Well, I had a good story I was going to write about a meeting, but I will save that to post later this week. I am saving it because I feel I should say something about the tainted milk scandals that have been in the news throughout China. As you have probably have heard, there is a milk scandal brewing in China. If you haven't heard, look it up in the news.
I was rather surprised about how many people are talking about the milk here. Over the past week or two, I have had almost more conversations about milk than I have about rice. People want to talk about it. And they are not happy about it. I am surprised because last summer when I was here, the US and international newspapers were filled with stories of tainted dog food and toothpaste from China. But not many people here knew much about it. Of course, the problem had been primarily in exported foods and not necessarily domestic products.
A little over a year later, people are upset about the milk case. They know this is not the only case, but it is the case that is getting publicized and receiving attention. I have had people tell me that there is no future for 'green foods' (China's organic and ecological agricultural products) because the entire regulatory system is corrupt. Products are labeled one way, but they may not necessarily reach those standards. The best food to eat, I have been told, is in the countryside at the homes of farmers who grow their own food. It sounds similar to alternative food movements in the US these days. Unfortunately, China has a lot more barriers to hurdle regarding industrial food production.
What I see is a sad but fascinating story unfolding. Consumer activism is taking place in China. Mothers are demanding investigations and higher quality standards. When I was in China in 2005 researching environmental activism for my master's thesis, I heard the same stories told over and over again about the beginnings of the environmental movement in China. These were stories where the government first acknowledged there was a large-scale pollution problem and encouraged local governments to come together to fix the problem. Environmental NGOs flourished. But, unfortunately, fixing the environment takes time, as we saw with the polluted skies in Beijing last month that the government desperately wanted to hide.
With the milk case, I think strict food safety regulations are beginning to get stronger. The government is publicizing this case, firing regulators responsible for the tainting, and discussing the problem of food safety openly. In years from now, this case will be talked about as a major starting point for strict control of food safety. But, if the environmental movement is any indication, people will get involved and incentives will be offered to companies, but it will continue to be a slow process to rid the industry of all corruption. Let's hope that lessons can be learned more quickly.
In the meantime, I am avoiding milk.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Environmental Determinism
One of the first things most geography grad students learn is that the theory of environmental determinism had been thrown out years ago. Jared Diamond, author of Collapse and Guns, Germs, and Steel, brought this theory back, earning him popularity as a geographical author, but not within the field of geography. At least in my department, Jared Diamond is a bad word. Just for background information, environmental determinism is the theory that environmental, climatic, and geographical conditions affect people's behaviors and determine their culture. Environmental determinism leaves out social, political, and economic conditions that affect societies. While many geographers look at the relationship between people and the environment, that relationship is reiterative, not deterministic.
One of the questions I ask people about northeast rice production is the relationship between growing rice and the environment. Most of the responses I get are why the physical features of the environment and the climate in the northeast are advantageous for producing good rice. There is good soil here, the weather is cool at night and warm during the day, there is a lot of sunlight during the day in the growing season. Yes, these are all very true responses. Japonica rice responds well to these conditions. When I ask about the effects of rice production on the environment, the responses are that it uses a lot of land and water. True, water especially is a problem in the northeast.
Yet, what is missing from these responses is the role that social and economic conditions play in this relationship. For instance, much of the technology that Chinese use to grow quality rice here has come from the Japanese. While the climate and environment here are advantageous, scientists have spent years breeding seeds that work best in these conditions. Chinese government policies have established standards that farms must reach to ensure that the rice has been produced to meet the conditions which produce quality. There is a lot of man-made actions that go into producing high quality rice. The historical connections this area of China has with Japan have been advantageous for scientific collaboration and the establishment of Japanese joint-venture rice businesses.
I know that rice production is not the same as culture, so the equivalence between environmental determinism is not quite the same. However, there is a lot of similarities here. The Chinese are not exactly best friends with the Japanese. Twenty years ago, they welcomed their scientific expertise and economic aid. I am not suggesting that they are purposefully leaving the Japanese out of this story, but that this side of the story where quality rice grows in the natural conditions of the northeast is not complete. To say that the reason northeast rice is quality is a result of natural environmental and climatic factors leaves out the complex role that international politics and economy have played in making this quality rice. This also leaves out the role of marketing this rice plays in convincing consumers that it is quality (that story will come later).
One of the questions I ask people about northeast rice production is the relationship between growing rice and the environment. Most of the responses I get are why the physical features of the environment and the climate in the northeast are advantageous for producing good rice. There is good soil here, the weather is cool at night and warm during the day, there is a lot of sunlight during the day in the growing season. Yes, these are all very true responses. Japonica rice responds well to these conditions. When I ask about the effects of rice production on the environment, the responses are that it uses a lot of land and water. True, water especially is a problem in the northeast.
