European city in China: Qingdao 青島

5/12 ~ 9/12

去完黃山之後, 足足成個星期冇番學.不過算啦,番左聽唔明, 同埋都走開堂..HA..

上海好快就考完試(24/11)!!! 甘就等番香港:) 不過番去之前去轉青島先!! 其實泥上海之前都好想去青島.. 因為聽過呢度好靚, 好舒服! 因為我地打算拎晒D行李去青島,再直接番HK, 所以by air is the best choice!

我地日日捕住個平機票網!!! 終於攪掂晒D機票同埋book埋hostel!! 由於我地9個人, book左間8人房(CNY 30/ NIGHT) 再加1個床位 (CNY 35/ NIGHT).. 好平!!! 相比起英國個D hostel..廿幾鎊一晚..

我地第1日落左機都幾晏下.. 所以我地宜接去hostel. hostel係個天文台! 好特別!!



第2日, 我地去左劈柴園食lunch, 之後去左天主教堂, 可惜入唔到去:(我地係hostel附近周圍行, 沿路都係一D好歐陸式既建築物! 因為以前青島係德國既租介!! 所以好多建築都係歐洲風格! 之後又到左基督教堂,不過又入唔到去:( 見到”磱山可樂”!!! 好似真可樂!!可惜友人E最後都冇買到… 仲有咩海參牛奶- -” …(青島好多海鮮…) 夜晚去左棧橋, 夜晚好大風*0*好凍…

第3日,當然唔少得青島啤酒博物館啦:) 晚上就去左小魚山公園..好大風!!!! 本來想食海鮮, 點知個taxi driver cheated us!!!車左我地去左D貴價海鮮, 當然我地冇上當!!!

第4日, 早上落雨:( 於是去左海軍博物館. 仲入左潛水艇參觀!!! 之後去左水族館..行左陣, 我就同友人J去CS既青島monthly meeting! 好彩之前有搵係CS識既S, 約好係JUSCO等,再一齊去! S好好人甘請左我同J飲coffee. 仲有去左玩!!! 同其他CSers傾下講下, 佢地飲左好多青島啤, 其中個美國人好好笑, 仲有個英國人好似twillight既男主角!! 仲有個香港女仔!! 食完就去左BAR繼續, 又飲啤酒. 友人J又叫左erdinger…哈.. 呢個真係好好飲. 我仲玩左dart, 俾人讚有potential!  我地傾下傾下原來個美國人,2個英國人同個香港女仔都係住同一間hostel! what a coincident!!

最後一日, 去左八大關. 公主樓,花石樓..etc… 好似係外國甘呀!amazing! 最後去左五四廣場, D浪大到打上泥!

去到機場, 又有long story.. 就係發現少左件行李.. 仲係hostel度未拎… Orz即刻叫佢地車件行李去機場! 之後我地去checkin先, 又發現我地班機已經走左.. 原來我地book ticket個時間會轉,但又唔通知我地, 好彩佢地幫我改機票, 變左遲D先番到..(我地為左save money, 機票係去深圳既..然後再搭過境巴士番HK)

[Via http://queenak.wordpress.com]

Internet Censorship Tightens in China

Latest attempt only spawns circumvention

http://theepochtimes.com

The CCP has blocked several hundred thousand Web sites in China. (Getty Images)

Several hundred thousand Web sites in China have been blocked as Chinese officials quietly carry out a new Internet censorship program, according to industry insiders.There have been no public announcements regarding the shutdowns.

A so-called “white list” has been created. It is a list of Web sites that have been registered and certified to have no undesirable content.

Web sites that are not on the white list can no longer be viewed by Web surfers in China.

Killing Off 1,000 Innocents Rather Than Letting One Go Free

Mr Sun, a cyberspace service provider from Beijing, said the high-pressure policy started in December, and now Internet Data Centers (IDC) and Web sites nationwide have been shut down one after another. Sun said, “At present, the situation is quite severe. Now, in the entire Anhui Province, there is no Internet, and all telecommunication networks have stopped working.”

Currently, all IDC access providers are being closely monitored. Once a Web site is determined to be unacceptable, the entire server center hosting the Web site will be shut down.

An employee from West263 (www.west263.com) told Radio Free Asia on Dec. 24 that the policy is affecting businesses in a large area, as several overseas Web sites are no longer accessible.

”A ‘blacklist’ would be illegal, but a ‘white list’ is legal and is put on record,” the caller said.

According to a non-government statistical report released on the Chinese Internet, IDC servers in Shanghai, Sichuan, Anhui, Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Henan, Hunan, Yunnan, and other provinces have all been shut down consecutively. In Shanghai alone, at least five or six major server sites have been affected.

A source at West263 said that in the past, the regime adopted a relatively relaxed attitude toward Web sites that walk a fine line. Now the attitude is: Better to kill 1,000 innocents than let one that is guilty go free.

According to a Web site owner, authorities have also recently tightened their control of video Web sites and will shut them down if they have not obtained a permit. Tudou.com and Sina.com are supported by the Communist Party and have the necessary permits. Those without the support of the Party will likely be shut down, he said.

Incentives for Anti-Blockade Software

Guangdong human rights lawyer Tang Xingling said the so-called “striking at false information,” and “controlling pornography and obscene information” are cover-ups often used by the Communist regime for its Internet censorship policies. Some well-known web portals in China contain undesirable content including false advertisements, pornographic pictures, and videos, yet the authorities have not shut down these portals.

Tang said: “It is inevitable that certain Web sites will be blocked; but when they are, Internet users will improve existing techniques to break through the Internet blockade or will look for new ways to circumvent this kind of information blockade.”

A web master, who asked to remain anonymous, stated that the public can still break through the regime’s Internet blockade through the use of software such as Wujie, Freegate, Garden Network, etc. Furthermore, he wonders, what is the point of the authorities going through all of this trouble to control Internet access? In reality, though a lot of resources have been used, it is impractical from a technical perspective.

Read the original Chinese article.

[Via http://epochtimes.wordpress.com]

The China Bubble (4)

Gady Epstein, Forbes Magazine, dated December 28, 2009-

Assuming China’s reckoning does arrive some day, it’s impossible to say whether it might presage Japan-style deflation, Russian-style hyperinflation or American-style stagnation. For now, private, semiprivate and state-owned enterprises are getting creative to keep the boom alive. Some cash-starved local governments are believed to be asking companies to prepay 2010 corporate taxes to meet this year’s budgets. It’s the kind of monkeyshines you might expect in New Jersey or California, not in supposedly cash-rich China.

Related-party transactions are another popular funding source. Hainan Expressway Co. in southern China is a government-owned outfit deep in hock. In the last year it has lent some $40 million to its founding shareholder, the Hainan Department of Transportation, and booked the loan due as an asset on its balance sheet. This classification provides the Hainan Expressway with additional collateral to borrow even more in new construction loans from state-owned financial institutions and increases the risk that it will eventually default, according to Northwestern’s Shih.

Western and Hong Kong investors are in on the frenzy, too. Evergrande Real Estate Group, a Guangzhou developer, recently staved off a default on short-term debt by raising $800 million in a Hong Kong initial offering, which bestowed it with a $14 billion market cap. But whom is it kidding? Sixty percent of its “profit” this year is expected to come from increasing the reported value of its properties, a ploy that is a common source of earnings for Chinese real estate developers.

As is typical in the later stages of property booms, many investors in China appear to have discarded rental yields as a measure of how much a building is worth in favor of greater-fool pricing. In downtown Beijing office towers sold this year for $400 per square foot, despite the fact that many were unleased and many more are under construction. The leading buyers: state-owned enterprises, including banks and insurers.

Warning Signs

Asset flipping can go on only so long. At some point you need paying tenants.

–Developers highly leveraged, dependent on easy credit.

–Government funding via debt and land sales to state-owned corporations, prepayment of corporate taxes.

–Total outstanding debt approaching Japan’s precrash level.

from The Forbes

[Via http://chinaview.wordpress.com]

Missing Polish intel officer probably defected to China

We have been keeping an eye on the mysterious case of Stefan Zielonka, a senior signals intelligence officer with Poland’s Military Intelligence Services (SWW), who disappeared without trace in early May.

The seriousness of Zielonka’s disappearance stems from his extensive knowledge of Polish undercover intelligence networks operating overseas, including names and contacts of illegals –i.e. agents operating without diplomatic cover. Consequently, Polish intelligence officials have expressed fears that, if Zielonka defected, or was kidnapped by foreign intelligence agents, “much of the country’s intelligence network could be compromised”.

The possibility that Zielonka actually defected increased after it became known that his wife and young child also disappeared.

Now a new report in Poland’s Dziennik Gazeta Prawna claims that the signals intelligence officer’s mysterious disappearance is connected with a “trail leading to the Far East”, with “all clues lead[ing] to China”. The report states that, even though Zielonka is exceptionally knowledgeable of Polish intelligence operations abroad, his foreign handlers are mostly interested on information on NATO, of which Poland has been a member since 1999.

[Via http://bbvm.wordpress.com]

Newsline: China blasts diplomats over dissident's trial

China accused some diplomats of interfering in its internal affairs because they criticized the detention and trial of a prominent dissident. Statements from embassies calling for the release of Liu were “a gross interference of China’s internal affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. “We urge the relevant countries to respect China’s sovereignty and stop doing anything that interferes in China’s internal affairs,” Jiang said. A dozen diplomats, including from the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia and Canada, stood outside the Beijing courthouse in freezing weather after they were barred from entering. “We call on the government of China to release him immediately,” Gregory May, first secretary with the U.S. Embassy, said outside the courthouse. The European Union made a similar appeal. Liu Xiaobo, a former university professor, was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Friday for “inciting subversion of state power.” He had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are based on six articles he published on the internet and his role in organising Charter 08, a petition demanding the end of one-party rule in China.

http://m.billingsgazette.com/mobile/article_b4487547-c1ba-5029-a6df-5e59b9ecb244.html

[Via http://diplomaticbriefing.wordpress.com]

China's phone exports

China exported 51 million mobile phones worth 4.9 billion U.S. $ in the first five months of 2009 after the Chinese government.

The dollar was up 100 percent over the same period last year. Since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, many Taiwanese, Japanese and U.S. manufacturers increased their production to China. During the same period of five months, China imported 5.2 million mobile phones worth approximately 600 million U.S. dollars.

The level of exports expected to hit out later this year by changes in legislation recently passed in Taiwan, the chip maker on the island is to invest in China.

site:www.ebay-cellphone.com

[Via http://seowhy.wordpress.com]

I'm dreaming of an Artsy Christmas

yes… lame, I know… But the thing is, I’ve just discovered two major cool artist/works of art that I want to share.

