OPINION> Commentary
Unusual sort of innovation
By Huang Qing (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-09-26 07:49

We Chinese use two brushstrokes to write the word innovation. One stands for creation, the other for newness. The two characters make one English word "innovation", one of the most often used expressions in modern Chinese official vocabulary.

Xu Xinrong, the mayor of Weinan, a city in Shaanxi province, is capable of innovation, sort of.

He recently announced that his government would encourage public servants to "take second, part-time jobs in private companies". (China Daily, Sept 19)

He must have considered this an innovation to boost the city's private sector and I am sure he will defend this policy in the name of innovation.

He is innovating, but not in the ways that will make his city stronger and more harmonious.

A breach of relevant laws aside, regrettably, his policy will corrupt his administration, and as a result, it will create an unfair market environment under its administration.

Let's hope this will not grow into another scandal.

* * *

Joseph Stiglitz comments in the Guardian that the US financial crisis is "the fruit of a pattern of dishonesty on the part of financial institutions and incompetence on the part of policymakers".

Well, that reminds me of US accusations of "China's manipulation" of the renminbi exchange rate not long ago. Unfortunately, blaming China for US economic woes did not help its situation, or even help cover up its dishonesty and incompetence. The subsequent financial crisis in the US is China's vindication.

Had US institutions and policymakers done something about its own economy then, what would have happened? Will US politicians learn this time?

Just look around the world. Many nations have come to rescue the situation. In a global village, it always helps not to pick on others.

* * *

Thanks to the Beijing Olympics, the capital now has more subways, more roads and more bridges. One would think transportation should be more convenient in Beijing today.

However many still complain that the subways are inconvenient, roads are poorly laid out, and bridges confuse not only visiting drivers but also local residents.

This week, the first after the two Games, we have seen an increase in traffic jams. There are more cars, of course, which contribute to the problem. But some roads and bridges have made the situation worse.

City authorities need a break after two months of hard and praiseworthy work for the splendid Olympic Games. But we still need someone to take care of those badly designed roads and bridges in order to smooth the traffic flow. If all those in charge of roads, subways and bridges had the people's interests first, rather than their power, the scenario would be different.

* * *

While struggling with how to handle mounting household waste in general, China is facing another challenge - electronic garbage. Few people seem to realize the magnitude of the problem, and it is posing an increasing danger to the country.

It is reported that 70 percent of the world's obsolete electronic garbage is dumped in China, and the quantity is increasing by 5 to 10 percent every year.

Heavy metals - like cadmium, lead and mercury - are found in electronic components, and they are a danger to the environment and human health.

E-waste is not a problem exclusive to China. But why should China be the dumping place for the world?

If solving the problem is a long process, the government should at least stop the import of e-waste and do it right now.

* * *

An interesting mobile phone message: A cup of milk a day (for the Japanese) has zhenxing (revitalized) a nation; while a cup of milk a day (for the Chinese) has zhenjing (shocked) a nation.

(China Daily 09/26/2008 page8)