Yet, what is missing from these responses is the role that social and economic conditions play in this relationship. For instance, much of the technology that Chinese use to grow quality rice here has come from the Japanese. While the climate and environment here are advantageous, scientists have spent years breeding seeds that work best in these conditions. Chinese government policies have established standards that farms must reach to ensure that the rice has been produced to meet the conditions which produce quality. There is a lot of man-made actions that go into producing high quality rice. The historical connections this area of China has with Japan have been advantageous for scientific collaboration and the establishment of Japanese joint-venture rice businesses.
I know that rice production is not the same as culture, so the equivalence between environmental determinism is not quite the same. However, there is a lot of similarities here. The Chinese are not exactly best friends with the Japanese. Twenty years ago, they welcomed their scientific expertise and economic aid. I am not suggesting that they are purposefully leaving the Japanese out of this story, but that this side of the story where quality rice grows in the natural conditions of the northeast is not complete. To say that the reason northeast rice is quality is a result of natural environmental and climatic factors leaves out the complex role that international politics and economy have played in making this quality rice. This also leaves out the role of marketing this rice plays in convincing consumers that it is quality (that story will come later).
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
Today is a holiday in China. Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, we are midway through autumn! The appropriate way to celebrate mid-autumn festival is by eating mooncakes while looking at the moon. Mooncakes are little round pastries, filled with dried fruit or some other kind of sweet filling. They are really heavy and not necessarily my favorite snack, but recently some friends gave me one that was not very heavy or sweet and it tasted pretty good.
I find it hard to believe we are mid-way through autumn already. I continue to wear sandals and a T-shirt everyday. However, over the past week, I have had three different people tell me that it is too late to wear sandals because its fall now and I will get sick if I wear sandals without socks. The wardrobes of people here have changed within a week. Even though the days are still sunny and warm, everyone wears a jacket or sweatshirt. The Chinese tend to consider the season, not necessarily the weather itself as an indicator of what to wear. I, however, am determined to continue to wear sandals and T-shirts as long as they are comfortable. I guess I can't adapt too well to these customs.
On the weekends, I like to go shopping (which sounds funny because really I hate shopping). But part of my research is to consider the rise of supermarkets and consumerism in China. So I try to visit different supermarkets throughout the city. Supermarkets in China, as they have grown substantially over the past decade, generally refer to large stores where one can buy just about any household item. Like a Super Wal-Mart in the US, they include food and clothes and everything in between, usually separated by 2-3 different floors. As I strolled through supermarkets in town yesterday, I was greeted with winter jackets and long underwear. The long underwear here is thick and bulky, meant to protect against the cold Siberian winds that winter in Harbin faces.
I have been warned by more than enough people that winters in Harbin are long, dark, and cold. The only goal when one goes outside is to get as fast as they can to the next building. Ah! I am just trying to get used to the idea that it is fall here, I can't even think about winter in Harbin. Its only September, but happy mid-autumn festival!
I find it hard to believe we are mid-way through autumn already. I continue to wear sandals and a T-shirt everyday. However, over the past week, I have had three different people tell me that it is too late to wear sandals because its fall now and I will get sick if I wear sandals without socks. The wardrobes of people here have changed within a week. Even though the days are still sunny and warm, everyone wears a jacket or sweatshirt. The Chinese tend to consider the season, not necessarily the weather itself as an indicator of what to wear. I, however, am determined to continue to wear sandals and T-shirts as long as they are comfortable. I guess I can't adapt too well to these customs.
On the weekends, I like to go shopping (which sounds funny because really I hate shopping). But part of my research is to consider the rise of supermarkets and consumerism in China. So I try to visit different supermarkets throughout the city. Supermarkets in China, as they have grown substantially over the past decade, generally refer to large stores where one can buy just about any household item. Like a Super Wal-Mart in the US, they include food and clothes and everything in between, usually separated by 2-3 different floors. As I strolled through supermarkets in town yesterday, I was greeted with winter jackets and long underwear. The long underwear here is thick and bulky, meant to protect against the cold Siberian winds that winter in Harbin faces.