First out we have swedish Michael Johanson who apperently had an 8-bit overdose and got inspired by Tetris and the Pantone colour guide. It’s massive, impressive and quirky. More here

Then we have the LA based studio Ball-Nogues who did a piece with American apparell. It’s really big, intruiging and way way way beautiful. Check out the rest here

all for now and a merry christmas untill next time

[Via http://okjunkie.wordpress.com]

Lynas: China Rigged Copenhagen For Failure So As To Pin The Blame For It On Obama

This doesn’t surprise me one bit, really:

Copenhagen was a disaster. That much is agreed. But the truth about

what actually happened is in danger of being lost amid the spin and

inevitable mutual recriminations. The truth is this: China wrecked the

talks, intentionally humiliated Barack Obama, and insisted on an awful

“deal” so western leaders would walk away carrying the blame. How do I

know this? Because I was in the room and saw it happen.

China’s strategy was simple: block the open negotiations for two

weeks, and then ensure that the closed-door deal made it look as if

the west had failed the world’s poor once again. And sure enough, the

aid agencies, civil society movements and environmental groups all

took the bait…

…. Even George Monbiot, writing in yesterday’s Guardian, made the mistake of

singly blaming Obama. But I saw Obama fighting desperately to salvage

a deal, and the Chinese delegate saying “no”, over and over again.

Monbiot even approvingly quoted the Sudanese delegate Lumumba

Di-Aping, who denounced the Copenhagen accord as “a suicide pact, an

incineration pact, in order to maintain the economic dominance of a

few countries”.

Sudan behaves at the talks as a puppet of China; one of a number of

countries that relieves the Chinese delegation of having to fight its

battles in open sessions. It was a perfect stitch-up. China gutted the

deal behind the scenes, and then left its proxies to savage it in

public.

And they did it pretty much because they could — and because even with their glaciers melting, the glaciers that supply their rivers, scoring points off the US is far, far more important than making sure the world as a whole survives.

[Via http://phoenixwoman.wordpress.com]

In Whose Service?

The reckless actions of a pro-Mao ‘China hand’ in the State Department.

For many years no expert on China stood higher in the opinion of American students of China, including myself, than John S. “Jack” Service. A fluent Mandarin speaker born in China, he entered the U.S. Foreign Service in his mid-20s, only to become a casualty of the McCarthy period and a subject of State Department loyalty probes.

Service, who died in 1999, was eventually judged innocent of disloyalty to the U.S. and abetting Chinese communism. But for years he was accused of being one of the State Department China hands who had “lost China” to the Communists in the 1940s. “Honorable Survivor,” by journalist Lynne Joiner, who was also his close friend, makes it clear—and this is Ms. Joiner’s chief contribution—that at a minimum Service was “recklessly indiscreet” in his contacts with Communist sympathizers in the U.S. to whom he gave documents or disclosed details of U.S. policy.

Service was in many ways the ultimate China hand. Born in Chengdu in 1909 to a missionary family, he loved China and believed that he not only knew what was best for the country but could help bring it about. In the State Department he acquired a reputation as a China expert and linguist and in 1944, when the first official American government mission flew to Mao’s guerrilla stronghold in Yan’an in north-central China, Service was a member of the group.

The Americans were received with fanfare by the Communists, who greeted Service and his colleagues with the same spirit of contrived comradeliness that had overwhelmed Edgar Snow in 1936 (and resulted in his influential, hagiographic book “Red Star Over China”). Like many visitors, Service contrasted Yan’an and the idealistic fervor in the air there with Nationalist China’s capital, Chongqing, and its corruption, conspiracies and the “claptrap of . . . officialdom” in Chiang Kai-shek’s government.

On their return to Chongqing and later Washington, Service and the other Americans reported that they had seen China’s future. The U.S. emissaries maintained that the Communists should be treated with at least the same respect as Chiang’s regime. Mao—amusing, dramatic, confiding, eager and mendacious—declared that he would cooperate with the Nationalists and not fight a civil war. According to Ms. Joiner, Service said: “I was almost taken off my feet by the warmth and fervor and earnestness” of Mao’s entreaties for American support.

Service’s dispatches impressed his State Department superiors. But it was those dispatches and others that convinced his enemies in government that he was a Communist dupe. Becoming increasingly disillusioned with President Roosevelt’s pro-Nationalist China policy, Service began leaking information and airing his opinions to anyone who would listen—including Communist agents and sympathizers. Ms. Joiner’s biography shows how certain Service was that the U.S. could “fix” China if only Washington knew what it was doing. She argues that this self-confidence, combined with recklessness, led Service to begin giving documents to leftist and probably Communist contacts who played him.

What he didn’t know was that the FBI was tapping the phones of the offices of Amerasia, a leftist journal edited by Phillip Jaffe, a devoted Stalinist who, although not a party member, later admitted that he was “giving information to . . . the Soviet intelligence agents.” It was at the Amerasia offices one day that Service gave Jaffe information that he warned was “top-secret.” In June 1945, Service was arrested and charged with spying based on the Amerasia wiretaps. Testifying under oath repeatedly over several years, Service said that he had revealed no real secrets to Jaffe and others.

Eventually all charges were dropped, but Service was nevertheless dismissed from the State Department in 1951 because of doubts about his loyalty. He was rehired in 1957 at the instruction of a federal judge because the official case against him had collapsed. But Service was never again given a policy-making or China-related post, and he was not promoted. Although he was supported by some senior State Department officers and public figures, including the diplomat and presidential adviser George Kennan, he also had a number of implacable foes, including FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Sen. Joseph McCarthy. In 1973, Service received a standing ovation at a State Department luncheon for retired China experts.

Worn out by the years of suspicion and questioning, Service had retired from the State Department in 1963 and spent the last years of his professional life at the University of California at Berkeley, where he was admired by students and colleagues and regarded as a witch-hunt victim.

But Jack Service was more than that. In two phone interviews with me shortly before he died a decade ago, Service admitted that in the 1940s he had given Jaffe a top-secret document revealing the Nationalist Order of Battle, which showed the exact disposition of the forces facing Mao’s troops. When I observed that some might regard this as treason (I made no accusation), Service said he knew it. “I want to get this off my chest,” he said, explaining: “I was gullible, and trusting, and foolish.” He also told me that he had purposely ignored Mao’s persecution, including executions, of his perceived enemies at Yan’an. Why cover for the supposedly moderate Communist leader? “I wanted them to win. I thought they were better than the Nationalists and that if we always opposed them we would have no access to the next Chinese government.”

Service pressed me to publish our conversation, but friends of his said that it would be very painful. I agreed and after some time forgot the whole episode, until Ms. Joiner’s book came my way. His stunning admission that he did supply classified intelligence to Jaffe, whom he must have assumed would pass it on, puts his later career—and Ms. Joiner’s book—in a different light. If what Service told me near the end of his life is true, he can no longer be viewed as an innocent victim.

Mr. Mirsky is a former East Asia editor for the Times of London.

__________

Full article and photo: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704398304574598443437286438.html

[Via http://abluteau.wordpress.com]

Principais notícias: BC projeta déficit recorde nas transações em 2010

InfoMoney:

A recuperação da economia nacional dos últimos três meses fez com que o BC (Banco Central) elevasse sua projeção para o déficit nas transações do país com o exterior em 2010, passando de US$ 29 bilhões para o recorde de US$ 40 bilhões.

No entanto, os analistas do mercado financeiro não julgam os números de maneira pessimista no curto prazo. Eles acreditam que tanto os investimentos estrangeiros no setor produtivos, quanto as aplicações estrangeiras em ações e títulos públicos devam superar o valor do saldo negativo das transações.

A notícia é um dos principais destaques nos jornais e cadernos de economia desta sexta-feira (18). Veja também as demais manchetes referentes a economia e finanças que são ou poderão ser assunto no mercado:

O Estado de São Paulo

B4 – Copom vê inflação ‘tranquila’ e ganha tempo;

B5 – IGP-10 tem a 1ª deflação em 16 anos da série;

B7 – BC projeta déficit recorde de contas externas em 2010;

B10 – Comitê vai obrigar grandes bancos a ter capital extra para evitar quebras;

B18 – Anadarko descobre óleo leve no pré-sal;

B23 – Petroquímica Suape terá R$ 2,6 bilhões do BNDES;

B24 – Marcopolo encerra acordo na Rússia.

Folha de São Paulo

Dinheiro – Fisco vai colocar fiscal dentro de empresas;

Dinheiro – Bolívia deve US$ 2 milhões à Petrobras;

Dinheiro – EUA adiam venda de participação no Citigroup;

Dinheiro – China tenta impedir acordo de mineradoras;

Dinheiro – BC projeta rombo externo recorde de US$ 40 bi em 2010;

Dinheiro – Alta do juro pode demorar mais, sinaliza BC;

Dinheiro – Ações: Fleury estreia na Bolsa com alta de 14%;

Dinheiro – Federal Reserve: Comissão do Senado dos EUA aprova 2º mandato de Bernanke.

O Globo

Economia – CSN faz oferta para comprar portuguesa Cimpor;

Economia – BC do Japão mantém juro e diz que não tolerará deflação.

Jornal do Brasil

Economia - BoJ mantém juros em 0,1% e adverte para “desafio” da deflação.

Valor Econômico

A3 – Sonegador terá fiscalização especial da Receita;

B1 – CCDI vende ativo para reduzir dívida;

B8 – Marcopolo encerra parceria e terá nova operação na Rússia;

C1 – BC prevê déficit de US$ 40 bilhões em 2010;

C2 – Ata do Copom reduz possibilidade de revisão da taxa Selic em janeiro.

[Via http://naaltaounabaixa.wordpress.com]

Dollar Watch: Middle East Gulf Exporters Create Their Own "Petro-Currency"

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

Oops.  Looks like some more movement in the “let’s-dump-the-dollar” game.

Seems like the oil-producing states of the Middle East have made some moves. According to the Telegraph (U.K.):

Gulf petro-powers to launch currency in latest threat to dollar hegemony

“The Gulf monetary union pact has come into effect,” said Kuwait’s finance minister, Mustafa al-Shamali, speaking at a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) summit in Kuwait.

The move will give the hyper-rich club of oil exporters a petro-currency of their own, greatly increasing their influence in the global exchange and capital markets and potentially displacing the US dollar as the pricing currency for oil contracts. Between them they amount to regional superpower with a GDP of $1.2 trillion (£739bn), some 40pc of the world’s proven oil reserves, and financial clout equal to that of China.

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar are to launch the first phase next year, creating a Gulf Monetary Council that will evolve quickly into a full-fledged central bank.

The Emirates are staying out for now – irked that the bank will be located in Riyadh at the insistence of Saudi King Abdullah rather than in Abu Dhabi. They are expected join later, along with Oman.

MORE

Earlier in the year, we posted about other moves to dump the dollar.  See below for some relevant posts.

The Gulf pact faces hurdles internally (Saudia Arabia will dominate and Saudi needs will come first and may leave the other states on the short end) as well as from the outside:

Ben Simpfendorfer, Asia economist for RBS and an expert on the Middle East, told the FIKR conference that the rise of China had paradoxically disrupted the case for pan-Arab economic integration.

