Hand washing is big in Japan, in fact, really big.
Recently due to worries connected with the threat of H1N1 (the so-called, wrongly, 'swine flu') nowadays everywhere (for instance at the entrance of the university canteens of Kyoto Univ., at the entrances of Department stores, etc.,in the offices and public places, there are bottles filled with alcohol for sterilization of the hands, so last Thursday's International Hand Washing day is sort of an anti-climax here.
In Japan everyday is hand washing, mask wearing day :)
See related article: Japan takes hand washing to new level
Hm, let's hope H1N1 doesn't get out of hand and my classes get cancelled...
........ ....... ....... ...... ......
Additionally, since it concerns hygiene, in this post I SHOULD mention Japanese public toilets.
After living in China for 8 years, in the most squalid of all the foreign students dorms possible, and sharing a torn-down, often dirty and very disgusting toilet, and unavoidably daily using university buildings toilets (which where appalling also) and seeing (and per times using) Chinese public toilets that border on the horrific, now using a Japanese public toilet is the opposite experience. Only rarely the toilet looks like a public one (train station toilets are in fact not very clean, but not unbearably so, so they are exception to this description) and unbelievable though it may seem to someone used to the awful university toilets in my university in Beijing, here Kyoto university public toilets are impeccable. A stark and very meaningful difference between the 'first rate' university I studied in Beijing and here.
On some level I will never recover from the scenes of filth and horrible smell of China.
The contrast is very stark.
I'm sure you have all heard of toilet seats that warm, and toilets that have all kinds of functions. Automatic flushing,automatic function with a sound that imitates flowing water, etc. There is toilet paper and soap available. All this is true. And mind you, true for public toilets at that.
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Infernal Landscapes
I just came across a blog post at a New York Times photography dedicated blog that reports that Lu Guang, a Chinese freelance photographer, has won the W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for his project, “Pollution in China.”
Here is a link to the New York Times LENS blog that features some of his pictures and another link to some other of his pictures for which he was awarded in 2006 a World Press Photo Award in the Contemporary Issues category...
Photographically speaking his pictures are very strong, and some of the images are very powerful, but somehow there is a little bit of staging in some of them and too much prying into personal tragedy which I don't like. Nevertheless it is not bad that a Chinese photographer is photographic also the other dark side of the Chinese Rise. There should be a balance in the picture of Modern China. Apart from the expensive gargantuan parades and opening ceremonies, not all is well. This week there is another case that came to light (I lost count but lately it must be the fifth one at least)of lead poisoning found in children.
Yes yes, China has achieved really a lot, but at what and whose cost exactly?!
Here is a link to the New York Times LENS blog that features some of his pictures and another link to some other of his pictures for which he was awarded in 2006 a World Press Photo Award in the Contemporary Issues category...
Photographically speaking his pictures are very strong, and some of the images are very powerful, but somehow there is a little bit of staging in some of them and too much prying into personal tragedy which I don't like. Nevertheless it is not bad that a Chinese photographer is photographic also the other dark side of the Chinese Rise. There should be a balance in the picture of Modern China. Apart from the expensive gargantuan parades and opening ceremonies, not all is well. This week there is another case that came to light (I lost count but lately it must be the fifth one at least)of lead poisoning found in children.
Yes yes, China has achieved really a lot, but at what and whose cost exactly?!
Big in Japan - Katakana
Well, after learning Hiragana, it is time for the Katakana, the other basic Japanese language syllabary. It has the same sounds as the Hiragana,but in modern Japanese it is used for foreign words, foreign names, etc. In Japanese there are many foreign words (which sound like a very bad English ) for instance 'uniform', 'tennis', 'hotel, 'taxi', 'omelet','toilet', hm practically every modern thing...The Japanese have actually stopped using some Japanese words that have originally existed and have replaced them with foreign words...For instance today in our textbook such borrowed word for 'lion' caught my attention...While there has been perfectly established word for lion with kanji too in use for many centuries, why would Japanese want to use such a weird sounding new borrowed word?
All those borrowed words sound extremely weird and it will be a challenge to memorize since they are in fact a very bad misrepresentation (in their greater part if not all) of English words.
So actually this trade in the modern development of the Japanese language shows some very interesting sides of the wish to copy, imitate or in the best case and intention study the West.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Big in Japan - Hiragana
Although I attempted learning Japanese some 3 years ago(during which time I learned only a bit) it is now that I am trying for the first time earnestly, very systematically and with motivation to learn this language.
For fact, my first Japanese textbook and grammar I bought in 1992, which was more than 15 years ago. It shows that my intentions go way back...
Although,frankly speaking I'm feeling very low in spirit and feel rather depressed (for very personal reasons I feel very sad and lost), starting having a schedule in which learning Japanese is the main objective is sort of a positive thing. It will give me some focus and will engage my time and thoughts, and since it's an intensive course it will be a challenge...
Today, was my second time in this intensive course (last Friday was the first and yesterday, Monday was a national holiday,so we didn't have classes) and apart from learning Japanese I had two hours in a course dedicated to Japanese society and culture. This class is taught in English, and I'm very hopeful not so much as to what I'll learn as information but the way this course is presented is good. Today in the recess I had a chat with the teacher, Ms. K (she speaks just excellent English, the best I've heard a Japanese speak, very impressive) and just from a few minutes of talking with her I understood that it is COMPLETELY different how she views my wish and obvious motivation. It is very different from the lack of enthusiasm, with the complete lack of curiosity and appreciation I have met with in China throughout the whole 8 years...But I will talk about Prof. K. and her classes in other posts I'm sure.
By the way Intend to audit another class of hers which is on Classical Japanese Literature. Well, what can I say, it's a dream come true for me. After 15 years!
So back to my Japanese language classes. We have classes each day from Monday through Friday, and each day we will have a different instructor. This obviously has it's great advantage since the style of each tutor is quite different. The big thing we are currently learning is the first of the two Japanese phonetic systems/'alphabets' (linguistically more correct to say syllabary'), the Hiragana. (The other is the Katakana and we are yet to learn that.) Hm those two are of course in addition to the Kanji, i.e. the Chinese characters. My advantage in that will be that I already know the meanings of the kanji. It remains for me to learn how to read them in Japanese. It will be very confusing, not only because I will mix them with the Chinese reading, but also because the Japanese have two readings!!! Crazy people!
So, back to Hiragana, the 'big thing' from my days now. The above pic. is actually not the complete list of all Hiragana, but what remains are variations to those. As it is,the Hiragana origin is calligraphy of kanji (Chinese characters) see Where do the kana come from.
A very funny (and very weird thing indeed) was told to us by our Friday tutor Ms.H.
She said that as a little girl she used to write Hiragana mirror-wise, and actually that this is a very common occurrence among young Japanese children when they start studying how to write...Its a very strange phenomenon that is associated with dyslexia.The interesting bit is that our Friday tutor claims that mirror-writing is a very common thing among Japanese children.Very very strange and interesting...
OK, I have to go back to learning the rest of the Hiragana. I'm somewhere in the middle yet...Have to know all 50 by tomorrow.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
China (Tibet) and India Border Issue : a potentially explosive crisis point
A month and so ago I came across a couple or so articles discussing the border dispute between China and India.
For instance Unmasking China By Bharat Verma in Indian Defence Review in July and Why India is Clueless about China by Brahma Chellaney (publ. September 07, 2009).
The China (Tibet)-India border issue is very complicated and indeed worrying, and in July for instance I eye witnessed a freight train loaded with tanks passing through Tibet (my first thought was, well that's going to the border). China's military presence in Tibet is not only aimed at "harmonizing" the Tibetans after last years anti-Han rule riots, but also is a potentially very explosive sovereignty issue with many complex implications.
The tensions in Tibet are escalating and the Tibet issue might prove to be one of the most important ones on the world diplomatic stage. An issue in which not only China-India and Tibet are sides to.
Just now I came across an article in Newsweek which discusses the border issue and some of it's implications.
Why India Fears China (Newsweek)
There simply isn't such thing as a military "peaceful rise"...
UPDATE:
OK, just two days after the above post...
China angry over India PM visit to disputed region (AFP)
Hm, as my friend M. who jokingly commented on my too many political postings lately quoted:
"Long live the international situation"!*
...for those of you who understand Chinese, a news video clip with China TV channel report on the matter in true "1984" style...I'm a "big fan" of the spokesmen (and woman!) of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry...It would have been very amusing to watch the bile, aggressiveness and inferiority/superiority complex that they emanate, if it wasn't giving me the chills...
*This was one of the ridiculous slogans during the communist era in the Eastern Block...
We often joke using it when we talk about politics and international affairs...
For instance Unmasking China By Bharat Verma in Indian Defence Review in July and Why India is Clueless about China by Brahma Chellaney (publ. September 07, 2009).
The China (Tibet)-India border issue is very complicated and indeed worrying, and in July for instance I eye witnessed a freight train loaded with tanks passing through Tibet (my first thought was, well that's going to the border). China's military presence in Tibet is not only aimed at "harmonizing" the Tibetans after last years anti-Han rule riots, but also is a potentially very explosive sovereignty issue with many complex implications.
The tensions in Tibet are escalating and the Tibet issue might prove to be one of the most important ones on the world diplomatic stage. An issue in which not only China-India and Tibet are sides to.
Just now I came across an article in Newsweek which discusses the border issue and some of it's implications.
Why India Fears China (Newsweek)
There simply isn't such thing as a military "peaceful rise"...
UPDATE:
OK, just two days after the above post...
China angry over India PM visit to disputed region (AFP)
Hm, as my friend M. who jokingly commented on my too many political postings lately quoted:
"Long live the international situation"!*
...for those of you who understand Chinese, a news video clip with China TV channel report on the matter in true "1984" style...I'm a "big fan" of the spokesmen (and woman!) of the Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry...It would have been very amusing to watch the bile, aggressiveness and inferiority/superiority complex that they emanate, if it wasn't giving me the chills...
*This was one of the ridiculous slogans during the communist era in the Eastern Block...
We often joke using it when we talk about politics and international affairs...
Big in Japan - the Railways
Apart from being very punctual a very good thing about trains here is how quiet people are inside (compared to Chinese which are always noisy). In China commuting is always noisy. Chinese always speak loudly, there is always some talking (usually very loud)on the PA system, there are TV screens installed in all the public transport. It's unimaginable to try to read for instance.
In contrast, Japanese try to keep quiet their conversation, the talking on cell phones is prohibited (you have to turn off the sound and if you are close to priority seats you have to switch your cell altogether). It was a nightmare to have to listen to some one's endless and usually loud talk on their mobile phone.
I used to (before going to live in China) enjoy reading while commuting. In this way I have read quite a few books. After going to China I had to give up this, since for many reasons it became impossible. Mainly because of the noise. In China I took up the habit of always listen to music while walking or travelling. Partly to block off the annoying noise.
Now I am looking forward to my everyday commuting for classes, as it will give me a good chance to retake my old custom of reading.
Another good thing is that don't get people staring at me. Or pointing. That is a relief after being singled out immediately. I prefer this lack of attention which gives me privacy to the completely annoying rude staring.
At train and subway stations there are stacks with leaflets with various sort of information. I kind of like that.While they in fact are a sort of an advertisement for the corresponding railways company, some of those are a great way to get informed about upcoming cultural events, exhibitions and tourist attraction (main goal of the leaflets seems to be to tell you how to get to the places taking the corresponding rail company)...I already have a stack of those from Kyoto station with routes how to go to monasteries and temples. Autumn is a very tourist time for going to those...Or so I've heard. I still haven't been to any yet sine I arrived a week ago.
Another good thing here is how distances are often given by walking minutes. Since I'm very much into mountain hiking and usually enjoy very much walking, I really appreciate that in Japan giving directions often is calculating time in walking distances. I like that too.
In Beijing I merely forgot what it is to enjoy a stroll in the city. Just walking from A to B.
How did I survive in this horrible city for 8 years really beats me.
A thing that will get time getting used to is the fact that in Japan (similar to Britain) traffic is on the left side. It feels very unnatural tome still and I often get confused about directions because of this...
Another good thing that commuting will give me a chance to do is an opportunity to observe people. A few days ago late afternoon I was taking the local JR (Japan Railways)line for a couple of stops. It seemed that students have just ended classes and were commuting back home from school as there were many students waiting at the station and getting on the train. Two (I presume middle school or high school) girls sat on the seats opposite mine (some boy students sat next to my seat). The two girls were heavily made up (I presume just after class they have done so in the toilet) with fake eyelashes, eyeliner, etc. Still wearing their school uniforms. As they sat down in the train they started taking off some of their school uniform (jackets and ties)and change into cardigans or readjust it. It looked like thisis sort of a ritual, i.e. something they doeach time after school. In a silly way they also wanted the boys to watch them. One of the girls folded her skirt in the waist several times as to make it several time shorter. It looked ridiculous to me, but obviously that's what schoolgirls do.
-------
The draft for this post was written while commuting in the morning on Friday 9th of October, taking the Keihan railway from Ohbaku station (which is near to where I live now in Uji)and Demachiyanagi(which is the station nearest to Kyoto University's main campus where my classes are).Commuting today took me around 45 minutes,at one point I had to change trains at the transfer Chushojima station in between...
In contrast, Japanese try to keep quiet their conversation, the talking on cell phones is prohibited (you have to turn off the sound and if you are close to priority seats you have to switch your cell altogether). It was a nightmare to have to listen to some one's endless and usually loud talk on their mobile phone.
I used to (before going to live in China) enjoy reading while commuting. In this way I have read quite a few books. After going to China I had to give up this, since for many reasons it became impossible. Mainly because of the noise. In China I took up the habit of always listen to music while walking or travelling. Partly to block off the annoying noise.
Now I am looking forward to my everyday commuting for classes, as it will give me a good chance to retake my old custom of reading.
Another good thing is that don't get people staring at me. Or pointing. That is a relief after being singled out immediately. I prefer this lack of attention which gives me privacy to the completely annoying rude staring.
At train and subway stations there are stacks with leaflets with various sort of information. I kind of like that.While they in fact are a sort of an advertisement for the corresponding railways company, some of those are a great way to get informed about upcoming cultural events, exhibitions and tourist attraction (main goal of the leaflets seems to be to tell you how to get to the places taking the corresponding rail company)...I already have a stack of those from Kyoto station with routes how to go to monasteries and temples. Autumn is a very tourist time for going to those...Or so I've heard. I still haven't been to any yet sine I arrived a week ago.
Another good thing here is how distances are often given by walking minutes. Since I'm very much into mountain hiking and usually enjoy very much walking, I really appreciate that in Japan giving directions often is calculating time in walking distances. I like that too.
In Beijing I merely forgot what it is to enjoy a stroll in the city. Just walking from A to B.
How did I survive in this horrible city for 8 years really beats me.
A thing that will get time getting used to is the fact that in Japan (similar to Britain) traffic is on the left side. It feels very unnatural tome still and I often get confused about directions because of this...
Another good thing that commuting will give me a chance to do is an opportunity to observe people. A few days ago late afternoon I was taking the local JR (Japan Railways)line for a couple of stops. It seemed that students have just ended classes and were commuting back home from school as there were many students waiting at the station and getting on the train. Two (I presume middle school or high school) girls sat on the seats opposite mine (some boy students sat next to my seat). The two girls were heavily made up (I presume just after class they have done so in the toilet) with fake eyelashes, eyeliner, etc. Still wearing their school uniforms. As they sat down in the train they started taking off some of their school uniform (jackets and ties)and change into cardigans or readjust it. It looked like thisis sort of a ritual, i.e. something they doeach time after school. In a silly way they also wanted the boys to watch them. One of the girls folded her skirt in the waist several times as to make it several time shorter. It looked ridiculous to me, but obviously that's what schoolgirls do.