I have been warned by more than enough people that winters in Harbin are long, dark, and cold. The only goal when one goes outside is to get as fast as they can to the next building. Ah! I am just trying to get used to the idea that it is fall here, I can't even think about winter in Harbin. Its only September, but happy mid-autumn festival!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Irrational Fears
I hope something that most people share is an irrational fear. There are things that terrify me and I’m not exactly sure why; there is nothing rational about why I am so scared of it, but I am. In China I face two of my biggest fears on a regular basis. I hope I am learning not to be scared.
My first irrational fear: Rats. China has big, gross rats. It is not uncommon to see dead ones in the middle of the sidewalk. Even when it is dead, I walk as far away from it as I can get. When I was looking at apartments in Harbin, I wanted to get one that was at least on the sixth floor and was clean inside so it would not attract rats or mice. I had some of these in my first floor apartment in Sichuan and I refused to go inside until I knew the problem was taken care of. I’ve never had one hurt me, but nonetheless I am scared of it.
So the other day, my good friend Melissa and I went for a run. Like me, Melissa is a Geography PhD candidate (but not at Colorado). We got to know each other in Beijing last year and by shear luck, we both ended up in Harbin this fall. So after our run, we were walking through a park on our way home when a big rat ran across our path, just inches from our feet. Together, the two of us screamed, loudly and in unison. Actually it was more like a bloodcurdling screech. I’m surprised no one ran up to us to make sure we were OK. Instead, two guys behind us laughed, no doubt having seen the entire event. At least we gave them a show and I know I have a friend with whom I can share my irrational fear of rats.
My second irrational fear: the telephone. This is really embarrassing, but I hate to make telephone calls. I do not mind receiving calls and I do not mind making calls if someone is expecting me to call or if its is a good friend. And if there is nothing I hate more than making phone calls to complete strangers, its making phone calls to complete strangers while speaking in Chinese.
After using my professor at Northeast Agricultural University for academic connections at the university for other rice professors, I’ve realized that I am on my own now to get connected to businesses and companies who process and distribute rice. I’ve spent the last few days surfing the internet, gathering the names of agricultural companies in Heilongjiang that supply rice. So now I have a list. I also have a speech planned, ready for when I actually make the calls. I’ve made plenty of phone calls in Chinese before and it always turns out fine. After one or two calls, I realize nothing bad is going to happen and it gets easier. But for now I am sitting with a list staring at me, waiting for me to call. I hope by posting this I am forcing myself to make the phone calls so you all can check up with me.
My first irrational fear: Rats. China has big, gross rats. It is not uncommon to see dead ones in the middle of the sidewalk. Even when it is dead, I walk as far away from it as I can get. When I was looking at apartments in Harbin, I wanted to get one that was at least on the sixth floor and was clean inside so it would not attract rats or mice. I had some of these in my first floor apartment in Sichuan and I refused to go inside until I knew the problem was taken care of. I’ve never had one hurt me, but nonetheless I am scared of it.
So the other day, my good friend Melissa and I went for a run. Like me, Melissa is a Geography PhD candidate (but not at Colorado). We got to know each other in Beijing last year and by shear luck, we both ended up in Harbin this fall. So after our run, we were walking through a park on our way home when a big rat ran across our path, just inches from our feet. Together, the two of us screamed, loudly and in unison. Actually it was more like a bloodcurdling screech. I’m surprised no one ran up to us to make sure we were OK. Instead, two guys behind us laughed, no doubt having seen the entire event. At least we gave them a show and I know I have a friend with whom I can share my irrational fear of rats.
My second irrational fear: the telephone. This is really embarrassing, but I hate to make telephone calls. I do not mind receiving calls and I do not mind making calls if someone is expecting me to call or if its is a good friend. And if there is nothing I hate more than making phone calls to complete strangers, its making phone calls to complete strangers while speaking in Chinese.
After using my professor at Northeast Agricultural University for academic connections at the university for other rice professors, I’ve realized that I am on my own now to get connected to businesses and companies who process and distribute rice. I’ve spent the last few days surfing the internet, gathering the names of agricultural companies in Heilongjiang that supply rice. So now I have a list. I also have a speech planned, ready for when I actually make the calls. I’ve made plenty of phone calls in Chinese before and it always turns out fine. After one or two calls, I realize nothing bad is going to happen and it gets easier. But for now I am sitting with a list staring at me, waiting for me to call. I hope by posting this I am forcing myself to make the phone calls so you all can check up with me.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The Northeast
Its been three months since I arrived in China in June. Except for 2 days in Beijing and 2 days in Inner Mongolia, I have been in Harbin (or at least Heilongjiang province) the entire time. I am learning so much about the northeast of China by being here and its much more than I thought there was to learn. The northeast is called the dongbei in Chinese (which actually translates directly as east north) and is a very distinct region of China. People here are dongbei more than they are Harbin. Its not just as though they live in Harbin, its that they associate where they live with the entire northeast of China.