There was a natural fit ten years ago between rich oil state and low-wage manufacturers in Egypt and Syria, but cheap exports from China have forced poorer Arab states to retreat behind barriers to shelter their industries. “The rationale for a single currency has become weaker,” he said.

We’ll have to see what transpires.  Just wanted to bring you up to date on the latest rumblings.

Related Posts The Scanner–International Edition, March 24, 2009: Say Goodbye to the Dollar? China, Russia Proposing a New World Currency for “Non-Credit” Based Economies, Echo G-20 Agenda of Expanding IMF; China Will “Consider” Buying IMF Bonds; 10th China Develpment Forum Underway (UPDATE 1X–Geithner Supports China Proposal??) Russia-China Proposals; “Rebalancing” Global Currency Reserves: Why the U.S. Can’t Take Anything for Granted Re: the Dollar (March 27, 2009) HEADS UP! It’s HERE! The New World Currency Design, Presented to the G-8 Delegations (With Pics) (July 13, 2009) As China (And Other Countries, Too) Makes Non-dollar Trade Deals Around the World, Maybe Americans Should Seek Safety in the Reincarnation Bank (July 31, 2009) Yuan on the Way to Becoming an Alternative Reserve Currency & Obama’s Off to China to INSIST That the Chinese Play Nice (November 12, 2009)

[Via http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com]

China again says opposes 'carbon tariffs'

BEIJING, Dec 16, 2009 (AFP) – China on Wednesday reiterated its opposition to the idea of “carbon tariffs” being imposed on goods made in the developing world, calling it an unfair trade restriction that hurts poor countries.

The idea for such tariffs has been floated in the United States and Europe as a way of penalising imports from countries that do not have statutory curbs on greenhouse gas emissions, such as China.

“China firmly opposes carbon tariffs,” commerce ministry spokesman Yao Jian told reporters.

He said such tariffs “restrict trade and economic development.”

He added they “ignore the fact that developed and developing nations are in different stages of development and should take on different historical responsibilities and liabilities.”

China is among the leading developing-country voices insisting that rich nations bear “historical responsibility” for emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change and should shoulder the burden of reducing such emissions.

The issue has led to a contentious atmosphere at global talks in the Danish capital Copenhagen on how to address climate change.

Some richer nations argue their industries are being punished by tough domestic environmental laws, which encourage the shift of polluting industries to countries with less stringent controls.

Source: SGGP Bookmark & Share

[Via http://baovietnam1.wordpress.com]

Child Trafficking Suspects Detained

After conducting sting operations since last spring, Shanghai police have detained 47 suspects and 21 babies in a crackdown on child trafficking. In China there is a large black market where young babies are abducted or bought from poor families and sold to wealthy couples and other girls and women are sold as brides. Although China is a third world country, I wish the people would have more morals than this. It is appalling that people would sell their child to a complete stranger and into an unknown world. I realize that people in China hope to have a boy to continue their family, so girls are disposable because of the one child law. However, any moral person would not be able to sell his/her baby. It is unreasonable to blame the sale of a child on an unjust law. An excuse is not acceptable in this horrible practice.

 As for the selling of the babies, hearing these stories is not supportive for the adoption process in China. Couples who are desperate for a baby may not do the research to find out where the baby comes from. Unknowingly, couples are supporting the theft and sale of children by adopting from unreliable adoption agencies. To combat this practice, people need to start doing the research. Even if it is painful not to get the child, people should not adopt from unreliable agencies. Also people should look to other countries for adoption. If there is no market for these children, the trafficking of children would end.

 The work that police are doing in this area is impressive. To this day, Chinese police have rescued 2,008 kidnapped children and solved 1,717 cases. In rural areas, they also traffic young boys so families can purchase their legacies. As painful as it is, families in China need to stop going to these means to have a boy and create a legacy. I am a strong believer in fate and if a family is not meant to have a boy, they will not be given a boy. People need to learn to be happy with the family they were given, instead of wishing for the family they do not have. Personally, my family has two girls and my dads brother has two girls. While it is disappointing that our family name is in its last generation, it is our destiny to end the family name. If my parents had done anything else, it would have ruined the synergy that our family was destined for. Being happy with what you have is a hard concept because there are factors surrounding us that are pressuring. Seeing other families and how they function makes many people wish they had that extra child, extra sibling or family structure. In reality, we need to embrace the family we are given and move on. We cannot control these external factors, the only thing we can control is our own self. Time should be spent on making  our own self the best person we can be, not fantasizing about the impossible.

[Via http://charmingchitchat.wordpress.com]

African Nations Teeter from Boycott

Andrew Ward and Ed Crooks write for the Financial Times,

Talks have resumed at the Copenhagen climate conference amid escalating tensions between rich countries and the developing world over how a deal should be structured.

African nations had earlier on Monday led a boycott of a key working group bringing negotiations to a halt. The delegates returned later saying that they had won some concessions.

The temporary halt in the talks came just four days before world leaders are supposed to converge on the Danish capital to complete a deal, and underlined that developing countries remain at loggerheads with the US, Europe and their allies over how to share the burden of fighting global warming.

Much of the tension is focused on whether to keep alive the Kyoto protocol – the existing international climate agreement struck in 1997 – as part of a new deal or replace it with an entirely new treaty.

Developing countries, including China, India and Brazil, want to keep the Kyoto process because it commits developed countries to legally binding emissions cuts without making the same requirements of poorer nations.

But developed countries, led by the US, want a new framework that binds China and other emerging economies to targets.

African leaders on Monday accused Denmark, which is chairing the conference, of trying to sideline the Kyoto protocol from negotiations and said they would not take part in the morning’s talks as a result. Other developing countries backed their stance, leading to the suspension.

“The Kyoto protocol is of paramount importance to us,” said Mama Konate, chief delegate for the African nation of Mali. “We can never accept the killing of the Kyoto protocol.”

read more at Financial Times

[Via http://whenhistoryattacks.wordpress.com]

Indians are ancestors of Japanese, Chinese

In a breakthrough in the study of evolution of humans and their spread across the world, scientists from India and 10 other countries have found that it is the Indians who are the ancestors of Japanese, Chinese and all east Asians.

“This is path breaking. This large study establishes that Indians are ancestors of Japanese, Chinese and all other East Asians,” Samir Brahmachari, director general of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) told IANS Friday.

According to the study, people from India moved to southeast Asia and east Asia. “They all have a common genetic origin. It shows that India represents a microcosm of Asia’s genetic diversity,” Brahmachari later told media persons here.

bron: www.thaindian.com

[Via http://wocview.wordpress.com]

Terracotta Warriors: Charmed Again

There’s something about the Terracotta Warriors. I first saw them two years ago when I lived in Taiwan, and was surprised to find each figure individually sculpted, each suit of armor and hairstyle distinct from the next. They weren’t at all the monolithic group I’d expected from photos of the excavation pits near Xi’an, China. I couldn’t read any of the exhibit text at the time (it was in Chinese, of course) but no matter: I was smitten.

I got a second chance to see the warriors last night, at DC’s National Geographic headquarters, and they were just as mesmerizing. The exhibit includes a number of artifacts discovered at the excavation site– bronze cranes, jade pendants, decorated bricks–and details the warriors’ unexpected discovery by a group of unwitting Chinese farmers in 1974. It’s a great backstory, but the show’s kick-in-the-gut moment comes at the very end, in a low-lit room where you’ll see ten of the warriors, standing, kneeling, poised for battle.

Yes, they were meant to be fearsome, to protect a Chinese emperor from the demons of the afterlife. But their faces are just too likeable: a sloping cheekbone, a curled mustache, a pair of curious eyes that reach across millennia. Really. It’s enough to make you book the next flight to Xi’an.

Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor runs through March 31, 2010.

Photo by smmorgan photos via Flickr (Creative Commons).

[Via http://dcmuseumgoer.com]

So Much for an Objective Press

Press urges action on climate change

The above  was a headline in the December 8 Schenzhen Daily. The story did not have a byline but was from SD-Agencies.

Here is the story:

  HUMANITY faces a profound emergency and unless we combine to take decisive action, climate change will ravage our planet, a joint editorial published in newspapers in 45 countries said yesterday.

    The 56 newspapers said they were taking the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice to implore world leaders to “make the right choice” at U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen.

    “The politicians in Copenhagen have the power to shape history’s judgment on this generation: one that saw a challenge and rose to it, or one so stupid that we saw a calamity coming but did not avert it,” the editorial read.

    Two weeks of talks opened yesterday seeking to agree curbs on greenhouse gas emissions and raise billions of dollars for the poor in aid and clean technology.

    The talks will end with a summit of 105 world leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, on Dec. 18 and must overcome deep distrust between rich and poor nations about sharing the burden of costly cuts in carbon emissions.

    “Climate change has been caused over centuries, has consequences that will endure for all time and our prospects of taming it will be determined in the next 14 days,” read the front-page editorial.

    It was published in 20 languages, including Chinese, Arabic and Russian, in newspapers including the Guardian in London, Le Monde in France, the Toronto Star, Gulf Times, Botswana Guardian and Miami Herald.

    “This should not be a fight between the rich world and the poor world, between East and West. Climate change affects everyone, and must be solved by everyone.

    “The science is complex, but the facts are clear. The world needs to take steps to limit temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius, an aim that will require global emissions to peak and begin falling within the next 5-10 years.

    “A bigger rise of 3-4 degrees Celsius — the smallest increase we can prudently expect to follow inaction — would parch continents, turning farmland into desert. Half of all species could become extinct, untold millions would be displaced, whole nations drowned by the sea,” it read.

    “The question is no longer whether humans are to blame, but how little time we have got left to limit the damage.”

    It urged politicians in Copenhagen to agree the essential elements of a fair and effective deal and a firm timetable for turning it into a treaty, saying next June’s U.N. climate meeting in Bonn should be their deadline.   (SD-Agencies)

I thought the press was supposed to report on events. They are supposed to record history as it happens. Clearly things have changed.

 Here is a link to the Shenzhen Daily:

http://szdaily.sznews.com/html/2009-12/08/node_2.htm

 

[Via http://cek100248.wordpress.com]

Cultural Food Pyramid Series: Asian Food Pyramid

The Thread that Binds Asia: Rice

Though each Asian country and region has its distinct flavors and cooking styles, almost all share one food in common—rice. But rice is not eaten in the same manner in each country. As a staple food central to survival, especially during times of famine , rice has acquired an almost sacred status in Asian society, and it is served in many ways. It is cooked as a significant part of each meal of the day, incorporated as a main ingredient in confections such as candy and cakes, fermented to make wine (Japanese sake) or beer, or sometimes given as an offering to the gods to ensure a good harvest. Rice is a potent culinary and spiritual staple in Asia.

Asian Fruit

The fruits of Asia are unlike those of any other part of the world. The tropical climate of South and Southeast Asia, and the mild climate of East Asia, create a hospitable environment for many different fruits to grow. Fruit is a significant part of the Asian diet and is usually eaten as a dessert with lunch or dinner. In East Asia, oranges, quince, dates, pears, strawberries, cherries, watermelon, peaches, and grapefruit are eaten widely. In South and Southeast Asia, there are unique fruits such as sweet mangoes (originally from India), which are eaten individually or made into ice cream or other confections, and green mangoes, which are used widely in Vietnam, the Philippines, and India, where they are made into chutneys or curries (which are used as a broth, stew, or dry seasoning).

