It seems that China never fails to raise extreme opinions when discussions on that country take place, wherever you are in the world. Everyone has a story, covering everything from strident condemnation of unfair practices to those who believe that China is a miracle that has happened through its progress during many of our lifetimes, rather than after.
It is certain that China has made remarkable progress over a relatively short period of time, but would acknowledge itself that it is far from perfect. And it continues to improve generally, slowly perhaps but surely. After all, marshalling 1.3bn people cannot be easy from almost a standing start a little over 30 years ago.
It has been the case that the people of China suffered the indignities of corruption and badly behaved officials. Actions of people who had suddenly been given power but who were not trained for it. Much, perhaps, in the same way that officials used (?) to behave in the West before the people decided enough was enough.
Well such changes are now beginning to take place in China; documented changes, where people spoke out - even fearing reprisals from local officials and recorded in a film that was nominated for an Oscar in the 2011 Academy Awards. The Director, Ruby Yang has received an Oscar before (in 2007), and clearly has an eye for a story. The documentary, which did not win the Oscar on this occasion, is called "The Warriors of Qiugang", and was filmed over a three year period.
If you have the time and the inclination, get a cup of coffee and close your door for 40 minutes to watch the story - which I have "linked" above.
If this is going to be repeated in many towns, villages and even cities across China, we are going to start seeing changes inside the country that will be powerful, will quite probably cause trouble for a while, but will leave China a more open and accountable society.
Good film! Though I'm unsure relocating a factory flouting eco-laws by a few miles make a sufficient difference, Qiugang village should take comfort that they have achieved some success.
Considerations of economy vs. that of the environment can be tricky to sort out. On either side of the argument, it can be easy to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. For example, in Germany, the Green Party recently trounced Merkel's party over the nuclear issue and I actually think Merkel was taking the right stand. It has been no fun being the only (reluctant) pro-nuclear voice in the German half of my family.
But Qiugang is cut and dried. If my right to swing my arm ends where your nose begins, then in Qiugang's case, fist was grinding cartilage. This is one specific instance where the American concept of 'class action lawsuit' makes sense to me.
Posted by: jeremy | 11 April 2011 at 12:30