I first visited China in 2008 to research Internet and mobile phone use for environmentalism, but it was also a means for me to win a debate with a classmate from Shanghai. The first time we met in Fall 2007, she said that China “was just another country”, not a superpower in waiting. Conscious of those that use China as an excuse to increase US military budgets and the plethora of books about rising China, I had a hard time believing her. Yet it is a second comment, that sticks with me now, talking about a prominent American scholar of China’s environmental problems, my classmate from Shanghai said “I don’t think she cares about China.” I think what has happened is that I gradually care more and more about China and its people. As I write my dissertation on how Chinese understand their role in shouldering environmental problems, I increasingly look for ways to do research that is interesting and significant for the Chinese I meet every day and not just the scholars back in the United States. This blog then reflects some of the lessons and experiences I gain along the way.
It's not the 1960s Anymore
BEIJING - About a week and a half ago a co-worker sent a message in Chinese that army vehicles were spotted in east-central Beijing near where I used to live. That day and the next rumors swirled, in no part due to the fact that Bo Xilai, the Mayor of Chongqing, the largest city in China had recently been dismissed. In subsequent days there have been articles in a multitude of news sources about Bo Xilai, following earlier articles about Wang Lijun, his dismissed police chief who created news by fleeing to the United States Embassy in the nearby city of Chengdu.
I (re)Learned in China There is an International Women's Day
BEIJING - A little less than two weeks ago was International Women’s Day (IWD). I thought I would dedicate that day’s two English classes to discussing issues related to IWD and the situation of women in China. It was not until two weeks ago sitting in my office in Beijing that I realized that IWD is a day when people actually do things, like giving gifts. For my friend and her colleagues in Beijing it meant working half a day.
The Marriage Problem (结婚问提)
(下面有中文)
BEIJING Last month while home for Christmas I attended a ninetieth birthday party for my Grandma with family and friends. Like others returning from China I went through that process of trying to explain the unexplainable fascination with China. Yet more than once I sensed a certain fumbling for questions from my interlocutors, it was them for a change struggling to small talk, not me.
Telling Stories
BEIJING - First I would like to say thank you to all those who have read my blog over the past year, I appreciate it. I began the year in Beijing preparing to do research for my dissertation, working through multiple versions of an online survey about individuals’ responsibility for solving air pollution, water pollution and climate change. As I end the year in Beijing, I’m now writing up my dissertation, surveying the job market and thinking about future research.
The Economy Stupid
BEIJING - In 2008 I started learning Chinese and in 2010 I moved to China to better understand the similarities between China and the United States on Climate Change. Perhaps I should follow the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change closely, but I don’t. This year COP 17 recently convened in Durban, South Africa. The most famous meetings are the 1997 COP 3 in Kyoto and the 2009 COP 15 in Copenhagen.
Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
My first reaction to hearing about the Occupy Wall Street protesters, having lived a block from Wall St., was a mix of “ah, Adbusters, I used to read that” and “there’s no companies left on Wall Street, the protestors should be at mid-town.” It also seems that New York’s policies have been successful in trying to fill the empty space with residents, as I read about complaints from residents about the protests.
The Past Three Years of My Life
BEIJING - Below is a video and transcript for a video contest about climate change. I won't be winning any filmmaking awards any time soon, but at least hopefully it gives a glimpse into the world of China, particularly the synergy between the propaganda machine and green messages.
My China Visa
BEIJING - Last month I went to the local police station to register again. Just like the last time, as the officer typed in my information I glanced around, and wondered about the binder with the label “学习天安门（study Tiananmen)”. When you fly to China, they give you a little card saying those foreigners not staying in a hotel are supposed to register within 24 hours of arriving in China. I haven’t always quite done that.
Burning Coal, Taking Pictures on the Cell Phone
BEIJING - Last Saturday I spent a moment staring at a picture of a naked man pulling a cart of coal in an underground mine. Throughout the 3 Shadows Gallery, designed by the Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei, you could see the juxtaposition of coal + ice (煤＋冰), a show produced by Asia Society’s Orville Schell.
The Periphery
BEIJING - I was trying to clean up my USB drive last night, and I came across a powerpoint presentation about September 11th, 2001 that a co-worker gave me to use in class. I completely forgot about it. Being here in Beijing on the 10th anniversary, September 11th 2011, was not much different than July 4th, 2011 for me, another day on the calendar. For me September 11th, 2001 is the day my roommates went to donate blood, security guards asked for Ids to enter campus and LAX went silent, sans the blood plane at midnight.
