Media to help China NGOs aim higher

China issued on Tuesday its first ever handbook to guide its NGOs on how to ally with the media in achieving their objectives.

The 200-page guide, entitled "Media Handbook for Grassroots NGOs" is expected to give an impetus to the country's NGOs, and even its fledgling civil society.

It is also a significant step indicating that media could play an increasing surveillance role in China's national development.

The guidance was jointly developed by the China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO ) and Germany's Heinrich Böll Foundation, which is affiliated with the German Green Party and works for similar goals as CANGO to promote international understanding, civil society and sustainable development.

The book uses 20 cases to demonstrate the failures and successes in NGOs' media work; lists nearly 80 media which have been actively reporting social welfare issues in China, and highlights nearly 500 NGO websites and blogs.

NGO staff across the country will get free copies of the handbook, whose online version is also free for Internet users to download.

CANGO Secretary General Haoming Huang said: "It is an important approach to enhance NGOs' capacity by building an interactive partnership with the media. The media could also act as a supervisor for NGOs' growth."

International NGOs hold media communications as a core component of their activities and have already developed mature systems to cooperate with the media, the Heinrich Böll Foundation says on its site.

"However, in China, both NGOs and the media are undergoing a process of maturing. Especially for local grassroots NGOs, there is a lack of knowhow and facilities for how to work together with the media," it adds.

A paper carried by China's official Xinhua News Agency points out that the Internet, as a communication platform, has helped China's civil society identify the issues of general concern, though at the same time it does not help build a strong civil society due to its users' anonymity and exchange of irrational content.

NGOs are mushrooming in China and engage in a wide range of areas. There are at least 3 million NGOs across China, and they are playing an increasingly important role between the government and markets, says CANGO.

However, NGOs in China still have a long way to go, to build themselves to be pressure groups and become more involved in national development. Inexperience in planning and management, and shortage of financial and expertise support are the key factors impeding their expansion.

Copyright Dongying Wang

Africa pivoted to setting its own agenda

Edward Bickham of Anglo American attributes China’s success to infrastructure and economic zones.

China's growing engagement in Africa has intensified the global rivalry for the continent's markets and resources. Investors from the West have perceived increased competition, and have been forced to adjust their African strategies, which in turn has increased tension between China and the West.

Following the EU and the US, China has become the 3rd largest trade partner with Africa. The China-Africa trade rose by 62% on a yearly basis to US$73.9 billion from January to August this year, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce.

It is often said that "when two sides contend, it's always the third party that benefits." Has Africa been aware of these possibilities and taken advantage of them to develop the continent further？

This issue was highlighted last Friday [21/11/2008] during a London conference entitled "Going for growth: can commodities transform development in Africa and China?"

The China phenomenon in Africa has continued to draw attention, especially as the globe experiences economic uncertainty; and China is foreseen to become the world's second-largest economy within two decades.

China can help increase Africa's leverage to get a better deal offered by different investors, said William M. Gumede, who authored the bestselling Thabo Mbeki and the battle for the Soul of the ANC. and was a deputy editor of The Sowetan in Johannesburg.

Gumede also saw China as a business partner for Africa, and help them negotiate for fairer global trade and financial systems. However, he pointed out that China should open wider its markets for the continent.

Africa should look at China's anti-poverty model instead of its political model, and give top priority to infrastructure construction and education to enable the continent to grow, especially in terms of jobs, he said.

China is celebrating its breathtaking achievements through three-decades reform and opening-up drive. As a result, China now shares 5% of the global GDP, up from 1% in 1978; and its destitute population has plummeted from 250 million to 15 million.

While China has alleviated poverty dramatically, the global trend has continued with the impoverished population rising by around 10 million per year since the turn of the century, according to the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development.

The London meeting reached a consensus that foreign investors should not be expected to act as the agency for Africa's development and the continent needs to develop its own agenda.

“Africa does not need necessarily to follow the western development models,” said Graham Zebedee, Deputy Head of the African Department of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Meanwhile, he urged Chinese businesses in Africa to create a win-win rather than win-lose approach.

Edward Bickham, Group Head of Anglo American in External Relations, attributed China’s success in Africa to its model of opening up areas through infrastructure and building special economic zones. Anglo American is one of the world’s largest mining groups with a large foothold in countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.

