Dear Honest Men and Bonnie Lassies,
This week, I had to power through and get the beast that is China wrapped up. It probably deserved at least another episode and to keep the content around 10mins in length, but if the mini-series is going complete before Christmas (and I get home to friends and family for the first time in about a decade), then this was the only alternative.
So, please forgive the length and thanks in advance for your time in this longer than usual (18m 26s) VL Mini-series Episode 09.3 where we put forth,
A lot of chat based on China (history, geo-politcs, political systems, technology and commerce);
A declaration (shortly after 5m 32s) that, “I am not pro-LGBTQ+” 😉🌈; as a sports fan, give FIFA a wee toaty mention; and I am sure at least one person ☝️😉 really enjoyed the horrendous rendition of one of this week’s songs1 (@7m 45s 😅); and
(@11m 24s) Discuss the necessity of becoming the lords of our commerce (and @16m 47s, watch yer lugz, as there is another tune).
Please enjoy!
As with other mini-episodes, we cannot cover subjects in detail and if you are interested in the topics, please see some references herein. I welcome any feedback or if anyone wants to send further information to me.
Additional commentary on this mini-episode
As mentioned at @47s in the video here are a few supplementary statistics on the US, China and Russia to (keep the video content length down - just for you 😉 and) support our narritive:
Russia is approximately 10 times less populous than China and their GDP (, that wonderful metric 😕), in 2019 was around 8-10 times less too. (European Parliament)
Of China’s total trade, only 2% is with Russia, but 18% of Russia’s total trade goes China’s way. (Council on Foreign Relations)
China has the second-largest economy behind the US and some experts say it will surpass by 2030 (Voice of America) meaning more international influence and leverage.
In terms of global trade, China accounts for around 15% of imports (only the US import more); and are leaders in exports totalling nearly 20%. (Euro Stat)
China are currently the largest polluters - almost double the output than the US in second, but note that they have still omitted 5.5 times less cumilatively than the UK (Euro News). This short video is interesting on Who Is Responsible For Climate Change? and Who Needs To Fix It? (Kurgesagt on YouTube (10m Video))
In 2021 China consumed the most energy by nearly 60% more than the US in second, and about 78% more than India in third. (Statista)
Some additional brief points of note alluded to, but not covered in the mini-episode:
US political issues have been on the periphery of this mini-series, as thankfully that is where sociopath Don is right now – he is still lurking dangerously, but US democracy is looking more resilient as President Biden visits the G20 Bali summit in position of strength because of the US midterm results.
With Biden’s demeanor post, and in comparison to Don, and the situation arising enabling a strong supportive stance towards the war in Ukraine, I posted on Twitter a few months ago that I thought he was the best US president I’ve seen in my lifetime.
Although he is a career politician and even with the negative press surrounding him, it highlights where I consider the bar is set. This may be debatable until the cows can fly, but it is not just US politics I think are analogous to a Life-Swallower pantomime. A pantomime, although scripted, is not a word I’d use to describe the CPC – I cannot imagine it would be much fun if they were “behind you”.
Supplementary to the mini-series chat @8m 55s, I hope the CPC fall short in expansionist ambitions in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific Region which they have identified as a “core interest” (Business Insider).
The extremely aggressive posturing and rhetoric over Taiwan recently is worrisome. This is another extremely complex situation with many different perspectives that should be respected and understood before passing judgement.
The CPC spat the dummy and stopped high-level dialogue with the US because of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island in August. This is not just immature, it is analogous to another nuclear armed baleful bairn…erm… spitting the dummy. Regardless, diplomatic resolutions, or large scale changes in consciousness 🥰, would be considered acceptable.
The fantastic Yale lecture series by Timothy Snyder on the making of modern Ukraine (YouTube) we mentioned in this mini-episode, is also referenced in this article (The Guardian)) where he is quoted as saying,
Russia losing this war makes it much less likely that China will try something adventurous in Taiwan.