Coconuts are popular in Southeast Asian cuisine. Coconut milk is used for curries in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, South India, Myanmar, and the Philippines. It is also a delicious beverage, and is often drunk straight from the coconut with a straw. Coconut meat is added to desserts and salads. Other tropical fruits found in Asia include guava, papaya, pawpaw, starfruit (carambola), mangosteen, sour sop, jackfruit, longan, rambutan, durian, pineapple, and lychee.

Other Common Ingredients Used across Asia

Nuts are popular in Asia, eaten plain as snacks or mashed into porridge and sauces. In Malaysia and Indonesia, satays (peanut-based sauces) flavor chicken and beef dishes. The Chinese bake almond cookies and make rice cream with almonds or hazelnuts. Steamed cakes with almonds or macadamias are also common, and rice puddings with fruit, raisins, almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts are popular desserts in India. Both East and Southeast Asia boast stir-fry dishes with peanuts, while India flavors its rice with lemon and peanuts

Read more: Asians, Diet of – calcium, effects, food, nutrition, deficiency, body, health, protein, fat, eating, carbohydrates, vitamin, weight, water, vitamins http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ar-Bu/Asians-Diet-of.html#ixzz0Z9cpUtNZ

[Via http://multiculturalcookingnetwork.wordpress.com]

Overheard at Starbucks

Starbucks has become my office here in Beijing. A tall regular coffee, free wi-fi, and the buzz that remotely resembles a gossipy newsroom–that’s all I need. Some of the shops here in Beijing have quite intimate seating arrangements, and Chinese people are never shy of conducting private conversations at volumes for public announcements (I’m guilty of that, too). So I’ve been enjoying the privilege of stumbling into some surreal exchanges. Hence the debut of this mini-series “Overheard at a Starbucks.”

November 25, 2009/Fu Xing Men Starbucks

Middle-aged woman talking into a cell phone: “I’m having trouble thinking of a gift for him/her? What can I get with a thousand dollars? (Yes, she said dollars!)”

November 25, 2009/Fu Xing Men Starbucks

Middle-aged guy to a woman of unknown age since she had her back to me: “I have an apartment, a car and a stable job. I like to drink occasionally and to watch soccer. You know, the usual pursuits of a dude…”

December 7, 2009/Guo Mao I Starbucks

Middle-aged guy A: “How did you become interested in this topic?”

Middle-aged guy B: “When I was eight, I watched a movie about Lei Feng (A half real and half fictional figure created by the Communist Party who supposedly devoted everything he had–time, energy, money, and life–to the people, the party and the PRC and who supposedly wrote in his journal “Treat the people with the warmth of the spring. Treat the enemy like the fall gale that sweeps away that the fallen leaves.”). I couldn’t believe one person could be so completely selfless. Thus it sowed in me the determination to become a selfless person…I know you and I know your reputation. You are a loving person. You share my purpose. In a communist society, kind people and loving people will be successful. We can make lots of money together…”

Guy A: “You and your book have great potential.”

[Via http://bigfeetunbound.wordpress.com]

PENDIDIKAN KEWIRAUSAHAAN DALAM DISKRIMINASI SEJARAH

Ketika membuka Temu Nasional 2009, Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono menekankan pentingnya jiwa kewirausahaan, inovasi teknologi, dan kreativitas. Ketiga aspek itu sebetulnya tercakup dalam nebula (megabudaya) China yang ironisnya tidak boleh diajarkan semasa Orde Baru. Dalam perjalanan sejarah di sekolah diajarkan pengaruh nebula yang berasal dari India, Arab, dan Eropa, tetapi tidak demikian halnya dengan sumbangan nebula China bagi peradaban Nusantara. Diskriminasi sejarah itu berlangsung sejak peristiwa G30S tahun 1965. Pemerintah melarang segala sesuatu yang berbau China.

Kehidupan kita sehari-hari bisa berjalan dan berkembang seperti sekarang ini antara lain berkat berkat ilmu dan teknologi yang berasal dari kebudayaan China. Orang Belanda yang berada di Jawa mulanya kurang memerhatikan pertanian. Orang Tionghoa-lah yang mengembangkan budidaya padi. Setiap tahun banyak jung (kapal besar dari kayu) datang ke sini untuk berdagang sambil membawa 1000-an orang China untuk dipekerjakan, terutama di lahan pertanian.

Abad ke-17

Pada abad ke-17, orang-orang Tionghoa di Batavia mengembangkan budidaya tebu. Penggilingan tebu itu sangat sederhana, yaitu dengan menaruh dua tabung kayu yangdiputar oleh seekor sapi dengn perantaraan sumber sistem roda gigi serta sebuah poros sepanjang 4,5 meter. Karena kekurangan bahan bakar untuk tungku, sejak tahun 1815 industri gula ini dipindahkan ke Jawa Tengah dan Jawa Timur.

Budidaya padi bukanlah monopoli etnis Tionghoa, tetapi mereka berjasa dalam menemukan teknik baru, seperti alat penyosoh padi tahun 1750 yang dengan dua-tiga sapi bisa mengolah sampai 500 ton padi per hari menggantikan lesung dengn kapasitas 100 ton per hari. Penyebaran alat tersebut merangsang produksi beras dan mengatasi masalah persediaan pangan di Batavia saat itu. Jadi, melalui orang Tionghoa itu lahir tipe pertanian bermesin sederhana : pompa berpedal, gilingan tebu, pemeras kelapa, penyosoh beras, dan bajak.

Dari dua komoditas di atas dibuat menjadi arak yang terdiri dari beras difermentasi, tetes tebu, dan nira sejak tahun 1611. Orang-orang Tionghoa juga berhasil membudidayakan sayur-sayuran dan buah-buahan, seperti semangka. Orang Tionghoa pula yang mendatangkan ke Pulau Jawa tanaman seperti kapas dan terung. Tanaman yang mengandungprotein yang diperkenalkan oleh etnis Tionghoa adalah kacang hijau yang semua produk olahannya diberi nama China, yait taoge (kecambah), tahu, dan taoco. Dari sejenis kacang-kacangan dibuat kecap.

Orang Tionghoa juga merupakan pionir dalam bidang metalurgi dan pertambangan. Etnis Tionghoa bekerja di penambangan timah di Bangka dan emas di Kalimantan Barat (paruh pertama abad ke-19). Teknk yang digunakan penambang Tionghoa ini sangat efisien pada zamannya dan berasal dari teknik pembuatan irigasi : mengendalikan aliran air yang alami untuk mencuci mineral di sepanjang permukaan yang miring. Barang yang juga dikembangkan berkat jasa orang Tionghoa adalah jarum untuk menjahit dan perkakas dapur, yakni kuali. Etnis Tionghoa juga berperan sebagai pengecor meriam di Aceh dan Patani.

Teknologi

Etnis Tionghoa juga memiliki sumbangan dalam teknologi kelautan. Merekalah yang membuat kapal yang digunakan Pati Unus, pangeran dari Jepara, untuk menyerang Malaka. Perahu mayang dipakai nelayan lokal di pantai utara Jawa menggunakan dinding sekat kedap air khas China. Etnis Tionghoa juga aktif dalam budidaya tiram, kerang, dan ikan di tambak-tambak. Teknik pembuatan garam juga dikembangkan orang Tionghoa. Pembuatan produk ini dikuasai oleh mereka sebelum pemerintah kolonial Belanda abad ke-19 mengembangkan pembuatan garam secara modern dengan mengambil alih tambak-tambak garam besar di Gresik dan Sumenep.

Menurut hemat saya, nebula (megabudaya) China penting dimasukkan ke kurikulum sejarah karena kenyataan bahwa ia telah menyumbang bagi peradaban bangsa. Selama ini hanya diajarkan budaya India (Hindu-Budha), Arab (Islam), dan Eropa (Kristen) yang memengaruhi budaya lokal di Tanah Air. Jika dari budaya India yang menonjol adalah aspek spiritual dan kerukunan meskipun ada hierarki (kasta), dari budaya China kita bisa menanamkan kreativitas kewirausahaan dan inovasi teknologi untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat.

Sumber  :

Pendidikan Kewirausahaan dalam Diksriminasi Sejarah, Dr Asvi Warman Adam | Ahli Peneliti Utama LIPI

Kompas, 05.12.2009

[Via http://hagemman.wordpress.com]

Cultural Destruction in Kashgar [II]

This summer I translated “Cultural Demolition in Kashgar,” a French story from the dynamic Paris left-wing newspaper Liberation which attracted a wide number of readers via Danwei.org and ended up on the reading list of a number of overseas Uighur organizations.

Today Le Monde’s China blog releases a large cache of similar photos which, for readers following Xinjiang and China’s West, may be of great interest.

via Le Monde

People's Square, Kashgar, via Le Monde

[Via http://adamcathcart.wordpress.com]

No Way Out

No Way Out

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Protest started oct 5th

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Sign Petition by one click at http://act.ly/t4

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No Way Out

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who should we turn to?

United Nations?

all they did was to empty their seats when tyrant was speaking!

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who should we turn to?

United States?

USA has enough trouble and can’t solve his own problems!

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who should we turn to?

God?

he was, is & will be with tyrant!

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who should we turn to?

Israel?

today Russia & China are waiting to crush Israel!

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No Way Out.

[Via http://iranvote.wordpress.com]

Principais notícias: Caixa compra 35% do banco PanAmericano

InfoMoney:

A Caixa Econômica Federal fechou na última terça-feira (1) a compra de 35% do banco PanAmericano, vinculado ao Grupo Silvio Santos, pela cifra de R$ 739 milhões.

A notícia é um dos principais destaques nos jornais e cadernos de economia desta quarta-feira (2). Veja também as demais manchetes referentes a economia e finanças que são ou poderão ser assunto no mercado:

O Estado de S. Paulo

B3 – Petrobras vai furar 1º poço para capitalização;

B4 – Governo faz novo acordo sobre regras do pré-sal;

B5 – Balança tem 2º pior resultado do ano;

B7 – Japão cria novo pacote e BC do país empresta mais;

B7 – Atividade industrial da China sobe pelo 8º mês;

B14 – Caixa compra 35% do Panamericano;

B14 – Fritz Henderson deixa o comando da General Motors;

B15 – Vivendi anuncia que já tem controle da GVT.

Folha de S. Paulo

Dinheiro – IOF derruba negociação externa na Bolsa;

Dinheiro – Sob investigação, Vivendi garante o controle da GVT;

Dinheiro – Exportações caem de novo e derrubam saldo;

Dinheiro – Pré-sal: Relator quer reduzir ganho da União em campo já licitado;

Dinheiro – Presidente da GM deixa o cargo após oito meses;

Dinheiro – BC japonês vai injetar US$ 115 bi em bancos;

Dinheiro – Caixa leva 35,5% do PanAmericano.

