Is uneven development in China causing resentment?

The story of China’s growth and change over recent decades is powerful evidence of how industrial development and Globalisation can combine to create rapid change. However, far from everyone in China is feeling the benefit of the changes that have happened and continue to happen. This article reveals how millions of rural Chinese people feel left behind.

 

 

Will China’s mining industry clean up it’s act?

China’s mining industry has played a major role in the rapid economic growth of the country in recent years. However the incidnece of work related deaths in Chinese mines is very high, as shown by the typical incidents below, is it time the Chinese mining companies put as much value on thelives of their workers as they do on the resources they extract?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8084923.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8298226.stm

How is China Changing?

Recent events have shown that China is changing quickly, possibly faster than anywhere else on the planet. But what is happening and what is going to happen next?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2004/china/default.stm

As is the case across most of the world, life expectancy is increasing in China; but what will the consequences be?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7731566.stm

What is the karst scenery of Guilin like?

Guilin in China is famous for its large scale karst landscape. Karst landscapes are found all over the world and are the result of weathering processes in limestone areas, from the Limestone Pavement in Yorkshire, UK, to the collosal peaks of Guilin. This website is a geological travel guide to the area:

http://www.geotimes.org/july08/article.html?id=feature_karst.html

What impact will rising use of renewable energy in China have?

Many people feel that their own personal efforts to tackle climate change by chainging their personal habits are negated by rising energy use in countries like China. They will no doubt be heartened to hear that China is beginning to take renewable energy sources seriously. Will it help China grow their economy without destroying the environment:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7535839.stm

How did physical and human factors interrelate during the Sichuan Earthquake in 2008?

An overall picture of what happened during and after the Sichuan Earthquake can be found here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2008/china_quake/default.stm

Aside from the huge scale of the earthquake, it showed how China had changed over the past few years. Eager to seem more in touch with the people, the Chinese government gave more attention and aid to the affected area thatn they might have previously. This included visits from member of the Chinese communist leadership to the quake area itself.

There were still episodes which revealed that not all has changed in China. Protesting parents were silenced and some observers felt that the government’s reaction was only as sympathetic as it was because the eyes of the world were on China in the run up to the 2008 Olympics. The ability for the central government to mobilise huge numbers of people and equipment to limit the impact of the quake was clear from the scale of the response, which threw the pathetic efforts of the Burmese junta in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis into stark contrast.

Whatever the truth, many people around the world saw a more “human” side to a nation which has traditionally kept itself to itself, particularly in terms of emotions.

Earthquake in China – 12th May 2008 – Who was affected?

A strong earthquake (7.8 magnitude) has caused devastation and killed thousands in Sichuan Province, China.

You can find out more about the event here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2008/china_quake/default.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7396400.stm

The area affected can be seen in detail on this map:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7400614.stm

What happened in Tiananmen Square in 1989?

You can find an outline of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_protests_of_1989

and a timeline here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8057148.stm

Here is one news report of the events:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyj-3S_ulvI&feature=related

Here is some footage of the famous “Tank Man”, who single-handedly stopped a column of tanks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-nXT8lSnPQ

How did the Chinese media cover the protests?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8069940.stm

How is China’s influence spreading around the world?

There are many examples of China’s growing economic influence around the world, including islands in the South Pacific:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7380375.stm

How is the move of Chinese industries into Africa affecting local people?

China is taking an increasing interest in Africa’s resources, with varying results:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/china/default.stm

Many Chinese mining companies have set up new mines in Africa to answer the demand for raw materials in China, but they are not always welcome:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7277006.stm

In the Congo, China plans to help develop the country’s infrastructure in return for access to some of its resources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7343060.stm