-------
The draft for this post was written while commuting in the morning on Friday 9th of October, taking the Keihan railway from Ohbaku station (which is near to where I live now in Uji)and Demachiyanagi(which is the station nearest to Kyoto University's main campus where my classes are).Commuting today took me around 45 minutes,at one point I had to change trains at the transfer Chushojima station in between...
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Beijing’s World Media Summit - what exactly is it?
Yesterday after I saw few world news agencies news reports (for instance) about a currently held in Beijing so-called 'World Media Summit' I felt amused...
If that's not part of China's grand strategy using 'soft power' to enhance its aspirations for influencing“global public opinion” then what is it?!
(And the timing of this summit, just days after the gargantuan military parade. What a joke! )
Today I saw David Bandurski's article at China Media Project and he seems to be also thinking pretty much the same as me...
He rightly points out: "This “summit” may be dressed up as a platform for professional, “non-government” exchange — but it is really a naked ploy by the CCP to enhance China’s global influence over media agendas. "
And that's that. Hm shouldn't other people start getting the message already?!
Shouldn't all this be worrying them?!
Global media groups knuckle under to curry Beijing’s favor (China Media Project)
UPDATE from 13th:
How Much Will Global News Outlets Bet on China?(TIME)
Key paragraph is the last one :"At a time when media are still reeling from the economic downturn and the Internet-led destruction of traditional advertising and subscription models, China has money to spend and offers new markets for foreign media. The risks are high. Not only could Western media players miss out on a big deal in China, they could sell their soul to win one. "
If that's not part of China's grand strategy using 'soft power' to enhance its aspirations for influencing“global public opinion” then what is it?!
(And the timing of this summit, just days after the gargantuan military parade. What a joke! )
Today I saw David Bandurski's article at China Media Project and he seems to be also thinking pretty much the same as me...
He rightly points out: "This “summit” may be dressed up as a platform for professional, “non-government” exchange — but it is really a naked ploy by the CCP to enhance China’s global influence over media agendas. "
And that's that. Hm shouldn't other people start getting the message already?!
Shouldn't all this be worrying them?!
Global media groups knuckle under to curry Beijing’s favor (China Media Project)
UPDATE from 13th:
How Much Will Global News Outlets Bet on China?(TIME)
Key paragraph is the last one :"At a time when media are still reeling from the economic downturn and the Internet-led destruction of traditional advertising and subscription models, China has money to spend and offers new markets for foreign media. The risks are high. Not only could Western media players miss out on a big deal in China, they could sell their soul to win one. "
Internet Human Rights Declaration
On October 8th 15 Chinese intellectuals/netizens published an 'Internet Human Rights Declaration'.
While the text itself may not be saying 'anything new' it's an act of courage that is to be commended. Especially notable for me is the declarators proffessed believe in citizen responsibility -indeed it is of upmost importance.
Here are links to the declaration's original text in Chinese and its English translation.
While the text itself may not be saying 'anything new' it's an act of courage that is to be commended. Especially notable for me is the declarators proffessed believe in citizen responsibility -indeed it is of upmost importance.
Here are links to the declaration's original text in Chinese and its English translation.
US President Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize : too much too soon?
Good morning. Well, this is not how I expected to wake up this morning. President Barack Obama has just been surprisingly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.
These by the way are also the first public words of US President Barack Obama on his winning the Nobel Peace Prize. It is yet to be seen does the president truly deserves the honour.
It can be said that this award is a sort of an encouragement/early vote of confidence (i.e. he was awarded it before actually proving he deserves it...), not particularly towards Obama himself, but towards the "going back to the basic principles" of the USA. Judging from President Obama's speech and his final ending words "That's why the world has always looked to America. And that's why I believe America will continue to lead.", he seems to realise this very clearly.
Well. An interesting turn of events. Well now, we can say that when Obama meets the Dalai Lama say after two months...why not for instance while accepting the award in Oslo on Dec.10?. In this way he can easily say he is meeting him in the capacity of fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, not as head of state...In this way he will be meeting the Dalai Lama ,but while smartly avoiding to meet him in the White House...
The complete text of the citation awarding the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama as delivered by the Norwegian Nobel Committee (via AP)
relevant news feeds:
Obama wins shock Nobel Peace Prize (AFP)
Gasps as Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize (AP)
Obama's Nobel win should spur climate commitment: UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said(AFP)
These by the way are also the first public words of US President Barack Obama on his winning the Nobel Peace Prize. It is yet to be seen does the president truly deserves the honour.
It can be said that this award is a sort of an encouragement/early vote of confidence (i.e. he was awarded it before actually proving he deserves it...), not particularly towards Obama himself, but towards the "going back to the basic principles" of the USA. Judging from President Obama's speech and his final ending words "That's why the world has always looked to America. And that's why I believe America will continue to lead.", he seems to realise this very clearly.
Well. An interesting turn of events. Well now, we can say that when Obama meets the Dalai Lama say after two months...why not for instance while accepting the award in Oslo on Dec.10?. In this way he can easily say he is meeting him in the capacity of fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, not as head of state...In this way he will be meeting the Dalai Lama ,but while smartly avoiding to meet him in the White House...
The complete text of the citation awarding the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to President Barack Obama as delivered by the Norwegian Nobel Committee (via AP)
relevant news feeds:
Obama wins shock Nobel Peace Prize (AFP)
Gasps as Obama awarded Nobel Peace Prize (AP)
Obama's Nobel win should spur climate commitment: UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said(AFP)
Friday, 9 October 2009
Typhoon Melor passes by
My latest post about 'me in Japan' ended with my observation about the different climate and weather here...And mentioned raining...
Hm, little did I know that just a day later a typhoon is going to 'land' in Japan...Luckily it turned out that the impact on Kyoto and Kansai area (where Kyoto belongs to) and the power of the typhoon were not as bad as feared. It turned out that actually there was a typhoon warning (of which I didn't have the slightest idea) and my yesterday opening ceremony and placement test were hence rescheduled for today...However I didn't know that, and actually went to the campus surprised to find it out. Indeed in the evening (Wednesday to Thursday) the weather seemed quite bad with heavy rain and strong wind,but not as bad as to get me thinking of typhoons (not that I know what a typhoon looks like), and in the morning although it was still heavily raining the weather didn't look extraordinary bad to me so I went to campus...
Well, luckily the typhoon by-passed here and was weaker than expected...
Good thing that.
It got me thinking though, hm what does this island with its freakish earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, etc. has in store for me?! And how should I know what to do?
Hm, little did I know that just a day later a typhoon is going to 'land' in Japan...Luckily it turned out that the impact on Kyoto and Kansai area (where Kyoto belongs to) and the power of the typhoon were not as bad as feared. It turned out that actually there was a typhoon warning (of which I didn't have the slightest idea) and my yesterday opening ceremony and placement test were hence rescheduled for today...However I didn't know that, and actually went to the campus surprised to find it out. Indeed in the evening (Wednesday to Thursday) the weather seemed quite bad with heavy rain and strong wind,but not as bad as to get me thinking of typhoons (not that I know what a typhoon looks like), and in the morning although it was still heavily raining the weather didn't look extraordinary bad to me so I went to campus...
Well, luckily the typhoon by-passed here and was weaker than expected...
Good thing that.
It got me thinking though, hm what does this island with its freakish earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, etc. has in store for me?! And how should I know what to do?
Is Tony Blair lobbying for China now?
Just finished reading a co-opted article in the Wall Street Journal titled China's New Cultural Revolution by non other but the former British PM Tony Blair. I couldn't just not comment on this!
In it (among other things) is the following incredibly stupid paragraph:
...
Confucius, the marvels of the Tang dynasty, calligraphy, the beauty of traditional Chinese painting and literature—all of this infuses the speeches, commentary and discourse of contemporary Chinese life. Chinese films, art, fashion and pop music are thriving. There is a new Cultural Revolution taking place in 21st century China, and it is a lot healthier than the old.
...
This particular paragraph (especially in the context of the rest of the misinforming article) shows such utter 'well-informed ignorance' and lack of knowledge and understanding of China that makes one gasp with wonder. Who the hell made Tony Blair an expert on Chinese society and culture?!
Recently on CNN I watched an interview with this British buffoon taken while he was wrapping up his recent China visit...Is this guy now on Chinese payroll or is he simply an ignorant imbecile?!
Oh, now I see. It turns out the Wall Street Journal since August 2007 is owned by dubious global media mogul Rupert Murdoch...who at this moment happens to be in Beijing for a 'World Media Summit' organized by CCP mouthpiece Xinhua...
In it (among other things) is the following incredibly stupid paragraph:
...
Confucius, the marvels of the Tang dynasty, calligraphy, the beauty of traditional Chinese painting and literature—all of this infuses the speeches, commentary and discourse of contemporary Chinese life. Chinese films, art, fashion and pop music are thriving. There is a new Cultural Revolution taking place in 21st century China, and it is a lot healthier than the old.
...
This particular paragraph (especially in the context of the rest of the misinforming article) shows such utter 'well-informed ignorance' and lack of knowledge and understanding of China that makes one gasp with wonder. Who the hell made Tony Blair an expert on Chinese society and culture?!
Recently on CNN I watched an interview with this British buffoon taken while he was wrapping up his recent China visit...Is this guy now on Chinese payroll or is he simply an ignorant imbecile?!
Oh, now I see. It turns out the Wall Street Journal since August 2007 is owned by dubious global media mogul Rupert Murdoch...who at this moment happens to be in Beijing for a 'World Media Summit' organized by CCP mouthpiece Xinhua...
What Lies between Chinese Writers and the Nobel Prize
As someone whose specialty is Chinese Literature, I have actually stopped even wondering, why Modern and Contemporary Chinese literature is so incredibly mediocre and bad in quality...My major is Classical Chinese Literature and I still believe that it indeed is one of the greatest world literatures. But that is in an obvious stark and shocking contrast to the Contemporary and Modern Chinese one. I have often tried to come up with an explanation for this phenomenon (i.e. why contemporary and modern Chinese literature is so mediocre and talentless) and this pondering actually gave me a broader perspective to come up with a bigger and more broadly encompassing theory about the "fall of the great Han culture" (I am deliberately not using the term 'Chinese' )...Actually exactly the realisation of the above has made me start to deeply rethink many of the cliches about China. Made me think deeply about the phenomenons, about the development (or rather more correctly said in the case of Han Chinese culture in view of it's state now, the entropy) of the so-called Chinese civilisation...I believe that literature is a great way to observe and explain the development Han Chinese culture. Literature contains a huge amount of social, political, historical, cultural information. It is a great source and gate for understanding China.
I remember few years ago a conversation with a teacher giving us a two semester lecture about modern Chinese literature. In a class break I approached him and directly asked him :"How is it possible that Chinese writers didn't write anything worthwhile during the Mao era? I understand that they were not able to publish anything and had to do so secretly, but I'm wondering how is it possible for someone to don't try to write despite that in secret...?I mean, the situation in the Soviet Union was very similar towards writers and intellectuals,but after the Perestroika there are many manuscripts which were kept hidden by writer's relatives and families and finally saw publication. Some very good works, even masterpieces. " He looked at me (with the kind of look that says " You don't understand Chinese culture") and gave me an explanation that chilled me to the bone: " They didn't write because their families would give them up." But I don't think that Mao is the reason for this complete collapse of the Chinese literary tradition. Th reasons date much further back and (in my view) stem from Chinese culture itself (hence my use of the word 'entropy). Good literary writing is a very creative process, it's a process of sharp observation and understanding, most of all it is an expression of the human condition that can touch and reach the reader in a very special way. A good writer is not someone who sees things so differently, and tels you something you don't 'know' at all, but someone who sees and sees them more sharply, more deeply and most importantly who can point directly to things that you otherwise instinctively always felt, but somehow failed to fully mentally grasp or articulate, a good writer is someone who can put his 'observations' in a language that can 'speak' to you.
Maybe one of the reasons and an explanation why Chinese writers' writing is so mediocre is their their readers' mediocrity?
A blog post by Chinese blog Fool's Mountain What Lies between Chinese Writers and the Nobel Prize got me to go back to this years-old subject of reflection of mine...
I remember few years ago a conversation with a teacher giving us a two semester lecture about modern Chinese literature. In a class break I approached him and directly asked him :"How is it possible that Chinese writers didn't write anything worthwhile during the Mao era? I understand that they were not able to publish anything and had to do so secretly, but I'm wondering how is it possible for someone to don't try to write despite that in secret...?I mean, the situation in the Soviet Union was very similar towards writers and intellectuals,but after the Perestroika there are many manuscripts which were kept hidden by writer's relatives and families and finally saw publication. Some very good works, even masterpieces. " He looked at me (with the kind of look that says " You don't understand Chinese culture") and gave me an explanation that chilled me to the bone: " They didn't write because their families would give them up." But I don't think that Mao is the reason for this complete collapse of the Chinese literary tradition. Th reasons date much further back and (in my view) stem from Chinese culture itself (hence my use of the word 'entropy). Good literary writing is a very creative process, it's a process of sharp observation and understanding, most of all it is an expression of the human condition that can touch and reach the reader in a very special way. A good writer is not someone who sees things so differently, and tels you something you don't 'know' at all, but someone who sees and sees them more sharply, more deeply and most importantly who can point directly to things that you otherwise instinctively always felt, but somehow failed to fully mentally grasp or articulate, a good writer is someone who can put his 'observations' in a language that can 'speak' to you.
Maybe one of the reasons and an explanation why Chinese writers' writing is so mediocre is their their readers' mediocrity?
A blog post by Chinese blog Fool's Mountain What Lies between Chinese Writers and the Nobel Prize got me to go back to this years-old subject of reflection of mine...
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
First Days in Japan - Daily things : Made in China VS Made in Japan
These few days I've been scouting the nearby supermarkets, shops, etc. Main reason to buy some necessary daily things(washing powder, cleaning detergents, etc.), but also see what my options are as concerns daily necessities, i.e.food mainly.'Nearby' actually is not very correct to say, since the nearest decent supermarket is at least 25 minutes walk from the dorm, and another one is two stops away with the railway, plus the 10 or so minutes walk...Problem is, I HATE carrying bags, but it will be unavoidable, I'm afraid.I will definitely have to rearrange my eating habits a great deal. The variety of cheese I could find in the big supermarkets is much worse than say Carrefour in Beijing.And cheese being my main important food, then this news isn't very good. Amazingly, Camembert cheese is a common cheese here, as opposed to say cheddar.Bread predominately is with sugar, but that's not news, in China it was the same.Surprisingly, there is almost a complete lack of choice of imported things. If there are they are impossibly expensive.This also opposed to Beijing Carrefour chain shop at Zhongguancun which for instance I appreciate it now) was very well stocked in imported goods).I still have yet to find where am I going to buy my coffee!Good thing I brought 3 packs of coffee with me. There is coffee, but doesn't seem to be even remotely good...Again, I sigh about having Lavazza in the nearby to my university in Beijing Carrefour store.I remember clearly seeing Lavazza sold in Japan, but that was in Yokohama and Tokyo. It may turn out Kyoto and Uji might just not have it...
Since Friday, when I arrived, I've been eating salads, sandwiches and bread. Salad is usually my main meal anyway, but I'm not used to eating so much bread(since going to China that is, 8 years ago)...My tonight's dinner was (newly just found) whole grain bread (without sugar!)with really nice (also just discovered)cream cheese and fresh tomatoes. For desert - more of the delicious cream cheese with big California raisins. C'est pas mal du tout! (French for : Not bad at all!)
Although I have the facilities, I haven't yet cooked a meal. Bought the main things already, such as cooking oil, pasta, rice...It appears that if I want a warm meal I have to cook it myself.I must say that I was mentally prepared that vegetarian options are very scarce in Japan from my 2 years ago one and a half months visit to Japan.While scouting the supermarkets it inadvertently caught my attention that things are predominantly either made in China, or they originate from Japan.It almost appears as the former are predominant. But it must be admitted that the quality of some of the Chinese made things is at least not bad. Better than the average in China itself.
