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Christine XuThe construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River has a number of positive and negative impacts for the Three Gorges area and even for the whole China.
Operated in 1993 and completed in 2009 Three Gorges Dam is designed to serve three main purposes/ advantages: flood control, hydroelectric power production, and navigation improvement.
Although this project brought people a lot of great advantages, it also caused some serious problems which is existed indeed and can’t be omitted.
Water pollution: Along with the river flowing, there is a large number of land experiencing erosion, which leads to tons of sands and pebbles into the Yangtze River and stay at the upstream and makes great water pollution about Yangtze River.
Migration problem: Chinese officials estimate that the reservoir will partially or completely flood 2 cities, 11 counties, 140 towns, 326 townships, and 1351 villages. It is bout 23800 hectares, and more than 1.1 million people will have to be resettled.
Environment problem: In order to build the dam the surrounding landscape has been changed largely, which has caused some problems related to climate deteriorated, plants, wildlife disappeared, and historical relics submerged, etc.
Sources: Yangtze River Cruises
Christine XuMuch of Asia has the problem that people have low fertility and an upside-down family structure. Three -quarters of all the people in countries with exceptionally low Fertility live in East and south-East Asia. Prosperous Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have fertility rates of 1.4 or below.
Demographers say socioeconomic changes are the fundamental reasons for low Fertility rates and smaller families according to the article. Simply setting a population policy that encourages couples to reproduce won’t help much. “It is not the government’s job to pay people or encourage people to have more children” said Stuart Basten, associate professor of social policy at the University of Oxford. “ But it is the government’s job to make society a better place and to help people in their aspirations to …achieve what they want to achieve. In that way, fertility rates would probably go up” said Dr. Basten. I strongly agree what Dr. Basten said. Although we do not have any policy which encourage people to have babies, we could have a lot of policies about childcare, maternity leave, and a national health system which supports older people …There could be more a supportive atmosphere towards childbearing.
Sources: Article-Asia’s new family values/ US.News
Christine XuI am so sad when I think and talk about this topic nowadays- “ China’s environmental problems”.
It is true. According to the article “China has reached its environmental tipping point” in China one-fifth of farmland is too polluted to grow crops, nearly 60% of ground water is unfit for human use, and air pollutions is 20 times the recommended safe levels.
The human cost of this damage had been devastating: rice contaminated with heavy metals , more than 450 so-called “cancer villages”, choking levels of air pollution causing underweight babies, rising level of lung cancer and a decline in male fertility. Air pollutions causes 4,400 deaths in China every single day.
Although China’s leadership has promised a “war on pollution” to regain public trust, it is the decisions of local government officials. According to Ma that it’s the local environmental officials that are in charge of enforcement, but they are subordinate to local government. Their heads are appointed by local government. Those who want to stick to the laws could be replaced. This is the very harsh reality. It won’t be easy to change it Ma said.
In a rare display of danger, China’s rising middle class took to the Chinese social media website “Wechat”, demanding the Government take action and protect the children of China. They said the Government’s “War on pollution”, now it is the third year, has not delivered results. A petition asking the government to install air filtration systems in schools gathered nearly half a million views and more than 2.700 comments before it was shut down. Many of my friends and relatives still live in China. I pray and hope that they could have clean air to breath and clean water to drink again in the near future.
Sources: The world post/ Ma Jun: China has reached its environmental tipping point/ ABC news.
Christine XuMany scholars have described the Evicting of Beijing’s migrant workers is a “ruthless” campaign.
The latest round of evictions began in the wake of a fire on 18 November that killed 19 people in an industrial neighborhood in south Beijing, and 17 of the victims were migrants. City officials have declared a 40-day campaign against “illegal structures”, which for years have housed the millions of migrant workers who run Beijing’s restaurants, delivery companies, construction sites, retail shops and a host of small factories.
What is “ illegal structure” and “legal”? It is not fair to take the rights away from these innocent people to let them leave their capital city. The city should not be only for the local people ( Beijing Hukou holders). The Chinese Hukou system did not give the people the equal rights. These evictions are “ a serious trampling of human rights”. I am so surprised the government made the decision and implemented the campaign.
Human rights and government system in China would be good topics in my classroom.
Sources: the guardian
Christine XuOver this past two month (12 secessions) seminar learning about the Rise of Asia, I have been able to learn a lot about the Asian history and cultures, and got many ideas for my own teaching. Also, The readings from the seminar are very-thought provoking, and the writings of reflection on what we read and talked make me think deeply about how I can use them into my class.
I am a Mandarin teacher, and I plan to use the knowledge I learned into my classes to make my lessons be more interesting. I believe teaching Asian culture and history can help my students understand Asian and Chinese culture better in order to learn the language better. For example, I will talk about Chinese tea, Beijing Opera, Chinese characters, and Chinese Hukou System in my class. We will watch videos, and students will do research about the topics as well. They will talk and share ideas in small groups to reflect their understanding. Doing this could help my students view Asia and China from different point of view.
