Technology & Human Progress

Provide by 李宜影  

Certainly, our humanity has progress on technology but when we focus on technology all day long, what we get from it? Selfish and conceit.

   With the developing of technology, we begin to know or already known something about the space, the earth and the nature. Thus we, humanity, think we are brilliant and powerful than any creatures and everything should all be controlled by us. We think we are the winner of the fight which was between the nature and our humanity and we can improve the living condition but the fact is we do not have the ability to really change the nature, most of time we push ourselves to a poor living condition. The Aswan dam is a good example to show us this fact, people thought the dam can have many benefits to the people and agriculture but at last we had to face those bad consequences. During the developing of technology, our humanity also create something, nevertheless, most of them make us become more and more weak and make our condition become more and more bad. As the car, though it is convenient, it not only polluted the condition but also waste the energy. And then people began fighting for sources---- the war broke out. The poor people in those areas became homeless, huger and they even did not know if they could alive tomorrow. We can not deny that the weapons used in the war are also a kind of technology, so the technology causes this and the only victim is ourselves.

Is the technology the only part of our society? Is the technology the only aim we can seek for?

Anti-Monopoly Policies in Foreign Countries

Provided by 李宜影

The world economy developed rapidly so some problems appeared, as monopoly. And then the governments passed some laws of anti-monopoly, took some measures to solve the problems.

The main objective of the antimonopoly policy is to create conditions for equal and fair competition of producers in the integrated national market. We all know that Intel Corporation is the world’s largest manufacturer of microprocessors and in other word it have ability to control the prices in the market. I saw an article and the title is FTC: Intel Abuses its Monopoly Power in Violation of Federal Law. In the article it said that the Intel used its monopoly power to cement its dominance over the microprocessor market. And the Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition said that the government encouraged the company to make great contributions to this country’s economic growth and protected its patents in the design and manufacturing processes for its semiconductor products. Intel can compete by producing better, cheaper and more attractive products. It cannot act to cement its monopoly power by preventing other firms from challenging its dominance. But if Intel use its monopoly position in the market for microprocessors to prevent other firms from enforcing their own patents, other firms will have little incentive to invent new features to challenge Intel’s dominance, then it will controls the price. And the Agency will Charge it Cut off Customers and Competitors in Order to Stifle Competition and Impede Innovation.

Before this case the American government have been already divided some monopoly companies into several part, as Mobil Oil Corp and American Tobacco Company. But there are some monopolists still exit now.

The anti-monopoly is not an easy problem to solve for every county but no one will give up, the governments keep finding a way to struggle against these monopolists.

Provided by: 郭谷悦

Undoubtedly migrant workers during the Great Depression in America lived a difficult and hard life, and as a matter of fact, they, though not confronted with the economic crisis, lived in strained circumstances as usual.

Migrant workers in the US found themselves in a sad plight and they wanted to improve their living conditions. But indeed, that was not an easy task. They suffered exploitation and oppression. And it was quite difficult for them to find a better job. What’s more, their meager income was not enough to support their families. For them, there was a rapidly growing demand for social security. It was acknowledged that they were discriminated against and sustained illegal infringement. But hardships of life did not fill them with despair. Thousands of migrant workers used whatever resources they could find, mainly their own sweat and perseverance, to meet the need for food and shelter.

Migrant workers in China came on the stage in 1970s. But what they underwent and what migrant workers in the United States suffered had much in common, such as unemployment and low income.

In fact, many driving forces, including urban-rural income disparity, surplus labor in agriculture and introduction of Household Responsibility System in agricultural reform contributed to the rural-urban migration in China. And most migrant workers migrated from the western and central areas of China to the eastern coastal areas. In pursuit of earning more money and living in good conditions, they strove for their life all the time.

Topic 11
Corruption
The Positive Function of Corruption:
Does political corruption have any positive effect in the context of contemporary China?