Another curiosity is that some things I would expect to be easiest to find (such as washing basin) are in fact hard to find!(In comparison,in China washing basins would be readily available in every supermarket... )Yesterday I finally found one, but it took me some searching. In China I had my own washing machine, but here in the dorm it is shared and I have certain doubts how clean it is.It appears I will have to wash most of my clothes by hand unfortunately.
Another shopping connected problem is that everything is in Japanese (even foreign brand names with few exceptions) are written with a Japanese alphabet.And it appears that nobody speaks any English.A fact that makes one wonder since all Asians study English from childhood.
Today I was trying to find some things. It takes a lot of guessing work to get the right thing.I was starving at one point and I bought something that looked like a doughnut (i.e. presumably sweet and no particular danger for vegetarians). Big mistake. I took a bite and discovered it is actually filled with something that is definitely not vegetarian. Took a look at the ingredients at the back of the package (mislead by the look of the snack I didn't do it while picking it up at first)...Can't read Japanese yet, but could distinguish the two Chinese characters for pig and meat, enough for me to just spit out the bite I took and throw the thing away immediately.That will teach me a lesson AGAIN to remember that APPEARANCES almost always ARE MISLEADING!
Weather wise, Japan weather is definitely different from Beijing weather. 3 out of five days it has been raining! That opposed to 6 months of no drop at all in Beijing last Autumn/Winter this is quite a change of climate!
Since Friday, when I arrived, I've been eating salads, sandwiches and bread. Salad is usually my main meal anyway, but I'm not used to eating so much bread(since going to China that is, 8 years ago)...My tonight's dinner was (newly just found) whole grain bread (without sugar!)with really nice (also just discovered)cream cheese and fresh tomatoes. For desert - more of the delicious cream cheese with big California raisins. C'est pas mal du tout! (French for : Not bad at all!)
Although I have the facilities, I haven't yet cooked a meal. Bought the main things already, such as cooking oil, pasta, rice...It appears that if I want a warm meal I have to cook it myself.I must say that I was mentally prepared that vegetarian options are very scarce in Japan from my 2 years ago one and a half months visit to Japan.While scouting the supermarkets it inadvertently caught my attention that things are predominantly either made in China, or they originate from Japan.It almost appears as the former are predominant. But it must be admitted that the quality of some of the Chinese made things is at least not bad. Better than the average in China itself.
Another curiosity is that some things I would expect to be easiest to find (such as washing basin) are in fact hard to find!(In comparison,in China washing basins would be readily available in every supermarket... )Yesterday I finally found one, but it took me some searching. In China I had my own washing machine, but here in the dorm it is shared and I have certain doubts how clean it is.It appears I will have to wash most of my clothes by hand unfortunately.
Another shopping connected problem is that everything is in Japanese (even foreign brand names with few exceptions) are written with a Japanese alphabet.And it appears that nobody speaks any English.A fact that makes one wonder since all Asians study English from childhood.
Today I was trying to find some things. It takes a lot of guessing work to get the right thing.I was starving at one point and I bought something that looked like a doughnut (i.e. presumably sweet and no particular danger for vegetarians). Big mistake. I took a bite and discovered it is actually filled with something that is definitely not vegetarian. Took a look at the ingredients at the back of the package (mislead by the look of the snack I didn't do it while picking it up at first)...Can't read Japanese yet, but could distinguish the two Chinese characters for pig and meat, enough for me to just spit out the bite I took and throw the thing away immediately.That will teach me a lesson AGAIN to remember that APPEARANCES almost always ARE MISLEADING!
Weather wise, Japan weather is definitely different from Beijing weather. 3 out of five days it has been raining! That opposed to 6 months of no drop at all in Beijing last Autumn/Winter this is quite a change of climate!
news feed: Guiding The Public Opinion/Headcleaner
As always China Media Project has an interesting material discussing on media in China. This time what I find most interesting in the recent article Shenzhen’s new media rules: is anyone paying attention? is the observation how Chinese English language propaganda has effectively managed to mislead certain western media. Without knowing, the western media might just be helping the Chinese into 'guiding the public opinion'? It is indeed very alarming! Following the recent tendencies (for instance this year the purposedly huge amount of English language propaganda articles about Tibet) it is not hard to imagine that the recent and planned huge investments in foreign language (English) Chinese propaganda is probably going to pay off. This kind of 'soft power' tactics of the Chinese, unbelievable though it seems might just as well probably going to work like a charm.
We have to just sit and watch. Or do we?!
----
Also, see another recent good and interesting analysis on Chinese media by CMP - More hard words on China’s “war for public opinion” .
We have to just sit and watch. Or do we?!
----
Also, see another recent good and interesting analysis on Chinese media by CMP - More hard words on China’s “war for public opinion” .
"Working for Human Rights is an Act of Compassion" - HHDL
news feed: Dalai Lama gets human rights award in Washington
(AP)Oct. 6th
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers honored the Dalai Lama with a human rights award Tuesday even as President Barack Obama faced harsh criticism for delaying a meeting with the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama and Obama will not meet until after Obama visits Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing in November. China reviles the Dalai Lama and pressures foreign governments not to meet with him. The Obama administration, which needs Chinese support for crucial foreign policy, economic and environmental goals, wants to establish friendly ties between Hu and Obama during next month's visit.
link to the full text of the article:
Dalai Lama receives rights award at Capitol
a link to a video about it with an excerpt from HHDL's speech (by AP)
Dalai Lama set aside by Obama, honored at U.S Capitol (Reuters)
....
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented the award to the Dalai Lama and warned: "Unless we speak out for human rights in China and Tibet, we lose moral authority to speak out for human rights anywhere else in the world."
....
Republican Senator John McCain, who lost last year's presidential election to Obama, also spoke at the ceremony, saying: "The Dalai Lama has spent his life in the passionate, tireless and non-violent defense of his people's right to self-determination and dignity."
...
Obama to meet Dalai Lama after China trip (AFP)
(AP)Oct. 6th
WASHINGTON – Lawmakers honored the Dalai Lama with a human rights award Tuesday even as President Barack Obama faced harsh criticism for delaying a meeting with the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama and Obama will not meet until after Obama visits Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing in November. China reviles the Dalai Lama and pressures foreign governments not to meet with him. The Obama administration, which needs Chinese support for crucial foreign policy, economic and environmental goals, wants to establish friendly ties between Hu and Obama during next month's visit.
link to the full text of the article:
Dalai Lama receives rights award at Capitol
a link to a video about it with an excerpt from HHDL's speech (by AP)
Dalai Lama set aside by Obama, honored at U.S Capitol (Reuters)
....
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented the award to the Dalai Lama and warned: "Unless we speak out for human rights in China and Tibet, we lose moral authority to speak out for human rights anywhere else in the world."
....
Republican Senator John McCain, who lost last year's presidential election to Obama, also spoke at the ceremony, saying: "The Dalai Lama has spent his life in the passionate, tireless and non-violent defense of his people's right to self-determination and dignity."
...
Obama to meet Dalai Lama after China trip (AFP)
Saturday, 3 October 2009
A New Beginning : in the country of the rising Sun
Yesterday, 02 October, local time around 8:30 I arrived in Japan at Kansai Osaka Airport.
After terribly exhausting couple of days, after almost no sleep and rest I begin something completely new in my life.
On the 1st of October I left my hometown boarding an incredibly early flight at 6:20, for which I had to get up 3:45 and practically (since I was packing until 1 AM) didn't even manage to get much sleep. I changed flights at Frankfurt airport, but since there was 7 hours waiting for the transfer flight, I felt more and more exhausted with time. The flight from Frankfurt to Osaka took over 11 hours. I hardly slept a few minutes. Just watched movies.
Meanwhile, before leaving for Japan, on Tuesday there was a cocktail party at the Japanese embassy in my hometown. I was invited to make a short 'thank you' speech. During the cocktail several people approached me and we talked. I chatted quite a long time with the ambassador, a tall, lean and aristocratic man with reported Imperial lineage...It was interesting.
At the reception I also met the students which were going to travel with the same flight to Osaka on a Japanese government scholarship for one year. So during the Frankfurt airport stay and formalities yesterday and today morning we shared company. Today after I arrived at the dormitory at Uji I met some of the new arrivals of foreign students which also will live in my dorm at Ohbaku...We did the formalities for residence together. Actually after spending time with so many new people I felt somewhat lonely and tired listening and talking with people with whom I have very very little in common, but more importantly seemingly very little to want to share with and little I can learn from.
It has been such a long time since anyone has managed to impress and move me emotionally.
Almost immediately after arriving at the dorm we were asked to start doing formalities, and go with one dorm suppervisor (walk for 10 min, take the train for one stop, walk some more) to go to the City Hall. It was raining, and at times even pouring. Feeling extremely tired with no time to even refresh myself it was very exhausting.
Yesterday afternoon/evening, after spending more than 3 hours at Uji City Hall where we applied for foreigner certificate, health insurance, etc. I came back to the dorm finally with the chance to take a shower and start arranging the room.
My new room (in which I can stay for the remaining 6 months)is much smaller than my Beijing dorm room, but it is much better, cleaner and has a balcony. It has a bed, a desk, a small bookshelf, a small fridge, a wardrobe, a kitchen corner with stove, cupboard and sink. MOST importantly I have my own bathroom with shower and toilet! And that is a very important improvement in my living conditions.
Last evening while being busy with taking out things from the huge and heavy parcels I sent to myself from Beijing and trying to (at least start) with finding place for them, someone called my dorm room (it was an elderly Japanese man who is the night shift dorm supervisor). He could speak very little English, but I understood he contacted me to give me the things left for me by a Chinese student I knew by email who has lived at the dorm. I went down (my room is on the 3rd floor of the 5 storey building of the dorm).Meanwhile I discovered the Internet connection in the room doesn't work so I told him, he said he will see to it and after maybe an hour he came to my room bringing a new modem set. He was very kind because it was obvious he wanted me to be able to use Internet immediately so as to contact my parents at home and tell them I arrived safely. (My gsm mobile phone doesn't work here).With half-Japanese and broken English he made me feel his kindness.
The dormitory is too far from the railway. There are hardly any stores and shops around. It is a residential area which so far doesn't promise much. Apparently I'll be preparing my food at the dorm. The eat out options are minimal, if not zero.The good thing is that I will have the conditions to be able to do so. There is a small fridge, stove, a sink and suitable cupboards in the room. Luckily I send a lot of things from Beijing such as I will need daily. Yesterday night I started unpacking and arranging things. Today and tomorrow I will go on doing this, so as my new room gets the feeling of a home.
By the way the parcels I send from Beijing before I left China meanwhile have arrived and where put in my room waiting for me. A Chinese student (the one mentioned above,which was introduced to me by the kind Japanese professor who is my advisor at Kyoto univ.), who has just left the dorm has kindly left me some things, such as a TV set, etc.
The remaining couple of days I intend to go on with arranging the things from my luggage and parcels from China and trying to make the room tidy and homey.
On Monday I'll be going to the main campus of Kyoto University - Yoshida campus, for doing the registration procedures. My classes begin on Friday, 9th Oct.
So the week ahead is going to be for settling in, registration, formalities, etc.
It feels strange, after the 8 years spend in China to begin a new life here.
It feels exciting (and a bit scary) to have many unknown things waiting to happen.
I wish I can somehow take off the burden that I'm carrying from China, but this is more easily said than done...I still feel very sad and lonely.
If not anything else Kyoto is a much better city than Beijing. Much more beautiful, much more cleaner and more pleasant.
And there are the Buddhist temples and Zen gardens that can give me energy and strength.
There is a new language to learn. Actually being in Japan in a sense is a dream come true. Even though it's an old dream. Even though I feel somewhat lost and confused at this point of my life.
It's a new beginning. At a new place.
After terribly exhausting couple of days, after almost no sleep and rest I begin something completely new in my life.
On the 1st of October I left my hometown boarding an incredibly early flight at 6:20, for which I had to get up 3:45 and practically (since I was packing until 1 AM) didn't even manage to get much sleep. I changed flights at Frankfurt airport, but since there was 7 hours waiting for the transfer flight, I felt more and more exhausted with time. The flight from Frankfurt to Osaka took over 11 hours. I hardly slept a few minutes. Just watched movies.
Meanwhile, before leaving for Japan, on Tuesday there was a cocktail party at the Japanese embassy in my hometown. I was invited to make a short 'thank you' speech. During the cocktail several people approached me and we talked. I chatted quite a long time with the ambassador, a tall, lean and aristocratic man with reported Imperial lineage...It was interesting.
At the reception I also met the students which were going to travel with the same flight to Osaka on a Japanese government scholarship for one year. So during the Frankfurt airport stay and formalities yesterday and today morning we shared company. Today after I arrived at the dormitory at Uji I met some of the new arrivals of foreign students which also will live in my dorm at Ohbaku...We did the formalities for residence together. Actually after spending time with so many new people I felt somewhat lonely and tired listening and talking with people with whom I have very very little in common, but more importantly seemingly very little to want to share with and little I can learn from.
It has been such a long time since anyone has managed to impress and move me emotionally.
Almost immediately after arriving at the dorm we were asked to start doing formalities, and go with one dorm suppervisor (walk for 10 min, take the train for one stop, walk some more) to go to the City Hall. It was raining, and at times even pouring. Feeling extremely tired with no time to even refresh myself it was very exhausting.
Yesterday afternoon/evening, after spending more than 3 hours at Uji City Hall where we applied for foreigner certificate, health insurance, etc. I came back to the dorm finally with the chance to take a shower and start arranging the room.
My new room (in which I can stay for the remaining 6 months)is much smaller than my Beijing dorm room, but it is much better, cleaner and has a balcony. It has a bed, a desk, a small bookshelf, a small fridge, a wardrobe, a kitchen corner with stove, cupboard and sink. MOST importantly I have my own bathroom with shower and toilet! And that is a very important improvement in my living conditions.
Last evening while being busy with taking out things from the huge and heavy parcels I sent to myself from Beijing and trying to (at least start) with finding place for them, someone called my dorm room (it was an elderly Japanese man who is the night shift dorm supervisor). He could speak very little English, but I understood he contacted me to give me the things left for me by a Chinese student I knew by email who has lived at the dorm. I went down (my room is on the 3rd floor of the 5 storey building of the dorm).Meanwhile I discovered the Internet connection in the room doesn't work so I told him, he said he will see to it and after maybe an hour he came to my room bringing a new modem set. He was very kind because it was obvious he wanted me to be able to use Internet immediately so as to contact my parents at home and tell them I arrived safely. (My gsm mobile phone doesn't work here).With half-Japanese and broken English he made me feel his kindness.
The dormitory is too far from the railway. There are hardly any stores and shops around. It is a residential area which so far doesn't promise much. Apparently I'll be preparing my food at the dorm. The eat out options are minimal, if not zero.The good thing is that I will have the conditions to be able to do so. There is a small fridge, stove, a sink and suitable cupboards in the room. Luckily I send a lot of things from Beijing such as I will need daily. Yesterday night I started unpacking and arranging things. Today and tomorrow I will go on doing this, so as my new room gets the feeling of a home.
By the way the parcels I send from Beijing before I left China meanwhile have arrived and where put in my room waiting for me. A Chinese student (the one mentioned above,which was introduced to me by the kind Japanese professor who is my advisor at Kyoto univ.), who has just left the dorm has kindly left me some things, such as a TV set, etc.
The remaining couple of days I intend to go on with arranging the things from my luggage and parcels from China and trying to make the room tidy and homey.
On Monday I'll be going to the main campus of Kyoto University - Yoshida campus, for doing the registration procedures. My classes begin on Friday, 9th Oct.
So the week ahead is going to be for settling in, registration, formalities, etc.
