Making Towns Green

Making Towns Green

China Environment News August 5

The Central Government has recently unveiled a plan to build 1,000 specialized towns—towns with characteristic industries—across China by 2020. The plan also calls for great efforts to protect the environment. The proper discharge of domestic sewage and disposal of garbage should be put at the top of the agenda.

There are more than 20,000 towns in China, many of which are equipped with backward infrastructure and poor public services. In half of these towns, garbage is not disposed of properly, and 78 percent of the towns fail to treat their sewage. One explanation of the problem is responsibilities for the environmental protection of towns have yet to be clearly defined. In addition, funds allocated to local governments for the tasks are insufficient.

In this context, an environmental assessment and monitoring mechanism should be set up, and regulations should be amended to clearly assign environmental protection tasks to related departments.

Both central and local governments should offer more subsidies to towns. Special funds should be earmarked for the disposal of domestic sewage and garbage in towns and villages. Moreover, local governments should adopt the latest technology from hitech companies to improve the efficiency of sewage and garbage treatment.

üLAWYER SENTENCED FOR STATE SUBVERSION

Zhou Shifeng, a lawyer and former head of the Fengrui Law Firm, was convicted of subverting state power and sentenced to seven years in prison on August 4.

He used the Beijing-based law firm as a front for his subversive agenda, according to a court statement. Zhou recruited like-minded lawyers and other staff, and together they discredited judicial organs and promoted anti-government sentiment by interfering in and exaggerating sensitive cases. The law firm was suspended in 2015 following a police investigation into several of its employees.

Along with members of an illegal religious organization, paid protestors, lawyers and others, he plotted and established “strategies, methods and steps” to subvert state power, the statement said.

Zhou, 52, pled guilty and told the court he would not appeal. Other suspects involved were also tried and sentenced.

“Our animal care team will continue to offer them exemplary care to ensure they enjoy the highest quality of life in their sunset years.”

Suzanne Gendron, an executive at the Hong Kong Ocean Park, speaking about Jia Jia and An An, the world’s oldest giant panda and second oldest male panda in captivity, at a birthday celebration on August 8. They are turning 38 and 30 this year, roughly equivalent to 114 and 90 in human terms

“Baijiu actually changes with what else you mix it with, and each brings out different nuances.”

Sam Cornthwaite, a co-founder of Beijing-based GoodWorks coffee and tea shop, who invented Moutai Iced Mocha, shedding light on the creation of new drinks by blending Chinese liquor with coffee, beer or chocolate at a tasting event on August 9

The Belt and Road Initiative Gains Momentum

Outlook Weekly August 8

It has been three years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping. More than 70 countries, as well as international and regional organizations, have shown interest in participating in the program. To date, 34 have inked deals with China, forming a widespread international cooperation network. During the past three years, the Belt and Road Initiative has gained popularity. An interconnected transportation network has taken shape, while people-to-people exchanges have improved.

A number of new economic corridors, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, are emerging. Moreover, by the end of June, international cargo trains had made 1,881 trips between China and Europe, linking 10 Chinese cities with seven countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt.

In 2015, the trade volume between China and other countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative amounted to $1 trillion. By the end of June, 46 cooperation zones had beenestablished by China in 17 countries involved in the initiative. Chinese enterprises had invested more than $14 billion in these zones, creating 60,000 jobs for locals.

As Wang Yi, China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, put it in his speech at the 17th Lanting Forum on August 6, although the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed by China, the opportunities it brings are shared by the world.