Battered British auto industry sends out SOS

Unsold cars built up at Ford Dagenham in SE England

Sharply declining market demand has hit British manufacturing severely. The car industry, in particular, has come under the spotlight, as it seeks government support to curb its dwindling output and further its green production.

Climbing the green ladder is an important goal, but returning the industry's production to normal has become more urgent, as the plunging output has led to significant job losses, shorter working hours and factory closures since the economic downturn started to bite in October.

For the full story, by Dongying Wang, published by Xinhua News Agency in February 2009, please click here. Also please return to the blog to post your comment.

Green approach seen as economy rescue remedy

Green deals designed to more efficiently use natural resources and better control pollution have been high on the global agenda as they are perceived as solutions to the worsening economic crisis engulfing the world.

Leading greenhouse gas emitters and emerging economies, in particular, are under big pressure to set their own agenda and lead the global green movement. To do so, they need to make a balance between the cost and output of green initiatives to get through the downturn.

For the full story, by Dongying Wang, published by Xinhua News Agency in February 2009, please click here. Also please return to the blog to post your comment.

Photo by phatcontroller

Britain safeguards research as it sinks deeper into recession

Wax work of physicist Sir Isaac Newton at London Madame Tussauds

Scientific research is among few sectors in Britain which have won support in facing off the recession, as the country attempts to remain a global leader in innovation and science.

Unlike commercial businesses and manufacturing, research activities have not yet seen specific impacts brought about by the economic downturn.

However, many experts have warned that though many researchers have secured funding for the time being, the new funding situation would not be as positive as now, as Britain is sliding deeper into recession.

For the full story, by Dongying Wang, published by Xinhua News Agency in February 2009, please click here. Also please return to the blog to post your comment.

Education in Britain faces test as recession bites harder

Figures have shown that the number of people applying for undergraduate courses at UK universities this autumn has risen by 8% from last year’s level, but it is not yet clear what effect the economic crisis will have in the coming months.

The sharp depreciation of pound has encouraged the influx of overseas students to Britain. The number of applicants from EU countries has risen by 12 percent overall, with applicants from outside the EU rising by 10 percent.

However, going to university is not an easy option for all, especially part-time students.

Figures by the Higher Education Statistics Agency show that the number of part-time enrolments at Britain’s higher education institutions has fallen by 3 percent over the 2007/2008 period, compared to the year before.

Some 35 percent of part-time enrolments in 2007/2008 were in science subjects, a decrease of 3 percent on a yearly basis

British media has warned that the tighter job market will force more part-time students out of schools. As Britain is sinking deeper into recession, the education situation will be further affected. As a result, the government’s vision to expand education by recruiting more part-time students might be compromised.

Britain warned of a further gloomy 2009

On Monday, Britain’s leading business group, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), refreshed the forecast for Britain’s 2009 GDP growth, with a further pessimistic note.

The CBI has revised down the growth rate, saying the economy will shrink by 3.3 percent, nearly double the contraction of 1.7 percent foreseen in November last year. The CBI also predicted a growth in unemployment to nearly 3 million by the end of 2009.

Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI, said: “The outlook remains extremely uncertain so forecasting remains especially difficult. Ultimately the severity of this recession will depend on the speedy implementation of the government’s measures to unblock the credit markets and the success of various global stimuli packages in repairing business and consumer confidence.”

Britain has injected billions of pounds in banking bailout, which has so far failed to re-activate the credit market or kick-start the national economy.

There is no doubt that research and education in Britain will be affected by the continuing financial crisis, especially if the country’s stimulus packages fail to take effect in the coming months.

Copyright Dongying Wang

Anger grows in Britain as recession deepens

As the recession bites harder in Britain, concerns are growing amongst the unemployed as to how they are going to pay their bills or find another job. There is rising anger directed towards the government and more recently top bankers.

The public has complained that politicians' daily rhetoric is not solving Britain's economic problems. Many see government actions as only bailing out the banks and financial institutions rather than helping the ever increasing number of jobless and falling businesses.

For the full story, by Dongying Wang, published by Xinhua News Agency in February 2009, please click here. Also please return to the blog to post your comment.

"Smiling is not a natural thing for Chinese men"

Dominant, reserved and humble are among the most used words to describe Chinese men by their opposite sex in China. What impressions have male Chinese given to westerners? Dongying Wang asks people from other cultures to give their opinions and personal experiences of Chinese men.

Is there anything Chinese men could do to improve their image as compared to their Western equal?

In reply to this stereotypical question often raised by people in China, Dave Feickert confirmed twice his answer, saying "no”.

An energy and coal mine safety expert, Feickert, in his early 60s, has been working in China for about four years on projects in cooperation with government organisations and universities.

Feickert, who holds both British and New Zealand citizenship, talked about Chinese males in a global perspective as he has been in contact with Chinese people throughout his career in five continents.

"Chinese men are much more relaxing than their peers from some hierarchical societies, such as Japan and the UK," says Feickert.

"Compared to fellows from other cultures, especially Japan and Germany, Chinese men are more open-minded, practical and efficient in solutions," he says, "I find it easier to work with Chinese men than British."

To make his point, Feickert gave his preference to New Zealanders as colleague choice, over Australians, Europeans and Americans.

"Europeans and Americans are carrying a bag of preconceptions and not practical in solving problems, " he details, adding that "I would like to see Chinese colleagues the same as New Zealanders."

