CHINA:THE WORLD’S NEXT SUPERPOWER

http://www.liontv.com/Usa/Productions/Discovery-Atlas--China

CHINA’S ECONOMY China is the fastest growing country on earth The largest communist state is becoming the

world’s most powerful economy Predicted that China will be the largest

economy in the world in about 20 years. Consumes 1/3 of the world’s steel Consumes ½ of the world’s concrete In one minute China burns:

2 and ½ tons of coal 24 million watts of electricity 210,000 gallons of crude oil

Estimated that within 30 years, we will need another planet earth to satisfy China’s demand for raw materials

Source: (Discovery Atlas: China Revealed, 2006)

TRADITIONAL CHINA… Patty fields in Long Shen Rice: one of China’s staple foods.

20 miles of peaks on the “dragon’s back”Less than 10% of China can be farmed. China was once very dependent on agriculture…1958-1961 famine. Many starved to death.

Chinese government estimated that there were about 15 million excess deaths in this time period.

Until 1978, the Communist Party controlled all of China’s land Reform in 1978 handed the land over to the “peasants”

Income rocketed 1500%. Qualify of life increased. But still poor…

Source: http://www.globalissues.org/article/4/poverty-around-the-world#WorldBanksPovertyEstimatesRevised

Communist party encourages entrepreneurs to build their own businesses in the reform of 1978.

Lead to one of the greatest migrations in history Tens of millions of Chinese left farm life to seek fortune in the

cities. Shanghai is 8 times the size of New York.

Investors pour 10 billion dollars into Shanghai every year. Population of 23 million people3 million of those are migrant workers from farms.

Today, China is #1 exporter and #2 importerFactories spring up all over

“Made in China” What problems can come from this?

Source: Discovery Atlas: China Revealed (2006)

REVOLUTION IN THE CITIES

“SWEATSHOPS” World Bank defines poverty as people living on $1.25 per day. Since the Chinese reform in 1978, poverty rates have declined from 85% to 16% in 2005 (over 600 million people) BUT…many people are still very poor. PROBLEMS IN THE FACTORIES…

Minimum wage doesn’t meet the living costs of its workers.

Overtime hoursHigh intensity jobs (can be very dangerous!)Face lots of discrimination for age, gender and healthUnhealthy work environmentNo labor contracts

Sources: http://www.globalissues.org/article/4/poverty-around-the-world#WorldBanksPovertyEstimatesRevised

http://www.chinalaborwatch.org/pro/proshow-149.html

THE ASIAN BROWN CLOUDAND POLLUTION

Asian Brown Cloud: a layer of pollution that covers part of South Asia Appears as a giant brown stain on

the satellite Created from pollutants from

combustion: Wood fires, cars, factories, etc…

Especially bad in the winter Why? Have you experienced anything

like this? 300,000 to 400,000 people die

prematurely every year in China because of pollution-related reasons

Source: (“Asian Brown Cloud—Fact and Fantasy,” Srinivasan, J and Gadgil, S, 2002)

MODERNIZATION

Shift from “Traditional” to “Modern” society Urbanization and Industrialization helped this

shift occur. Import Western styles of design and living Shift from traditional, simple lifestyle?

Is China losing its simple way of life? Is China losing its traditional values? Is China losing its ancient culture to modernization? How do you balance traditional and modern lifestyles?

Is it possible?

Source: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/387301/modernization

CASE STUDIES: VIEWS OF MODERNIZATIONKung Fu Master Superintendent of Police

Mongolian Nomad Head of Construction Boom

Chasing Chinese Dream Shanghai Worker

Source: Discovery Atlas: China Revealed (2006)

FINAL THOUGHTS… http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=L33gH-vleIg

In your opinion, is modernization a positive or negative thing?

Clearly state your opinion (positive, negative or somewhere in between)

Support your opinion with two reasons that we’ve discussed in class.

Write at least 3 complete sentences

CITATIONS Opening Slide: http://

chinadivide.com/2010/war-on-westernization-in-china.html

http://www.aroundtheworldfood.com/category/china/ingredients/

http://totallycoolpix.com/2011/02/china-the-worlds-factory/

http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/environment/brown_cloud.html

http://www.impactlab.net/2010/05/23/chinas-indoor-air-pollution-kills-2-2-million-children-every-year/air-pollution-china-photo/

http://dailyreporter.com/2009/06/24/china-defends-curb-on-exports/

http://www.waronwant.org/overseas-work/sweatshops-and-plantations/china-sweatshops