-----赵胜男

“Chen Xitong，the former Beijing Mayor, was sentenced 16-year jail by the Supreme People’s Court due to corruption.”       ---CCTV news
    Currently, cases about anti-political corruption are frequently reported in China. And it is quite common that we all tend to clap our hands with joy towards their miserable end. Also, we often make very critical comments on these corrupt governors: you just deserve your punishment! Yes, people hate political corruption because what we are constantly told from an early age about it is nothing but how harmful and evil it is to our country. However, isn’t there any positive function in the course of political corruption at all?

My answer is a little challenging but not irrational, I think–yes, there is—there is actually far more than one positive function ,to be more precise.

        First, political corruption helps to promote education in some certain ways.

        Remembering the death of many students in Sichuan earthquake? If corruption was to blame, in terms of the skimming off (the transferring) construction money into government officers ’pockets, the leaders who directed the so-called “jerry-build” project should undoubtedly be condemned and punished. But now, let’s think about this more deeply and calmly with less bias: Have the students indirectly benefited from political corruption?

To put most bluntly, the other side of the coin is simply this: one reason many schools collapsed was that there were a lot of schools. Not just in Dujiangyan, a prosperous town, but in remote parts of Beichuan, Wenchuan, Pingwu and other counties, each village seemed to have had a primary school, each town a thriving middle school. It is reasonable for us Chinese people to expect that, and to many of us it was not a surprise. Of course it is what we Chinese people expected, and to many of us it was not a surprise.

But a few non-Chinese have commented to me that the fact which virtually every child ,even in the almost poorest parts of our country, was at school that day reflected how successful Chinese education system is, at least relative to (comparing with) other developing countries. And here is the thing: how does this achievement has been accomplished ,and how is it that these schools have been built in the last two decades if local officialdom here is indeed useless and simply riddled with malicious corruption?

         Some experts have pointed out that, for better or worse, Chinese political corruption has a distinguishing feature: because it is so closely associated with bureaucratic control, government officials are rather successful at ensuring that corruption can be something of a win-win situation for all sides.

When it comes to schools, it may simply be this: government officials decided to build more schools cheaper within the budget available. They conspired with the construction teams and took some advantages from (of) public funds. That was apparently a wrong choice, you may ask, but the theory applies next: it is in everyone’s interest for more schools to be built as it provides students with places to obtain education, and education stimulates the local economy which will bring richer returns (rewards) in future. If local officials get a small rake-off from each school built, it encourages them to build more, which is perfectly good in spurring education.

Second, political corruption positively correlates with economic growth in contemporary China under given conditions.

        China has been recorded nearly double digit growth rate for the last 20 years, yet we scored 3.2 out of 10 (2 is already severely corrupt) on the most recent publication of international corruption perceptions index. Why?

In the case of rigid bureaucracy, corruption supplies the “grease money” to oil the wheels of business. This is particularly true in industries which only when they obtain permits or licenses from the government can they do business. For instance, a company owner may bribe politicians to pass legislation that reduces tax levels or relaxes planning rules. The governor, after thinking twice considerately, will ten to one take the bribe and shut his eyes to the case. And thus corruption creates entrepreneurship opportunities for some oppressed minority groups to buy their ways into commercial system. This measure will definitely boost investment, and lead to a growth in the country’s economy.

Surely they would choose legal means to solve the problem if there were, but the fact is often the opposite. In order to survive, these companies are forced to bribe relevant government officials, and moreover, the officials are much more willingly to gain the fat profit for they clearly know that if they fail to do so, these seemingly promising companies will, otherwise, face bankrupt (bankruptcy), and lots of workers will suffer from unemployment and financial crisis, which may threaten the security of society as well. Won’t that be horrible?

Of course there is counter-argument: it would be better had there were no corruption at all, since then more well-equipped schools would be built and less illegal companies could exist .Yes, all else being equal, political corruption makes noting efficient. Raking off money at the expense of school safety and economic regulation is by all means evil.

          Nevertheless, all else is rarely equal and evilness is always with us. Assuming that the Maoist era wasn’t corrupt, and you are given a choice between a system that is corrupt but where the corruption incents local officials to promote education and economic growth, and another that is uncorrupt but gives no incentive to honest officials to get out from behind their desks and do things, which would you rather select?

