get permission to join a party because in the U.S. you just sign up for one. This practice seems strict compared to what we experience in the U.S. Another way Chinese citizens seem more repressed is because of the control that the government and army have. The movie gave the example of the army slaughtering students who were demonstrating and how the police sent text messages to citizens warning them not to demonstrate. Freedom of speech is a basic right in the U.S. so comparatively it seems as though people in China are not as free. China Rises also portrayed how the government can be corrupt and as a result take freedoms away from citizens. Two stories that portrayed this were that of the factory worker who had his hand chopped off and then was unable to get any compensation because the company found a way around it and the old fisherman who was no longer able to make a living because the river was so polluted with illegal waste. These occurrences in China give the impression that they are more repressed than we are in America. On the other hand, there were many stories in China Rises that showed how the Chinese people are becoming less repressed as time goes on. For example, in recent years citizens have been allowed to open their own businesses and own their own land. In the movie they tell the story of the man who created his own motorcycle business and as a result became very wealthy. This is something that would happen in the U.S. as well so in this case it doesn’t seem like the citizens are as repressed. The movie also gave the example of the woman who owned her own health clinic. When she first got out of college, she was assigned to work in a hospital, but now she is allowed to choose. This shows the progression that has been made by the Chinese society and may be the reason Chinese citizens believe there are limitless opportunities in their country. 1. I think that compared to the freedoms we have in the U.S., it seems like Chinese citizens are repressed, but compared to what China was like a few decades ago they have a lot more freedom. The movie had many examples of stories that give the impression that Chinese citizens are repressed as well as many that show the new freedoms they are experiencing. One way that Chinese citizens seemed repressed is the fact that not everyone can join the communist party. I was surprised when I learned this because it had never occurred to me that you would have to get permission to join a party because in the U.S. you just sign up for one. This practice seems strict compared to what we experience in the U.S. Another way Chinese citizens seem more repressed is because of the control that the government and army have. The movie gave the example of the army slaughtering students who were demonstrating and how the police sent text messages to citizens warning them not to demonstrate. Freedom of speech is a basic right in the U.S. so comparatively it seems as though people in China are not as free. China Rises also portrayed how the government can be corrupt and as a result take freedoms away from citizens. Two stories that portrayed this were that of the factory worker who had his hand chopped off and then was unable to get any compensation because the company found a way around it and the old fisherman who was no longer able to make a living because the river was so polluted with illegal waste. These occurrences in China give the impression that they are more repressed than we are in America.
On the other hand, there were many stories in China Rises that showed how the Chinese people are becoming less repressed as time goes on. For example, in recent years citizens have been allowed to open their own businesses and own their own land. In the movie they tell the story of the man who created his own motorcycle business and as a result became very wealthy. This is something that would happen in the U.S. as well so in this case it doesn’t seem like the citizens are as repressed. The movie also gave the example of the woman who owned her own health clinic. When she first got out of college, she was assigned to work in a hospital, but now she is allowed to choose. This shows the progression that has been made by the Chinese society and may be the reason Chinese citizens believe there are limitless opportunities in their country.