Also, I learned that watching a film is a good idea to teach the language and the culture. Students will be able to hear the authentic language from the film. By listening to the music and seeing the visuals students can learn different Chinese lives at the time. From viewing the scenes, they will be able to see the Chinese architectures, communities, Chinese dresses. Then they can use scenes analysis framework to explore why the director chose the setting, camera angles, lighting, and music and what choices do they create the scene’s tone. Additional, students will reflect on the scene individually and in groups, and they will create their own scene and present it to the rest of the class.
I have valued the personable exchanges of thoughts from the online forum posting during the seminar. I appreciate and want to say thank you to the people who are involved. Thank you to our professors and USC friends, without your hard work, we wont have this opportunity to learn the East Asian culture and history which it is beneficial to our students.
Christine XuChina’s education system has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages: It is the largest state-run education system in the world. The compulsory education law of china stipulate nine years of government funded compulsory school attendance which includes six years of primary school and three years of junior high school. Great emphasis is placed on the compulsory education for all school-age children. They have much more universities than ten years ago. Education progress is made as part of the overall national plan for economic and social development. Increasing the possibility for people to receive higher education.
On the other hand, this system has its disadvantages: (according to Lenora Chu)
Compare and contract The US education system to China’s education system would be a good topic in my classroom.
Sources: Wiki
Christine XuVarious forms of pollution have increased as China has industrialized, which has caused widespread environmental and health problems. Air pollution has become a major issue in China and poses a threat to Chinese public health.
Jonathan Watts, an Asia Environment Correspondent, once called China “Gray China”. Yes, he did not exaggerate. Air pollution was a big threat in China especially in some major cities. The US embassy in Beijing regularly posts automated air quality measurements at Beiingair on Twitter. On 18 November 2010, the feed described the PM 2.5 AQI as “crazy bad”. In China, people kept wearing masks outdoors at that time. In an attempt to reduce air pollution, the Chinese government has made the decision to enforce stricter regulations. These policies have been taken effects, and in 2015, the average PM 2.5 in 74 key cities in monitoring system was showing a 23.6 % decrease as to 2013. On 20 August 2015, the Beijing government shut down industrial facilities and reduced car emissions in order to achieve a blue sky. In 2017, China is trying to position itself as the world’s climate leader, pledging to cooperate with other countries to build an “eco-civilization.” China has established the largest solar panel farm in the world, plans to close over 100 coal-fired power plants, and is committed to spending at least $361 billion on renewable energy by 2020. We can say Air quality has been improved in China, but there are still a lot the government and the people can do in order to have better air.
What can the Chinese government and the people do to “Go Green” would be a good topic in my classroom.
Sources: Wiki /NY times
Christine Xu“It seems that Chinese people keep fighting for democracy, freedom of the press, and freedom of speech for many years. Many Chinese contributed and even sacrificed their beautiful and valuable lives for seeking the freedom. The “6.4” Tiananmen Square activity students would be memorized by many Chinese and even the whole world. Twenty-five years have passed since the students and others waved banners calling for greater freedom and official accountability in Tiananmen Square. The patriotism and optimism of the demonstrators and the violence that ended the demonstrations deeply moved people worldwide. Those seven weeks have had a profound influence on what Americans and others think about China.
I remembered that I was an elementary school student at the time. I heard nothing about the event until one day that one of my cousins who was one of the Beijing students got to my home (my hometown in the north east of China.) and tried to seek a shelter for few days. He told my dad and my whole family what he had experienced at Tiananmen Square. It was unbelievable and terrible , and how the Chinese government treated the students made me questioned and even disrespected to the one-party political system.
Upon realization of the Chinese government's use of force by other nations, the government was internationally condemned and criticized. How do people face the history and how Chinese fight for their freedom would to a good topic in a classroom.
Sources: Wiki
Christine XuSevere acute respiratory syndrome( SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic organ caused by the SARS coronavirus. Between November 2002 and July 2003, an outbreak of SARS in southern China caused 774 deaths reported in 37 countries.
The largest outbreak of SARS struck Beijing in Spring 2003 which it was my last year of college in Beijing, and it caused 50% of our classes canceled. School gates were locked most of the time, and people/students/teachers needed to show their school identities to the school guards in order to get into the campus. And certain community areas were blocked too, and people were not allowed to get access to it because of SARS cases had happened there. People had to wear masks everyday outdoors and even some indoor areas. It was horrified at that certain days.
According to WHO, we learned a lot lessons from this experience.
The first lesson: reporting promptly and openly of the cases of any disease with the potential for international spread is necessary.
Second: raising people’s awareness and vigilance to levels is essential that can prevent imported cases of an emerging and transmissible infection from causing significant outbreaks.
Third lesson is that travel recommendations, including screening measures at airports, appear to be effective in helping to certain the international spread of an emerging infection.