It feels strange, after the 8 years spend in China to begin a new life here.
It feels exciting (and a bit scary) to have many unknown things waiting to happen.
I wish I can somehow take off the burden that I'm carrying from China, but this is more easily said than done...I still feel very sad and lonely.
If not anything else Kyoto is a much better city than Beijing. Much more beautiful, much more cleaner and more pleasant.
And there are the Buddhist temples and Zen gardens that can give me energy and strength.
There is a new language to learn. Actually being in Japan in a sense is a dream come true. Even though it's an old dream. Even though I feel somewhat lost and confused at this point of my life.
It's a new beginning. At a new place.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Bread and Circuses : marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist State (UPDATED)
Bread and Circuses is a millennia-old method of keeping the masses under control, which together with the "carrot and stick" approach is the way the CC State uses in order to create "harmony".
Last year was the Beijing Olympics, this year is the upcoming gargantuan parade for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist State this week.
The Big Propaganda Machine is again rolling - Stalinist and Hollywood style.
A video.
No Detail Is Overlooked as China Prepares to Celebrate (New York Times).
And Pictures showing preparations for the October 1st parade.
In addition to the Thursday 60th anniversary, this year is a year of other "sensitive anniversaries", Tibet, Tiananmen, etc, and observation makes one think deeply.
20 years on, on Tiananmen tanks will roll again, but this time there will be cheers and ballons - an indication of mass-amnesia of 1,3 billion people. It is very scary.
Also the escallated ethnic and social tensions (in Tibet and Xinjiang) are showing how far and deep are the exhisting problems and how things are far from "harmonious"...
Connected news articles:
About the social challenges that China faces today:
60 years on, China faces major social struggles (AFP)
China's Internet Censorship Gets "Worse And Worse" Ahead Of 60th Anniversary
China Clamps Down on Internet Ahead of 60th Anniversary
The National Day celebration follows the most violent and sustained unrest against Chinese rule in decades in its far western regions of Xinjiang and Tibet.
Ahead of the parade for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Chinese State which is on the 1st of October China bans foreign tourists from Tibet again!*
*China requires foreigners to obtain special permission to visit Tibet and routinely bars them from all Tibetan minority areas of the country during sensitive periods. The region has been periodically off-limits since riots in March 2008 saw Tibetans protesting Beijing's rule attack Chinese migrants and shops, and torch much of Lhasa's commercial district.
An UPDATE - After the Parade (3rd October):
News feeds about the spectacle:
video
pictures
articles:
Communist China marks 60 years with tanks, kitsch (AP)
China marks 60 years with spectacle of power (Reuters)
On China's 60th anniversary, Tibet wants quiet (The Christian ScienceMonitor)
Another UPDATE:
An interesting analysis of the State sponsored Hollywood-style 'docu-drama style' blockbuster film 'Founding of a Republic' (建国大业) - Reshooting History in a New China Film (TIME).
Last year was the Beijing Olympics, this year is the upcoming gargantuan parade for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist State this week.
The Big Propaganda Machine is again rolling - Stalinist and Hollywood style.
A video.
No Detail Is Overlooked as China Prepares to Celebrate (New York Times).
And Pictures showing preparations for the October 1st parade.
In addition to the Thursday 60th anniversary, this year is a year of other "sensitive anniversaries", Tibet, Tiananmen, etc, and observation makes one think deeply.
20 years on, on Tiananmen tanks will roll again, but this time there will be cheers and ballons - an indication of mass-amnesia of 1,3 billion people. It is very scary.
Also the escallated ethnic and social tensions (in Tibet and Xinjiang) are showing how far and deep are the exhisting problems and how things are far from "harmonious"...
Connected news articles:
About the social challenges that China faces today:
60 years on, China faces major social struggles (AFP)
China's Internet Censorship Gets "Worse And Worse" Ahead Of 60th Anniversary
China Clamps Down on Internet Ahead of 60th Anniversary
The National Day celebration follows the most violent and sustained unrest against Chinese rule in decades in its far western regions of Xinjiang and Tibet.
Ahead of the parade for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Chinese State which is on the 1st of October China bans foreign tourists from Tibet again!*
*China requires foreigners to obtain special permission to visit Tibet and routinely bars them from all Tibetan minority areas of the country during sensitive periods. The region has been periodically off-limits since riots in March 2008 saw Tibetans protesting Beijing's rule attack Chinese migrants and shops, and torch much of Lhasa's commercial district.
An UPDATE - After the Parade (3rd October):
News feeds about the spectacle:
video
pictures
articles:
Communist China marks 60 years with tanks, kitsch (AP)
China marks 60 years with spectacle of power (Reuters)
On China's 60th anniversary, Tibet wants quiet (The Christian ScienceMonitor)
Another UPDATE:
An interesting analysis of the State sponsored Hollywood-style 'docu-drama style' blockbuster film 'Founding of a Republic' (建国大业) - Reshooting History in a New China Film (TIME).
Monday, 28 September 2009
3 days in the mountains
Last week I finally managed to get away and go to P. mountains for 3 days hiking. Previously since I am back I went on two occasions for a day hike to nearby (not so far away from my hometown)mountains, but it's much different to go to a bigger mountain and sleep up there at high altitude away from cities and civilisation. The special physical exhaustion of mountain trekking is something I miss very much yearlong. The way the body feels walking, trekking at higher altitude, with the majestic views of mountains around is something that I cherish very much.
P. is a very majestic and beautiful mountain, but it is also very severe looking and sometimes technically hard for hiking. It has a very stone-hard feeling about it, 'cold' beauty that I can appreciate, but frankly it is not the kind of mountain I feel most comfortable with. I prefer green slopes and softer outlines, forests and rounder hills and ridges...
After a year of almost zero physical exercise I thought that I'm in a very bad shape, but it turned out that it's actually not so bad.
The trek was good and energy-filling apart from the last part of our third day when we climbed down from a dangerously-looking peak.
Here is a photo showing the last peak we climbed on the 3 day of our trekking in P. mountain. The picture shows with a red line the descend path. The technically difficult descend almost led to a tragic outcome, since one of our fellow climbers misstepped and slipped on a stone, damaged his knee and suffered a severe shock that caused loss of cautiousness. I really don't know how, but he managed to regain consciousness and some strength and with much struggle we managed to climb down from the dangerous and technically difficult path and safely went down.
You can see more views from the places I went to this time here. (The pictures are not mine and are not taken this time)
P. is a very majestic and beautiful mountain, but it is also very severe looking and sometimes technically hard for hiking. It has a very stone-hard feeling about it, 'cold' beauty that I can appreciate, but frankly it is not the kind of mountain I feel most comfortable with. I prefer green slopes and softer outlines, forests and rounder hills and ridges...
After a year of almost zero physical exercise I thought that I'm in a very bad shape, but it turned out that it's actually not so bad.
The trek was good and energy-filling apart from the last part of our third day when we climbed down from a dangerously-looking peak.
Here is a photo showing the last peak we climbed on the 3 day of our trekking in P. mountain. The picture shows with a red line the descend path. The technically difficult descend almost led to a tragic outcome, since one of our fellow climbers misstepped and slipped on a stone, damaged his knee and suffered a severe shock that caused loss of cautiousness. I really don't know how, but he managed to regain consciousness and some strength and with much struggle we managed to climb down from the dangerous and technically difficult path and safely went down.
You can see more views from the places I went to this time here. (The pictures are not mine and are not taken this time)
Saturday, 26 September 2009
The exhibition
Here is a link to a web album where I have uploaded some photos showing a part of the exhibition (it's in the cafe of the galery where the exhibition was held that's why there are chairs and tables). The album also contains some selected images which entered the final selection for the exhibition or would have entered if there was enough space...
http://picasaweb.google.com/d.karmapolice/WhereThereAreFliesThereAreAlsoBuddhas?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7t6O6J2qiObw#
I hope this will give those of you who didn't have opportunity to see the photos or the exhibition a chance to have some idea of my latest "project"...
By the way the exhibition ends today...
http://picasaweb.google.com/d.karmapolice/WhereThereAreFliesThereAreAlsoBuddhas?authkey=Gv1sRgCI7t6O6J2qiObw#
I hope this will give those of you who didn't have opportunity to see the photos or the exhibition a chance to have some idea of my latest "project"...
By the way the exhibition ends today...
Is China Now the Climate Change Good Guy? (news feeds)
Having left China almost a month ago, I still keep on tracking (on a daily basis) news about China and keep on following closely the "Rise of China".Climate change without doubt is a question that deeply concerns since it affects the whole Planet, and China has a growing (and alarming) "contribution" to it.With the advancement of the Copenhagen UN meeting where the successor of the Kyoto Protocol is supposed to be signed by world countries the focus on China's involvement is a point that gets much attention, and since China is already the world's N. 1 carbon dioxide emitter (=worst polluter) this attention is very natural, furthermore it is easy to forsee that the fact of China's Rise direct is not going to change any time soon.It is to be noted that Chinese leaders are making a diplomatic effort to show some amount of participation(but really very vague), but frankly I remain really very sceptical about the real value of these almost empty speeches about commitment, since the reality is that Chinese leaders and citizens are in reality very far from being really responsible and concerned about environmental protection and very far from really making any meaningful and truly effective actions.
Here are a few recent news articles that discuss China's recent participation in the climate change:
Is China Now the Climate Change Good Guy? (TIME)
Has China Really Gotten Serious About Climate Change? (TIME)
China to rely on coal 'for long time'(AFP)
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Photographic Exhibition :Where there are flies there are also Buddhas
This is the photo that heads the exhibition and which is featured on the poster too.
The title of the exhibition is :Where there are flies there are also Buddhas (see this older post about explanation of the title).
The exhibition will continue until 26th.
As a matter of fact I actually almost had given up making the exhibition - the very poor organization, the lack of time, lack of money, etc where all reasons that made me give up the idea to make the exhibition, but...As I thought about it more, I decided it is nevertheless worthwhile to make something...So here it is. The opening was yeasterday evening. The lack of time meant that only a few people came for the opening itself, but I hope some people will go and see my photos in the remaining days before the 26th. Fot this exhibition (this is my second photo exhibition, as I believe those of you who know me know) 31 images were selected and exhibited. Mostly these are images from my last trip to Central Tibet (the so-called Tibetan Autonomous Region) in July this year. Only 4 or 5 pictures are taken during other trips from other tibetan regions. I will try to upload more images from the exhibition from the upcoming days and share here...
Yesterday I gave two interviews for the media, hopefully in this way more people will find out about it...
Overall there are many things about I'm not happy about, mainly about the organization...The printing turned out quite good. After a couple of days during which I was completely desperate that nothing decent will come out as a result, I managed to find a place and make quite good prints. The colours are not bad and the overal result of the images is not too bad I think...
But again, as everything was made in a haste, there was no time to do things well in arranging for things, no time to inform the media, no time to invite more people...Hopefully in the coming days somehow people will learn about it and go and see it...
I feel sorry that some people I personally invited and some that promised to come didn't show up at the opening last night...
Anyway. Let's see what happens during the following few days...
Friday, 11 September 2009
all that you leave behind...
It has been a while since my last post. In fact there has been a month since my last post...Although I was very motivated right after returning from my Tibet trip to write a series of posts about it for many reasons I failed to do so meanwhile. Also added is me being aware of how few people actually follow and read my posts, so frankly I feel very discouraged and definitely not very much motivated to write more or more frequently...
Actually, there are more reasons for this blog silence (apart from the discouraging lack of readers and support)...
Meanwhile throughout the whole of August I was extremely busy with shipping, posting, packing...IT IS NOT EASY to pack and leave after 8 years. The amount of books and stuff (especially books) that I realised that I have managed to accumulate made me feel nauseous of buying books for a while. I send most of the things (books) back home to Europe. I send some daily necessities, cosmetics and clothes to Japan. (As I believe most of you know, my next destination from October is Kyoto.)
The cargo will arrive here (back home) after I have left for Japan. I am currently trying to make my mother physiologically prepared for the amount of boxes which will arrive...Unpacking will be who knows when and where...
I send the things to Japan to an address which I know to be my dormitory. Perhaps I am the only person who has ever asked the postal service to send the packages slower (!) since I am afraid that even though I have used the slowest possible (land/sea) mail perhaps my packages will arrive before me.
As of a few days ago, I know that I will be travelling on the 1st of October and will arrive in Osaka on the 2nd of Oct. Luckily there is a pick-up service that will take me on the same day to Kyoto directly to my dorm.
My (Japanese language) classes are scheduled to begin on the 9th of October.
Meanwhile, it has been 11 days since I am back home in Europe. Ever since my arrival I was very busy since the very first day and the first week since my arrival I was busy mainly with organising and doing arrangements for my pending stay in Japan. Issued a new passport(my old one expires soon), went to the Japanese embassy a couple of times for the visa (I have a 2 year visa now) and other formalities. Meanwhile been corresponding with my academic advisor and the international student's office in Kyoto University about formalities and arrangements, etc. So I haven't had chance to rest much. And after the very exhausting last few weeks I do need to rest and relax...I had the intention and wish to make a photo exhibition with my photos from Tibet. I had the films developed in Beijing, but made the paper prints here. It took me 3 days and I printed out most photos in size 13x18 in order to see them and decide. I selected some 50 prints that are good and can make a good exhibition, but as of yesterday I don't believe that the exhibition can happen. Main reason is financial, but also the lack of time to properly make a good organisation and also lack of support and motivation...For now it looks that I will just end up showing the pictures to my friends.
But another main reason why making an exhibition now is not a great idea is my need to have a rest. If I do make the exhibition happen now will mean that I will have absolutely no time to take a break and go somewhere...I feel very exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I have too many things on my mind right now...
The last few weeks in China were very hard. Mainly because of physical exhaustion (the packing and sending of all of my things, working to make the money to pay for it and for two weeks going to a seminar lecture in Buddhism) my last month in China and Beijing was incredibly tense and exhausting...
Emotionally it was very hard too. I left many things undone. Things that were actually in my control to do and I failed to organise myself. But also many things that are beyond my control were also left undone. Going to Japan is maybe not such a great idea. It is too close to China and it will be hard for me to put some things behind...
And as it has been my established "custom" for the past 4 years I cried on the Beijing airport. I hope these will be my last tears of sadness and bitter helplessness on Chinese soil. Ever!
Hm. This didn't turn out as a very cheerful post...But that's how things are...
These days there are good things happening too though. Being home, seeing friends, spending time with my mum, my cat (which is now at the incredible age of (at least) 18 years old! but looks quite healthy and well)...Actually being home feels cozy and relaxing...
Actually, there are more reasons for this blog silence (apart from the discouraging lack of readers and support)...
Meanwhile throughout the whole of August I was extremely busy with shipping, posting, packing...IT IS NOT EASY to pack and leave after 8 years. The amount of books and stuff (especially books) that I realised that I have managed to accumulate made me feel nauseous of buying books for a while. I send most of the things (books) back home to Europe. I send some daily necessities, cosmetics and clothes to Japan. (As I believe most of you know, my next destination from October is Kyoto.)
The cargo will arrive here (back home) after I have left for Japan. I am currently trying to make my mother physiologically prepared for the amount of boxes which will arrive...Unpacking will be who knows when and where...
I send the things to Japan to an address which I know to be my dormitory. Perhaps I am the only person who has ever asked the postal service to send the packages slower (!) since I am afraid that even though I have used the slowest possible (land/sea) mail perhaps my packages will arrive before me.
As of a few days ago, I know that I will be travelling on the 1st of October and will arrive in Osaka on the 2nd of Oct. Luckily there is a pick-up service that will take me on the same day to Kyoto directly to my dorm.
My (Japanese language) classes are scheduled to begin on the 9th of October.
