China Vows Openness.

It seems as though Obama fervor has even reached the Far East. On Thursday, March 5th, 2009, the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao chatted with the country's 1.3 billion population in his first internet debut. He was sent nearly 150,000 questions and answered quite a few in efforts to give transparency to the Chinese government. Here is an excerpt from his opening message:

Wen Jiabao: “Dear Netizens, I am very glad to talk with you on the Internet
today, shortly before the beginning of the two national meetings. I have always
believed that the public has the right to know what its government is doing and
thinking about, and the right to criticize and make comments on government
policies. The government needs also to seek people’s feedback and ideas in order
to make sound policy decisions, and it should make administrative affairs public
and decision-making democratic. This is the first time I communicate with the
public through the Internet. Since it’s my first time, I am a little bit
nervous. But I have always remembered the words my mother often told me — No
matter whom you are talking to, be honest with them, and speak from your heart.
She was diagnosed with cerebral thrombosis a few days ago, and has almost lost
her eyesight. But I bear her words dearly in my heart. I think that this is a
chance for me to talk to you from the bottom of my heart. I will be honest with
you, tell you truthful information, and listen to your truthful voices.

For more of the story, go here to the Washington Post.

Comparison of Cultures: China and Japan

It's a peculiar thing to learn about China and Japan as I have over the last couple of semesters. To see two countries behave as though they are father and son, one learning from the other and attributing much their co-existence, they still find their own ways of retaining individuality. I've learned that Japan has always lived in the shadow of China but I never knew how the cultures of each country were so prevalent in everyday life. The Japanese can lend thanks to China for much of it's advancement in language, technological innovations (in the past), and general growth in societal life. The following link gives a brief, yet delicate, look in to how the two countries differ in the "ways" they conduct their businesses and tasks at hand.

"Japan is all about the way of doing things. Practice, ritual, perfectionism, as
much fanatical attention to the process as to the result. China is all about
finding a way to do things. Improvisation, little interest in rules, putting up
with whatever is necessary to attain the result."

Two crews perform the same task in each country and one can see for oneself how culture has shaped and left an impact on how the countries people work.

"The" way vs "a" way