Don't keep people waiting
When people stand up to protect their rights, authorities had better listen and take actions accordingly.
However authorities do not like to be seen bowing down to people's demands. Too many incidents have happened that way.
Gao'antun Waste Treatment Center is another case in point.
As Beijing's key city project to help treat its daily garbage, the center was built in 2002 outside the Fifth Ring Road in Chaoyang district. Residents in communities close by soon found out pollutants emitting from the site pose health risks to them.
For the past five years they have sent petitions to the local government demanding something be done. But no measures had been taken until recently when some local people went onto the street. The Chaoyang district government finally came out to make an apology last week, promising that actions would be taken in 20 days to make the "bad smell" gone and bring pollution under control.
Bad that the response took five years to come. Still it is good that the local government finally apologized. Never underestimate people's will to protect their constitutional right. Authorities had better not wait too long to do their job.
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According to local newspaper reports, some 40 university professors competed for a division chief's position in Shenzhen recently.
Is it odd that so many professors wanted the official job?
Maybe not. In a country like China, where guanbenwei, literally translated as "official standard", still reigns, officialdom becomes the yardstick, if not the only one, of one's success.
This is why even State companies have their official levels. A big State-owned enterprise has to be set up as a ministerial-level company and its president will then be qualified as a minister-president.
However, Shenzhen is China's pioneer city in reform and opening, and social values should change accordingly, one would think.
Obviously this is not the case. Many explanations have been given for the phenomenon. One goes: As officials they can enjoy privileges.
Why not give professors and teachers more privileges since everyone agrees to strengthen education in this country? If we want to build a harmonious society we probably need to address this privilege issue more seriously.
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Boiled water shops used to be popular in Shanghai. Better known as laohuzao - tiger coal range, they served people's needs for boiled water in the neighborhood before 1970s when there were no gas pipes in many residential areas in Shanghai, and people had to rely on coal for cooking, heating and hot water, too.
In the past 30 years, life has changed and laohuzao is gone, and gone completely.
Yesterday however, I saw a photo of laohuzao, showing people with kettles in hands lining up in front of it. I was filled with nostalgia.
Many things including our old way of life are gone. We cannot help it. But for our children's sake, at least we can help preserve certain elements including items of common folks' daily life.
We have a tradition of taking good care of our royal heritage. But Chinese heritage is not complete without common folks' daily items.
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In case you know nothing about Chinese national football team, here are some references:
Treasure your life and keep away from the team:
Smoking is harmful to your health but watching the national team is harmful to your life.
To go and watch English Football League matches will cause you money, but to go and watch Chinese national football team play will cause your life.
Using digital TV properly will help you guard against the national team.
(China Daily 09/12/2008 page8)
