There are ten methods for meditating on the world, begins one scroll in the 1,300-year-old collection of Tang-dynasty sutras from Xian, China, that can lead us to happiness and fulfillment. I realize that sounds like the opening of a New Age piffle book, but the sutras were actually discovered in
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The Disaffected Lib: The Tibetan Plateau – Asia’s Armageddon?
To Asia’s three nuclear powers, the Tibetan plateau represents life or death. China, India and Pakistan are all dependent on the headwaters of rivers that are fed by the glaciers in Tibet. The geo-political enormity of these rivers drove China to invade and occupy Tibet in 1950. What happens in
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: When Confidence Fails
Few who lived through the Cold War with its constant threat of nuclear annihilation realize the role confidence played in preventing an outbreak of apocalyptic hostilities. Even at times when we thought the “other side” might be nearing the point of pre-emptive attack, we had a sufficient degree of confidence
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: China Moves to Nationalize Christianity
Yeah, I know, it sounds wacky but it’s true. China wants to nationalize as in “Sinicize” the Christian religion as it’s practiced in the Peoples Republic. “The construction of Chinese Christian theology should adapt to China’s national condition and integrate with Chinese culture,” Wang Zuoan, director of the State Administration
Continue readingThings Are Good: China’s Changing Waste Management
China’s rate of economic development has caused massive change in the country and that includes the impact on waste management. Waste from consumer goods, industry, and other “good” things for the economy causes huge problems around the world. China is now at a turning point that can see interesting solutions
Continue readingCuriosityCat: From My Quotes Cupboard: China’s leaders could have ruled the waves, but blew it
Decisions made can impact centuries, as China found out when its leaders made a shortsighted decision in the early 1400’s: In Nanjing today you can see a full-size replica of the treasure ship of Admiral Zhen He, the most famous sailor in Chinese history. It is 400 feet long –
Continue readingThings Are Good: Remembering Tiananmen Square
25 years ago in Tiananmen Square there was a protest against the Chinese government. The protest was dealt with lethal force by the government – killing many people. Since then, the Chinese government has blocked any discussion about the protest and has greatly censored information on it. Obviously all of
Continue readingCuriosityCat: Good news: China’s Fracking to reduce its use of Coal
Early China coal mine When it comes to global warming, coal is the biggest culprit in the warming of the earth. China is taking giant strides to reduce its need for coal to generate energy by exploiting its vast shale gas reserves: Although serious obstacles remain, China is finally making
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: “Those Mainlanders” and other racist ways to start a sentence
I was at a restaurant with friends a few weeks ago. The conversation was kind of slow, so I mentioned my plans for travelling to Hong Kong next year and asked for advice on which attractions to visit. One of the members of the group took this as an opportunity to talk about all
Continue readingThe Misanthropic Bird: Mad As Hell
I got up this morning to a fog rolling into the city. It’s not from rain, or from temperature change or any other natural reason for a hazy day. It’s because I live in Beijing, and the pollution levels are on the rise today. Jumping a few dozen points between
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Crimea and Misdemeanours
Bad puns aside, the recent intrigue in Crimea has been responsible for more nonsensical political blustering than any single international incident in the past decade. It has been a curious exercise to sit back and watch everyone work themselves up and deliver half-baked analyses based on laughably outdated assumptions. Please
Continue readingThe Wandering Joe: Crimea and Misdemeanours
Bad puns aside, the recent intrigue in Crimea has been responsible for more nonsensical political blustering than any single international incident in the past decade. It has been a curious exercise to sit back and watch everyone work themselves up and deliver half-baked analyses based on laughably outdated assumptions. Please
Continue readingThe Misanthropic Bird: The Republic of Capitalism: A Chinese ‘Every Man’ talks Morals and Money
Now a growing player in the global market and a curious destination to many, China’s capitalist whitewash has been holding our attention. But how has China’s economic growth affected the working class? Mr. Lee* shares his experiences growing up in China, its newfound wealth and the dichotomy of morals and
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: WWCD? What Would China Do?
We’ve been getting this manicured image of Russia, isolated, standing alone against the world over its occupation of eastern Ukraine and, especially, Crimea. Then again, we do tend to see ourselves, the West, as the world. Vlad Putin sees the world differently. He sees China and he’s looking for China’s support over
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: If the U.S. Was in Russia’s Position, How Would It React to Russian Meddling in Canada or Mexico that Threatened America’s Security?
The Ukraine sits right on Russia’s doorstep. It is the land route to Russia’s Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol by which the Russian navy can access the Mediterranean. Severing Russia’s naval access to the Med is thought to be why the U.S. has been meddling in Ukrainian affairs, funding
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: If Plants Can’t Grow, What Fate Awaits a Hungry People?
Smog in China has become so severe that it’s interfering with photosynthesis. Chinese scientists report that China’s smog-clogged atmosphere has taken on aspects of “nuclear winter” and could wreak havoc on the country’s already stressed food supply. Beijing and broad swaths of six northern provinces have spent the past week
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: A Must Read – Why America Is Not in Decline, Except at Home.
America hasn’t really declined. America simply went global and, in the process, turned its back on working-class Americans, blue and white collar. A globalized America is an America of the 1%. The rest who still believe are suckers. That’s the premise of a fine essay in Politico by Sean Starrs,
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: BC’s Big Favour? LNG Exports and GHG Emissions
The hype on LNG has grown to staggering proportions. I have not had much time to debunk all of the government’s grotesque exaggerations and outright falsehoods. But Christy Clark’s claim that BC is “doing the world a favour” by exporting LNG to Asia made me write this oped, which got picked
Continue readingPolitics, Re-Spun: What’s With Pipeline-Loving Old Men?
High 5′s to people are aren’t old men! [on average, 19 times out of 20, +/- 3.6% of the time.] My apologies if you’re a man, or over 55, but those two demographics love the Big Oil, and they’re giving you all a bad name! Here’s why. I know lots
Continue readingThings Are Good: China’s Wind Turbine Industry Booming
For years China has been trying to improve its sustainable energy production but to do so Chinese companies had to rely on patents and techniques from the rest of the world. Due to an increase in demand (and production knowledge) China is now poised to make the best, most efficient,
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