O Globo

Economia – Membro diz que BC japonês está aberto a opções.

Jornal do Brasil

Economia – Banco do Japão injeta hoje US$ 7,6 bi no sistema financeiro.

Valor Econômico

A3 – Exportação fraca reduz saldo comercial;

A13 – Frederick Henderson deixa presidência da GM;

A16 – Governo cede na partilha aos não produtores;

B4 – Companhias estudam investir em aeroportos;

B9 – Klabin faz plantio com fundo europeu;

C2 – Japão separa US$ 115 bilhões para emprestar aos bancos;

C5 – Comitê vai renegociar dívida com Dubai;

C8 – Caixa Econômica paga R$ 739 milhões por 35% do banco PanAmericano;

D1 – Compra da GVT causa polêmica;

D2 – Carteiras de ações brasileiras captam US$ 5 bilhões no ano;

D4 – Lojas Americanas avança e B2W sofre competição feroz;

D4 – Oi anuncia nova etapa para incorporar Brasil Telecom.

[Via http://naaltaounabaixa.wordpress.com]

China’s Working Paper Shows No Commitment to Cutting Emissions

By ZIXIN LI

Published: December 2, 2009

LONDON — China put forward a working paper on November 30 for discussion among delegations, which is the first paper to be submitted by the five permanent member countries.

In this paper, China emphasized “the need for common but differentiated responsibilities and respective responsibilities among member states”. It means China will insist on its stance on carbon emission cutting, i.e. “lower absolute emissions recognising their respective share of historical responsibility and current development positions”, which is mentioned in the paper.

Other key players, especially the United States, are expecting China to identify a specific responsibility to show their sincerity. But China is reluctant to make a respective commitment. In this paper, China suggests a 25% reduction on 2005 levels as a minimum commitment for Annex 1 countries by 2020 and a second target of 45% by 2030. Annex 1 countries were designated in the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, which includes 40 countries. All of them are industrialized countries and economies in transition. Included in this bracket are the United States and all the European Union countries.

In the meantime, China is building its camp to gain more leverage in negotiating with Annex I countries. Now it is said by insiders that Costa Rica and Uganda are already on the “China team”, which is not unexpected, since China has already begun to act as the leader of the so-called “Third World”. Libya, Mexico and Vietnam are expected to support China, however Turkey is still flip-flopping. A heated dispute is expected to take place at the Security Council meeting on December 16th.

China is purported to be the biggest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter in the world. In 2006, its GHG emissions accounted for 21.5% of total world emissions, which is more than the total amount of EU and Russia. But it claims that historically, up to 80 percent of all GHGs existing in the atmosphere are emitted by developed countries, and therefore they have to pay off the debt.

[Via http://nytucl.wordpress.com]

China e India contaminarán menos;¡chisssst! es un secreto, no se lo digáis a nadie

NOTA: este artículo va dedicado a CHINA e INDIA no siempre denostadas en su justa medida.

Y estos son los logros de otra “INCREDIBILE” cumbre sobre reducción de emisiones contaminantes a la atmósfera. O lo que es lo mismo, países con estructuras de producción eléctrica obsoletas basadas en carbón, renovarán cuando les venga en gana dichas estructuras, introduciendo petróleo o energía nuclear, que como tecnológicamente son más eficientes pues provocarán una reducción de las emisiones. Esta transformación se iba a llevar a cabo con cumbre o sin ella, ya que dichos países no tienen más remedio si quieren seguir produciendo a bajo coste; pero claro está, por que no ir a una cumbre para anunciarlo a bombo y platillo; fíjate tú todo lo que podemos conseguir:

* salvamos la cara ante la opinión pública internacional ya que vivimos de ellos

* les salvamos el pellejo a políticos de medio pelo, tipo “OBAMA”

* y lo que es más importante, comemos y bebemos a costa de los erarios públicos; ¡qué coño! “QUE PARA ESO SOMOS POLÍTICOS.

 

[Via http://aopensecret.wordpress.com]

PERTANIAN KITA DALAM PETA DUNIA

Melihat pandangan negara-negara lain terhadap Indonesia dalam pertemuan multilateral APEC di Singapura, terasa bahwa kita adalah negara yang dipandang penting dalam peta dunia.

Sebagai negara berpenduduk terbesar keempat di dunia dan memiliki pertumbuhan ekonomi ketiga tertinggi setelah China dan Indonesia, Indonesia dinilai penting dalam menjaga keseimbangan pertumbuhan ekonomi global.

Hal tersebut juga berlaku dalam bidang pertanian. Berdasarkan data statistik dunia, Indonesia adalah penghasil pertanian terbesar keenam dunia dengan nilai keluaran sekitar 60 milliar dollar Amerika Serikat (2007). Indonesia adalah produsen biji-bijian pangan (sereal) terbesar kelima dan produsen buah-buahan terbesar kesepuluh di dunia. Indonesia juga produsen beras nomor tiga di dunia setelah China dan India meski merupakan konsumen terbesar ketiga juga setelah China dan Inda. Sekadar menambahkan, Indonesia adalah produsen minyak sawit mentah (CPO) terbesar di dunia, nomor tiga untuk karet dan kakao, nomor empat untuk kopi, dan nomor enam untuk the.

Arti penting pertanian Indonesiaitu terefleksikan dalam berbagai usaha mencari solusi persoalan global. Melalui posisi Indonesia yang kian terhormat di forum-forum internasional – ASEAN, APEC, atau G-20 – peran Indonesia dapat lebih banyak tersampaikan.

Ketidakpastian iklim

Dalam ketahanan pangan dan terkait perubahan iklim, Indonesia adalah korban ketidakpastian iklim, tetapi sekaligus dapat menawarkan solusi. Ketidakpastian iklim telah menimbulkan masalah bagi ribuan petani Indonesia yang menghadapi kekeringan, kebanjiran, atau siklus iklim yang berubah-ubah.

Ketidakpastian iklim membuat produktivitas kian sulit ditingkatkan, gejolak harga membingungkan. Bahkan, beberapa pulau di Indonesia terancam abrasi air laut dan tercancam tenggelam.

Namun, Indonesia juga dapat menawarkan solusi. Pertama, dengan membangun ketahanan pangan sendiri, Indonesia telah turut berkontribusi dalam ketahanan pangan global. Pengalaman krisis pangan tahun 2008 menunjukkan, ketidakstabilan pangan pada satu negara dapat memicu persoalan, bukan melalui perdagangan atau investasi, tetapi melalui informasi.

Tahun 2008, Filipina membutuhkan tambahan amat besar stok beras. Keadaan ini menyebabkan harga beras melambung tinggi, termasuk di negara-negara yang telah berswasembada beras bahkan pada negara-negara eksportir. India yang mengalami masalah penurunan produksi gula tahun 2009 juga menyebabkan kenaikan harga gula di beberapa negara. Artinya, dengan Indonesia mampu menjaga stabilitas ketahanan pangan, selain untuk kepentingan rakyat Indonesia sendiri, maka akan dapat memberi solusi – setidaknya mengurangi beban – persoalan ketahanan pangan global.

Kedua, menambah pasokan pangan tetap merupakan agenda besar di seluruh dunia. Ketersediaan lahan dan air menjadi amat penting. Indonesia masih memiliki kedua sumber daya alam penting itu. Badan Pertanahan Nasional telah mengidentifikasi lahan seluas 7,1 juta hektar yang dapat dimanfaatkan untuk perluasan areal tanaman pangan. Sebagian di antaranya dapat dibuka untuk kerja sama internasional menambah pasokan pangan pasar global, sebagian lainnya untuk penambahan pasokan pasar domestik.

Strategis

Karena itu, amat strategis langkah Presiden RI menawarkan revitalisasi industri dan pertanian – khususnya untuk gula, pupuk, daging, kedelai, dan hal-hal terkait daya saing sektor pangan – sebagai kesempatan investasi kepada para pemimpin dunia usaha di “CEO Summit” pertemuan APEC Singapura.

Investasi di bidang-bidang itu dapat bermakna ganda, sebagai peluang yang menguntungkan serta sebagai bagian solusi ketahanan pangan global dan membangun pertumbuhan ekonomi dunia yang lebih berimbang.

Hal itu harus dilakukan dengan tetap melakukan pembenahan diri ke dalam. Petani, industri, pedagang, dab semua pelaku pertanian diajak untuk lebih proaktif melakukan adaptasi dan mitigasi lingkungan.

Semua praktik keseharian yang tak ramah lingkungan harus dikurangi bersama bahkan dihilangkan. Iklim investasi terus diperbaiki sehingga memberi apresiasi lebih besar bagi ”investasi hijau”. Pemerintah akan menyambut tiap kreativitas dan inovasi petani untuk dapat lebih hemat air. Apresiasi akan diperoleh pemerintah daerah jika menerapkan kebijakan yang efektif dalam melarang oembakaran sampah atau sisa tanaman di pemukiman, sawah, kebun, apalagi di hutan ; dan aneka kegiatan prolingkungan lainnya. Efisiensi industri dengan menggunakan teknologi ramah lingkungan akan mendapat respons positif dari konsumen.

Semua itu jelas tak dapat dilakukan sendiri. Menteri Pertanian dengan tepat melakukan pendekatan lebih terbuka kepada dunia usaha untuk membangun kerja sama sinergis. Penguatan organisasi pertanian dengan struktur baru pun akan didayagunakan untuk mengurai sumbatan kebijakan dan pelaksanaannya, sekligus mencari terobosan bersama lintas sektor.

Semua itu diharapkan dapat kian mengaktualisasikan peran pertanian di dunia bagi sebesar-besarnya kemakmuran rakyat ; dan tidak hanya menjadi angka-angka statistik belaka.

Sumber  :

Pertanian Kita dalam Peta Dunia, Bayu Krishnamurthi | Wakil Menteri Pertanian

Kompas, 18.11.2009

[Via http://hagemman.wordpress.com]

Elétrico da Infiniti será esportivo

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Esperamos que no te hubieras encaprichado de la idea de un Nissan Land Glider con asientos de cuero y tablero de aluminio rugoso, porque el modelo eléctrico que anda preparando Infiniti poco tendrá que ver con el peculiar biplaza presentado por su matriz en Tokio.

Automotive News nos cuenta que según Carlos Ghosn, el coche a baterías en el que está trabajando la filial de lujo de Nissan será “un compacto de cuatro asientos, altas prestaciones, y cero emisiones”. De hecho, Ben Poore, vicepresidente de la Unidad de Negocio de Infiniti, este automóvil no sólo complementará la imagen de la firma, sino que la reforzará.

En sus propias palabras, “el modelo encajará perfectamente con los estándares de prestaciones que hemos fijado para la marca”, así que lo mínimo minimórum sería esperar algo así como un G37 (¿G0?) con un motor eléctrico de par saltarín en lugar del tradicional propulsor VQ. ¿Sería mucho pedir una versión a escala reducida del Essence? Ya veremos. Por lo pronto no cabe esperarlo antes de 2012, así que siéntate con nosotros y prepara los sudokus.

