Letting Steam Off

A solution for bad air: an air purifier – help the environment!

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Got a couple of them, dumped mostly by previous Chinese owners. Here is the best one, I use it 24/24 in my office. At least should protect me a little from all the bad stuff in the air. Maybe not all the PPM10, but let’s just be positive.
Brand: SUNPU, model KL-100, “Air Purifier Ionizer”.
The purifier was basically in good working condition and just needed a good cleaning. I don’t even bother to find replacement filters and other parts (like the perfume capsule) – I never get hold of the manuals and service address.
I just give them all a good shower with warm water. But do NEVER open the inside of the filters, most have layers of paper that will disintegrate when wet if you do so. Carefully showering them in the bathtub leaving them inside the filter house is OK, but do remove the cover filters to wash them separately. Having replacement filters should be better as some of them probably contain active carbon that is gradually washed out. Anyway, the filth coming out of the filters is just unbelievable, so they do help. Not sure if the “Ionizer” really works.

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the air purifier with the air filters, after removing the outer filter covers

The model works pretty well, except for the air flow indicator (to warn the filter is dirty); it is merely for decoration.
As said, I am on the receiving end of dumped consumer goods that I try to repair and recycle. At least, each time I succeed, it is one electronic equipment less to spoil the environment. Just recently I saw an abandoned toaster in Julong.
Curious, I took it thinking I could give a try to repair it. Well, guess: it was in perfect order and needed just a good cleaning. As good as brand new.

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our second toaster: TEFAL “thick’n’thin”: cute isn’t it?!

Welcome to the new Chinese consumer society. Buy, use and throw. Imported habits from the USA, master is consumer excess and wasting resources. The previous owner has … US links but I won’t tell more. At least he had the thought to leave it in a visible spot, probably thinking the cleaners would use it for scrap iron or something. Could have been worse.

Rotary in China and Chinese reactions

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Some days ago I received a question from a Chinese lady working with a Rotary Club in Italy:
“Why is it that Chinese staying and studying there seem reluctant at best to get involved in any of the local activities such as Rotaract (a special program for young people)? Reactions were very cold and suspect for Rotary, even after we showed the website and all the story of Rotary and Rotary Foundation.”
I replied I was not too surprised. Follows here more or less my comments and recommendations:
=+=+
I can understand the problem. A bit complicated and complex.
First of all, Chinese people are still very unfamiliar with charity related work and organizations. Especially young people have little understanding – and interest. Furthermore, Chinese abroad unfortunately tend to isolate themselves from the local community and hang out between themselves. As a result they have little contact with locals and their language skills remain quite poor. This can be seen when they return to China: they stay for years in the USA or UK and their English is still really poor. This is very disappointing for foreign companies trying to hire them.
An organization like Rotary also for them is “strange” and even suspicious. Once again, they know little about all that. Rotary is a non political and non religious organization but they might not know/understand this.
In China, Rotary has two clubs (as explained here in my blog): Beijing and Shanghai. As China has not yet formulated the NGO law we are not officially registered as such. But the authorities know Rotary very well and are happy with it. We do a lot of charity work here. Because of the existing problem with NGO we cannot have Chinese members in our club, a bit strange for Rotary. We also keep a low profile on request of the Chinese authorities. As for now we only have 2 clubs – far too little for the cities we live in, not to mention the size of the country. Last year, when we had our big Gala Lunch and Dinner we invited people from the local “Public Security Bureau (Gong An)” to be present, so they could see we are OK and have nothing to hide. They were actually sitting at my table…
Some people get confused by our logo and think it is related to the wheel of a certain sect blacklisted here. Of course, no relation at all.
Chinese authorities are now paying more attention to CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility – and charity work in general. Every week China Daily has a page about it. This is all very new for Chinese. In this sense, Rotary does the right thing. Whenever needed we work closely with official organizations.
For the Chinese young people staying in Italy, I could say the following:
– you must learn to communicate with the local population. Rotary is an excellent channel to do this, also Rotary members have often important positions and this can give very interesting networking possibilities (GUANXI!). That will also help them to improve language skills and communication, essential for their later career. Also, having been involved with those social activities looks great on a CV when applying with a foreign company in China (or anywhere);
– they must adapt to the new China where CSR is now being promoted. Chinese must learn what it means to help others in need;
– Chinese abroad must change their poor image: “of being isolated from the locals, uninterested in local contacts and culture, too narrow-minded” (money and business only and mostly interested in playing computer games!). In other words they must help to improve the image of China. It is their patriotic duty;
– Rotary activities are a good way to do this! They can learn a lot.
=+=+
Seems my comments at least helped to understand a bit the averse reaction.
As said, charity in China is still an alien word for many but the government is trying to change this, including coming up with better regulations such as for tax deductions.

Traffic cops in Beijing: what is their job?