Meanwhile, it has been 11 days since I am back home in Europe. Ever since my arrival I was very busy since the very first day and the first week since my arrival I was busy mainly with organising and doing arrangements for my pending stay in Japan. Issued a new passport(my old one expires soon), went to the Japanese embassy a couple of times for the visa (I have a 2 year visa now) and other formalities. Meanwhile been corresponding with my academic advisor and the international student's office in Kyoto University about formalities and arrangements, etc. So I haven't had chance to rest much. And after the very exhausting last few weeks I do need to rest and relax...I had the intention and wish to make a photo exhibition with my photos from Tibet. I had the films developed in Beijing, but made the paper prints here. It took me 3 days and I printed out most photos in size 13x18 in order to see them and decide. I selected some 50 prints that are good and can make a good exhibition, but as of yesterday I don't believe that the exhibition can happen. Main reason is financial, but also the lack of time to properly make a good organisation and also lack of support and motivation...For now it looks that I will just end up showing the pictures to my friends.
But another main reason why making an exhibition now is not a great idea is my need to have a rest. If I do make the exhibition happen now will mean that I will have absolutely no time to take a break and go somewhere...I feel very exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I have too many things on my mind right now...
The last few weeks in China were very hard. Mainly because of physical exhaustion (the packing and sending of all of my things, working to make the money to pay for it and for two weeks going to a seminar lecture in Buddhism) my last month in China and Beijing was incredibly tense and exhausting...
Emotionally it was very hard too. I left many things undone. Things that were actually in my control to do and I failed to organise myself. But also many things that are beyond my control were also left undone. Going to Japan is maybe not such a great idea. It is too close to China and it will be hard for me to put some things behind...
And as it has been my established "custom" for the past 4 years I cried on the Beijing airport. I hope these will be my last tears of sadness and bitter helplessness on Chinese soil. Ever!
Hm. This didn't turn out as a very cheerful post...But that's how things are...
These days there are good things happening too though. Being home, seeing friends, spending time with my mum, my cat (which is now at the incredible age of (at least) 18 years old! but looks quite healthy and well)...Actually being home feels cozy and relaxing...
Friday, 7 August 2009
China contributes much to increasing of green gas gases, but will do little to the reducing of climate change
China refuses to budge on greenhouse gases (AFP)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090805/sc_afp/chinaclimatewarmingun_20090805160124
BEIJING (AFP) – China refused to budge Wednesday on its demands that rich nations commit to large greenhouse gas cuts at upcoming climate change talks, while also declining to put a ceiling on its own emissions.
China and other developing nations will call on rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels at negotiations in Copenhagen in December, said Yu Qingtai, China's top climate negotiator.
"We have all along believed that due to the historical responsibility of the developed nations, they must continue to take the lead with large reductions beyond 2012," Yu told reporters.
We "have demanded that developed nations reduce emissions by 40 percent... this is fair and reasonable... China's position has not changed."
The December negotiations are aimed at hammering out a new climate change pact to replace the Kyoto protocol that expires in 2012.
As a developing nation with low per-capita emissions, China is not required to set emissions cuts under the UN Framework on Climate Change.
The European Union has said it will slash emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared with the 1990 level.
The US Congress is considering legislation that would reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases along with the United States, has said neither of the cuts are enough.
.....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090805/sc_afp/chinaclimatewarmingun_20090805160124
BEIJING (AFP) – China refused to budge Wednesday on its demands that rich nations commit to large greenhouse gas cuts at upcoming climate change talks, while also declining to put a ceiling on its own emissions.
China and other developing nations will call on rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels at negotiations in Copenhagen in December, said Yu Qingtai, China's top climate negotiator.
"We have all along believed that due to the historical responsibility of the developed nations, they must continue to take the lead with large reductions beyond 2012," Yu told reporters.
We "have demanded that developed nations reduce emissions by 40 percent... this is fair and reasonable... China's position has not changed."
The December negotiations are aimed at hammering out a new climate change pact to replace the Kyoto protocol that expires in 2012.
As a developing nation with low per-capita emissions, China is not required to set emissions cuts under the UN Framework on Climate Change.
The European Union has said it will slash emissions by 20 percent by 2020 compared with the 1990 level.
The US Congress is considering legislation that would reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020.
China, the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases along with the United States, has said neither of the cuts are enough.
.....
Friday, 31 July 2009
Where there are flies, there are also Buddhas...
人有れば蝿あり仏ありにけり
hito areba hae ari hotoke ari ni keri
where there's people
there's flies
and Buddhas
Kobayashi Issa *
1823
This is a Zen (Chan) Buddhist haiku by 19 century haiku-poet Kobayashi Issa. I have always enjoyed his simple, rural haiku, filled with irony, humor and undistilled Zen...
This haiku came up to my mind at one point of my recent Tibet journey. At one of the last points of the itinerary of the trip, in the very remote Sakya, there were so many flies that one had to wave ones hands all the time to avoid their landing on food, etc. Sakya is most notable (and named after) the famous monastery of one of the 4 most important Tibetan Buddhist sects, Sakya sect.Our objective of visiting Sakya was of course the famous monastery there...
Issa's haiku suddenly came up in my mind.
At this very remote, and very very poor place, I remembered Issa's haiku, which in an amazing and 'acurate" way described the whole trip...
People, flies and Buddhas.
I had a sort of revelation.
In Mahayana Buddhism EVERYONE has the potential to be a Buddha. Everyone. People, dogs, flies...Me, you.
I choose this paraphrased sentence of Issa's haiku, i.e. "Where there are flies, there are also Buddhas..." as the title of my Tibet's trip posts...I actually very much hope I can be able to organise a photographic exhibition in my hometown in the upcoming September with this title...Keep your fingers crossed!
Meanwhile. These past few days I have been caught in the net of having to do (and think) about other things which prevented me from initiating the posts about the Tibet trip...Another reason is my incapability to upload any pictures, which greatly upsets my plans for artfully/beautifully presented posts...The censorship's grip has become even tighter, lately it's hard to figure a way to go past it...
Meanwhile, at least titlewise I managed to outline some basic starting points of my recount of the trip...Actually I was very excited about the conceptual idea of putting my experiences, obsrvations and thoughts together...Kind of a project...
Anyway I will try to organise the upcoming Tibet trip related posts more or less in the following order:
The Itinerary
Altitude, Nature and Views
The Colonization of Tibet
Pilgrim's Path
Monasteries, Temples and Stupas
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
Monks
Nuns
Khadags, prayer flags, butter tea and tsampa
No-harming of Sentient Life
Discussions, Debates and Raised Questions
Daily Needs
Lhasa, Towns and Villages
Museums
Photography Moments and Shots
Fellow Travelers
The Perpetually Weeping Bodhisattva
Chödröl
....
* Kobayashi Issa is without doubt one of my most favourite poets. His rural Zen Buddhist "sudden enlightenment" poems are one of the reasons why I find myself here in Asia, studying It's languages and cultures...From October based in Kyoto,I will do my best to learn Japanese if not for other reason then at least to be able to fully appreciate his (and other haiku poets') poems in original...
Here is a link to Kobayashi Issa haiku if you want to check out more of his poems. On this site there are more than 9,000!
http://haikuguy.com/issa/index.html
hito areba hae ari hotoke ari ni keri
where there's people
there's flies
and Buddhas
Kobayashi Issa *
1823
This is a Zen (Chan) Buddhist haiku by 19 century haiku-poet Kobayashi Issa. I have always enjoyed his simple, rural haiku, filled with irony, humor and undistilled Zen...
This haiku came up to my mind at one point of my recent Tibet journey. At one of the last points of the itinerary of the trip, in the very remote Sakya, there were so many flies that one had to wave ones hands all the time to avoid their landing on food, etc. Sakya is most notable (and named after) the famous monastery of one of the 4 most important Tibetan Buddhist sects, Sakya sect.Our objective of visiting Sakya was of course the famous monastery there...
Issa's haiku suddenly came up in my mind.
At this very remote, and very very poor place, I remembered Issa's haiku, which in an amazing and 'acurate" way described the whole trip...
People, flies and Buddhas.
I had a sort of revelation.
In Mahayana Buddhism EVERYONE has the potential to be a Buddha. Everyone. People, dogs, flies...Me, you.
I choose this paraphrased sentence of Issa's haiku, i.e. "Where there are flies, there are also Buddhas..." as the title of my Tibet's trip posts...I actually very much hope I can be able to organise a photographic exhibition in my hometown in the upcoming September with this title...Keep your fingers crossed!
Meanwhile. These past few days I have been caught in the net of having to do (and think) about other things which prevented me from initiating the posts about the Tibet trip...Another reason is my incapability to upload any pictures, which greatly upsets my plans for artfully/beautifully presented posts...The censorship's grip has become even tighter, lately it's hard to figure a way to go past it...
Meanwhile, at least titlewise I managed to outline some basic starting points of my recount of the trip...Actually I was very excited about the conceptual idea of putting my experiences, obsrvations and thoughts together...Kind of a project...
Anyway I will try to organise the upcoming Tibet trip related posts more or less in the following order:
The Itinerary
Altitude, Nature and Views
The Colonization of Tibet
Pilgrim's Path
Monasteries, Temples and Stupas
Buddha, Dharma and Sangha
Monks
Nuns
Khadags, prayer flags, butter tea and tsampa
No-harming of Sentient Life
Discussions, Debates and Raised Questions
Daily Needs
Lhasa, Towns and Villages
Museums
Photography Moments and Shots
Fellow Travelers
The Perpetually Weeping Bodhisattva
Chödröl
....
* Kobayashi Issa is without doubt one of my most favourite poets. His rural Zen Buddhist "sudden enlightenment" poems are one of the reasons why I find myself here in Asia, studying It's languages and cultures...From October based in Kyoto,I will do my best to learn Japanese if not for other reason then at least to be able to fully appreciate his (and other haiku poets') poems in original...
Here is a link to Kobayashi Issa haiku if you want to check out more of his poems. On this site there are more than 9,000!
http://haikuguy.com/issa/index.html
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Why Rebiya Kadeer is not the Dalai Lama. Why Xinjiang is not Tibet.
There has been almost a month since the tumultuous and bloody events in early July in Xinjiang.
It was a very important and thought provoking event with many complex reasons and implications.
Quite deservedly there have been many commentaries and analysis.
Unlike the events from March last year when for quite sometime Tibetans rose up in different parts of Tibetan territories for quite some time. Which prompted heavy military crush of the dissent,
and troubles during the international Olympic torch relay, which in turn spurred unseen nationalistic surge among the Han Chinese, the bloody events in Urumqi did not last for that long, and did not cause quite the effect of last years events.
But both events have their shared similarities, but also there are many differences as well.
I also have been thinking about the events, I'll try to express a few of my thoughts about the question...
Firstly,a really must-read post at the very good China blog "the China Beat":
The Urumchi Unrest Revisited
http://thechinabeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/reflecting-on-urumchi-events.html
(for those of you in China, since this is a blog on blocked by Chinese authorities site, i.e. the same one as my blog's, this link can be only opened by proxy or another means of circumvention of the Great Firewall)
A good post by Evan Osnos about the re-drawal of two Chinese film directors from Melbourn film festival...
Jia Zhangke and Rebiya Kadeer
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/07/jia-zhangke-rebiya-kadeer.html
In the usual (and extremely imbecile) way Chinese local and central authorities said the ethnic and race violence in Urumqi was "an organised and plotted act by foreign hostile forces, lead by the "terrorist" Rabia Kadder".
That's a claim that the Chinese CG claims to have prove of, but has yet to provide evidence of, but we can reasonably doubt such claim's credibility.
The parallel with last year is obvious. Dalai Lama (and "his separatist forces") was said to have plotted the demonstrations, violence and riots of the Tibetans. A claim that the Chinese authorities NEVER really showed a prove of.
It was a very important and thought provoking event with many complex reasons and implications.
Quite deservedly there have been many commentaries and analysis.
Unlike the events from March last year when for quite sometime Tibetans rose up in different parts of Tibetan territories for quite some time. Which prompted heavy military crush of the dissent,
and troubles during the international Olympic torch relay, which in turn spurred unseen nationalistic surge among the Han Chinese, the bloody events in Urumqi did not last for that long, and did not cause quite the effect of last years events.
But both events have their shared similarities, but also there are many differences as well.
I also have been thinking about the events, I'll try to express a few of my thoughts about the question...
Firstly,a really must-read post at the very good China blog "the China Beat":
The Urumchi Unrest Revisited
http://thechinabeat.blogspot.com/2009/07/reflecting-on-urumchi-events.html
(for those of you in China, since this is a blog on blocked by Chinese authorities site, i.e. the same one as my blog's, this link can be only opened by proxy or another means of circumvention of the Great Firewall)
A good post by Evan Osnos about the re-drawal of two Chinese film directors from Melbourn film festival...
Jia Zhangke and Rebiya Kadeer
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/evanosnos/2009/07/jia-zhangke-rebiya-kadeer.html
In the usual (and extremely imbecile) way Chinese local and central authorities said the ethnic and race violence in Urumqi was "an organised and plotted act by foreign hostile forces, lead by the "terrorist" Rabia Kadder".
That's a claim that the Chinese CG claims to have prove of, but has yet to provide evidence of, but we can reasonably doubt such claim's credibility.
The parallel with last year is obvious. Dalai Lama (and "his separatist forces") was said to have plotted the demonstrations, violence and riots of the Tibetans. A claim that the Chinese authorities NEVER really showed a prove of.
Monday, 27 July 2009
China Strong (black humor mock-newspaper article)
While I'm trying to organise my thoughts and impressions about my recent Tibet trip, and hopefully start a series of posts about it very soon, I'm also, (news "hungry", since for at least 2 weeks didn't read or follow news much) trying to catch up with news and events that happened meanwhile while I was on the road...
Needless to even doubt it, the biggest news for the past two weeks was the Urumqi ethnic violence which erupted just a day before I took off from Beijing...
I'm also trying to catch up on reading posts on blogs I'm following...
Following a link from Evan Osnos' LETTER FROM CHINA ( a very good China blog) on the New Yorker, came across a very funny mock-edition of newspaper called "The Onion" which recently had a China-dedicated edition...
Below is a short China related article in The Onion that I find quite funny (and short enough) to reprint...
CHINA STRONG
NEW YORK—According to all sources, the People's Republic of China is strong. The nation is united, the military unmatched, the economy vibrant, and the people ever joyful.
Similarly correct sources verified that China has always been triumphant.
In other news, the Chinese government is fair, all-knowing, and wise, propelled by the strength of two billion loyal hands, all pulling together as one under the Great Celestial Bureaucracy high above.
Experts all agreed that there can be no question of this claim, as this claim is the truth.
As of press time, the brute and inexpressive English language could not convey the full magnificence of China, nor its excellence in every arena, nor the protective warmth of the red sun that shines forever on its borders, nor the innumerable glories of its Great Leaders.
New reports also indicate that China will grow stronger yet. 鱼
link:
China Strong
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/china_strong
Needless to even doubt it, the biggest news for the past two weeks was the Urumqi ethnic violence which erupted just a day before I took off from Beijing...
I'm also trying to catch up on reading posts on blogs I'm following...
Following a link from Evan Osnos' LETTER FROM CHINA ( a very good China blog) on the New Yorker, came across a very funny mock-edition of newspaper called "The Onion" which recently had a China-dedicated edition...
Below is a short China related article in The Onion that I find quite funny (and short enough) to reprint...
CHINA STRONG
NEW YORK—According to all sources, the People's Republic of China is strong. The nation is united, the military unmatched, the economy vibrant, and the people ever joyful.
Similarly correct sources verified that China has always been triumphant.
In other news, the Chinese government is fair, all-knowing, and wise, propelled by the strength of two billion loyal hands, all pulling together as one under the Great Celestial Bureaucracy high above.
Experts all agreed that there can be no question of this claim, as this claim is the truth.