By the end of 2007, China had directly invested US$4.46 billion in 48 nations across Africa. Over the next 10 years, Africa is estimated to need US$250 billion in investment for its infrastructure construction. This creates massive opportunities for overseas investors, especially Chinese companies.

However, Bickham underlined the downside of China’s involvement in Africa. He said that Western “conditionality” and leverage was much reduced, affecting the handling social and environmental challenges, in which China has less experience. In addition, Chinese companies are tied to the use of their own labour and facilities rather than local sources.

Bickham gave a detailed presentation on how China is leading to a growing demand in metal consumption, and the country’s expanded activities in seeking out natural resources in Africa. His speech painted China as a consumer devouring African resources and a powerful competitor for Western investors there.

However, Rouben Indjikian, Deputy Head of the Special Unit on Commodities with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD ), predicted that China’s efforts in improving energy and commodity efficiency will help slow down the global growth of consumption.

He also pointed out that the huge economic stimulus package China launched recently to speed up its infrastructure construction means increased business opportunities for Africa.

UNCTAD is working on an energy paper to help meet global energy needs, Indjikian said, adding that energy tapping and use, especially renewable sources, within Africa is of great significance for the continent to shake off its poverty. And China is expected to play a role in this regard.

The African continent makes up 13% of the world population but only 35% of the people have access to commercial energy produced from coal, gas, uranium and petroleum. Less than 10% have access to electricity, according to UNCTAD.

Tapping African resources exponentially to fuel its economic growth, China also foresees business difficulties, as the US and EU are adjusting their African policies to secure sufficient energy supply from the continent, according to a recent report by the China Customs.

The China-Africa trade is expected to top US$100 billion this year. The figure comes three years ahead of China’s own projection. However, its sustained growth is uncertain, due to Africa’s limited capacity to cope with regional and international crises, said the report.

The report also suggested that China learn from Germany and Japan to target individual African nations with different business focuses, meanwhile further promote its favourable policies across the continent.

This opinion was shared by James Keeley, senior researcher with the UK International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED ), when he spoke of China’s involvement in African agriculture. “China needs to understand users’ needs, and to link its African operations to other initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa.

Days are gone when Africa had to accept whatever deals were on the table. Today, the changing economic reality has offered the continent the golden chance to make its own choice among offers from different countries.

It is time for Africans to formulate their own economic policies and set up their own development agenda; to make a sustainable choice and enable the continent to prosper.

Read other China-Africa articles:

China in Zambia: from comrades to capitalists?

China in Africa: a catalyst for change

Copyright Dongying Wang

For reproduction of the articles, please email: wdy21century@gmail.com

China seesaws between economy & environment

The highly globalized world is witnessing a spillover of the US financial crisis into Europe, Asia and elsewhere. The UK has been warned against a more severe and deeper economic downturn than expected; and Japan has also entered its first depression since 2001.

Job-cutting news is making headlines across the media, and a rising number of businesses are at the risk of collapse, painting a bleak picture.

China fails to escape the donimo effect. Its year-on-year GDP growth for the first three quarters of 2008 displays a falling tendency from 10.7% through 10.1% to 9%. With an 11.9% GDP rise in 2007, China needs its economy to grow by 8%, in order to guarantee jobs and avoid sliding into the depths of a recession, said economy expert Ye Hang.

Official figures show that south China's Guangdong Province saw more than 7,100 enterprises shut down between January and September this year. The majority of them operated in the Pearl River Delta, a key manufacturing base in China's export market. Price rises in raw materials, appreciation in the Chinese currency (RMB) and fund-raising difficulties are the top reasons behind the closure of many companies, local authorities have said.

It is forecast that 1/3 of export-oriented factories in Guangdong will meet the same fate in the next three years. This will result in restructuring the industrial mix locally, and even reshaping the global supply chain.

In response, adoption of economic stimulus measures becomes unavoidably the only remedy, though it is not a panacea for all problems.

Following US' $700 billion banking bailout in October, China recently launched its own economic stimulus package, in which it intends to spend 4 trillion yuan (US$586 billion dollars) over the next two years. Rural infrastructure, water and rubbish treatment are among the 10 major industries which China will invest in heavily. Concerns are growing over whether sustainable conceptions and practices will be incorporated in this large-scale industrial expansion.