]]> By: Kristin http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-778 Kristin Fri, 15 Dec 2006 22:06:47 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-778 I agree with a couple of the people above who mentioned that they would like to meet Zhou Litai, the lawyer who defends workers rights. He is known all over China for his work in defending factory workers who have been injured and in one scene of the video a man who lost an arm while working in a factory. I think anyone could stand to learn something from his compassion for others. Whenever anyone asks me what my dream job would be, I respond that if given the opportunity to do anything I would volunteer. I would volunteer anywhere and in anyway I could. I really think it is the responsibility of people who have been as fortunate as I have been (who have grown up in a home, never having to worry about whether or not I was going to have food, money, or shelter) to take care of those who have not been as fortunate. In a perfect world that is what I would do. Unfortunately, the world is far from perfect and volunteering doesn’t pay the bills. I am always interested in seeing different ways in which people are living at least part of my dream. Zhou Litai is doing just this. He is using his knowledge, resources, and heart to defend the less fortunate. As a lawyer he could choose to make much more money if he practiced another area of law. However, he is making a conscious and extremely unselfish decision to use his talents to help others. For these reasons, I admire and would be honored to have an opportunity to have dinner with him. Another person from the movie that caught my attention was the little girl who is practicing to be an Olympic gymnast. It is humbling to know that I could learn a lot about hard-work and motivation from an 8-year old. Her drive blows my mind. She continues to work extremely long days, and obsessively overexert herself regardless of the fact that the easiest way out would be to quit. I would love to have dinner with her and to ask her what it is that keeps her striving to do better. I was so impressed with how well she articulated that she was fortunate to be given this opportunity to represent her country, and that all her hard-work was worth the shot at Olympic gold. I agree with a couple of the people above who mentioned that they would like to meet Zhou Litai, the lawyer who defends workers rights. He is known all over China for his work in defending factory workers who have been injured and in one scene of the video a man who lost an arm while working in a factory. I think anyone could stand to learn something from his compassion for others. Whenever anyone asks me what my dream job would be, I respond that if given the opportunity to do anything I would volunteer. I would volunteer anywhere and in anyway I could. I really think it is the responsibility of people who have been as fortunate as I have been (who have grown up in a home, never having to worry about whether or not I was going to have food, money, or shelter) to take care of those who have not been as fortunate. In a perfect world that is what I would do. Unfortunately, the world is far from perfect and volunteering doesn’t pay the bills. I am always interested in seeing different ways in which people are living at least part of my dream. Zhou Litai is doing just this. He is using his knowledge, resources, and heart to defend the less fortunate. As a lawyer he could choose to make much more money if he practiced another area of law. However, he is making a conscious and extremely unselfish decision to use his talents to help others. For these reasons, I admire and would be honored to have an opportunity to have dinner with him.

Another person from the movie that caught my attention was the little girl who is practicing to be an Olympic gymnast. It is humbling to know that I could learn a lot about hard-work and motivation from an 8-year old. Her drive blows my mind. She continues to work extremely long days, and obsessively overexert herself regardless of the fact that the easiest way out would be to quit. I would love to have dinner with her and to ask her what it is that keeps her striving to do better. I was so impressed with how well she articulated that she was fortunate to be given this opportunity to represent her country, and that all her hard-work was worth the shot at Olympic gold.

]]> By: Steven Rodger http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-775 Steven Rodger Fri, 15 Dec 2006 21:23:12 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-775 #3. I would enjoy having dinner with Ai Weiwei, the Artist who is building the stadium for the 2008 Olympics. This man seemed very intriguing the way he was expressing himself, both with his company (recall the 4 letter acronym), and through his creative artwork. He seems to be very powerful, but in a reserved and entrepreneuring way. I feel a connection with him, and believe the way he is showing his skepticism towards authority is constructive, conducting himself it in an expressive way (which seems to be unlike most Chinese). Due to the fact that his father was a leader, you could feel his tension and aggression towards leading a reform. I was impressed with the fact that he was able to stand out and be imaginative in a society that has condemned such individualistic characteristics for a long time. I believe it will be individuals like Ai Weiwei, which will help provide some power back to the people, and let <em>China rise</em> to their full potential. #5. I am looking forward to viewing the Chinese factories as it will be a realization to all of us how well off we are in the US, even if you’re in the lower class. At first, I think about not purchasing these products as it only creates a higher demand for <em>poor uneducated</em> workers in China. At the same time the movie claimed that these people would otherwise be struggling, eating noodles in the hills of Loess Plateau if these workers had not migrated to work at the factories. Still, does this <em>really</em> justify us buying these products? Personally, I do not believe it is fully justified nor do I believe that we fully understand the full facts on this matter. This is why it will be an eye-opener to view a factory in person. I believe if the living conditions were improved and these factory workers were fed, and fully compensated than I would not think twice about purchasing their products. I thought it was great that Zhang Yue, the CEO of Broad Air Conditioning was able to create a business that was more sustainable, which grew healthy organic food for their workers, and helped the employees live a healthier life. After all, what is the point of having wealth, if you are not healthy or happy with your life? In contrast, looking at a business like Zongshan’s motorcycle factory, the workers seemed unhappy as the company was run like a military installment. Some people flourish under this structured environment, yet this organizational style provides little room for individuality or inventiveness within a company, which is imperative for a business’s growth. Repressing rights and originality will lead to unhappy, less productive workers and over time anarchy. Additionally, it seemed that many of these factories are forgetting about their environment in their rush to <em>build a middle class</em> and become a more wealthy China. As the past may <em>give China confidence in the future</em>, perhaps factories and the government should take a step back and recognize if precautions are not taken now regarding their environmental degradation, it will probably have devastating consequences for the next <em>billion</em> Chinese. As the movie pointed out, is it ethical that your country cares more about having economic success and wealth than protecting the health and lifestyles of the majority of its people? #3. I would enjoy having dinner with Ai Weiwei, the Artist who is building the stadium for the 2008 Olympics. This man seemed very intriguing the way he was expressing himself, both with his company (recall the 4 letter acronym), and through his creative artwork. He seems to be very powerful, but in a reserved and entrepreneuring way. I feel a connection with him, and believe the way he is showing his skepticism towards authority is constructive, conducting himself it in an expressive way (which seems to be unlike most Chinese). Due to the fact that his father was a leader, you could feel his tension and aggression towards leading a reform. I was impressed with the fact that he was able to stand out and be imaginative in a society that has condemned such individualistic characteristics for a long time. I believe it will be individuals like Ai Weiwei, which will help provide some power back to the people, and let China rise to their full potential.

