Similar “Oily” Interests

February 24, 2010

China’s hunger for oil is not equal to America’s gluttony but it is getting there. Meanwhile, America and its allies blame China for the stalemate over stopping Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

This is my confession. I’m seeking God’s forgiveness for my sins. Every American who drives a car is an accessory to a crime—9/11.  The more oil, gas or diesel consumed, the more guilt.

There are two parts to this sin.

The first stage for this crime took place during America’s Cold War with Communism. If you haven’t seen Charlie Wilson’s War, rent it.  Americans were the mad scientists who created the Frankenstein, the metamorphosis of the wolf men—the demons we call al-Qaida.

The Taliban, who supported al-Qaida’s goal to eliminate all Western Cultures and create a Caliphate—a throwback to another era, learned their Islamic Fundamentalism from Saudi Arabia’s dominant faith, Wahhabism. Oil money paid for the Wahabi schools that Saudi Arabia built around the world.  These schools teach fundamentalist Islamic principles that grow future terrorists recruited by al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Saudi Oil Wells

And who feeds Saudi oil to their SUVs, cars, trucks, eighteen-wheelers and coast to coast freight trains and jet planes?

When China blocks action against Iran’s nuclear ambitions, because the Chinese people love American food and buy GM, Ford, Volkswagen and Toyota, isn’t their hunger the same?

See America Doing Business in China

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Flying the Friendlier Skies in China

February 22, 2010

Originally published at Speak Without Interruption on February 10, 2010
By Bob Grant — publisher/editor for Speak Without Interruption

When I first started going to China, I was warned not to fly on Chinese domestic airlines.  I was told they were old, cast-off planes or old military planes, and that people were crammed into each plane with barnyard and other animals.  Before I felt daring and took a domestic flight one day, I was under the influence of yet another case of Chinese stereotyping. 

In all honesty, over the years, I have not had an uncomfortable or unpleasant flight anywhere inside China.  To get to our meetings we had to fly quite a bit.  We went, mainly, to cities up and down the eastern coast; however, we did fly occasionally to inland locations.  Some flights were long—some were short—all were without mishap.

Chinese Stewardess Photo courtesy of Bob Grant

I found the service provided, once inside the plane, to be exceptional.  I was always greeted in English even if I was the only non-Chinese on the flight, which occurred many times.  I was even handed Chinese newspapers in English. The flight attendants were quite efficient. On most flights, we received drinks, a snack, more beverages, a hot Chinese meal (which was always good), and then a last set of beverages.  I never paid extra for my checked luggage, the snacks, drinks, meals or great service.

I was also impressed with the screening, security, and overall terminal experience.  There “are” many people in China—most seemed to be flying on the same days that I flew.  However, in going through the document check (passport for me—identity cards for my Chinese associates) and then the security check which is similar to the security checks I have been through in other countries including the US, I found the process to be quite efficient.  I am an “early get to the airport” type of guy—my Chinese associates are not.  They gave me much concern on numerous occasions when we would arrive at the airport a half-hour before our plane departed.  Fortunately, we never missed our flight and never really had to run to catch it. We went through all stations in such an efficient manner that I should not have bothered to worry (but I always did).

Again, as with my other posts regarding China, I can only speak to my own experiences.  I am certain other travelers have horror stories about flying domestically within China.  My main reason for offering this insight is, for me, another example of incorrect information when it came to China, its people, and its functioning.

If you would like to read other guest posts by Bob Grant, start with They All Look Alike.

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Holding a Vital Key to Humanity’s Future

February 20, 2010

China controls the production to several vital, rare earth elements, and is the only country today that produces europium, dysprosium and terbium. Why are these rare elements important to humanity’s future?

Europium is a rare, critical chemical that makes the red color for television monitors and energy-efficient LED light bulbs, and lanthanum is a primary component of the nickel-metal hydride battery in Toyota’s popular hybrid car, Prius.

Toyota Prius

Deposits of these rare elements exist in other countries, but only China had the foresight, thanks to engineers, who are also among the rulers of China, that supported building the mining and refining industries capable of processing these materials. The leaders saw the future and acted.

If other countries like America do not support mining and refining these minerals soon, the supply may vanish since China is developing energy efficient industries and products that will stay in China.

One example is China’s wind production efforts to generate energy that could consume all the available neodymium production and leave nothing for the rest of the world’s booming wind industry.

Discover Greenpeace in China

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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too.

To subscribe to iLook China, look for the “Subscribe” button at the top of the screen in the menu bar, click on it then follow directions.

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Wheezing for Profits

February 20, 2010

Thomas L. Friedman wrote in an OP-ED column for the New York Times, “China, of course, understands that (about Global warming), which is why it is investing heavily in clean-tech, efficiency and high-speed rail. It sees the future trends and is betting on them. Indeed, I suspect China is quietly laughing at us right now.”

It is obvious from Friedman’s OP-Ed piece that there is a benefit when Chinese engineers run the country instead of lawyers, accountants, corporate CEO’s with next quarter’s profits in mind, lobbyists, professional politicians and people like Rush Limbaugh, who confuses his ditto heads with bogus opinions.

If China’s engineers and scientists are laughing, it is because of the American fools that preach that carbon emissions are not the cause of global warming as if they are fighting a crusade against the infidel while ignoring all the other reasons why oil and coal are bad.

coal burning power plant - how would you like to breath this?

Let’s examine some other reasons why carbon emissions are not good and why humans should wean themselves from this dirty source of energy as quickly as possible.

1. Living near a freeway is not healthy
2. Carbon emissions and asthma
3. Dirty power from coal
4. Ocean acidification
5. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

Rediscovering China

February 15, 2010

China has turned into a tourist destination—for the Chinese.

Before Nixon visited China, the country was surrounded by an invisible bamboo curtain. It’s citizens were not allowed to travel far—even from their homes. In September and October 2008, there were so many Chinese tourists, that we were the minority.

Sedan Chairs Waiting to Climb the Dragon's Back

The Dragon’s Back is in Southeast China near Vietnam. After our bus climbed a narrow, winding mountain road, we reached a parking lot. For a few yuan, we gained entry and men with iron legs were willing to carry us to the top in sedan chairs. We walked.

The construction of the Longi Rice Terraces started during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368). Today, many Zhuan and Yao ethnic people live simple lives that honor the laws of nature. China’s central government encourages that life.

A hundred feet further, vendor’s stalls lined both sides of the road. It was China’s market economy in action reminding me of Disneyland and the shops that sold trinkets no one needs.

Halfway to the top, we reached a village built on stilts clinging to the mountain. The steep slopes were terraced to grow rice. Since it was mid afternoon, we stopped to eat local rice cooked in sections of bamboo on a hot bed of coals.

Cleaning Home Grown Rice Safe from the Sun

Mao’s Cultural Revolution ended decades in the past, and China is moving on while time seems to stand still on the Dragon’s Back.

See About iLook China

Lloyd Lofthouse is the author of the award winning novels My Splendid Concubine and Our Hart.

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Posted by Lloyd Lofthouse

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