The environmental consideration is often the first to be given up when an economy faces difficulties, said Wang Jinnan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning of the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

His concerns are also expressed by environmental groups. Hannah Griffiths, corporates campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said that her organisation had always argued that regulation was needed because when the crunch came, profits would come first. "We always felt that companies do not take CSR as seriously as they claim to and voluntary action does not work."

Wang added that the closure of businesses in Guangdong is helpful, in short term, for regional pollution control. However, he strongly suggested the government implement green practices in the vast national investment, to make the country achieve green GDP growth.

Shen Xiaoyue, Director of the Regulation Office of the Policy Research Centre for Environment and Economy of the MEP, said that there will be an urgent and heavy workload in the assessment of the environmental impact of new projects which are to be launched under the incentive plan.

Opinions are also split when it comes to the impact of the economic crisis upon China's companies involved in green industries.

The global crisis will present more opportunities than challenges for China's green industries, said Shen, which she believes will become a key strength for economic growth in China. She also highlighted that the middle and small-sized green companies should learn from overseas counterparts, and the government should grant them more favourable policies, especially in fund raising, to enable them to fly higher.

Companies, such as those involved in clean energy, wind power and solar photovoltaic industries will slow down as a result of the economic crisis, said Wen Yibo , Chairman of the Board of Beijing-based Sound Group, one of China's largest private green companies specialising in water and waste treatment.

Economic stimulus can only serve as a supplementary solution under such special circumstances, and it won't solve the fundamental problems. On top of funding, support of policies and the public is critical for green industries' development, Wen pointed out.

Over the five years up to 2011, China's investment in environmental protection is expect to reach 1.53 trillion yuan (US$225 billion), accounting for 1.36% of its GDP, a proportion believed to be amongst the highest in the developing world.

Copyright Dongying Wang

Women rising in American politics

The 2008 US election has wrapped up, seeing Barak Obama elected as the 44th President of the United States, but its fascination and uniqueness are still lingering.

The enduring attraction of the political campaign is partly due to the involvement of three women: New York Senator Hilary Clinton, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Illinois Senator Barak Obama's wife Michelle.

Their engagement, which resulted in losses or gains, has perfectly displayed a changing face of American politics, a rising voice of female politicians, a mix of criticism and sarcasm of Western media, and deciding qualities to be a national leader in today's America.

All three of the women are charismatic in different capacities. Their participation has enhanced the interest of the electorate in the lengthy and weary campaigns.

As to political careers, Clinton, 61, is superior to Palin and Michelle, both 44. The First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, Clinton was elected as senator for New York State in 2000, becoming the first First Lady running for public office in American history.

This year's Democratic presidential nomination race saw Clinton win more primaries and delegates than any other female candidate in American history, but she lost to Obama in the long and tight campaign.

Though playing the card to compete for the first ever female president helped Clinton win voters, her over-ambitious performance, and especially her personal attacks on Obama spoiled her image and set the tone for her losing out.

It turned to be a surprising and sad result for Clinton, who has appeared to be more determined than her husband in her political ambitions. She has been viewed as having a bright political future, ever since her work in the impeachment inquiry during the 1974 Watergate scandal, which culminated in the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Except for Eleanor Roosevelt, Clinton is regarded as the most openly empowered presidential wife in American history.

Going through investigations including the Whitewater controversy and Lewinsky scandal, Clinton has appeared to be a tough fighter in both career and family. However, her return to the presidential campaign in four years seems to be open to question, especially with regards to her tenacity, her potential to win, and challenges she may face from such candidates as Sarah Palin.

In comparison, Palin seemed to be a better player in campaigning for the first American Vice President. She took centre stage as the second woman to run on a major US party ticket, after Geraldine Ferraro, who was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1984 in the run with Walter Mondale.

British commentator Ian Hislop once said: "She (Palin) is the first good-looking woman politician for a long time" on the BBC TV programme Question Time. Her being young, attractive, energetic and enthusiastic gave hope to the Republican Party and enlivened the election in the beginning, but this magic failed to last longer enough to help John McCain fulfill his goal.

Palin claims to be an expert in energy issues, but her inexperince in foreign and domestic affairs hampered her in making further strides in this political campaign. This is also one of the reasons former Secretary of State General Colin Powell granted his endorsement to Obama.