#5. I am looking forward to viewing the Chinese factories as it will be a realization to all of us how well off we are in the US, even if you’re in the lower class. At first, I think about not purchasing these products as it only creates a higher demand for poor uneducated workers in China. At the same time the movie claimed that these people would otherwise be struggling, eating noodles in the hills of Loess Plateau if these workers had not migrated to work at the factories. Still, does this really justify us buying these products?
Personally, I do not believe it is fully justified nor do I believe that we fully understand the full facts on this matter. This is why it will be an eye-opener to view a factory in person. I believe if the living conditions were improved and these factory workers were fed, and fully compensated than I would not think twice about purchasing their products. I thought it was great that Zhang Yue, the CEO of Broad Air Conditioning was able to create a business that was more sustainable, which grew healthy organic food for their workers, and helped the employees live a healthier life. After all, what is the point of having wealth, if you are not healthy or happy with your life?
In contrast, looking at a business like Zongshan’s motorcycle factory, the workers seemed unhappy as the company was run like a military installment. Some people flourish under this structured environment, yet this organizational style provides little room for individuality or inventiveness within a company, which is imperative for a business’s growth. Repressing rights and originality will lead to unhappy, less productive workers and over time anarchy. Additionally, it seemed that many of these factories are forgetting about their environment in their rush to build a middle class and become a more wealthy China. As the past may give China confidence in the future, perhaps factories and the government should take a step back and recognize if precautions are not taken now regarding their environmental degradation, it will probably have devastating consequences for the next billion Chinese. As the movie pointed out, is it ethical that your country cares more about having economic success and wealth than protecting the health and lifestyles of the majority of its people?

]]> By: Peter Thelen http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-768 Peter Thelen Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:44:04 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-768 Question #1 -- Though the opportunities that China offers its people may not be quite the same as those in the U.S., I don't think there is any way you could say that the Chinese are "repressed." As shown in the video, many Chinese citizens are working hard to better their lives or the lives of their children, and progress is clearly being made. The widespread migration from rural to urban occupations is evidence of this. Even though the migrant worker Liu Yong is living in a cramped dormitory and earning pennies an hour on long shifts, she is clearly happy and optimistic about her future. Her opportunity to save up money for school in order to advance her career is one that citizens of many developing countries do not have. The Chinese government has undoubtedly come to the realization that it cannot compete on the world stage economically if it represses its own citizens. I believe China will continue to improve on the significant progress it has already made and that more opportunities for its citizens will result. Question #3 -- The person that I would most like to meet is Zhang Yue, the CEO of Broad Air Conditioning. It fascinates me that though we constantly hear about the environmental troubles of China, this man has made millions by taking an environmentally friendly approach to air conditioning. I would love to talk to him about his thoughts on China's environmental situation, and whether he thinks improvement is necessary (as many people in the U.S. do). He clearly cares about the environment, and realizes that good, uncontaminated food is difficult to come by. I would ask him about his theories on employee morale, and if he has seen an improvement in productivity since he has started growing his own organic food for his employees. Is he breaking from the norm by providing his employees with such a luxury? Does he think work conditions in China need to be improved? I think it would be a very enlightening conversation, and would allow me to gain a deeper understanding of environmental and labor issues in China. Question #1 — Though the opportunities that China offers its people may not be quite the same as those in the U.S., I don’t think there is any way you could say that the Chinese are “repressed.” As shown in the video, many Chinese citizens are working hard to better their lives or the lives of their children, and progress is clearly being made. The widespread migration from rural to urban occupations is evidence of this. Even though the migrant worker Liu Yong is living in a cramped dormitory and earning pennies an hour on long shifts, she is clearly happy and optimistic about her future. Her opportunity to save up money for school in order to advance her career is one that citizens of many developing countries do not have. The Chinese government has undoubtedly come to the realization that it cannot compete on the world stage economically if it represses its own citizens. I believe China will continue to improve on the significant progress it has already made and that more opportunities for its citizens will result.