Previously I lived in the southwest of China, but I called it Sichuan. There is a strong regional identity with Sichuan people. Although Guizhou and Yuannan are also provinces associated with the southwest, there are distinct provincial identities associated with each of the provinces. Throughout all of China, the northeast is Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces. There is no questioning that other provinces may or may not be a part of the northeast. Compare this to the US where the northeast is New England to some people, and to others, it extends down to Washington D.C. It is slightly more ambiguous in the US.
The northeast certainly has an interesting history within China and Harbin itself, as an international city with Russian traders and a refuge for Jews, has been at the center of most of this history. I just ordered a book on this history and will get it soon (via a friend of a friend who is coming to China next week). I am more interested in what has happened since the 1930s when Japan claimed control over the northeast as Manchuria. My interest comes in the form of rice that is grown here that has connections with Korea and Japan, but more on that later. For now, I am trying to understand the collective identity that northeastern people have with one another. The identity here is used both from within China (as a northeast person) as well as external to China to claim a collective identity with surrounding countries. And because I study food, of course I am interested in the ways that food marks one's identity.
A few weeks ago, I was walking down a street in Harbin and saw a store named Northeast Consumer Goods. I was in a rush to get somewhere, so I only had time to glance in the store and see it was a store selling food products from the northeast. I took note of the location, thinking they had to have rice there. Northeast rice is very famous, after all. So prepared with my camera and a speech to give the manager about who I was and what I was doing, I went back and walked into the store this week. I was greeted with packages of fancy berries, honey, and mushrooms. They even had alcohol in this store, but as hard as I looked (its a small store) there was no rice! So I asked the saleslady who had followed me around since I came in where the rice was. She said they don't have rice. I had built up too much hope in this store holding answers to why and how dongbei rice is marketed that I was dismayed.
But it was interesting to talk to her about why they don't have rice. Rice is not a specialty product, rice is a necessity, she told me. This store caters to middle class consumers who want to give friends and relatives outside of the region gifts from the northeast. Rice is not considered a gift apparently because it is a staple crop, even if it is labeled high quality from the northeast. I should have thought of that. But now I know. And I also know the more special gifts from the northeast if I ever need to give a gift to someone outside of the northeast.
Previously I lived in the southwest of China, but I called it Sichuan. There is a strong regional identity with Sichuan people. Although Guizhou and Yuannan are also provinces associated with the southwest, there are distinct provincial identities associated with each of the provinces. Throughout all of China, the northeast is Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces. There is no questioning that other provinces may or may not be a part of the northeast. Compare this to the US where the northeast is New England to some people, and to others, it extends down to Washington D.C. It is slightly more ambiguous in the US.
The northeast certainly has an interesting history within China and Harbin itself, as an international city with Russian traders and a refuge for Jews, has been at the center of most of this history. I just ordered a book on this history and will get it soon (via a friend of a friend who is coming to China next week). I am more interested in what has happened since the 1930s when Japan claimed control over the northeast as Manchuria. My interest comes in the form of rice that is grown here that has connections with Korea and Japan, but more on that later. For now, I am trying to understand the collective identity that northeastern people have with one another. The identity here is used both from within China (as a northeast person) as well as external to China to claim a collective identity with surrounding countries. And because I study food, of course I am interested in the ways that food marks one's identity.
A few weeks ago, I was walking down a street in Harbin and saw a store named Northeast Consumer Goods. I was in a rush to get somewhere, so I only had time to glance in the store and see it was a store selling food products from the northeast. I took note of the location, thinking they had to have rice there. Northeast rice is very famous, after all. So prepared with my camera and a speech to give the manager about who I was and what I was doing, I went back and walked into the store this week. I was greeted with packages of fancy berries, honey, and mushrooms. They even had alcohol in this store, but as hard as I looked (its a small store) there was no rice! So I asked the saleslady who had followed me around since I came in where the rice was. She said they don't have rice. I had built up too much hope in this store holding answers to why and how dongbei rice is marketed that I was dismayed.
But it was interesting to talk to her about why they don't have rice. Rice is not a specialty product, rice is a necessity, she told me. This store caters to middle class consumers who want to give friends and relatives outside of the region gifts from the northeast. Rice is not considered a gift apparently because it is a staple crop, even if it is labeled high quality from the northeast. I should have thought of that. But now I know. And I also know the more special gifts from the northeast if I ever need to give a gift to someone outside of the northeast.
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