@alien
This is where I must respectfully disagree - on the alleged academics of climate change. Universities are a business (assumption).
Faculty compete for grants and subsidies - funded by governments (political) and industry (commercial).
Assuming academia is a business AND they compete for grants, publications, and subsidies (in addition to consulting activities), then logically, academia is heavily influenced by both politics and by commercial exploitation - an extrapolative and qualitative deduction (or induction, depending on one's perspective).
Examples from commercial industry show the broad scale and state of industrial corruption and occasionally epic displays of social and governmental/political irresponsibility - nothing new there - across a broad spectrum of markets and market segments - so I believe that academia is highly biased and influenced by both politics and commercial interests and benefactors, in addition to philanthropists - which are more rare and more focused.
Politicians jump on social responsibility bandwagons for a variety of reasons - but mostly to attract free publicity as a good and socially responsible leader - fodder for their next election - however we also know that generally, politicians are rather multi-faced and split-tongued, spouting political rhetoric to fit the occasion, regardless of consistency, actual due diligence research, and the associated honor, integrity, morality issues.
As I believe, based on the above observational assumptions - that academia is tainted - then generally I believe that most science is potentially tainted (high energy particle physics aside).
So, while we may disagree on the integrity of the alleged academics on BOTH sides of the climate change issue - I believe we can both agree that the derived benefits of the issue are invaluable - a great concern and respect for our environmental management.
And - for the record - I'm surprised nobody dragged in the Three Gorges Dam for contributing to climate change - that was a sensational global issue decades ago.
Concrete manufacturing is also an alleged significant polluter, steel industry, coal industry - all of these are core development and employment industries in China and pillars of China's development - so I have absolutely no doubt the US will jump on any bandwagon in an attempt to "contain China". Obama's "pivot to asia" is blatant anti-China hegemony and his eight years in office is a continuation of that oppressive political agenda.
China's scale makes EVERYTHING it does a major impact in global economies, global environment, and global societies.
Instead of academically debating climate change - I would propose we focus on how we can economically limit the effects of man-made pollution through add-on industries - migration from fossil fuel-based vehicles to electrics (powered by renewable energies), responsible water management, responsible agricultural management (soil, water, and food chain pollution and poisoning), ocean management, air pollution management (cars, trucks and buses are the major sources of this pollution - so the migration to electrics will eventually mitigate this issue) and so on ad infinitum.
Finding solutions which profit oriented businesses can accept (usually with government prodding) without driving them into bankruptcy (thank you US EPA) is the holy grail of industry.
Yunnan is a major mining industry - how to add environmental management to those industries while acceptably impacting their profits is a great place to start (and would that require a new thread?).
Kunming's waste-water management is epically poor - mixing rain water run-off with raw sewage - and then piping that to the waste-water treatment plants - the burst in traffic results in raw or poorly processed sewage pouring into DianChi.
Cleaning up Kunming's canals in a sustainable manner as opposed to the occasional band-aids.
Migrating city buses to electrics (that will make BYD VERY happy).
Yunnan has extensive construction (real estate development, road and highway construction, etc) - so doing LEED-like ratings on these projects (great for government work) during construction and the follow-on operations would be a great academic study for government - especially since most Yunnan academia is poorly supported by industry (aka negligible grants, negligible subsidies, negligible consulting opportunities for faculty) - so outright bribery, coercion, and extortion issues aside - that would be a great pilot project for the environmentally interested.
Is anyone interested in a new and separate thread or forum on how the gokm community can participate in constructive debate of this apparently hot topic, leading to economically feasible and sustainable opportunities?
Perhaps we can eventually create our own consulting group and supplement our meager incomes while performing an arguably socially and environmentally invaluable service?
Many of the more senior (seniors and retirees) members of gokm have tremendous depth of professional experience, untapped by this community and society in which we're immersed.
We may all disagree on certain issues, but I believe all are interested in the various social and environmental issues that abound around us - especially if that generated consulting income (assuming we can find buyers).
Kunming's bike share options: A user guide
发布者I seem to see quite few people, including kids, using the various systems, so in that regard, assuming it's economically sustainable, I personally think it's a great idea, with tremendous social value.
As for the very valid issues raised above, the system will have some growing pains as the operators and the cities learn to coexist with this new emerging social and business model.
Interview: Kunming Keats School co-founder Liu Zier
发布者Great article and introduction to Keats. I noticed the article did NOT touch on employee loyalty and retention programs (at the cost of profit). Keats may wish to address this kind of core infrastructure in the future, at the appropriate time.
Popular night market locations closed, ban appears permanent
发布者Although the street markets were somewhat interesting - I'm actually glad they cleared them off the sidewalks and are also clearing the streets of illegally parked cars. The area around wenhua xiang looks and feels much more relaxed now.
Fall from grace complete, Qiu He sentenced to prison
发布者Very sad to hear about Qiu He. Accomplished so much for this city during his short tenure.
Yuxi begins experiment as one of China's 'Sponge Cities'
发布者Finally - the beginning of separation of sewage from rainwater. Now - if they could only monetize the system in some manner, so they won't need to raise taxes.