🤞🤞🤞
If you are interested in current affairs relating to China, Drum Tower (by The Economist) is a podcast series that was released recently and I enjoyed their first 3 episodes (on my commute on Tues, 29th November)).
Here are other mini-episode citations and references2.
Other related / (I thought) interesting information
An article offering an alternative viewpoint to consider in the messaging for the war in Ukraine. (The Atlantic article)
The Chinese “own” all the giant pandas in the world except for two that are owned by Mexico. The Eurasian brown bear is trapped in an awful circus and the panda is seemingly neglecting a Master Oogway teaching,
The more you take, the less you have.
I was going to poke some fun at the Chinese national anthem, but that would akin to launching stones in glass houses and the courageous people protesting in China right now (The Guardian) despite the risks, are singing it.
The first line of the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers, is
Qilai! Buyuan zuo nuli de renmen. Stand-up! With those who refuse to be slaves.
Protesters in China are reportedly being tracked down and censorship has gone into overdrive (BBC).
The constraining systems in place can weigh one down if given too much thought, but the weight can be lifted by recognizing thoughts as manifestations arising in consciousness and letting them go (it is sometimes blinkin’ tough though).
I started to feel overwhelmed today (Thurs, 01-Dec) with the amount on my desk. I went our a run in the cold to the closest accumulation of trees in my town and was uplifted by the stories listening to this Tara Brach podcast (she even mentions value life (not really) around 31mins).
Activism can be an antidote to despair, but some attribute (perhaps incorrectly) the following to the Buddha,
With our thoughts we make the world.
I choose to think of a hooley with my loved ones, lakeside, in a mountain top forest, around camp-fires under the stars, on the coast, in a meadow with butterflys, flowers and nature in all it’s ineffable glory. Then I let it go, breathe and smile, and continue on the intriguing paradoxical journey desiring a better world and contentment for all.
By attributing the blackbird “as a symbol in the honour of those waiting for the moment to be free” last week, I may have misspoke slightly and would like to revise. One can always be free in one’s mind, but be restricted in the physical realm, and so I beleive this to be a wee symbol for “those wanting more freedoms”.
Photo by Derek Braithwaite on Unsplash.com
Our family dog died this week. Chrissi, our Christmas "dug", will be missed and if possible, even more so this Christmas. For anyone that has experienced this, it is sad times, but happier times ensue when I think of her doing her dance, chasing rabbits, wherever she may be.
Have a great weekend when it comes!
Much love and big hugs to all,
Ross
Here is how this weeks inspirational tunes are meant to sound:
Somewhere over the Rainbow - Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole
The Dubliners - Lord of the Dance
Russia a vasal state of China(?). (Politico)
Russian / China major challenges - distrust. (Council on Foreign Relations):
How did China Get Nukes? (YouTube (<3m))
CPC one-child policy prevented about 400 million births. (NBC News)
5 of the top 10 largest companies in the world are Chinese, including the top 3 spots. (Finance Online)
China manufactuing accounts for nearly 30% of goods globally with the US in second with 17%. (World Population Review)
Shipbuilding stats. (Biz Vibe)
China rules the global seas(?). (Forbes)
Tech powehouses: Israel (The New Statesman, UK Edition); and India (The Economic Times). Other sources / various experts on podcasts.
The US China agreeing on nuclear weapons and India distancing themselves from Russia at the G20 summit. (CNN)
China’s President Xi Xingping quote regarding the use of nuclear weapons at the G20. (The Guardian)
China increasing influence in international organizations. (Council on Foreign Relations)
Adults leading global superpowers have to be nudged to have dialogue (The Economist)
Stolen trade secrets, pirated software, and counterfeiting cost the United States between $225 billion and $600 billion per year. (Science.org)
This is how they tell me the World ends book on cyber-security vulnerabilities, by Nicole Perlroth.
US chip export controls (23m video by China Insights, YouTube)