The choice is made easier, it has to be said, by this acknowledgement, too: that the uncorrupt Maoist seems to have achieved worse disaster by just doing some routine perfunctorily than the post-reform political officials have achieved by dishonesty in contemporary China.

Topic 8 Fashion

Fashion &Charity

(时尚与慈善):

Where can you find the wedding of fashion and charity in our society? What do you think of the social phenomenon?

赵胜男

Almost everyone tends to be very happy when attending a wedding ceremony, isn’t that right? How merry and joyful it is to witness a combination of happy lovers. Well, now just let me invent you to be present an unusual wedding. Please pay attention to the new couples: fashion (bride) and charity (bridegroom), and you may as well exchange the role between them freely. Are you satisfied with the couples? Do you like the combination, and will you make your best wishes for the two?

Of course there will be some one who holds the opposite opinion or even curses the newlywed: they are not match each other at all. But, for me, I will congratulate and bless them sincerely.

Chinese actress Gao Yuanyuan, Zhou Xun, and Chen Luyu, famous host of Hongkong-based Phoenix TV …attend the 2008 Bazaar charity gala held in Beijing on August 22, 2008. The proceeds of the charity auction will be used for the relief work in quake-stricken areas in Sichuan province. The fundraising gala gathered together nearly 350 well-known Chinese movie stars, TV hosts, entrepreneurs and other social elites.

This can be an example which is called a wedding of fashion and charity. The bride---fashion, whom we are all very fond of very much, and the bridegroom, our attitude toward her may be kind of seriousness and honor, also we will most likely to think of kindness or benevolence. Since both of them are the ones we like, why not felicitate them?

During the fashion event, scores of media and industry VIPs watched as the models and celebrities, all of whom participated in the charity project to give contribution to the poor and people in need. And the passion for fashion among us especially in such a modern world, in which we are all very keen on what is the most IN at present, has penetrated into our mind, and the enthusiasm will undoubtedly help his wife--- the charity to raise fund.

Be there exist some drawbacks during the process; some critics may also point out that will the fund really be delivered to the ones who are eager to be cared? Or can the money be spent properly instead of just for surface making-up… this kind of glittering event will still surly inspire the consciousness of people’s sympathy and the awareness of the disparity between the poor and rich.

Traditionally, China's charity activities have been dominated by the government, which has taken care of almost everything, from spotting needy recipients to proposing donations to delivering donated goods.

But with the rise of the fashion gala, which can connect and activate more people via mass media or on live, we Chinese are getting to find it easier to offer help in their own way---hold a wedding of fashion and charity. So, let’s applause and cheers to make our best wishes for the happy couple’s wedding!

Topic 3

Luxury Consumption

What is luxury consumption? What is the situation of luxury consumption in china right now?

赵胜男

A luxury exhibition in Shenzhen featured mobile phones, selling for 1000, 0000 Yuan, decorated with crystal and gold; limousines from Benley, Wiesmann and Spyker; a three-million-Yuan table and villas in golf resorts…Actually, these luxury items which worth millions or even billions Yuan, a kind of extravagant hope for us in the past, are now no more a mirage to our Chinese people.

Some of us, especially the middle and upper class, are now much more likely to seek to enhance our identity and quality of life by consuming luxury goods even though they are at sky-high prices. And these top growth categories for luxury goods in china most include liquor, fashion accessories, clothes, automobiles, jewelry and cosmetics.

As more countries like France and U.S. set good example of luxury consumption to us Chinese, we are learning from them and other high developed countries in the ways of consumption---purchasing luxury goods---the more expensive, the better.

Mainly, there are three tendencies of luxury consumption for Chinese as far as I concerned.  

The first and also the most frequently seen one is---Steadily expansion of the market of luxury goods for women .Melanie Flouquet, a researcher on luxury goods trade with JP Morgan, said the market of luxury goods for women in China has now taken up 45 percent of the nation's total. However, two years ago, the market for men once accounted for 75 percent. The percentage does not necessarily mean that men are showing less and less favors toward famous-brand products. On the contrary, the luxury goods trade in China is still steadily expanding, for the eagerness to look beautiful and elegant and glamorous will never weaken.

