Shanghai China Snippets Observations about living in Shanghai and China in general

It’s the year of [tag]Italy[/tag] in [tag]China[/tag], actually also the year of Russia and the Year of the British Poems in the [tag]Shanghai[/tag] subway, but I digress.

There are [tag]pasta[/tag] exchanges (the jury is still out on who invented the long pieces of dough), and other cultural feats.

From the [tag]Year of Italy in China[/tag] website:

“Our two countries share an affinity that has been passed on from generation to generation and is still growing stronger.”

Emperor Berlusconi (aka the premier of Italy) has added a very special insight to this that I am sure will be appreciated.

“I have been accused many times of saying communists eat babies,” Mr [tag]Berlusconi[/tag] told a rally of his [tag]Forza Italia[/tag] party.

“Go and read the black book on communism and you’ll find that under [tag]Mao[/tag]’s China they didn’t eat babies but they boiled them to fertilise the fields.”

Source: Herald Sun

This is what a panda looks like after having been inseminated. Seems she’s shagged out.

Source: SH

The first [tag]meeting[/tag] of the China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee aka the CBHCCC is happening right now.

[tag]CCTV 9[/tag] (aka The Closed Content Television) here in [tag]China[/tag] had some promising news.

I quote [tag]Hong Kong[/tag] presenter James:

“[tag]Brazil[/tag] and China will promote cooperation in various fields”

I am sure you didn’t want to miss that one.

To have some good online [tag]laughs[/tag], go to [tag]CCTV[/tag] and click that red button on the right to see it live.

You still want to know why dvd’s are popular?

[tag]China[/tag] is going to tax the chopstick.

According to the Dutch radio

5% will be levied on wooden [tag]chopsticks[/tag] from next month.

Yearly about 1,3 miljoen m3 wood is used to produce 15 billion (pairs of) chopsticks.

A couple of years ago, 2001 to be exact, the number according to the [tag]Washington Times[/tag] was

45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks every year, cutting down as many as 25 million trees in the process, according to government statistics.

Update: Dutch people can’t count. The BBC also mentions 45 Billion.

I can hardly imagine that in 5 years the number of chopsticks has decreased. It’s also a difference of 11.5 versus 34.6 pairs of chopsticks per person per year so I’ll go with the Americans eventhough the number seems still rather low.

I like the tax and I am curious how much effect it will sort.

Here some tips on how to use chopsticks.

Sources Articles: China’s Chopsticks Crusade 2001, NOS Dutch, 45 Billion Chopsticks

Sources Photos: Chopstick pic from boilthechicken

Three opinions in todays [tag]Shanghai Daily[/tag]. Up to you whether you agree with me or with them:

1. Free flow of ideas with [tag]Internet[/tag] in [tag]China[/tag]

“A strong government under the leadership of the [tag]Communist Party[/tag], with one feature being state ownership of the news media, is by no means necessarily antithetical to the free flow of ideas. “

2. Children will continue to take care of old parents (reason 4)

There is a fourth reason which is rooted in China’s traditional culture. [tag]Chinese[/tag] people run the risk of being regarded as unfilial if they send their old parents away. The concept of Yang Er Fang Lao, which means raising one’s child so that one can live a comfortable life supported by his or her child in return, has a hidden assumption – children have to live with their parents.

3. Avoid [tag]cyberspace[/tag] tool for cheating in exams

Before sending money to buy such service, however, think about this: When you want to cheat someone, can you make sure you won’t be cheated in return?

Source: [tag]Shanghai[/tag] Daily 1, 2, 3