Chinese people, in general, are well brought up, he said, "Even my Chinese driver did not go to university, he has a good sense of humour."

As for Chinese females, Feickert thinks that they are more modest than western women. After the ice breaking, Chinese women often display a better sense of humour than western peers.

Feickert said that he would like to rely on Chinese female co-workers more than westerners, as the former are better organized and adept at multi-tasking.

He has noticed that men and women in China are treated more equally than in many Western countries, including the UK and Australia. As such, he thinks that China is comparable to Scandinavian countries and New Zealand, which was the world’s first country to grant women the right to vote in 1893.

Women in both Scandinavia and New Zealand are well presented in top jobs and can often been seen running their organisations, he said, “China shares similar equalities, but this fails when it comes to top positions.”

Even so, Feickert believes both sexes in China stand as good ambassadors for their country.

Unlike Feickert, Arthur Tuffee, a retired minister of a Baptist church in Dorset in southwest England, has only been to China twice with his wife Gill. They flew to China as tourists in 1996, and sailed on a missionary ship to Shanghai the following year.

The Bournemouth couple have come to know many Chinese students after they became involved in a “hospitality” scheme in 2000. The scheme encourages British families to host international students attending Bournemouth University and help them better understand British culture.

There are about 20 such families in Bournemouth, a town with a population of just under 170,000.

"We have officially hosted seven Chinese students so far, plus more than a dozen others who were introduced by them,” says Mr. Tuffee.

The Tuffee's have chosen to host only Chinese students. "We love China, we love Chinese," they explain. Their connection with China began more than 30 years ago when the couple adopted a half-Chinese boy.

Chinese students they have hosted were often invited for British cuisine and many local activities, including introductory Bible classes.

Talking about Chinese males, the couple both think they are reserved and less open than westerners.

"It is difficult to know them at the first contact," says Mr. Tuffee, "They do not make an initial step to get known, and you have to work hard to know them."

The couple also think many hide their emotions. “They do not smile, and smiling is not a natural thing for them," says Mr. Tuffee.

He pointed out that many differences are not issues of race but of culture. By learning other cultures he suggests people would respond better to different peoples.

Nowadays, people from the Chinese mainland are becoming more westernised, but those from Hong Kong often communicate better as they have already adapted to a western way of life, he said.

Chinese men and women generally stick to their gender roles. Women often play a supporting role as mother and wife, while men adopt their role as bread winner. But, he said that this has a positive effect in Chinese society though he feels that equality between the sexes should not be abandoned.

Women often tend to focus on social and family duties when it comes to commenting on men.

Professor S.C. Lenny Koh, in her mid 30s, at Sheffield University came from Malaysia, and has lived in the UK for 14 years.

Professor Koh has much experience of Chinese culture, the country and its people. She is married to a Chinese man, has tutored a number of Chinese students and conducted business with many Chinese partners.

"Chinese men are dominant," she says, "They want to be respected and yet they have a strong ego of wanting to be leaders."

However, a growing number of women are becoming independent and family bread winners. This has posed a threat to men's social and family dominant positions, she said.

This shift of balance is a global phenomenon, not something unique to China, she added.

Koh analysed several of her friends' cross-cultural marriages and concluded that any family would be happier if it values efficiency, contribution and happiness rather than material wealth.

Chinese men's thinking process is complex, as against the straightforward style of westerners, so “sometimes you do not understand what they want”, she said.

However, Chinese husbands usually provide a more secure family feeling because they are from a saving-oriented society. This is a big difference from western husbands who tend to enjoy their life by spending first, then paying back later, Koh added.

Editor of ClimateChangeCorp.com Zara Maung, in her late 20s, has seen a trend of more Chinese women marrying white men, but few cases the other way round.

Maung went to China in 2000 to teach English for eight months in a vocational school in Hangzhou, a few hours’ drive from Shanghai.

Western women are often taller than Chinese males. This maybe one reason for Chinese men not marrying westerners, Maung explained.

She would marry a Chinese if he is Mr. Right, Maung said, though her intention to go to China was not to seek Chinese bondage.

Western women's individualism is intimidating for Chinese men, as their independent manner is not what Chinese men are used to, she said.

Maung attributed Chinese males' misconception of gender roles to their being frightened and threatened by the thoughts and behaviour of western females.

Western women usually see individualism as a manifestation of equality, she added.

Maung described Chinese men as “friendly and welcoming”. But she depicted Chinese boys and even teenagers as "childish and naive", especially those who hold each other’s hands and walk with their arms about each other's shoulders.

Maung recognized that there is a cultural difference to this type of behaviour. In the West it is generally only gay men who would be seen walking hand in hand or displaying strong affections towards each other.

However, she expressed the opinion that young Chinese people were far more disciplined than their western counterparts.

Academic qualifications and good jobs are often seen as a symbol of adulthood in China, Maung said. But there is no such expectation in the West.

It will benefit China's social development if more powerful women are to represent the country on the international stage, she said.

Opinions about Chinese men are open to question as there is often a gap in cross-cultural understanding. However, if Jackie Chan’s advice is followed, this gap may be bridged. The Hollywood Kung Fu actor has urged westerners to marry Chinese ladies in order to ease global ignorance about Asian culture.

In 2005, he said that foreigners should wed Chinese women, so “their children will be able to speak Chinese and spread Chinese culture far and wide.”

Copyright Dongying Wang
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Read the Chinese version of this article: "微笑对中国男人来说不是天生自然的事"