Next is that our enthusiasm towards famous-brand products is becoming overflowed. Many urban Chinese update their cell phones, computers and TV sets more often than needed, which is obviously against China’s goal of building a conservation-oriented society.

And the third one is the worldwide attention aroused by overseas high consumption .According to the statistics released by tourism departments in Australia; tourists to Australia from Chinese mainland have exceeded 100,000 from July 2003 to June 2004, ranking the first among all countries.

But is it that overheated luxury consumption a good thing for China, I can not help asking. Is the thrift practiced by Chinese people during hard times losing its strength as a virtue?

It’s quite hart to give a quick respond, I think, since no one knows what will happen next. Nevertheless, the fact that the pursuit of luxury goods is not seen as evil, but now a thing to be applauded is really a threat to China, for the sky-high prices displayed at the exhibitions, the increasing number of fashion salons and luxury brand stores that encourage extravagant lifestyles are confusing people and causing them to forget that there are still tens of millions of people in China struggling for food now. Do not forget that there are still a lot homeless people from rural areas, and a large number of people living in cities save all their lives but are still unable to buy an apartment.

Luxury magnifies the enormous disparity between the rich and poor. The cost of luxury consumption that is already fairly common in Europe and America still seems too expensive for China right now.

Topic 10

Art & Life

Art is the stored honey of the human soul, gathered on wings of misery and travail. ~Theodore Dreiser

How do you understand Dreiser’s statement about the relationship between Art and Suffering (Misery or Toil)?

赵胜男

For the sake of art, suffer or enjoy

“Art is the stored honey of the human soul, gathered on wings of misery and travail.”

~Theodore Dreiser

It leaves me fall into a deep meditation seeing the statement…

Is that true? Is it the fact that art always, or can only be derived from painful suffering?

After considering the relationship between them, I have to admit that I really can’t agree with Theodore more about this topic and I do think that the ever most gorgeous fruit of human beings---art, is indeed gathered on branches and leaves of misery and travail. However, here, I have got another idea: although it takes a lot of distress to obtain the honey, hadn’t the fighters, I mean the men who strive against all the difficulties on their way to catch the shinning star in their heart---art, enjoy themselves at the same time?

“I’m the painter of human sorrows, creator of illusion you call life”, the lyrics of a song named “art and suffering” now also come to my mind at the moment. Yes, art is the stored honey, an expression of the wonderful world by painting, literature and music, and so on, and it is the great artists that exhibit the amazing world before our eyes by their own hand, their brush, their pen and instruments.

-         “In my studio of higher arts, I create masterpieces, one after one.

-         Yet there's nothing quite like the art of suffering;

-         Masterly I play a symphony with shadows and light

-        

-         For light and darkness are just states of human mind

-         And when you drift to sleep Your mind belongs to me

-         The art of dreaming becomes real

-         Nothing is what it seems so surreal”

-           The lyrics, in my view, reveal the intangible happiness when an artist was absorbed in his loving art, his imagination, and sudden inspiration. Although they suffered the sufferings which we laymen even can not imagine the misery: they got through the dark ages, overcame the inadequateness of materials and support, struggled with those savage who destroyed their masterworks… they still persist in what they though worth fighting for---sacrificing for art., for it is their life, their only god. They were willing to do everything for art, ignored the pain, just for the sake of art.

-           Maybe art are born to tied in bond with suffering, maybe without the wings of misery, without the leaves of toil, the sweet honey can’t be stored, we can not taste the sweet fruit at all. And the artists knew this clearly; they had no other choices but to learn to get along with them.

  An artist's more profound suffering - whether emotional or psychological - can often seem to enhance their work. Some works (the paintings of Van Gogh or Goya, the photographs of Robert Mapplethorpe, and the music of Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Winehouse, to name a few) are inseparable from their creators' personal pain.

