(SPECIAL NOTICE: Dear Readers, As a busy internet tsar, I’m often
asked this question: What’s going on in China? Invariably, I answer with a very useful, succinct phrase from my home
country, Australia which goes a little like this: “Buggered if I know”. I’ve got kids to harass and DVD boxed
sets to watch for God’s sake. How should I know? Thankfully, there are some people who do. And, since it’s been brought to my attention
that many of you don’t have the time to trawl the web for the hottest news of
the week, I promise that when I can’t think of anything better to do, when I’m
too lazy or bereft of original ideas on the occasional Thursday, I’ll do it for
you. What a guy, huh? I know. Some of it will be funny. Some just
weird and unusual. But one thing’s for sure, it will fulfil one of the oldest
and most import requirements of quality journalism: It’ll fill a space!)
So, what’s the big news in China this week?
BEIJING THIRD-MOST POLLUTED CITY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD
Of the 10 worst cities for air pollution in the world, yes, all but three sit right here in the Middle Kingdom.
And despite cleaning itself up for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing has got onto the podium by taking bronze, which coincidentally is the colour of the air here most days. This is according to the National Environmental Analysis released by the Asian Development Bank and Tsinghua University, which was reported on several news sites.
China boasts the worst city in the world - probably by any criteria - in Taiyuan, a coal-fancier's Shangri-la 400km south-west of Beijing. The report also said that of China's 500 cities, only five meet the air quality standard recommended by the World Health Organisation. Notwithstanding that '500' sounds suspiciously like a very round number for the amount of places classified as cities, 495 is a lot.
Number two on the list - though fashionistas might be knocked down with a feather boa - is Milan. Yes, Milan, Italy, home of style, veal and two big football teams with the same surname. It turns out cars are sometimes banned from the roads in the whole city for the odd day or two.
Then comes Beijing, Urumqi in western China, Moscow, Lanzhou (central China), Chongqing (south-central), Jinan (400km south of Beijing), Shijiazhuang (even closer to south Beijing), and Tehran.
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Ride for your lives! Beijing residents try to flee the city's choking smog last Saturday. |
As reported on Monday, this is how most Beijingers protect themselves from the smog - with a face mask -
In style-conscious Milan, they do this ...
But for now, the smog's gone - blown on the wind like so much fine particulate matter ...
After Saturday’s record smog rating of 755 (remember, it’s classed as “dangerous” when it hits 250), we threw a party on Tuesday when it reached “unhealthy”.
When I took the following photo at lunchtime on Thursday it was merely 105 – which is listed as “unhealthy for sensitive types”. Pah, we all said. Is that all you’ve got? We can handle that with our face mask tied behind our back!
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The scene from The Tiger Father's window today. |
OK ...
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... I exaggerated a bit. This is what it really looked like See? Just a bit of pollution in the distance. That's why we love wind. |
IN OTHER NEWS ...
JILIN ICE FESTIVAL FUN:
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Right. We've built this ice wall. So what do we do now? Better get the roosters! Since they're still alive, the best thing to do is hang them up like this. |
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That looks about right. OK - ready ... set ... |
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GO! |
Yes, visitors to the Jilin Ice Festival have either been amused or not amused this week, depending on their view of the practice of hanging live roosters from an ice wall to be shot at by customers with bows and arrows.
The scenes were reminiscent of an old custom at the People’s Liberation Army rifle range in Beijing in the 1990s. Back then, patrons could take pot shots at live hens which, in a sort-of recreation of the Passion of the Christ told with chickens, were nailed to a fence. People could then shoot at them with military-grade weapons. From not very far away. Not quite anti-aircraft guns, but still it was messy.
Anyway, that was stamped out long ago. But similar things still go on in Jilin, north-east China, as these photos on Chinasmack.com show.
(WARNING: The above photos may disturb some readers. I probably should have said that the start, really. Mind you, there not as bad as some I saw, with arrows sticking out and stuff).
FOWL DESECRATION: PART 2
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You would, wouldn't you? |
Still, when it comes to Chinese performance artists, I'm not sure how whether Kang or anyone can match up to the acknowledged trail-blazer of them all (this jaunty fellow seen below). Here's how we reported on him previously.
This is performance artist and confirmed
weirdo Zhang Huan, carrying out his
1994 work 12 Square Metres. To
highlight the state of China's public
lavatories, and of course for the sake
of art, Zhang coated himself in fish
juice and honey, then sat naked in
one such God-forsaken place for an
hour, letting flies coat his body.
He died hours later, aged 23.
No, he survived. But noone has had
sex with him since.
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So we can all relax. The future of art is in safe hands.
love your work trev... saw two tiger snakes just today. Took my hat off, held it 'cross my chest and stiffened up with pride. We are hard mate! We are awesomeness
ReplyDeletethis post is very interesting and easy to read, I hope to visit again
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