[Via http://allthecars.wordpress.com]

China to set a target...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/26/china-targets-cut-carbon-footprint

Ok so China is coming on board with some kind of carbon emission reducti0n (in fact not an absolute reduction, just a reduction in intensity) for COP 15… a great breakthrough or nothing new?

It is becoming difficult to keep up to date with the different targets, baselines and measures countries are using to set their own targets. In this instance China is using 2005 as a baseline measure for their carbon intensity reduction. This means that 15 years of emissions are not accounted for, compared to the Kyoto Protocol which uses 1990 as a baseline. Fair enough you might say, China is a developing nation but the important thing here is why move the figure? Why not calculate carbon plans using the same measures as everybody else? A 1990 baseline? The US climate and energy bill uses 2005 as a baseline with a 17% reduction target. With both China and the US talking in terms of 2005 now, the rest of the world seem a bit slow on the uptake sticking with 1990 levels. Did responsibility only start in 2005? Instead of focusing overly on the fact that some numbers are on the table, should we be thinking a bit more about how these numbers are constructed? If we have a situation where everybody puts numbers on the table but calculates them differently, then how can we compare across countries? Absolute reductions / intensity reductions / 1990 levels / 2005 levels… the mind boggles.

In response to the Chinese announcement, I’d say great start lets engage with China to build these proposals but lets not allow 2005 to become the default baseline. 1990 took years to negotiate, lets not abdicate our resonsibility for 15 years fo rapid growth.

[Via http://susannahfisher.wordpress.com]

China executes 2 for role in tainted milk scandal

China executed a dairy farmer and a milk salesman Tuesday for their roles in the sale of contaminated baby formula — severe punishments that Beijing hopes will assuage public anger, reassure importers and put to rest one of the country’s worst food safety crises.

In this Sept. 18, 2008 file photo, a child cries as he waits for ultrasonic scan to detect for problems related to consuming tainted milk formula at a hospital, in Shijiazhuang, northern China’s Hebei province. (AFP Photo)

The men were the only people put to death in a scheme to boost profits by lacing milk powder with the industrial chemical melamine; 19 other people were convicted and received lesser sentences. At least six children died after drinking the adulterated formula, and more than 300,000 were sickened.

Beijing has responded swiftly and comprehensively to eliminate problems in its food production chain that have spawned protests at home and threatened its export-reliant economy. The milk powder contamination struck a nerve with the public because so many children were affected, but was only one in a series of product recalls and embarrassing disclosures of lax public health safeguards.

Melamine, which is used to make plastics and fertilizers, has also been found added to pet food, eggs and fish feed, although not in levels considered dangerous to humans. The chemical, which like protein is high in nitrogen, fooled inspectors. It can cause kidney stones and kidney failure.

China has tightened regulations and increased inspections on producers and exporters in cooperation with U.S. officials, who have noted a drop in the number of product recalls on Chinese exports.

But Beijing continues to struggle to regulate small and illegally run operations, often blamed for introducing chemicals and additives into the food chain. The country has 450,000 registered food production and processing enterprises, but many — about 350,000 — employ just 10 people or fewer. The U.N. said in a report last year that the small enterprises present many of China’s greatest food safety challenges.

Zhang Yujun, the farmer, was executed for endangering public safety, and Geng Jinping for producing and selling toxic food, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Much of the phony protein powder that Zhang and Geng produced and sold ended up at the defunct Sanlu Group Co., at the time one of China’s biggest dairies.

Xinhua said an announcement of the execution had been issued by the Shijiazhuang Municipal Intermediate People’s Court, although a court clerk who answered the phone Tuesday said he was unable to confirm the sentences had been carried out. Most executions in China are performed by firing squad.

Of the others tried and sentenced in January in the scandal, Sanlu’s general manager, Tian Wenhua, was given a life sentence after pleading guilty to charges of producing and selling fake or substandard products.

Three other former Sanlu executives were given between five years and 15 years in prison.

There was outrage after news spread of the doctored milk in September 2008, both because of the extent of the contamination and allegations that the government prevented the news from breaking until after the Olympic Games in Beijing.

The cover-up accusations were never publicly investigated, and authorities have since harassed and detained activist parents pushing lawsuits demanding higher compensation and the punishment of government officials. Families were offered a one-time payout — ranging from of 2,000 yuan ($293) to 200,000 yuan ($29,000), depending on the severity of the case — to not pursue lawsuits.

Tuesday’s executions brought some comfort to Li Xinquan, who lost one of her 8-month-old twin daughters who was fed with melamine-tainted formula from Sanlu. Li has campaigned to force authorities to admit negligence and provide fair compensation.

“They deserved it. This is the punishment they have received from the government,” said Li, whose other daughter survived because she was breast fed.

Another parent, Wang Zhenping, also voiced satisfaction with the executions, reflecting strong support for the death penalty in China, which executes more people annually than the rest of the world combined.

Wang, who said his 2-year-old son appeared to have recovered from melamine poisoning, rejected the compensation offer and said he was growing weary of the struggle.

“I feel like it doesn’t really matter now,” he said.

U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said last month that Beijing has made progress in increasing product safety.

The numbers of consumer recalls of toys imported from China had fallen from more than 80 in fiscal 2008 to about 40 in fiscal 2009, Tenenbaum said.

“Chinese suppliers and U.S. importers are now on notice from both governments that it is a mistake to depend on good intentions and a few final inspections to ensure compliance with safety requirements,” she told a conference in Beijing.

Source: SGGP Bookmark & Share

[Via http://baovietnam1.wordpress.com]

China in the Market Place

MBT     Mbt Chapa

The pattern of china’s foreign trade has changed substantially since the founding of the People’s Republic.During the 1950s China exported agricultural products to the USSR and East European countries in return for manufactured goods and the capital equired for the country’s industrialisation programme which placed emphasis on the development of  heavy industry.The Great Leap Forward of 1985-59 initially produced gains in agricultural and industrial production ,but subsequently resulted in serious economic imbalances.Economic problems were exacerbated by three bad harvests(1959-61)with the result that national nicome and the volume of foreign trade contracted during 1960-62.

The withdrawal of Soviet economic and technical aid in the early—1960s caused trade to shift away from the USSR and its Comencon partners towards Japan and Western Europe,A consistent theme of China’s foreign trade polices has been the strong emphasis which has been palced on develpong trade relations with the Third World countries.

The growth of foreign trade was disrupted again during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76)when agricultural and industrial production fell sharply and transportation constraints became more serious . Mbt walking shoes

Foreign trade,which has a major role in the Four Modernisations programme.has grown rapidly over the past few years.A major tarde agreement with Japan ,under which China export coal and oil in return for industrial equipment and technology,was sihned in February 1978.China also signed a long-term trade agreement with the EEC in 1978 while trade with the USA has incerased rapidly in the wake of the normalisation of diplomatic relations at the beginning of 1979.The Sino-USA agreement on trade relations .which came into force in February 1980.accords China most-favoured-nation treatment..Mbt Lami   Mbt Sport

[Via http://sunflower518.wordpress.com]

Shanghai no es comunista

A pesar de que con el viaje que hice en verano a China no me las pueda dar de conocedor del país y de la cultura china si que me atrevo a opinar en algunas cosas.

Shanghai no es China. Shanghai no es comunista.

En todas las ciudades que estuve durante el viaje hay claros ejemplos de comunismo, de control sobre los ciudadanos, de gente que vive de manera conformista. Estar en países que están “atrasados” deja entrever cómo van cambiando las maneras de vivir, la mentalidad de la gente…

Uno de los guías, explicándonos un poco (opinión de un ciudadano de 62 años) la historia y cultura de China dijo: “Para los chinos Mao es el salvador”. Lo fue y, para ellos, lo sigue siendo porque fue el que consiguió que todos los chinos pudieran comer.  En general, la mentalidad de la gente sigue siendo conformista en ese aspecto, la gente con tener para comer y una bici con la que desplazarse ya es feliz.

Lo que me parece curioso es la diferencia de Shanghai con el resto del país. No entiendo quién cambió las reglas, quién dejó que la ciudad se desarrollara de manera capitalista bajo un estado comunista. Es alucinante la competencia que se ve por todas partes, la cantidad de comercios que hay abiertos de sol a sol, los miles de traspasos de restaurantes, bares y discotecas casi a diario, el aumento de restaurantes occidentales, los centros comerciales de marcas de lujo…

Una ciudad de casi 20 millones de habitantes, que se rige por la leyes del mercado como muchos otros países, más de 8.000 rascacielos (I repeat) más de 8.000 rascacielos, un sistema de transporte público muy por encima de los de Barcelona o Madrid, trenes de alta velocidad que hacen 30 km en 8 min (mientras en España lograr que el AVE llegue a 300 km/h lo suyo ha costado), tiendas y centros llenos de consumidores dispuestos a gastarse todo lo que ganan en su tiempo libre…

¿Qué ha pasado con Shanghai? ¿Cómo tanta diferencia?

Merece la pena visitarla, si tenéis opción no dudéis en viajar a China.

[Via http://180segundos.wordpress.com]

thanksgiving week!

I only have two days of my internship until the Thanksgiving holiday! Push through it, Dublado!!!

My internship this past week has been great. Just as I suspected, I didn’t do so well the week before that. My field instructor did talk to me about it and we resolved everything. I’m getting to talk to more and more kids and I have a list of kids waiting for me tomorrow. My research paper is screaming for me! I need to read the articles I have. I don’t even think I can work on my research project this Thanksgiving week! Wednesday, I’m going shopping for an outfit. Thursday is actual Thanksgiving. Friday, possible Renaissance Festival. Saturday, Liz’s wedding. Sunday, work. Then, back to internship Monday.

There is no such thing as a break. I have to see my friend, Jia! She is in town from California! I miss her greatly!! I’m not even sure when I saw her last. It has gotten harder and harder to keep in touch with people. Even people who live in Houston. It’s quite pathetic.

This week has been a definite struggle with work. My co-workers are amazing and will always be amazing. There’s just tinges of drama that takes a great chunk of my energy. I did have a good time at work today, though. Human relationships are so infinitely complex. That is the sentence that would best describe this week at work.

After work today, my mom and I went shopping. I had no luck dress shopping, but I still did some damage at Old Navy. I got to catch up with my mom a bit. I told her about the study abroad opportunities through my graduate school this summer, to Turkey and to China. I also started talking to her about the non profit organization I wanted to set up in the future, and she was actually excited about it. Approval! wowza!

Can’t believe 2009 is almost done. It’s been a great year.

[Via http://maridublado.wordpress.com]

China, Taiwan, and the U.S.

Brute force is the clumsiest of tools for any nation to try and take charge of another region, far more commonly the battle takes place quietly under the name of economics.  All countries that are able to do so use this tactic, the U.S. does so quite frequently.