They may not all call it suffering, whether personal or economic, that they have made to dedicate themselves to their work. Yet very few of them have said they regret them, for the best artists, the drive to create is so strong that it can withstand almost any amount of suffering - and the life experience it gives them serves only to make their works more powerful!

Can you give some examples to show how governmental corruption may result in the loss of civilians’ life?

闫安琪

Governmental corruption basically has following consequences: firstly, it discredits the party style and deteriorates social morals; secondly, it brings great economic damages to our country; thirdly, it ruins many leading cadres’ political career, even their lives; fourthly, it leads to the breaking down of related families; fifthly and most seriously, it threatens people’s life safety.

The first four points commonly exist in all governmental corruptions, while the last one can especially be found in supervisory authorities. Closely related to a nation’s livelihood and civilians’ life safety, our supervisory authorities, however, always let us down.

Within one year, seven Director Generals in Administrations of Work Safety were sentenced to imprisonment in Shanxi Province in 2007. While the bribes were high up to almost ten million in total, the most disastrous results are unqualified collieries, which directly led to coalmine disasters. For instance, one Director General, Wu Xiaoli, participated in investing illegal coal mines, which resulted in 33 coal miners’ death. And perhaps, for other frequently heard Shanxi coalmine accidents, corruptions’ existence can also be inferred.

Corruption in supervisory authorities is not a specialty for Shanxi. One deputy director in Liaoning Work Safety Administration accepted bribery and neglected his duty, which resulted in flooded coalmine, has been convicted in 2006. In Guangdong, the other deputy director, Hu Jianchang, issued certifications against regulation for personal interests, and the consequence was a serious coalmine disaster, with 120 deaths.

Not only in high-risk coalmining industry, corruptions in any supervisory authority can bring about loss in civilians’ life. Zheng Xiaoyu, former Director of State Drug Administration, became the fourth high-ranking official sentenced to death out of financial problems. He launched reform on authentication of medicine, while it became a way for fake medicine coming into market, and for him making extra money. He and his family had received more than 6 million in bribery, while common people have to suffer from the high price of medicine resulted from GMP reform. He enjoyed the benefits and power brought by fake and inferior medicine, while citizens’ life safety is totally exposed to these permitted poison. At least 6 medicines have been proved to be fake ones. We can not find out how many families lost all their fortune, falling in desperate circumstances; how many families lost their beloved ones, falling apart. Given right by people to monitor commodities related to life and health, Zheng Xiaoyyu treated the responsibility as a game, regardless of civilians’ life safety. He had to pay his endless debt back with his own life.

Supervisory and monitoring departments are the first defense for people against the evil. Their corruptions are most likely to result in the most disastrous consequences---loss of civilians’ life. Hopefully, our defenders can resist the temptation of corruption, and be worthy of people’s trust, providing us a really safe living environment.

Real Estate Speculation（炒房）

Provided by 李宜影

When people have some extra money, some of them will do some investments to get more money. Thus we can see that some people stare at the screen in the stone markets; some one busy buying the funds. In addition, more and more people begin buying houses though they have enough room to use and live, for them, it is another way to make investments.

The population in Beijing is increasing rapidly, and there are still many people want to study or work here. Therefore the demand for house will also increase quickly and some speculators found this chance, put their money in it. They know they can sell it easily, even in a high price. So one of the fundamentals of real estate speculation is the demand for house can not be solve.

I think another fundamental of real estate speculation is the disparity in income. For instance, to a rich people, they do not need to worry about if I have a house to live in because they have ability to afford two or more. Buying a house maybe is only a kind of investment, so they do everything to make the house worth more without think about some one may be cannot afford a house with that high price. Though the government has some law on real estate, these speculators own the house and that means they have the initiative. To other people, they worked hard for years and hope to buy a house of their own. When they do their best to buy a house at a high price and think that my house worth……, they still cannot really see the money. However, those speculators get the money and they have more money to keep speculating.

The real estate speculation will not disappear as the disparity in income will still exist for a long time.