The fourth lesson concerns International collaboration. The world’s scientists, clinicians and public health experts are willing to set aside academic competition and work together of the public health good when the situation so requires.
The fifth is that the strengthening of health systems deserves high priority because weaknesses in health systems can permit emerging infections to amplify and spread, and can compromise patient care.
Lesson six it that in the absence of a curative drug and a preventive vaccine, existing interventions, tailored to epidemiological data and supported by political commitment and public concern, can be effectively used to control an outbreak.
The seventh lesson highlights one of the major difficulties faced during the containment activities for SARS.
“SARS will not be the last new disease to take advantage of modern global conditions. The rapid containment of SARS is a success in public health, but also a warning. It is proof of the power of international collaboration supported at the highest political level”.
How to recognize and fight fatal diseases globally would to a good topic in a classroom.
Christine XuIn 2008, the Olympic Games were held in China for the first time. The Beijing Olympics presented an opportunity for China to show the world how “ democratic, open, civilized, friendly, and harmonious” it is. It has had a significant influence on Beijing’s economic development, the country’s advertising, television, Internet, mobile phone, and sports sectors. However, while the Olympics have been gone well, 2008 has been a difficult year for China. The environmental issue/pollution problems became more challenging, a devastating earthquake in Sichuan province happened, and protests over china’s human rights record and Tibet became international focus.
In my class, I am going go let my students to talk and discuss about pros and cons of the Beijing olympics. And after discussion I will bring a topic that how to have a “ green olympic in the future". I will encourage students to be open-minded, and we will well discuss how to have better games which benefit not only to the country but also the people.
Christine XuDeng Xiao-ping, was the leader of Modern China after the cultural revolution. He was influential and important in 20th century in china. Many people believe he is hero, and some people think he is tyrant.
According to the history, Deng successfully solved the problem of hunger and poverty of china after the cultural revolution. And China was able to catch up with the world and became one of the world’s fastest developing countries with his guide and order. However, because of the industrialization process, million of people poured into cities from rural areas of china. And it caused overpopulation and problems. Also, the large boom of industry caused very much air and water pollution which it is important to population’s health. Additional, the rate of crime and corruption was grew, and it created a monumental difference between the rich and the poor.
In my class, I will encourage my students to be open-minded. We are going to do research and talk about Deng’s advantages and disadvantages. And we are going to compare him to some of the American leaders.
Christine Xu“One country, two systems” is a constitutional principle formulated by Deng Xiaoping, the former leader of the Communist Party of PRC. That means that there would be only one china, but with two different systems. This principle means Hong Kong and Macau could retain their own governmental system, economic, financial affairs systems, while the rest of china uses its original system.
This policy describes china’s relationship with Hong Kong. China is tightening controls on the mainland for human right advocates, educators and internet users while also denying the “high degree of autonomy” once promised to the citizens of Hong Kong as a special administration region according to Michael Davis, a professor of law at the university of Hong Kong. The proceeding on candidates for the 2017 election of Hong Kong’s chief executive also showed the controlling from the government.
Christine XuChinese Hukou system has origins in china dating back to ancient times. The current Hukou form is based on the 1958 People’s Republic of China Hukou Registration Regulation. This Hukou system has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
For example, students who are with agricultural Hukou have to have much higher score than the students who have urban Hukou.
Sources: Wikipedia
Christine XuGood leaders lead the team/country to rise, but bad leaders may lead the people/country to fall or even die.
The Great Leap Forward was an economic and social campaign led by Chairman Mao, the leader of the communist party of China. This activity have caused the three years of Great Chinese widespread Famine from 1958 to 1961. Many people called it “Three Years of Natural disasters, “Three Years of Bitter”, or “Three years of Difficulty”.
Drought, poor weather, and the policies of the ruler/Mao Zedong contributed to the dreadful famine. There were at least 20 to 43 million people dead because of the starvation according to the statistic. My grandma told me that there were no food during the years. people in the villages were starving day by day. They ate whatever they could eat, such as leaves or skin of trees, leathers. Her two sisters and many other people in the villages lost their lives during the tragic years.
Christine XuChinese characters are interesting to learn. As we all know, besides Pinyin, Chinese use characters to read and write.
Simplified and traditional characters are two written forms. Simplified Chinese characters have fewer strokes than traditional Chinese, that is why it is called “ simplified”. However, as a Mandarin teacher, I encourage my students to be able to recognize both, because both of them are very important. Simplified Chinese characters are easier to write than traditional Chinese characters, and this is why many people choose to learn simplified nowadays. However, traditional characters had been writing by Chinese people for thousands of years. It has many years history, and some traditional Chinese characters have their special beauty and meanings. For example, “love愛” in traditional Chinese character it combines actions and heart, and it means to love people through your actions and with your heart.
Teaching how to write Chinese characters is just like to teach an art. Also, you can make your lesson be more interesting if you teach Chinese calligraphy while teaching written of the Chinese characters.