Palin's poor performance also motivated media to produce several TV parodies in which she became the subject of ridicule. She was also pranked by Canada's CKOI Radio . During a phone call she was duped into believing that she was having a conversation with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

Palin has become a laughing stock for her interviews and non-sensical dialogue. However, besides her shortfalls, Palin has become a household name. She has pledged to be more than willing and capable to offer assistance to Obama in energy solutions during an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN's The Situation Room .
The 2008 election might mean a full-stop for Hillary Clinton's presidential ambition, but a comma for Palin. It was expected that Palin might replace McCain as Commander in Chief, if only by the untimely demise of her senior.
The only woman who eventually made gains in this election was Michelle, Barack Obama's wife. Michelle will become the first African American First Lady of the United States in two months. Aside of being in the same law profession as Clinton, Michelle has revealled another side to her persona; she is an avid hula hooper.She has a reputation as a cool operator, and even her husband has praised her highly saying: "If I ever had to run against her for public office, she would beat me without too much difficulty".

During her speech at a democratic national convention, Michelle sought to portray herself and her family as the embodiment of the American Dream, saying she and her husband believed "that (if) you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, and you do what you say you're going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them."

Before becoming the First Lady in January, Michelle has already stolen the show of the current First Lady Laura Bush during their first meeting in White House. In contrast to Laura's dowdy brown outfit, Michelle shone in her bright red dress.

Copyright Dongying Wang

Photos (left and right ones) by kris kros & rachel_bunting

How big is the gap between green politics and politicians?

US president-elect Barack Obama made history, as he will be the first ever African American to lead the most powerful nation on this planet. Obama made his way towards the throne by defeating heavyweight politicians Hilary Clinton and John McCain.

His victory marks a pivotal point in American history. Many people might also re-evaluate what they expect from the American Dream. As Madonna states in her song American Life, "I'm just living out the American Dream and I just realized that nothing is what it seems."

High on Obama's agenda are determinations to pull his country out of the mire of economic crisis, and pledges to take actions to combat climate change. However, today's politicians are judged not only by the way they deal with the environment, but also by their personal carbon footprint.

Both of the main US presidential candidates, Obama or McCain, have conducted a high-emissions political campaign.

They both failed to pioneer the use of modern electronic approaches to minimize their carbon footprint when wooing green supporters of their low-carbon visions.

Statistics by StandardCarbon show that the flights alone, by Obama and McCain and their entourage, had burned more than 757,000 litres of jet fuel, resulting in more than 2,000 tonnes of emissions. Travel accounted for more than half of their carbon footprint during the campaign.

Around 130,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide were produced during their campaign activities, including travel, postage, shipping, use of utilities, food and fundraising events. The Obama group alone is blamed for 59.9% of the emissions.

To offset the emissions, the Obama group would have needed to plant more than 1.8 million trees, as against the 1.36 million by McCain, a small forest by anyone's standards.

In an era with modern communications facilities at hand, unnecessary emissions can be avoided in transportation and fundraising, by means of teleconferences, emails, and even online virtual communities such as Second Life.

Those conducting such campaigns need courage to embrace these modern initiatives, to embark upon a revolution of political performance. However, most politicians see this technology as the stuff of science fiction.

In reality, there are often double standards applied by the decision makers, who set the rules for others to follow, but rarely abide by them themselves. The public sees this hypocricy, but is unable to effect a change.

Former US Vice President Al Gore has been called "hypocritical" as he advocates environmental protection, while at the same time living a life in which he consumes large amount of energy and resources. In respose to this criticism, he has claimed to have made offsetting efforts.

The air travel by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) resulted in 1,755 tonnes of carbon emissions during the 2005/2006 period, accounting for 63.16% of their total emissions.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been criticized recently for having a carbon footprint equivalent to 1,000 of his citizens. His global travels in his presidential jet during the past 11 months produced 7,061 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the magazine Terra Economica reported .

The UK broadsheet Independent revealed in early 2007 that Tony Blair's personal carbon emissions were 700 times of the average Briton and his air travel alone contributed as much carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as a medium-sized business. When we look at the issue from a global perspective, travel by officials needs addressing by governments of each country, so that civil servants may set good examples of green practices for their electorate to follow.

Copyright Dongying Wang