As of press time, the brute and inexpressive English language could not convey the full magnificence of China, nor its excellence in every arena, nor the protective warmth of the red sun that shines forever on its borders, nor the innumerable glories of its Great Leaders.
New reports also indicate that China will grow stronger yet. 鱼
link:
China Strong
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/china_strong
Thursday, 23 July 2009
Pilgrimage To The Land Of Snows
I'm just back from Tibet.
I came back late last night and the rich mix of experiences, impressions, thoughts, feelings boil in me...It's quite strange to find myself in my old room that I have lived in for 7 years, back to the city that I have considered "home" for 8 years...
It's quite a big difference. Not a difference that can be measured in the cities difference in development. It's a difference of soul.
For me Beijing has no soul. Tibet has.
I don't know quite how to "adapt" to my old self, and I'm really not sure if I wish to...
For at least couple of weeks I have almost completely forgotten about my long-time sorrow and sadness, my loss of motivation and purpose...
I'm not quite uncertain how to express most of my thoughts and observations which are many and put some of them into words.
No doubt. It was a trip which in my current confused emotional state I needed badly. A new experience to hopefully stir change. I haven't traveled for very long.
At this time that I find myself at my life's crossroads, with big changes awaiting, a trip like this came as a gift...
Perhaps deeply inside I was asking for some turn for the better in the way things are...
So it was more of a pilgrimage than any trip I have taken.
Visiting temples and "power places" in the land where native people still believe mountains and lakes to posses unimaginable great powers over humans...A land where there are god-like spirits to be made tame by offerings made by the pilgrims...Having seen the vast expanses of the majestic land is Tibet I can't help seeing the "logic" in this expressed reverence for Nature...One is simply dwarfed among the vast expance of endless land, high mountains and mountains...
At least before the Han Chinese came with tanks, buldozers and railways to "tame" the land...
Hm, I actually don't even know from where to start relating my trip's experiences and observations...A couple of recent comments encouraged me to try to share some of it here. I will try to do my best and somehow organize things in my head and heart and make it somehow post-able.
There are too many things that have stirred my deep thoughts and deeply impressed me. Personal, spiritual, political, ethnical, social...
I took many pictures, but only very few are digital since I'm very 'oldfashioned' and use still obstinately film and a completely manualy operated camera...
I have a feeling for some very good shots, but that remains to be seen when I manage to develop them...For now, I have 25 films in my fridge...
Apart from taking many pictures and enjoying nature, undoubdedly I saw many things that stirred my deep reflexion on many issues...
The intimidating military armed patrols all over Lhasa and Tibet, the control, the obvious colonization process that is underway, the extreme poverty, the problems of modernization, the destruction and rebuilding, the overwhelming landscape that has moulded this land's people culture...This trip gave raise to many questions and many musings...
I will try my best to put at least some of them in some kind of order and share them here as a series of posts...
It was a good trip. Very rich in experiences and observations. As nearer to a "spiritual trip" as I have been.
I'm asking myself - in what capacity was I - a traveler, a researcher, a photographer, a pilgrim, or merely just a tourist?!
Perhaps a bit of all.
Somehow on some level deeply I probably hope to have "gained" enough merit with all the homage that I paid to Buddha images and altars, the offered kataks (katak, or "hada" in Chinese pronuncion,is a white Tibetan silken/flaxen scarves used as offering objects at temples, etc.), with all the khorras (khorra is circumambulation, or walking around an object of reverence)around statues and temples...enough to turn the wheel of my life in a new positive direction and stop the sorrow of loss and the feeling of lack of motivation...
I don't know if this very close to religious experience will have this result. But if nothing else I got a new name. A Tibetan name. For more than 8 years I had a Chinese name and many people that I have met for the last years knew me as my Chinese self.
I got asked a few times if I'm a Buddhist. I answered affirmatively. I'm not religious, but yes, my worldview is undoubtedly Buddhist. I see no contradiction. In many ways I'm a practicing Buddhist, without being a religious follower, without believing in prayers and rituals, without feeling affiliation to a community of others, there are many things in my way of life, in my understanding and ideas that make me such. So if I have to label myself I would not mind terribly labelling myself as a Buddhist.
It's not a matter of religious faith, it's a matter of accepting as true some (or most) of the explanations of human existence that Buddhist idea offers.
At the same time although I feel very remote from the Tibetan Buddhism, and hardly know anything deeply about it, each time during my travels the experiences in Tibetan Buddhist temples have brought me the closest to a religious experience...
During this trip I got a new name. I see this now as standing out with a special significance.
My new name is Chödröl, which translated means Dharma Tara, Tara of the Teaching. Tara (or especially as i am told the White Tara which my new name implies, is a female Buddha painted in white, a peaceful image in many Tibetan murals and statues)...I was given this name by the nuns in the Sakya nunnery in Southern Tibet. They were very kind and hospitable and I feel very honored to be given this name by them...
So with a new name I hope I can have a chance for a new, fresh start.
I wish I had enough wisdom to see trough all the sorrow and the things that make me sad even now...Just enough to be able to take a breath and look around myself clearly with hope...
Having experienced the physical shortness of air and oxygen in the high altitudes of Tibet I realize that I have almost stopped 'breathing' during the past couple of years...
I need to start anew somehow.
With a new name, a name full of positive power, I hope I will somehow manage to turn the Wheel...
I came back late last night and the rich mix of experiences, impressions, thoughts, feelings boil in me...It's quite strange to find myself in my old room that I have lived in for 7 years, back to the city that I have considered "home" for 8 years...
It's quite a big difference. Not a difference that can be measured in the cities difference in development. It's a difference of soul.
For me Beijing has no soul. Tibet has.
I don't know quite how to "adapt" to my old self, and I'm really not sure if I wish to...
For at least couple of weeks I have almost completely forgotten about my long-time sorrow and sadness, my loss of motivation and purpose...
I'm not quite uncertain how to express most of my thoughts and observations which are many and put some of them into words.
No doubt. It was a trip which in my current confused emotional state I needed badly. A new experience to hopefully stir change. I haven't traveled for very long.
At this time that I find myself at my life's crossroads, with big changes awaiting, a trip like this came as a gift...
Perhaps deeply inside I was asking for some turn for the better in the way things are...
So it was more of a pilgrimage than any trip I have taken.
Visiting temples and "power places" in the land where native people still believe mountains and lakes to posses unimaginable great powers over humans...A land where there are god-like spirits to be made tame by offerings made by the pilgrims...Having seen the vast expanses of the majestic land is Tibet I can't help seeing the "logic" in this expressed reverence for Nature...One is simply dwarfed among the vast expance of endless land, high mountains and mountains...
At least before the Han Chinese came with tanks, buldozers and railways to "tame" the land...
Hm, I actually don't even know from where to start relating my trip's experiences and observations...A couple of recent comments encouraged me to try to share some of it here. I will try to do my best and somehow organize things in my head and heart and make it somehow post-able.
There are too many things that have stirred my deep thoughts and deeply impressed me. Personal, spiritual, political, ethnical, social...
I took many pictures, but only very few are digital since I'm very 'oldfashioned' and use still obstinately film and a completely manualy operated camera...
I have a feeling for some very good shots, but that remains to be seen when I manage to develop them...For now, I have 25 films in my fridge...
Apart from taking many pictures and enjoying nature, undoubdedly I saw many things that stirred my deep reflexion on many issues...
The intimidating military armed patrols all over Lhasa and Tibet, the control, the obvious colonization process that is underway, the extreme poverty, the problems of modernization, the destruction and rebuilding, the overwhelming landscape that has moulded this land's people culture...This trip gave raise to many questions and many musings...
I will try my best to put at least some of them in some kind of order and share them here as a series of posts...
It was a good trip. Very rich in experiences and observations. As nearer to a "spiritual trip" as I have been.
I'm asking myself - in what capacity was I - a traveler, a researcher, a photographer, a pilgrim, or merely just a tourist?!
Perhaps a bit of all.
Somehow on some level deeply I probably hope to have "gained" enough merit with all the homage that I paid to Buddha images and altars, the offered kataks (katak, or "hada" in Chinese pronuncion,is a white Tibetan silken/flaxen scarves used as offering objects at temples, etc.), with all the khorras (khorra is circumambulation, or walking around an object of reverence)around statues and temples...enough to turn the wheel of my life in a new positive direction and stop the sorrow of loss and the feeling of lack of motivation...
I don't know if this very close to religious experience will have this result. But if nothing else I got a new name. A Tibetan name. For more than 8 years I had a Chinese name and many people that I have met for the last years knew me as my Chinese self.
I got asked a few times if I'm a Buddhist. I answered affirmatively. I'm not religious, but yes, my worldview is undoubtedly Buddhist. I see no contradiction. In many ways I'm a practicing Buddhist, without being a religious follower, without believing in prayers and rituals, without feeling affiliation to a community of others, there are many things in my way of life, in my understanding and ideas that make me such. So if I have to label myself I would not mind terribly labelling myself as a Buddhist.
It's not a matter of religious faith, it's a matter of accepting as true some (or most) of the explanations of human existence that Buddhist idea offers.
At the same time although I feel very remote from the Tibetan Buddhism, and hardly know anything deeply about it, each time during my travels the experiences in Tibetan Buddhist temples have brought me the closest to a religious experience...
During this trip I got a new name. I see this now as standing out with a special significance.
My new name is Chödröl, which translated means Dharma Tara, Tara of the Teaching. Tara (or especially as i am told the White Tara which my new name implies, is a female Buddha painted in white, a peaceful image in many Tibetan murals and statues)...I was given this name by the nuns in the Sakya nunnery in Southern Tibet. They were very kind and hospitable and I feel very honored to be given this name by them...
So with a new name I hope I can have a chance for a new, fresh start.
I wish I had enough wisdom to see trough all the sorrow and the things that make me sad even now...Just enough to be able to take a breath and look around myself clearly with hope...
Having experienced the physical shortness of air and oxygen in the high altitudes of Tibet I realize that I have almost stopped 'breathing' during the past couple of years...
I need to start anew somehow.
With a new name, a name full of positive power, I hope I will somehow manage to turn the Wheel...
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Dalai Lama calls for democracy and reform for the future Tibetan leadership
(This is a scheduled post...I'm actually not in Beijing right now, but I believe this is news worth mentioning...And since I'm not going to be posting for a while I have made this a scheduled post...And since my trip is to the "Land of Snows" this news is relevant in a way too...)
Dalai Lama says favours democratic leadership
(Reuters)The Dalai Lama has encouraged Tibetans in exile to embrace the democratic system of electing a leader, saying it was essential to keep step with the larger world and to ensure the continuity of their government.
In a video clip shown to hundreds of monks, nuns and lay people in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala late on Saturday, the 73-year-old also said it was no longer essential to thrust spiritual and political leadership on one person.
"The Dalai Lamas held temporal and spiritual leadership over the last 400-500 years. It may have been quite useful. But that period is over," the Nobel Prize winner said in the clip, according to a translated transcript.
"Today, it is clear to the whole world that democracy is the best system despite its minor negativities. That is why it is important that Tibetans also move with the larger world community," he said.
The Dalai Lama has suggested before it is up to Tibetans whether they continue with the spiritual institution after he dies, and could order an election among Tibetans abroad.
"When we put the whole responsibility in the person of the Dalai Lama, it is dangerous ... it is appropriate that a democratically elected leader lead a people's movement," he said.
"In reality, a change is happening in the responsibility of the Dalai Lama as the temporal and spiritual leader. This, I think, is very good ... a religious leader having to assume political leadership, that period is over," he said.
"As election takes place every five years, irrespective of whether the Dalai Lama is there or not, the exiled political system will remain secure, stable and sustainable in the long term," he said in the clip broadcast on Saturday.
See the full Reuters news report at
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090621/tpl-uk-tibet-dalailama-b3150e0.html
-------------
Dalai Lama says favours democratic leadership
(Reuters)The Dalai Lama has encouraged Tibetans in exile to embrace the democratic system of electing a leader, saying it was essential to keep step with the larger world and to ensure the continuity of their government.
In a video clip shown to hundreds of monks, nuns and lay people in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala late on Saturday, the 73-year-old also said it was no longer essential to thrust spiritual and political leadership on one person.
"The Dalai Lamas held temporal and spiritual leadership over the last 400-500 years. It may have been quite useful. But that period is over," the Nobel Prize winner said in the clip, according to a translated transcript.
"Today, it is clear to the whole world that democracy is the best system despite its minor negativities. That is why it is important that Tibetans also move with the larger world community," he said.
The Dalai Lama has suggested before it is up to Tibetans whether they continue with the spiritual institution after he dies, and could order an election among Tibetans abroad.
"When we put the whole responsibility in the person of the Dalai Lama, it is dangerous ... it is appropriate that a democratically elected leader lead a people's movement," he said.
"In reality, a change is happening in the responsibility of the Dalai Lama as the temporal and spiritual leader. This, I think, is very good ... a religious leader having to assume political leadership, that period is over," he said.
"As election takes place every five years, irrespective of whether the Dalai Lama is there or not, the exiled political system will remain secure, stable and sustainable in the long term," he said in the clip broadcast on Saturday.
See the full Reuters news report at
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090621/tpl-uk-tibet-dalailama-b3150e0.html
-------------
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Trip To The Roof Of The World
As some of you know well, I am away at the moment...
If everything goes as scheduled I am already in Tibet (proper)!*
It is a trip I have long wanted to make...and have been really looking forward to these few weeks...
I have 30 colour films for my camera. The chances are I am going to probably use them all and even at some point wonder why didn't I get more...but let's see...
It has been a LONG time since I was on a trip and almost as long since I took pictures...I'm really looking forward to it...
Will probably and hopefully post more and much when I get back...
At this moment I'm on The Roof of The World!!!
This is probably the closest to the sky and stars I will get...
* By which I mean TAR (Tibetan Autonomous Region).
I have made several different trips during the span of the last 8 years to other Tibetan regions and areas on the Qing-Tibetan Plateu, to some Tibetan autonomous regions in Si Chuan, Gan Su, Qing Hai and Yun Nan Provinces, but this will be my first trip to the so-called U-Zang region.
---------------
UPDATE:
(The Great Firewall of China doesn't allow me to have the capability of posting a comment in my own blog...so I answer here...)
Hey,Thanks for the comments and encouragement!
Will do my best to post as much as possible about the trip...
"Just a girl", thanks for the interest! I'm quite flattered that my blog has caught the attention of strangers...
Dear M. I laughed at your funny and witty comment (I'm sure it was your intention to make me laugh. It is appreciated), but no, I'm sorry, I didn't meet Karlsson anywhere...hm, some travelers of old claim to have seen levitating/flying Buddhist lamas/monks in Tibet...I was not so fortunate ;)
Saw a few Tibetan antelopes and a couple of wild foxes, many many pilgrims and some monks, marching military and tourists, but no flying humanoids on the Roof...But now that I think about it, I saw at least two snipers, Han Chinese soldiers, based on the roofs of Lhasa...
If everything goes as scheduled I am already in Tibet (proper)!*
It is a trip I have long wanted to make...and have been really looking forward to these few weeks...
I have 30 colour films for my camera. The chances are I am going to probably use them all and even at some point wonder why didn't I get more...but let's see...
It has been a LONG time since I was on a trip and almost as long since I took pictures...I'm really looking forward to it...
Will probably and hopefully post more and much when I get back...
At this moment I'm on The Roof of The World!!!
This is probably the closest to the sky and stars I will get...
* By which I mean TAR (Tibetan Autonomous Region).
I have made several different trips during the span of the last 8 years to other Tibetan regions and areas on the Qing-Tibetan Plateu, to some Tibetan autonomous regions in Si Chuan, Gan Su, Qing Hai and Yun Nan Provinces, but this will be my first trip to the so-called U-Zang region.
---------------
UPDATE:
(The Great Firewall of China doesn't allow me to have the capability of posting a comment in my own blog...so I answer here...)
