pollution and poverty
Because I can, my latest journal post:
Wednesday 2 November 2011
One thing I've avoided writing about here is the obvious disparity in wealth visible as you walk about. Some of that was a self-censorship I regret (I redacted one paragraph early on [1]), and some was simply an admission of ignorance. Not knowing the country or the language, and knowing very little about economics, I don't feel I can make authoritative statments.
[1 - Everything I wrote about in that redacted paragraph is included in what follows.]
And yet. There are many homeless - sleeping on benches or behind barriers, where there is shelter. There are people begging on the streets - often outside hospitals - I've been stopped once. Some of the street selling - not from defined pitches but from cloths spread on the pavement, or from mobile carts in the case of food - appears to be carried out by minority Chinese ethnic groups. This admittedly is going by features and dress, not the most reliable method. These apparent minority groups also seem to be well represented in recycling and other 'dirty' trades - usually working in fairly cramped, filthy and unsafe conditions. There are streets, generally where where manual trades happen, that appear little better than slums.
Near the city centre meanwhile super-rich citizens with huge cars live in vast new blocks. Huge towers drip with gaudy lights. Everywhere people are exorted to consume: electrical goods, fashion, all the useless tat of any capitalist society.
And these disparities of wealth are often side by side. Especially where redevelopment is happening. Where buildings have been torn down strident posters will declare 'A More Civilized City' along with pictures of exciting contemporary buildings, while people pick over rubble for anything recyclable in the shadow of the latest anonymous cream tower.
I actually saw a homeless man sleeping under a sign proclaiming 'A More Civilized City'. It seemed too obvious, and perhaps a little too callous, to photograph. I should have taken the picture.
Another obvious visible disparity is the sight of amputees and other disabled beggars in the shiny new retail districts. The super-wealth and the worst poverty are extremes - but disparities are evident everywhere.
Also everywhere are uniforms. Frequently security guards in banks or places like car dealerships. But also police, military dress uniforms on some party and other buildings, and others less easy to identify.
Despite the uniforms this feels and looks to the outsider like a capitalist society, not communist. It smells too - this is an unfettered, polluting capitalism where wealth-creation is valued high above welfare or human dignity.
Wednesday 2 November 2011
One thing I've avoided writing about here is the obvious disparity in wealth visible as you walk about. Some of that was a self-censorship I regret (I redacted one paragraph early on [1]), and some was simply an admission of ignorance. Not knowing the country or the language, and knowing very little about economics, I don't feel I can make authoritative statments.
[1 - Everything I wrote about in that redacted paragraph is included in what follows.]
And yet. There are many homeless - sleeping on benches or behind barriers, where there is shelter. There are people begging on the streets - often outside hospitals - I've been stopped once. Some of the street selling - not from defined pitches but from cloths spread on the pavement, or from mobile carts in the case of food - appears to be carried out by minority Chinese ethnic groups. This admittedly is going by features and dress, not the most reliable method. These apparent minority groups also seem to be well represented in recycling and other 'dirty' trades - usually working in fairly cramped, filthy and unsafe conditions. There are streets, generally where where manual trades happen, that appear little better than slums.
Near the city centre meanwhile super-rich citizens with huge cars live in vast new blocks. Huge towers drip with gaudy lights. Everywhere people are exorted to consume: electrical goods, fashion, all the useless tat of any capitalist society.
And these disparities of wealth are often side by side. Especially where redevelopment is happening. Where buildings have been torn down strident posters will declare 'A More Civilized City' along with pictures of exciting contemporary buildings, while people pick over rubble for anything recyclable in the shadow of the latest anonymous cream tower.
I actually saw a homeless man sleeping under a sign proclaiming 'A More Civilized City'. It seemed too obvious, and perhaps a little too callous, to photograph. I should have taken the picture.
Another obvious visible disparity is the sight of amputees and other disabled beggars in the shiny new retail districts. The super-wealth and the worst poverty are extremes - but disparities are evident everywhere.
Also everywhere are uniforms. Frequently security guards in banks or places like car dealerships. But also police, military dress uniforms on some party and other buildings, and others less easy to identify.
Despite the uniforms this feels and looks to the outsider like a capitalist society, not communist. It smells too - this is an unfettered, polluting capitalism where wealth-creation is valued high above welfare or human dignity.
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