Question #3 — The person that I would most like to meet is Zhang Yue, the CEO of Broad Air Conditioning. It fascinates me that though we constantly hear about the environmental troubles of China, this man has made millions by taking an environmentally friendly approach to air conditioning. I would love to talk to him about his thoughts on China’s environmental situation, and whether he thinks improvement is necessary (as many people in the U.S. do). He clearly cares about the environment, and realizes that good, uncontaminated food is difficult to come by. I would ask him about his theories on employee morale, and if he has seen an improvement in productivity since he has started growing his own organic food for his employees. Is he breaking from the norm by providing his employees with such a luxury? Does he think work conditions in China need to be improved? I think it would be a very enlightening conversation, and would allow me to gain a deeper understanding of environmental and labor issues in China.

]]> By: Andrew Gardner http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-762 Andrew Gardner Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:34:09 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/2006/china/china-rises-lets-get-going/#comment-762 After watching China Rises, I was struck with the dramatic differences in the lifestyles of different classes within China. The upper middle class citizens in the large cities are able to enjoy a very comfortable life with all of the luxuries that American have grown accustomed too. High rise condominiums, Louis Vuitton handbags, and American fast food all seem like common staples to this class. However, this was much different than the poor farming families located away from the economic growth of the large cities. Rather than enjoying a comfortable life style, this people had to work hard to ensure that there was enough food on the table to feed the entire family. If lucky, they would be able to save enough money to visit McDonalds once a year to SHARE a single cheeseburger. While the economic growth of China is creating comfortable lifestyles for many Chinese, it also seems to be leaving many behind. 7. I saw a striking number of similarities between the CBC production and Dr. Norris’s lecture on China. One of the points that Dr. Norris emphasized during his discussion of the Chinese people was their belief that China was historically a superpower and would quickly regaining this status. Both the video and lecture displayed the Chinese people as very proud of their country. Rich or poor, the majority of people appeared to be proud of the direction their country was headed. This was obvious in the pride and effort that the country is putting into preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games. After watching China Rises, I was struck with the dramatic differences in the lifestyles of different classes within China. The upper middle class citizens in the large cities are able to enjoy a very comfortable life with all of the luxuries that American have grown accustomed too. High rise condominiums, Louis Vuitton handbags, and American fast food all seem like common staples to this class.

However, this was much different than the poor farming families located away from the economic growth of the large cities. Rather than enjoying a comfortable life style, this people had to work hard to ensure that there was enough food on the table to feed the entire family. If lucky, they would be able to save enough money to visit McDonalds once a year to SHARE a single cheeseburger. While the economic growth of China is creating comfortable lifestyles for many Chinese, it also seems to be leaving many behind.

7. I saw a striking number of similarities between the CBC production and Dr. Norris’s lecture on China. One of the points that Dr. Norris emphasized during his discussion of the Chinese people was their belief that China was historically a superpower and would quickly regaining this status. Both the video and lecture displayed the Chinese people as very proud of their country. Rich or poor, the majority of people appeared to be proud of the direction their country was headed. This was obvious in the pride and effort that the country is putting into preparing for the 2008 Olympic Games.

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