Hey,Thanks for the comments and encouragement!
Will do my best to post as much as possible about the trip...
"Just a girl", thanks for the interest! I'm quite flattered that my blog has caught the attention of strangers...
Dear M. I laughed at your funny and witty comment (I'm sure it was your intention to make me laugh. It is appreciated), but no, I'm sorry, I didn't meet Karlsson anywhere...hm, some travelers of old claim to have seen levitating/flying Buddhist lamas/monks in Tibet...I was not so fortunate ;)
Saw a few Tibetan antelopes and a couple of wild foxes, many many pilgrims and some monks, marching military and tourists, but no flying humanoids on the Roof...But now that I think about it, I saw at least two snipers, Han Chinese soldiers, based on the roofs of Lhasa...
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Film: Seven Pounds
In an earnest effort to reduce the China-related posts, here is a post about a film that I watched the last couple of days and which impressed me for several reasons...
The film is "Seven Pounds", and though produced and filmed in the United Stated is unconventional for an American movie. Apart from the incredibly talanted performance of Will Smith, the beautiful music, great direction (the same director who made the very beautiful movie "The Pursuit of Happiness" again with Will Smith as the lead actor), etc. the most important that makes this film stand out is the story.
It's a story about goodness, self-sacrifice for the sake of the well-being of others and love. And while I'm sure that the makers of this movie are perhaps completely unaware of it's Buddhist connotations, for me it touched on topics that I am very much emotionally or academicaly interested in...It's actually very closely connected in a way with the topic of my theses - bodily self-sacrifice in order to safe someone else's life...It's also a very unconventional gentle love story involving self-sacrifice. Me, being uncurably romantic and naive as I am, find such story moving, touching and "real".I don't wish to give out more of the plot because it is interesting to watch without knowing what is actually happening.
Highly recommend this film.
It's a film that is very human and thought provoking. The best kind.
The film is "Seven Pounds", and though produced and filmed in the United Stated is unconventional for an American movie. Apart from the incredibly talanted performance of Will Smith, the beautiful music, great direction (the same director who made the very beautiful movie "The Pursuit of Happiness" again with Will Smith as the lead actor), etc. the most important that makes this film stand out is the story.
It's a story about goodness, self-sacrifice for the sake of the well-being of others and love. And while I'm sure that the makers of this movie are perhaps completely unaware of it's Buddhist connotations, for me it touched on topics that I am very much emotionally or academicaly interested in...It's actually very closely connected in a way with the topic of my theses - bodily self-sacrifice in order to safe someone else's life...It's also a very unconventional gentle love story involving self-sacrifice. Me, being uncurably romantic and naive as I am, find such story moving, touching and "real".I don't wish to give out more of the plot because it is interesting to watch without knowing what is actually happening.
Highly recommend this film.
It's a film that is very human and thought provoking. The best kind.
Friday, 26 June 2009
Sorrow and Depression
It's been 8 years since I left everything I knew, I left family and friends, and made the life-changing decision of coming to live and study long-term in China. It was a choice I made very resolutely and responsibly. It was a brave thing to do. And I have achieved most of my goals.
It will undoubtedly have great impact on my life.
I have learned a lot, and many things have happened. I have changed a lot.
Recently I'm looking back to this part of my life and think very deeply about what I have found and experienced, what I have seen and felt,
what I am going to leave behind...For several reasons my life in China in the past 3-4 years has not been happy. Actually those of you who know me know well that I was extremely unhappy and sad. There are things that are beyond my power to positively change no matter how hard I try. I feel incredibly broken hearted, saddened, vulnerable, dejected...Each day I wake up and the day feels broken…
I regret very much staying in China the past 3 years. I should have left. Even though I had no "plan". I should have left. I stayed because I felt helpless to make a choice for change. I lacked courage and strength to move on.
I stayed because I was hoping with all of my heart for a positive change, I tried hard, but instead things got worse.
Now with each day closing in on my departure (which for the moment I decided will be somewhere in the end of August) my feeling of helpless sadness and loneliness increases each day and crushes me relentlessly.
Some days the burden of empty and joyless lonely days is unbearable. I feel lost.
It is true that 8 years ago I made a conscious choice to leave everything and come to such a far away country, in a way it is a sort of an "exile".
But being alone in a completely foreign country can be a devastating experience.
I am bearing the toll of my own decisions and choices.
I have no one to blame.
I'm trying to positively look forward to the change that will happen in my life with leaving China, but at this moment it is very hard to imagine that I will find joy and happiness in my life.
Unfortunately for many reasons China has had a damaging impact on most of my dreams, illusions, hopes. I feel much more bitter, much more cynical and negative compared to my usual pessimism, thoughtfulness and oversensitivity...
China was a mysterious place to which I traveled with a wide open heart hoping for enlightenment, knowledge, self-development. For some time I could cope with my loneliness, because there was so many new and different things to discover and experience. But from one point on disillusionments and disappointments just kept on piling up. I lost my sense of purpose.
I feel so utterly disillusioned now that it is hard to imagine that even such an
idealist like me will ever find courage to believe and hope and once again some day find the courage to open my heart to anything or anyone ever again.
These days I feel the burden of all this even more acutely.
It’s so hard to find again courage and strength and hope.
The hardest thing.
It will undoubtedly have great impact on my life.
I have learned a lot, and many things have happened. I have changed a lot.
Recently I'm looking back to this part of my life and think very deeply about what I have found and experienced, what I have seen and felt,
what I am going to leave behind...For several reasons my life in China in the past 3-4 years has not been happy. Actually those of you who know me know well that I was extremely unhappy and sad. There are things that are beyond my power to positively change no matter how hard I try. I feel incredibly broken hearted, saddened, vulnerable, dejected...Each day I wake up and the day feels broken…
I regret very much staying in China the past 3 years. I should have left. Even though I had no "plan". I should have left. I stayed because I felt helpless to make a choice for change. I lacked courage and strength to move on.
I stayed because I was hoping with all of my heart for a positive change, I tried hard, but instead things got worse.
Now with each day closing in on my departure (which for the moment I decided will be somewhere in the end of August) my feeling of helpless sadness and loneliness increases each day and crushes me relentlessly.
Some days the burden of empty and joyless lonely days is unbearable. I feel lost.
It is true that 8 years ago I made a conscious choice to leave everything and come to such a far away country, in a way it is a sort of an "exile".
But being alone in a completely foreign country can be a devastating experience.
I am bearing the toll of my own decisions and choices.
I have no one to blame.
I'm trying to positively look forward to the change that will happen in my life with leaving China, but at this moment it is very hard to imagine that I will find joy and happiness in my life.
Unfortunately for many reasons China has had a damaging impact on most of my dreams, illusions, hopes. I feel much more bitter, much more cynical and negative compared to my usual pessimism, thoughtfulness and oversensitivity...
China was a mysterious place to which I traveled with a wide open heart hoping for enlightenment, knowledge, self-development. For some time I could cope with my loneliness, because there was so many new and different things to discover and experience. But from one point on disillusionments and disappointments just kept on piling up. I lost my sense of purpose.
I feel so utterly disillusioned now that it is hard to imagine that even such an
idealist like me will ever find courage to believe and hope and once again some day find the courage to open my heart to anything or anyone ever again.
These days I feel the burden of all this even more acutely.
It’s so hard to find again courage and strength and hope.
The hardest thing.
"DON'T BE EVIL"
I actually really didn't wanted this BLOG to be a "China Blog", but it seems inevitable, since almost all of my posts are China-related...
This is yet another post about China.
Ahead of the 60th anniversary (on 1st of October later this year) when Communist China was established, OBVIOUSLY China is taking serious measure to make sure everything goes rosy and great for this important for the Party event...
ANYthing that can question, threaten It's authority will be 'harmonized'.
So the censorship machine is rolling relentlessly. As I already pointed out (it turns out others have similar thought and observations the recent Green Dam filtering censorship software might turn out to be an idea that will most probably have the opposite of the sought result...
Some have already noted the short term and long term implications of the enforced censorship...
I'm not sure about that. We must wait and see.
I have NO doubt that the recent Internet crackdowns are not just directed at really preventing porn from harming the young generation...I'm just sure that the purpose(s) is larger and broader...The anti-porn campaign is just giving credibility to the real purposes of the Internet crackdown. More simply put - the aim is control. Control (restriction) of freedom of expression, freedom of information, freedom of disagreement...
And while this Green Dam fiasco might have already backfired and actually prompted some people to become even more anti-censorship savvy and sensitive to the thuggish control coming from the top (some have already protested and even issued a manifesto, see below...), in the long term I'm thinking if this software and other measures actually manage to hold up it will have unimaginable consequences for the majority of the Internet users. And as we well can imagine controlling the Masses is more crucial than controlling everybody...Maybe the Government thinks that that is a risk worth taking.
Those who are more obstinate will find ways to circumvent the "Great Firewall", the others will just complacently put up with it...In the long run, people just accept "reality" and live with it. That's it. There is an amazing Chinese "quality", that always irritates me the most - putting up, indifference and complacency with the current status-quo of things...it is almost a miracle for someone to even question and demand change...Not a big one, even just a small dayly matter one...It's not that Chinese don't see problems or don't mutter under their nose complaining. But it is extremely rare that they will take actual action in improving or changing things...That's my explanation as to why the hell change is so incredibly slow in China. For an extremely dynamic country (perhaps unparalleledly dynamic) real, essentials change takes place with the slowness of eons...
The Chinese are ULRA practical people. If the intrusion is not too great they will just put up with it. There is a line of "tolerance" that if not crossed will just not lead to substantial disruption of the status quo. Ironically the Chinese proud themselves with their "endurance" 忍. And while endurance can actually be a positive quality in many cases it can easily be a negative one. In my view, if you have principles you should stick to them. In many cases Chinese-style "endurance" is actually meaning that they have nothing to stand up for. Nothing to defend, no values they feel strongly about, no principles that are crucial to honorable existence, no dignity. This kind of "endurance" I just don't respect and refuse to accept.
----
Meanwhile. China has obviously declared war to Google Inc. After blocking YouTube and Blogger some time ago, on Wednesday all Google services were disrupted, including main search engine, Gmail, Google Talk, etc.
It's an all out Cold War of China VS Google Inc.
Under the pretext that Google's search engine is providing links to porn sites, China is extorting (blackmailing) the popular mega-corporation to make even more compliant to "Chinese law" changes. (China's local search engine Baidu is linking to porn sites undisturbed meanwhile)
Google search already has complied with previous China "requests" for censorship. They will most probably do so now too.
The US government issued a formal protest against the Green Dam software, but the emphasis is on the trade, business aspect of the issue (firms are given the costly ultimatum to provide the questionable software with each PC sold in China after 1st of July)...
Hm. How about human rights issues?!
In some relevance, Yahoo!'s CEO on Thursday said a memorable sentence when asked about the requirements of the Chinese government and their implications for the restriction of freedom of information. (Not Yahoo!'s job to 'fix China': CEO )
She said: It is not Yahoo!'s job to fix the Chinese government.” That’s not the mandate that the shareholders gave us."
Hm, that comes from a company infamous for disclosing information before to the Chinese government which led to the imprisonment of Chinese dissidents...
So. When the question is about money big companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google with probably think more about profit rather than on loosing trust with "consumers"...
In Google's case, the most free-source and a corporation that has already won the trust and respect of users, whose motto by the way is "Don't Be Evil", siding up with "Evil" in excange of material interests will be a crucial loss of trust and respect. At least on my side...
----
Green Dam-ned related blog post and news:
Rebecca MacKinnon who specializes in studying Chinese media and Internet in her BLOG RConversation(blocked in China)in her blog post "China's censorship blowback" observed:
Most of China's educated, largely apolitical, internet-connected urbanites have until now been generally willing to accept the political status quo - and with it a certain amount of censorship, thuggishness and injustice, political paranoia and occasional bizarreness - in exchange for overall social stability (compared to any other time in living Chinese memory), economic growth, plus an impressive increase in China's global power and status. But whoever is driving the latest Internet crackdown and the accompanying moralistic propaganda drive may have done substantial damage to the government's credibility.
------------
China Blocks Google to Stifle Online Dissent Ahead of Nation's 60th Anniversary
"The U.S. and China are waging a war over the Internet, a war of information. It's a new Cold War," said Li Xiguang, dean of the journalism school at Beijing's Tsinghua University.
A declaration published Thursday by anonymous Chinese Internet users promised that all new efforts at censorship would be met with online sabotage.
"We are the Anonymous Netizens. We have seen your moves on the Internet. You have deprived your netizens of the freedom of speech. You have come to see technology as your mortal enemy," read a translation of the Declaration of the Anonymous Netizens published on a popular English-language blog, The Shanghaiist.
"For the freedom of the Internet, for the advancement of Internetization, and for our rights, we are going to acquaint your censorship machine with systematic sabotage and show you just how weak the claws of your censorship really are," the declaration continued.
Ai Weiwei, a well-known Chinese artist who recently was put under government surveillance for his attempts to create a complete list of children killed in last year's Sichuan earthquake, has called for a boycott of the Internet on July 1 as a protest against the Green Dam software.
--------
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
The 3 slogans of the Ministry of Truth in Orwell's "1984"
This is yet another post about China.
Ahead of the 60th anniversary (on 1st of October later this year) when Communist China was established, OBVIOUSLY China is taking serious measure to make sure everything goes rosy and great for this important for the Party event...
ANYthing that can question, threaten It's authority will be 'harmonized'.
So the censorship machine is rolling relentlessly. As I already pointed out (it turns out others have similar thought and observations the recent Green Dam filtering censorship software might turn out to be an idea that will most probably have the opposite of the sought result...
Some have already noted the short term and long term implications of the enforced censorship...
I'm not sure about that. We must wait and see.
I have NO doubt that the recent Internet crackdowns are not just directed at really preventing porn from harming the young generation...I'm just sure that the purpose(s) is larger and broader...The anti-porn campaign is just giving credibility to the real purposes of the Internet crackdown. More simply put - the aim is control. Control (restriction) of freedom of expression, freedom of information, freedom of disagreement...
And while this Green Dam fiasco might have already backfired and actually prompted some people to become even more anti-censorship savvy and sensitive to the thuggish control coming from the top (some have already protested and even issued a manifesto, see below...), in the long term I'm thinking if this software and other measures actually manage to hold up it will have unimaginable consequences for the majority of the Internet users. And as we well can imagine controlling the Masses is more crucial than controlling everybody...Maybe the Government thinks that that is a risk worth taking.
Those who are more obstinate will find ways to circumvent the "Great Firewall", the others will just complacently put up with it...In the long run, people just accept "reality" and live with it. That's it. There is an amazing Chinese "quality", that always irritates me the most - putting up, indifference and complacency with the current status-quo of things...it is almost a miracle for someone to even question and demand change...Not a big one, even just a small dayly matter one...It's not that Chinese don't see problems or don't mutter under their nose complaining. But it is extremely rare that they will take actual action in improving or changing things...That's my explanation as to why the hell change is so incredibly slow in China. For an extremely dynamic country (perhaps unparalleledly dynamic) real, essentials change takes place with the slowness of eons...
The Chinese are ULRA practical people. If the intrusion is not too great they will just put up with it. There is a line of "tolerance" that if not crossed will just not lead to substantial disruption of the status quo. Ironically the Chinese proud themselves with their "endurance" 忍. And while endurance can actually be a positive quality in many cases it can easily be a negative one. In my view, if you have principles you should stick to them. In many cases Chinese-style "endurance" is actually meaning that they have nothing to stand up for. Nothing to defend, no values they feel strongly about, no principles that are crucial to honorable existence, no dignity. This kind of "endurance" I just don't respect and refuse to accept.
----
Meanwhile. China has obviously declared war to Google Inc. After blocking YouTube and Blogger some time ago, on Wednesday all Google services were disrupted, including main search engine, Gmail, Google Talk, etc.
