Child safety seats in China

Save Kids Lives Project (SKL).

As reported earlier on Child safety seats, see: https://www.beijing1980.com/2016/11/21/district-sr-frank-yih-rotary-beijing/
As few people know. the leading cause of death in China for children under 14 are traffic accidents, another major cause being drowning.
Ever seen kids sitting in the front seat, or back seat, without protection? Adults in the back seat without a safety belt? Those are major causes of death. Chinese totally ignore the terrible risks. In European countries those attitudes are punishable by law. In case of any accidents the kids simply fly through the front window, normally with instant death.
Our Rotarian James, through his company Ming Jian has been lobbying the authorities on this, with success, at least in Shanghai.
See also (in Chinese):
http://www.mingjian.cn/savekidslives/events

Child safety seats to be made mandatory

See article in Shanghai Daily:
Child safety seats to be made mandatory
By Yang Jian – 10 November 2016
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/metro/society/Child-safety-seats-to-be-made-mandatory/shdaily.shtml

Child safety seats will become mandatory for private cars carrying children under the age of 4, under the city’s draft road and traffic management law released by the Shanghai legislature yesterday.
Using a mobile phone while driving would also be banned, bringing the city into line with many jurisdictions overseas.
The two new clauses would join a raft of offenses that include speeding, incorrect lane changing, not wearing a seatbelt and overloading.
Violators will be fined up to 200 yuan (US$30) and be hit with demerit points.
Drivers who rack up 10 offenses or more will face tougher punishment, under the draft bill’s provisions.

Racist tirade against Chinese

Bad German guy

Even China Daily took up the story that circulated wildly on the Chinese Internet, about the Racist tirade against Chinese by a German guy. He did wrong but did anybody care to look for the reasons of his outburst? Maybe he was daily being faced with (unpleasant) parking problems? Was there a special reason he snapped? Who knows. And yes, I know some foreigners who really act as axxholes here and shame us. But that is not the point.

My view

Sorry but I have my personal view on all this, shared by several old timers in Beijing.

Street assaults and robberies are now more common, but also anti-foreign attitudes. Worse, if a foreigner is assaulted and beaten in a robbery, he is likely to be accused of “assault”. So, I guess you give all your money and stuff, let yourself be beaten up, to avoid even worse. For those naïve, I have some (bloody) pictures of such assaults (that I did not want to post here…). As for the “racist” stuff, see below.

The story

“Senior Daimler executive removed from post after racist tirade against Chinese people in Beijing parking row”
German expat Rainer Gaertner also allegedly pulled out pepper spray to disperse onlookers during quarrel over parking space
Dated 22 November 2016
Link: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2048191/german-executive-sacked-over-racist-tirade-china

My comment as posted on SCMP:

I have a different take on this story. Yes, the guy used improper language and attitude. Agreed. On the other hand we see in Beijing mounting anti-foreigner sentiment (without any immediate reason), racist insults and even physical aggression. If a foreigner defends himself physically he faces prison. Racist and xenophobic attacks seem to be “OK”. Will those (Chinese) attackers face any punishment? Like losing their job? It is a one-way “justice”. China has changed for the worst, in the past Chinese were overall very polite. Now some have become arrogant and blame foreigners for whatever, ranting and assaulting them. You won’t read this in the media because this is CENSORED. So, we have no rights? Contrary to what wumaos say, as foreigners we have no “favorable treatment”, on the contrary right now. Not to be surprised foreigners are leaving, so China is one of the countries with the lowest amount of foreigners IN THE WORLD. I have many local friends but they are the first to tell me “Be careful. Many bad people. Don’t try to argue”.

 

Dementia Awareness Silent Film

The Missing Ring

Our Rotaractors had made a Dementia Awareness Silent Film, “The Missing Ring”.
See here the explanation by Zhiyu Sebastian Yin, one of our Rotaractors who made it:
“I wrote and story and directed the film, and roles were played by many other famous young Oscar winners and Tony nominees. So sit back, enjoy this almost 17 minutes long film with your loved ones.”
Title:” Dementia Awareness Silent Film The Missing Ring”
You can watch it on YouTube here (you need a VPN in China): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6OeI4dK3bM

I think the movie is just great.

Now watch it here

It took me some time to figure out how to reduce the size of the movie and post it here.
So, finally:

The background

On Sunday 22 November, Rotaract volunteers braved the snow to visit the Skilled Nursing Home (Long Zhen Senior Care)  for retired seniors, in Laiguangying. See:

November 2015: a busy month for Rotaract Beijing

For the pictures:
Rotaractors putting a smile on seniors

Rotaractors putting a smile on seniors

Rotaract program for senior homes, see:

Rotaract Club Beijing, nursing homes and Lyrics Cafe

Surprise party at Beer Mania, the movie

Surprise party at Beer Mania for Diane

Surprise party at Beer Mania for Diane: See the earlier post: https://www.beijing1980.com/2016/09/15/surprise-party-at-beer-mania-for-diane/

The movie

Rotaractors made a small clip about the event. I am finally happy to upload it here. I avoided Youtube as there might be an annoying “IPR” issue with the background music…

Back to two of my favorite hang-outs in Beijing

My favored hang-outs

Yes I know, I actually have a number of “my favorite hang-outs” in Beijing. They are different in their own way.
Here only a few of them.
One is is Beer Mania, in Sanlitun Nan Lu. Great for beer and some snacks, and mostly a lively place with a series of bands playing. Or a disk jockey. Always great to chat with our Thierry (and I put money so he won’t cut his beard). Happy to see Alexandre has now joined the crew.
See previous post (among others):

Music and more at Beer Mania

Another place I go, especially for their gorgeous burger is Great Leap Brewery (close to Holiday Inn Express Hotel in Chunxiu Lu,). Mostly very packed, noisy but one of the best burgers in Beijing.

See:

Rotaract social evening at Great Leap Brewing

 

Am I too sensitive?

It happens to me from time to time. You start chatting with someone, lively conversation, the other person has no business card. I give my card.
Then never comes the promised email. That evening in Great Leap I had a long discussion with a guy, I think from Venezuela. He hoped sooo much to keep in touch, he said repeatedly. Never heard back.
And there are others. Maybe I am just to “educated”, that is, when I promise to send the mail I really do. Otherwise I take the card, say nothing and then end of story.
Oh well. Maybe they lost the card, or got run over by a truck or are in prison.