As China’s power grows, so does their ability to influence negotiations.  While terrorism is a near-term threat to the U.S., strategically China is much more of a threat.  Then again, maybe I’ve read too many Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon comic strips. 

From Xinhua:

Mainland China and Taiwan to Normalize Economic Relations

A Chinese mainland official on Taiwan affairs said here Thursday that the mainland would work actively for “normalization” of economic relations with Taiwan.

    Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said at a conference on cross-Strait cooperation in trade and science held in the northwestern Shaanxi Province that the priority of economic relations between the two sides at present and in the next stage is to negotiate and sign the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).

    Wang said experts from the mainland and Taiwan have basically completed joint research on the ECFA.

Link to full story

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Part 1 of Riz Khan interview

Part 2

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While the citizens of China are for the most part good people, there is a strong nationalistic pride running through the populace, and we probably shouldn’t forget that as much as China moves into capitalist markets, they still have a Communist government.

While China is not an enemy of the U.S., it seems somewhat foolish to not recognize a rival of this size and potential power.  Competition is one thing, but do we actually have to be helping the ones we are competing against?  At this point it is too late, China has become an export powerhouse and a holder of billions in U.S. debt.

Of nine nations, non-censorship, free books & an Obama of hair

I’ve come across a few interesting things online in the past week or so and I thought I’d share them with you.

1 First up is an article by Patrick Chovanec in The Atlantic breaking down the 1.3 billion people in China into “a mosaic of several distinct regions, each with its own resources, dynamics, and historical character.” It’s called The Nine Nations of China. As the article and sweet interactive map point out, all of China’s population doesn’t actually share the same language, history, and culture as we tend to think. I’ve added The Nine Nations of North America to my “to read” list, which is where Chovanec says he got some of the inspiration for his Nine Nations of China.

2 President Obama visited China as part of his four-stop Asian tour, which also included visits to Singapore, South Korea, and Japan. While in Shanghai he conducted a town hall-style meeting, of sorts. I don’t think I need to say too much about it because commentary on his now-infamous quote where he refers to himself as “a big supporter of non-censorship” can be found all over the net. Of particular note, here are two posts about it at Shanghai Scrap and Granite Studio.

Obama’s performance reminded Shanghai Scrap of “an overly coached American businessman on his first trip to China, so concerned about what he should or should not say that he forgets what he wants to say in the first place, and ends up going home with nothing but a hotel bill and empty promises.”

And Granite Studio says, “Well, that’s just great, Barack. Thanks! I personally oppose not getting ice cream for my birthday and I am firmly in support of not-drunk airline pilots.”

In the end, the President ultimately got censored in the Chinese news media anyway. This blog is also denied access in China.

3 Next is the discovery of Gary Thomas’ new book, Pure Pleasure, as a free eBook over at his homepage. Also, John Piper’s bestselling book Desiring G0d is Xtian Audio’s free audio download of the month, so go download it before November is over!

4 And lastly, to return to our President again, check out a Chinese hairdresser’s replica of Obama made from human hair, as well as proof of some other weird Obama mania in China.

Rachael Flatt : "Kim fantastik bir patenci..."

Amerikalı Rachael Flatt, 2009 Skate America serbest program yarışmasında, sezona fırtına gibi giren Yu-Na Kim’i yaklaşık beş puan farkla geçti. Üstelik son spini sayılmadığı için puan alamamasına rağmen. Yalnız burada Kim’in yardımını da unutmamak lâzım. Kim, önceki yarışmaların ve beklentilerin aksine serbest programda kötü bir performans sergiledi ve üçlü flip’te düştü, iki atlayışında da epey bocalayarak puan kaybetti.

2008 Dünya Gençler şampiyonu Flatt, Kim hakkında, “Dünyanın en iyi patencisine karşı yarışmaktan onur duydum. O maalesef iyi bir serbest program sunamadı, ben de iyi günümdeydim. Herkesin iyi ve kötü günleri vardır. Serbest programı böylesine iyi kaymak ve kazanmak çok hoş bir duygu” diyor.

Yu-Na Kim, katıldığı dokuz ISU Grand Prix yarışmasında sadece bir serbest programda geçilmiş ve Mao Asada, 2007-2008 ISU Grand Prix finalinde Kim’i yarım puandan daha az bir farkla geride bırakmıştı. Flatt, ISU Grand Prix’de Kim’i geçen ikinci patenci oldu.

“Kim’e büyük hayranlık duyuyorum. İnanılmaz bir patenci. Çok yenetekli ve bulunduğu yere gelmek için çok çalıştı” diyerek rakibine övgüler yağdırmaktan geri kalmıyor Flatt…

Flatt, Kim’le aynı yarışmaya çıktığında ondan ilham aldığını beliritiyor ve “O beni daha iyi bir patenci olmaya yöneltiyor. Onunla yaptığım ilk antrenmanda biraz korkmuştum ama herkes gibi benimde üzerime düşeni yapmam gerektiğini farkettim. Tesadüfen aynı grupta antrenman yapıyorduk. O, fantastik bir patenci. Ülkesinin  ve hayranlarının böylesine baskısı altındayken bu kadar iyi yarışması inanılmaz bir şey. Kendisini alkışlıyorum” diyor.

2009 ABD ikincisi Flatt, Skate America’da serbest programda kendisinin en iyi serbest puanını elde etti. Bu yarışma, ayrıca kendisine güvenini arttırdı. “Cup of China yarışmasına giderken kendime çok güveniyordum. Ama oradaki performansımdan sonra biraz güvenim azalmıştı. Ama Sakate America’da kendime güvenimi tazeledim” diyor.

Flatt, Skate America’da kısa programda, üçlü flip-üçlü toeloop kombinasyonunda düştü. “Bu aslında teknik açıdan atlayışın başlangıcında basit bir hata ama bazen havaya sıçradığımda gerekli düzeltmeyi yapamadığım oluyor” diyerek açıklıyor hatasını.

Amerikalı patenci, aynı üçlü kombinasyonunu Cup of China’da deneyecekti ama flip’in çıkışından sonra kombinasyonu üçlü flip-ikili toeloop’a çevirdi. “Çin’e gitmeden önce üçlü-üçlü kombinasyonu çalışmıştım, çok da iyi oluyordu ama orada hem antrenmanda hem de yarışmada sıkıntı çıktı. Gelecek yarışmaların hepsinde üçlü-üçlü kombinasyonu yapmayı düşünüyorum ” diyor.

Cup of China yarışmasında layback dönüşünün zorluk derecesi üç olarak değerlendirilen Flatt’in Skate America’da bu dönüşü iki üzerinden değerlendirildi. “Aslında üç olması için ben çaba göstermedim, diyor Flatt, ikili axel’ın iyi olması gerektiğini düşünüyordum. Bu nedenle, birkaç kesirli puandan vazgeçtim. Axel’a giderken derin bir nefes almam gerekiyordu. İyice geriye eğilirsem bu derin nefesi almakta zorlanacaktım…”

Flatt için ikili axel kolay bir atlayış ama spinden sonra dik konuma gelmesi, vücut konumuınu ayarlaması ve atlayışa girerken doğru pozisyona gelmesi için bir-iki saniyeye daha ihtiyacı vardı. “Bazen düzgün bir şey yapmak için fedâkarlık gerekiyor. Çok şükür ki bu durumda bu küçük bir fedâkarlıktı. Çin’deki yarışmada layback spini üç üzerinden değerlendirilecek şekilde yaptım ve öyle de oldu” diye konuşuyor 17 yaşındaki patenci.

Flatt, Cup of China yarışmasında serbest programda üçlü flip-ikili toleoop-ikili rittberger yapmaya niyetlendi ancak flip’ten öbür ayağının üzerine sıçrayarak çıkınca, onu yerine üçlü salchow-ikili toeloop-ikili rittberger yaptı.

Skate America’da Flatt’in serbest programındaki son spini, iki ayrı dönüş olarak kabul edildiği için değerlendirmeye alınmadı. “Spin kombinasyonunda yön değiştirme vardı. İki ayrı bölüm birbirinden meafe olarak uzak olunca böyle değerlendirildi. Bunu ABD Şampiyonası öncesinde düzelteceğiz” diyor genç patenci.

Flatt, son yarışma olan Skate Canada öncesinde sıralamada 22 puanla beşinci durumda bulunuyor. Finale gidip gidemeyecei Skate Canada sonrasında belli olacak.

Flatt, şimdi esasen Ocak ayındaki ABD Şampiyoansını hedfliyor ve Olimpiyatlar konusunds hayale kapılmıyor. “(Olimpiyatlara gidecek) ABD takımına girmek istiyorum ama tabii ki bu garanti değil” diyor… ABD, 2010 Vancouver Kış Olimpiyatlarında Bayanlarda iki patenciyle temsil edilecek.

ABD’nin Del Mar kentinde 21 Temmuz 1992’de doğan Flatt’i Tom Zakrajsek çalıştırıyor, programlarının koreografisini de Lori Nichol hazırlıyor.

Babası onu bir alışveriş merkezine dedesine hediye almak için götürmüş ama hediye almak yerine buz pateni derslerine kaydolarak dönmüşler eve. Flatt, o zamanlar dört yaşındaymış.

12 yaşında kadar ABD Şampiyonalarına Yıldızlar kategorisinde katılan ve bu yarışmalarda şampiyonluklar elde eden Flatt’in Büyükler kategorisinde yarışmaya  başlaması 2007’ye rastlıyor. 2007’de ABD Şampiyonasında beşinci olan Flatt, 2008’de ikinci olarak gümüş madalya kazandı.

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Flatt, Çiftlerde de yarışamalara girmiş bir patenci… Yıldızlarda yarıştığı dönemde Çiftlerde teste giren Flatt, daha sonra Andrew Speroff ile Çiftler yarışmalarına katıldı.

Flatt/Speroff ikilisi, Yıldız Çiftlerde 2003 yılında gümüş, 2004 yılında da altın madalya kazandı.

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Obama Bows, the Nation Loses Faith

You know it’s a slow news week when the only thing coming out of Obama’s trip to China is an embarrassing political gaffe. Instead of talking about undervalued Chinese currency, Tibet, human rights, or Chinese purchase of American debt, we are instead talking about Barack’s bow wow wow like a little puppy dog to the emperor,  which has caused quite the firestorm. Here is Wesley Pruden, editor of the Washington Times, with his scathing criticism today:

When the emperor invited MacArthur to call on him, the general sent word that the emperor should call on him – speaking of breaches of custom – and the two men were photographed together, astonishing the Japanese. The emperor arrived in full formal dress, cutaway coat and all, and MacArthur received him in summer khakis, sans tie, with his hands stuffed casually in his back pockets. Further astonishing the Japanese, he towered over the diminutive emperor.But Mr. Obama, unlike his predecessors, likely knows no better, and many of those around him, true children of the grungy ’60s, are contemptuous of custom. Cutting America down to size is what attracts them to “hope” for “change.” It’s no fault of the president that he has no natural instinct or blood impulse for what the America of “the 57 states” is about. He was sired by a Kenyan father, born to a mother attracted to men of the Third World and reared by grandparents in Hawaii, a paradise far from the American mainstream.