It's an all out Cold War of China VS Google Inc.
Under the pretext that Google's search engine is providing links to porn sites, China is extorting (blackmailing) the popular mega-corporation to make even more compliant to "Chinese law" changes. (China's local search engine Baidu is linking to porn sites undisturbed meanwhile)
Google search already has complied with previous China "requests" for censorship. They will most probably do so now too.
The US government issued a formal protest against the Green Dam software, but the emphasis is on the trade, business aspect of the issue (firms are given the costly ultimatum to provide the questionable software with each PC sold in China after 1st of July)...
Hm. How about human rights issues?!
In some relevance, Yahoo!'s CEO on Thursday said a memorable sentence when asked about the requirements of the Chinese government and their implications for the restriction of freedom of information. (Not Yahoo!'s job to 'fix China': CEO )
She said: It is not Yahoo!'s job to fix the Chinese government.” That’s not the mandate that the shareholders gave us."
Hm, that comes from a company infamous for disclosing information before to the Chinese government which led to the imprisonment of Chinese dissidents...
So. When the question is about money big companies such as Microsoft, Yahoo! and Google with probably think more about profit rather than on loosing trust with "consumers"...
In Google's case, the most free-source and a corporation that has already won the trust and respect of users, whose motto by the way is "Don't Be Evil", siding up with "Evil" in excange of material interests will be a crucial loss of trust and respect. At least on my side...
----
Green Dam-ned related blog post and news:
Rebecca MacKinnon who specializes in studying Chinese media and Internet in her BLOG RConversation(blocked in China)in her blog post "China's censorship blowback" observed:
Most of China's educated, largely apolitical, internet-connected urbanites have until now been generally willing to accept the political status quo - and with it a certain amount of censorship, thuggishness and injustice, political paranoia and occasional bizarreness - in exchange for overall social stability (compared to any other time in living Chinese memory), economic growth, plus an impressive increase in China's global power and status. But whoever is driving the latest Internet crackdown and the accompanying moralistic propaganda drive may have done substantial damage to the government's credibility.
------------
China Blocks Google to Stifle Online Dissent Ahead of Nation's 60th Anniversary
"The U.S. and China are waging a war over the Internet, a war of information. It's a new Cold War," said Li Xiguang, dean of the journalism school at Beijing's Tsinghua University.
A declaration published Thursday by anonymous Chinese Internet users promised that all new efforts at censorship would be met with online sabotage.
"We are the Anonymous Netizens. We have seen your moves on the Internet. You have deprived your netizens of the freedom of speech. You have come to see technology as your mortal enemy," read a translation of the Declaration of the Anonymous Netizens published on a popular English-language blog, The Shanghaiist.
"For the freedom of the Internet, for the advancement of Internetization, and for our rights, we are going to acquaint your censorship machine with systematic sabotage and show you just how weak the claws of your censorship really are," the declaration continued.
Ai Weiwei, a well-known Chinese artist who recently was put under government surveillance for his attempts to create a complete list of children killed in last year's Sichuan earthquake, has called for a boycott of the Internet on July 1 as a protest against the Green Dam software.
--------
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
The 3 slogans of the Ministry of Truth in Orwell's "1984"
Monday, 22 June 2009
"God Is Great!" - the call of reform in Iran?!
Undoubtedly the biggest world news (which followed soon after North Korea's recent nuke test) are the protests that followed last week's elections in Iran. Days of protests of young Iranian people with the help of world wide web services like tweeter, youtube, etc. have drawn the attention of the world. It turns out Internet has a great role in the organising and reporting of the protests.
After a supposedly fraud election bloody clashes with police and security services have resulted as defience to accepting the re-election of current Iranian President Ahmadinejad.
Since the Iranian Revolution these are the biggest and most tumult times in Iran. No doubt there will be a change. Let's hope that change will be for the better!
According to reports, in Tehran, cries of protesters, "God Is Great!" echo in the night...
----
In some relation.
In view of the events in Iran and the Internet role in the anti-government (pro-democratic, pro-reform) movement, NYTimes op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote a piece urging the support of anti-Internet censorship tools...*
Tear Down This Cyber Wall
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/opinion/18kristof.html?_r=2
Hm, I'm thinking. Chinese authorities and censors no doubt are watching (and learning)from the current situation of Iran...
What happens in Iran will no doubt be crucial not only for Iranians but also for the World.
The irony in the similiraty of Internet control (censorship) between the two countries is that Internet censorship has and is encouraging anti-authoritarian sentiments. Iranians are among the people who as a result of government consorship and control have become very savvy as to circumventing Internet censorship and control. Internet defience is not necessary equal to political defience, at least initialy, but too obvious censorship can have a very unexpected side-effect.
A situation very similar to that in China...
Recent stepping up of Internet control in China may turn out to have the oposite of the wanted effect...
And that can turn dangerous...
*By the way this post is made possible with the help of such tools...
After a supposedly fraud election bloody clashes with police and security services have resulted as defience to accepting the re-election of current Iranian President Ahmadinejad.
Since the Iranian Revolution these are the biggest and most tumult times in Iran. No doubt there will be a change. Let's hope that change will be for the better!
According to reports, in Tehran, cries of protesters, "God Is Great!" echo in the night...
----
In some relation.
In view of the events in Iran and the Internet role in the anti-government (pro-democratic, pro-reform) movement, NYTimes op-ed columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote a piece urging the support of anti-Internet censorship tools...*
Tear Down This Cyber Wall
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/opinion/18kristof.html?_r=2
Hm, I'm thinking. Chinese authorities and censors no doubt are watching (and learning)from the current situation of Iran...
What happens in Iran will no doubt be crucial not only for Iranians but also for the World.
The irony in the similiraty of Internet control (censorship) between the two countries is that Internet censorship has and is encouraging anti-authoritarian sentiments. Iranians are among the people who as a result of government consorship and control have become very savvy as to circumventing Internet censorship and control. Internet defience is not necessary equal to political defience, at least initialy, but too obvious censorship can have a very unexpected side-effect.
A situation very similar to that in China...
Recent stepping up of Internet control in China may turn out to have the oposite of the wanted effect...
And that can turn dangerous...
*By the way this post is made possible with the help of such tools...
China's New Censorship Softwear Tool Green Dam's Currious Black List of Words
The "hot" topic of the last few days has been the new controvercial requirement made by the Chinese government for the installing of a "filter"-software called "Green Dam Youth Escort" which is to be included (pre-installed or otherwise provided) with each new computer sold after the 1st of July. While under the pretext it is to prevent youth from the harmful pornography and violence contents on the Internet, many people have already expressed serious doubts not only about implementing the order, but also the quality of the product...But most importantly it is very dubious what exactly the purpose of this softwear is. Is it really preventing and protecting youth from porn and violence or is it yet another effort (and at that not a very subtle one) to curb freedom of information?!
Recently on Wikileaks (http://wikileaks.org/wiki/A_technical_analysis_of_the_Chinese_'Green_Dam_Youth-Escort'_censorship_software)
there appeared a technical analysis of the said software.
The other day I spend some time carefully studying the linked list of non-pornographic words' black list.
It is just amazing what kind of words are deemed dangerous!!!
Green Dam black word list
http://www.fast-box.net/browse.php?u=czovL2RvY3MuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS9WaWV3P2lkPWFoMjd4ejRwYno2c18yNGM2ZHcyN2c2&b=13
Now reading this list carefully one is struck with the following absurdities. Never mind the obvious forbidden topics, i.e. "the usual suspects" such as FalunGong, Tiananmen "6.4 accident", Dalai Lama, human rights, officials corruption etc., there appear to be words in this list that one wonders why are they considered dangerous, the most absurd is the including of words such as gratitude, moral conduct, goodness, Confucianism...?! Hm, wasn't this software supposed to prevent youth from "harmful content"?!! How exactly does words such as humanity, humanism, goodness, etc. figure in being dangerous and harmful?!
Another inexplicable feature is the inclusion of the names of cities and countries...If you want to search for Australia, Amsterdam or Ukraine for instance you'll be prevented from opening such contents. One wonders why the hell names of countries and cities are deemed sensitive?!
But the most obvious target (apart from FaLunGong which appears to be the main target of the software judging from the black wordlist contents and particular obsession with the forbidden sect)seem to be all terms and ideas connected with Buddhism...
Buddha, Guanyin and Amitabha Buddha are obviously dangerous and harmful to the "healthy" growth of the future Chinese generation?!
It's no joke. Most basic Buddhist terms are in this black list : karma, karmic retribution, reincarnation are in the blacklist. But the wordlist is far from subtle. It is obvious that the "target" is religion and believes of all kind. Not only Buddhism is considered dangerous (monk, nun, temple, praying to Buddha, scriptures are obviously "dangerous" words), all sorts of basic words that have to do with religion are considered dangerous...priest, church...But definitely Buddhism is the main target. Practically some of the basic terms that appear in Buddhism are "dirty words"?!
So now it appears that "Buddha" is a dirty word?!!!
Who is the crazy, insane/ incompetent person who made up the list?!
It's ironic that those same people beat the drum of the so-called 5000 years of Chinese culture and history.
But, damn it, without Buddhism and Buddhist culture, China's culture doesn't come up to much isn't it?!!
Daoism and Daoist priests (and also Confucianism) figure in the blacklist, so one wonders what is not harmful to the Chinese youth if Chinese culture itself is in the blacklist...Perhaps money and stock and shares...?!!
I get the feeling that this softwear as many other Chinese intiatives was so badly conrived that it will instead of doing the "job" it was set to do it will backfire...
Already it has a very ironic side-effect of drawing riducule from people who otherwise will remain politically indifferent.
I have no doubt that this is (mostly) a (it appears badly contrived) political softwear. Not to mention the dubious fact that this is a state-inplemented monopol and there is the question of the huge amount of taxpayers money that will enter in a particular someone's pockets...Ironically, "corruption" is in the blacklist of "dirty/dangerous words"...
Recently on Wikileaks (http://wikileaks.org/wiki/A_technical_analysis_of_the_Chinese_'Green_Dam_Youth-Escort'_censorship_software)
there appeared a technical analysis of the said software.
The other day I spend some time carefully studying the linked list of non-pornographic words' black list.
It is just amazing what kind of words are deemed dangerous!!!
Green Dam black word list
http://www.fast-box.net/browse.php?u=czovL2RvY3MuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS9WaWV3P2lkPWFoMjd4ejRwYno2c18yNGM2ZHcyN2c2&b=13
Now reading this list carefully one is struck with the following absurdities. Never mind the obvious forbidden topics, i.e. "the usual suspects" such as FalunGong, Tiananmen "6.4 accident", Dalai Lama, human rights, officials corruption etc., there appear to be words in this list that one wonders why are they considered dangerous, the most absurd is the including of words such as gratitude, moral conduct, goodness, Confucianism...?! Hm, wasn't this software supposed to prevent youth from "harmful content"?!! How exactly does words such as humanity, humanism, goodness, etc. figure in being dangerous and harmful?!
Another inexplicable feature is the inclusion of the names of cities and countries...If you want to search for Australia, Amsterdam or Ukraine for instance you'll be prevented from opening such contents. One wonders why the hell names of countries and cities are deemed sensitive?!
But the most obvious target (apart from FaLunGong which appears to be the main target of the software judging from the black wordlist contents and particular obsession with the forbidden sect)seem to be all terms and ideas connected with Buddhism...
Buddha, Guanyin and Amitabha Buddha are obviously dangerous and harmful to the "healthy" growth of the future Chinese generation?!
It's no joke. Most basic Buddhist terms are in this black list : karma, karmic retribution, reincarnation are in the blacklist. But the wordlist is far from subtle. It is obvious that the "target" is religion and believes of all kind. Not only Buddhism is considered dangerous (monk, nun, temple, praying to Buddha, scriptures are obviously "dangerous" words), all sorts of basic words that have to do with religion are considered dangerous...priest, church...But definitely Buddhism is the main target. Practically some of the basic terms that appear in Buddhism are "dirty words"?!
So now it appears that "Buddha" is a dirty word?!!!
Who is the crazy, insane/ incompetent person who made up the list?!
It's ironic that those same people beat the drum of the so-called 5000 years of Chinese culture and history.
But, damn it, without Buddhism and Buddhist culture, China's culture doesn't come up to much isn't it?!!
Daoism and Daoist priests (and also Confucianism) figure in the blacklist, so one wonders what is not harmful to the Chinese youth if Chinese culture itself is in the blacklist...Perhaps money and stock and shares...?!!
I get the feeling that this softwear as many other Chinese intiatives was so badly conrived that it will instead of doing the "job" it was set to do it will backfire...
Already it has a very ironic side-effect of drawing riducule from people who otherwise will remain politically indifferent.
I have no doubt that this is (mostly) a (it appears badly contrived) political softwear. Not to mention the dubious fact that this is a state-inplemented monopol and there is the question of the huge amount of taxpayers money that will enter in a particular someone's pockets...Ironically, "corruption" is in the blacklist of "dirty/dangerous words"...
Friday, 19 June 2009
Sadness
I haven't posted for a while...My last post is 10 days old.
Meanwhile I was away from Beijing for a week down to Canton (Guangdong Province) for a (well-paid) translation job...
That makes my plan to go on a trip to Tibet (a trip I'm really looking forward to and hope it will happen) in the beginning of July possible, which of course is the reason I took up this job in the first place...
Actually in a way it was an interesting experience. It gave me an insight into part of China’s reality I haven’t experienced before…There is a lot I can say and recount about those 6 days, but I will do this in another post in the coming days...
These days I just don't feel like writing...
Meanwhile.I came back 2 days ago and it feels so strange...
The truth is I feel an immense feeling of emptiness and sadness...
I can't help but feel very depressed. Even more than usual.
The problem is I know the reasons for my depression very well.
Time passes relentlessly. Days, weeks, months pass and I don't seem to be able to fix and mend things I wanted and needed so much to fix and positively change...I have almost no hope left that things will improve even a little bit.
It makes me feel very helpless and incredibly sad.
I don't know what to do anymore...
I really don't know.
I hope with all of my heart things can somehow miraculously turn for the better. Somehow. I don't hope for impossible things. I just hope to have a chance to make things better.
------
Three days ago, on June 16th, was my birthday. I got a stuffed grey plush dolphin as a present from a stranger in a bar in one of the most boring/depressing towns I have visited ever.
I usually don't much celebrate birthdays and holidays anyway, but my feeling of loneliness increased acutely...
Meanwhile I was away from Beijing for a week down to Canton (Guangdong Province) for a (well-paid) translation job...
That makes my plan to go on a trip to Tibet (a trip I'm really looking forward to and hope it will happen) in the beginning of July possible, which of course is the reason I took up this job in the first place...
Actually in a way it was an interesting experience. It gave me an insight into part of China’s reality I haven’t experienced before…There is a lot I can say and recount about those 6 days, but I will do this in another post in the coming days...
These days I just don't feel like writing...
Meanwhile.I came back 2 days ago and it feels so strange...
The truth is I feel an immense feeling of emptiness and sadness...
I can't help but feel very depressed. Even more than usual.
The problem is I know the reasons for my depression very well.
Time passes relentlessly. Days, weeks, months pass and I don't seem to be able to fix and mend things I wanted and needed so much to fix and positively change...I have almost no hope left that things will improve even a little bit.
It makes me feel very helpless and incredibly sad.
I don't know what to do anymore...
I really don't know.
I hope with all of my heart things can somehow miraculously turn for the better. Somehow. I don't hope for impossible things. I just hope to have a chance to make things better.
------
Three days ago, on June 16th, was my birthday. I got a stuffed grey plush dolphin as a present from a stranger in a bar in one of the most boring/depressing towns I have visited ever.
I usually don't much celebrate birthdays and holidays anyway, but my feeling of loneliness increased acutely...
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