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Seems the cops have a budget problem. Or their quota of traffic fines. So, in the past two days they come out in force and stop cars to extract fines. Yesterday the taxi we took was stopped and fined because the driver was not using the seat belt. Seems reasonable. Is it? Sun was sitting in the front seat, she did not need to wear the seat belt. Passengers can get killed, no problem. The police protects the drivers! Aren’t they nice?
Well, of course, they aren’t. They are actually totally useless and love to make life miserable for the 66,000 taxi drivers. Whenever they are around, traffic gets into a mess. Like to block traffic for some so-called VIP cars. Why can’t they just get stuck in traffic like everybody? Anyway cops don’t do anything to regulate traffic and penalize the zillion offenders in front of their noses: cyclists and pedestrians crossing anytime and anywhere, blocking traffic; drivers all slowing down to talk on their mobiles; all other drivers behaving as if they were completely alone on the road. Result: the total traffic chaos we see everyday. Don’t expect that to improve any day soon.
Today we passed a traffic accident. Seems somebody was killed by an army car (you can spot them through their special plate), just at a zebra crossing. The car must have been speeding, looking at the damage at the front. The only thing left of the victim were his lonely sneakers. You won’t see the cops stopping those cars. As many others with “special plates”, they can do whatever they want. Traffic was blocked because of the accident. Don’t expect the cops to do anything about that, like re-directing the traffic flow.
And, oh, I failed to mention. Don’t expect pedestrian crossings to give you, stupid pedestrians, any rights (who walks anyway? are you too poor to have a car?). Some of our French customers were moved down in Beijing on the zebra, together with their Chinese colleagues. They all landed in hospital, some of them were in a bad shape. Will teach them to give trouble to the cars. Don’t expect the cops to even NOTICE that. Not their job. I just wonder, what is their job actually? Will be interesting to watch in August 2008. But probably they’ll simply ban ALL cars, problem solved, Beijing way.
Friends say, Shanghai is better. Let’s hope, all thinking about 2010.
Some of you may think, what is Gilbert rambling about. To illustrate, see here a recent article. I am not sure the cops read this. Of course, that’s normal: it is in English. Also, the words “rules” and “etiquette” are a bit too complicated for their vocabulary.
30 November 2006 – Senior police officer warns Chinese drivers to give way to pedestrians
Source: Xinhua / That’s Beijing
A Chinese police officer on Thursday warned motorists to give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings, saying 55 people had been killed on pedestrian crossings in November.
“It’s nothing to wait a moment. In fact, it’s a basic traffic rule to give way to pedestrians at zebra crossings,” said Wang Jinbiao, deputy director of traffic bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, at a press conference on traffic accidents in the first 11 months.
He called for motorists and pedestrians to obey the traffic rules.
“Obeying rules is a virtue that deserves praise and respect,” said Wang.
As the number of cars rises rapidly in China, the rules and etiquette of driving have sparked public debate.
About 350,000 traffic accidents occurred in China in in the first 11 months with a total death toll of 82,000. The number of deaths was down 8.4 percent from the same period last year.

Beijing: VERY bad for your health

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

I surrendered. Last Friday, after battling a stubborn cold/cough/sore throat for over one month with tons of medicine, I went for a checkup. Nearby the Gongti Strip we have a small local Chinese hospital (no, the big dreadful, horrible Chaoyang Hospital), few people and quick service (if you speak Chinese). Blood & urine tests plus X-ray. Verdict, without waiting for all test results: not that great.
Dixit the Chinese doctor professor lung specialist:
“Well, we Chinese are born here and got used to the pollution. Those foreigners come from their countries where they are used to the good air. So, once here they get problems, not like us. Does he smoke? [oops – yes – some few cigars]. No good. Bronchitis, the airways are thickened and he gets bronchitis quickly with any cold. Probably pollution plus smoking. Antibiotics, no use. Give him Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM). Taste is bad but is good. He should not run outside. Inside in the gym is OK.”
OK, I know I smoke some few cigars but as the very own Chinese authorities once admitted:
– Zhu Rongji: “Beijing is so polluted, my life will be at least five years shorter”.
– Chinese environmental agency: “Living in Beijing does more damage than smoking two packs of cigarettes per day”.
So, yes, I’d better stop with my occasional cigar (sigh). Maybe even better, move away from this filthy city. What else can you call it? We are “happy” when the pollution index is “only” 100. Versus max. of 20 (WHO) or somewhere in the twenties in the “polluted cities of Paris and New York”. Even Shanghai is better – roughly 30% less.
Sucks. Running & jogging outside is pure madness. Yeah yeah, “Green Olympics”? Right, but only for those weeks. Otherwise, just drop dead.
Chinese “used” to pollution? Come on, half of Beijing must have lung cancer, they make those horrible noises and spit all day long (good luck to stop them). And when they spit, is a full load.

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OK, there we go, enjoy your drink!

So, I am taking the TCM treatment. A long list of whatever, then boiled by the hospital and nicely packed – one bag each time, twice per day. Tastes awful but could be worse. They say it’s good.
As for me, I am dreaming of a blue sky and fresh air. Right now, all windows well closed and air purifiers humming. And no cigars. Maybe I should buy an oxygen tent.
Be warned, I am NOT in a good mood.

The art of reading China Daily

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

The daily certainly has improved a lot since it started some good 25 years ago and gives a fair overview of international news. Better even is its website. Still, reading it remains an art to understand what can be written, what is taboo and how the government wants its image to be. So, one needs to “read between the lines”. Or scrutinize what is left out.
A good example is the coverage of the British sailors being captured (or should we say – kidnapped?) by Iran. China Daily diplomatically leaves out that the UK has satellite data to prove the ship was not in Iran territory and that the sailors were on a mission to intercept smugglers. Basically a UN mission. That would too clearly prove the Iranians are wrong. But that would not be nice for the “Iranian friends” (definitely not MY friends, a government trying to go back to medieval times and just create trouble). Obviously news about “some” African countries going through pretty hard times is also filtered. Not exactly good PR for China but of course they have another opinion. Fortunately we have other sources to know what is really going on…