He no doubt wants to “do the right thing” by his lights, but the lights that illumine the Obama path are not necessarily the lights that illuminate the way for most of the rest of us. This is good news only for Jimmy Carter, who may yet have to give up his distinction as our most ineffective and embarrassing president.

A Smart China

by Kevin Connors

Let’s say you’re in middle school. You were awkward for a few years, maybe even got picked on towards the end of elementary school. But once 6th grade came up you suddenly got some swagger in that step. You started wearing Abercrombie. You got some cool boot-cut jeans and $99 Airmaxs your mom bought for you at Footlocker.

Now you got some confidence, right? At least more than before, that’s for certain. So you wanna start talking to girls. Before, you’d always have to go through your friend–the good looking one who’s good at b-ball and the fly 6th grade honeys are always crushing on. Usually you’d call him up on your iPhone (also purchased by your mom) and tell him you were trying to hollerrrrr at a fly honey.

But now…oh man. Now YOU can just talk to the girls yourself. You put your buddy on the backburner and now HE has competition because your balls dropped, you picked up your skirt, and you just went with it.

Now insert some players here. Your friend is the US, You are China, and them fly chics are the rest of the world.

Let’s take a step back. China’s got some momentum. It’s on the front page of the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal everyday. It’s the world’s 3rd largest economy and Obama even said himself China is of the highest priority of the American people.

But China (You) is like maaaan. I don’t need you Obama. I run this…so they do. They start doing whatever the hell they want. They’re officially atheist so they run around closing churches that become a bit too popular. They manipulate their currency so their goods are cheaper abroad and everyone snatches them up at stores across the Western world. They violate every human rights law in the book. They essentially finance the US wars in the Middle East via purchasing of US treasuries. And after all this they sit back and drink tea because there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

One of the cool things China  is also doing–and the point of this post–is it puts its currency, the Renminbi–in the hands of other countries. Why would they want to do this? And how do they do this?

First, they want to do this because if you’re buying stuff from China you probably want to pay them in Chinese currency. Basically, it’s easier for you if you can just hand China Renminbi when you buy them new Nike Airmax kicks made for $1 and sold for $99. Before, you’d have to go to a bank, exchange your local currency into dollars, then dollars into Renminbi. But China’s got some balls now. So basically they’re slapping the US in the face and being like, “Our country is pretty sweet too, the time of American world economic domination is coming to an end.” And the sad things is…they may be right. Back to our example, you don’t need your friend to hook you up with girls anymore because you got that Abercrombie zip up. You’re cool on your own.

A bit more technical, but HOW they are doing this is pretty cool too. They’re engaging in currency swaps, or more specifically central bank liquidity swaps. China is handing over billions of Renminbi to countries like Argentina, South Africa, and South Korea in exchange for those countries’ own currencies in equal value (so for example, China hands you 10 billion Renminbi, and you hand them the equivalent of that in your local currency). This essentially provides liquidity to these countries so they can now purchase Chinese goods using the Chinese currency–which makes things much easier. Plus, the other half of the swap agreement is that in 10 years, after your country buys a ton of stuff from China and you can self sufficiently provide liquidity in Chinese currency, you swap back with China the same amount at today’s exchange rate. Basically, you’re borrowing Chinese Renminbi, interest free, for ten years at a predetermined exchange rate.

It also makes the Chinese goods cheaper because it subtracts the transaction costs related to going to banks and exchanging currency. Finally, it also insulates the local country (Argentina, South Africa, South Korea, etc.) from fluctuations in the US Dollar–which lately has been getting railed by the global economy.

Strategically, this is really smart on China’s part. When other countries are running around trying to find the definition for a collateralized debt obligation, China’s making it easier for other countries to buy its stuff and, as a byproduct, undercutting the US Dollar’s role in the global economy.

You (China) are now providing your friend (the US) with some competition. How will your friend react? Will he tell all the girls you’re a loser? Will he help you out? Will he act like he’s cool with it but behind the scenes sabotage your ascent to stardom? And the only real question left to ask is, when YOU (China)–the new cool 6th grader–finally sack up and ask an 8th grade fly honey (the rest of the world) to the dance, and your friend (the US)  does at the same time, who will she say yes to?

THE HORIWOOD TOP 10 - SUN 11.15.09

President Barack Obama walks a political tight rope as he does international diplomatic relations, arriving in Shanghai, China wearing black on black attire. Here’s how you voted your top ten entertainment and celebrity news posts today here in Hollywood on Horiwood.Com. Enjoy! Third biggest day in October-November to date… thank you worldwide.

1. AMBER ROSE is a top model at The Ford Modeling Agency in New York City.

2. HAYDEN PANETTIERE spins herself into a silky executive TV producer.

3. LADY GAGA is good for convertible-style driving on a Saturday Night out in LA.

4. ROBERT DOWNEY JR wants to be a Hollywood film director.

5. BEYONCE’s I Am Tour set list, is what the world wants to see.

6. Twilight’s New Moon has a MOLE…. [sigh!]… again.

7. RIHANNA is a big star and a true Caribbean hip hop artist.

8. KRISTEN STEWART drops her poker face and is caught smiling on camera.

9. I Am a Black Male Barbie–Martel iconizes TAYLER LAUTNER into a doll.

10 TIE A: Quote: KRISTEN STEWART on ROBERT PATTINSON

10 TIE B: KEITH URBAN and NICOLE KIDMAN share a joke at the CMAs.

BONUS POST: New Zealand’s National Ruby Football Team for America.

Beyonce, I Am Yours promotional poster, care of BScott.

~with Love – Horiwood, Hollywood California, USA~

If the Fed is Looking to Inflate Away Problems, What Should Asia Do?

 Nov 11, 2009

Andy Xie thinks the Fed is on an inflationary path.  Last month, he wrote an article in Caijing which says that ‘stagflation lite’ is the Federal Reserve’s preferred outcome. What’s interesting is his recent article about the need for China and Japan to join forces under an ASEAN umbrella, rejecting the APEC umbrella shared with the U.S.

In last month’s article, Xie said:

The bottom line is that, regardless what central banks say and do, the world will be awash in a lot more money after the crisis than before — money that will lead to inflation. Even though all central banks talk about being tough on inflation now, they are unlikely to act tough. After a debt bubble bursts, there are two effective options for deleveraging: bankruptcy or inflation. Government actions over the past year show they cannot accept the first option. The second is likely.

Hyperinflation was used in Germany in the 1920s and Russia in late 1990s to wipe slates clean. The technique was essentially mass default by debtors. But robbing savers en masse has serious political consequences. Existing governments, at least, will fall. Most governments would rather find another way out. Mild stagflation is probably the best one can hope for after a debt bubble. A benefit is that stagflation can spread the pain over many years. A downside is that the pain lingers.

If a central bank can keep real interest rates at zero, and real growth rates at 2.5 percent, leverage could be decreased 22 percent in a decade. If real interest rates can be kept at minus 1 percent, leverage could drop 30 percent in a decade. The cost is probably a 5 percent inflation rate. It works, but slowly.

If stagflation is the goal, why might central banks such as the Fed talk tough about inflation now? The purpose is to persuade bondholders to accept low bond yields. The Fed is effectively influencing mortgage interest rates by buying Fannie Mae bonds. This is the most important aspect of the Fed’s stimulus policy. It effectively limits Treasury yields, too. The Fed would be in no position to buy if all Treasury holders decide to sell, and high Treasury yields would push down the property market once again.

I certainly agree with him. You don’t have to be in the hyperinflation camp like Marc Faber to think the Fed takes Ken Rogoff’s suggestions about 6% inflation seriously. In a May post, I said:

Basically, the Fed wants to inflate our way out of this depression – that’s the dirty little secret.  There is really no other policy choice because the mountain of debt in the United States is immense.  And I think Bernanke, Geithner and Summers have proven they are willing to do anything to reflate this economy and avoid debt deflation dynamics.

And when I say anything, I mean create asset bubbles that are being given intellectual cover by the likes of Frederic Mishkin. This is a policy of economic weakness.

So what should the Asians do?  China is desperate to employ its tens of millions of countryside transplants cruising its cities in search of urban employment. That’s a major reason it keeps its exchange rate fixed to a plummeting dollar, making not just Americans but Europeans irate?  Japan has been in a modern day depression for twenty years. Its sovereign debt-to GDP is now over 200%, risking a downgrade.

Xie says the two should join forces – in part as a rejection of the U.S., which he basically calls a fading power (although the paragraph above points to serious weaknesses in China and Japan as well).

Here is an excerpt of Xie’s article:

Yet the fundamental case for Japan to increase integration with the rest of Asia and away from the United States grows stronger every day. Despite high per capita income, Japan remains an export-oriented economy, having missed an opportunity to develop a consumption-led economy in the 1980s and ’90s. In the foolish belief that rising property prices would spread wealth beyond the industrial heartland in the Tokyo-Osaka corridor, the government of former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka pursued a high-price land policy, discouraging the middle class from pursuing a consumer lifestyle as they saved for property purchases…

The point is that Japan has a strong and genuine case that favors more integration with East Asia. The United States is unlikely to recover soon and with enough strength to feed Japan’s export machine again. There is no more room for fiscal stimulus. Devaluing the yen to gain market share is not an option as long as Washington pursues a weak dollar policy. Without a new source of trade, Japan’s economy is doomed. Closer integration with East Asia is the only way out…

Five years ago, I wrote an op-ed piece for the Financial Times entitled China and Japan: Natural Partners. At the time, a prevailing sentiment was that China and Japan were antithetical: Both were still manufacturing export-led economies and could only gain at the other’s expense. I saw complementary demographics and capital: Japan had a declining labor force and China needed to employ tens of millions of youths migrating to cities from the countryside. China needed capital and Japan had surplus capital. And their trade relations indeed tightened, as Japan had increased the Chinese share of its overall trade to 17.4 percent in 2008 from 10.4 percent in ‘04.

Today, the situation has changed. China has a capital surplus rather than a shortage. Demographic complementarity is still good and could last another decade. As China shifts its development model from resource intensive to environmentally friendly, a new complementarity is emerging. Japan has already made the transition, and its technologies that supported the transition need a new market such as China’s. So even without a new trade agreement, bilateral trade will continue growing.

An FTA between China and Japan would significantly accelerate their trade, resulting in an efficiency gain of more than US$ 1 trillion. Japan’s aging population lends urgency to increasing the investment returns. On the other hand, as China prepares to make a numerical commitment to limiting greenhouse gas emissions at the upcoming Copenhagen summit on global warming, heavy investment and rapid restructuring are needed for its economy. Japanese technology could come in quite handy.

An FTA involving Japan and China would be a serious threat to American economic power. You can imagine that policy makers in Washington are opposed to this idea.  Let’s watch to see what kind of rhetoric comes out of Barack Obama’s China trip to see if this issue is discussed.