China is one of the largest countries in the world. Throughout centuries, the country has been rich with cultural diversity and biodiversity. Biodiversity is a term used to evaluate the variety of plants and animals in an area. Cultural diversity is built and developed off of an area and the resources available. Because of this, biodiversity and cultural diversity are connected. Any threat to biodiversity is a threat to the cultural diversity in the area. I think it is important that the government takes responsibility for protecting both biodiversity and cultural diversity. All humans depend on the environment around them being healthy and thriving.
The cultures in China have been diverse throughout history, and China has been taking steps to protect cultural diversity in the country. Even through rapid economic growth, China has maintained cultural properties and historic sites with campaigns such as the Three Gorges Dam Project, the South-North Water Diversion Project, and the Project of Gas Transmission from the West to the East. This was all within the past decade, and lasted for 4.5 years. These projects have benefitted communities as well as economic benefits while preserving cultural diversity. China has shown to have taken an active role in promoting cultural diversity. While these specific programs were not explicitly protecting the biodiversity of China, they were still excellent examples of promoting diverse cultures and heritages. A possible counterargument to this would be that cultures are meant to be ever-changing in relation to the environment around them. Some people could say that we should let everything run its course and life will adjust to it naturally. However, I still would say that promoting a healthy environment is more important and critical for the entire planet. Rainforests produce much of the world's oxygen that everyone breathes. Letting the degradation of rainforest areas continue, for example, can be detrimental to everyone. http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications_resources/newsletters/31_1/practices_achievements.html
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I just completed a research report on the education in Taiwan. The United Nations launched a 5 year plan in 2012 to enhance education globally. The report examine show well Taiwan's education system has changed in those past few years and the current status as well. This is posted on my politics/economy page and I encourage any comments!
Interaction, integration, and influence are all parts of globalization. This is the process by which countries develop relationships and interdependence as well as trade involving products and ideas. China has one of the largest economies in the world, and trade plays an important role in that. In 2009, China produced and exported $300 billion worth of goods for the United States. This shows interdependence because without trade to the U.S., China would not take in that revenue. The United States government owes the most money to its tax payers, but in second places comes China. The debt is around $900 billion of Treasury securities. Because of this, the Chinese economy depends on the United States to pay back that large sum. China took the European Union's place as the largest trading partner for the Middle East and North Africa in 2013. Oil imports from MENA to China are similar as with the United States. Not only does China hold such an economically huge spot for this region, they also receive oil. Not only is China's economy dependent on other countries, other countries also depend heavily on China. While these are all examples of economic interdependencies, there are notable pros and cons to this powerful globalization. One positive to examine is that China's economy has been on a steady increase of roughly 9% every year for the past two decades. China holds the majority of middle class people, and in the past 30 years China has gotten $700 million people out of severe poverty. However, unemployment is something that has been worsening. In 1994, manufacturing jobs employed about 54 million people, while that number has dropped down to below 30 million. Another con is that due to poor planning, power shortages are too common. The power and energy is redirected often to industries for production from residential areas leaving citizens without power. I think China is a good example to look at globalization in general because of their strong force in global economics. They have definite advantages and disadvantages that come with interdependencies and overall demand.
The gender roles in Taiwan are similar to those in the United States, but amplified. In Taiwan, there is a strong patriarchy. While a patriarchal society is often associated with “Christian values”, Taiwan is a Confucian society with only a portion of Christian citizens. As the country has modernized, the typical large family has been replaced with nuclear families. This is due to increased employment, large incomes, and higher education. Before, the ideal family was multigenerational with a strong patriarch and compliant daughters-in-law ("Culture of Taiwan", 2017). While this set-up is becoming less common, these are the core values. Taiwanese men are supposed to be strong and have a dominating way about them. When going out to eat, the men always pay for the women they are with, even if they are just friends. This is said to be because of the role of women. Women have an average education level lower than the average man in Taiwan, and they do not make as much money as men do ("Women’s and Men’s Gender Role Attitudes in Coastal China and Taiwan", 2014). Property is considered a birthright for men. The inheritance often goes mostly to the men instead of women. Moreover, men are supposed to be the breadwinners and are more likely to hold value to these traditional roles than women. Women in Taiwan have different roles they must fulfill. They are to be the classic home-maker. A woman working outside of the house is said to be a very negative influence on the children and overall family life (Ellison, 1970). Along with these functional roles of women, they are also supposed to maintain a specific look. Most likely due to the strength of the patriarchal system, the women are supposed to be extremely skinny with pale skin. This is an indication that she does not work hard or work outside often, and stays inside taking care of the children. While American women are supposed to be skinny, it is a much more prominent requirement of Taiwanese (and other Asian) women. Feminism in America has given women many rights throughout history, and in Taiwan, feminism is a growing movement. Men still have higher paying jobs than women, and in political offices, most women are only able to have lower-level positions. Women only earn 72% compared to men for equivalent work. Trends that are now growing in Taiwan include higher divorce rates, fewer children, higher education, and delayed marriages ("Culture of Taiwan", 2017). These indicate the importance of women growing and becoming more than just a house wife. Personally, I think it is great that feminism is an increasingly strong movement that has reached Taiwan. However, when studying other cultures, it is important to be mindful of ethnocentrism. Just because in our society we would view it as wrong for such gender roles to be so enforced and prominent, does not mean we have room to say what is right or wrong. I do think that it is harmful for many Asian women to feel invalid for not being extremely skinny. I have heard it from several Taiwanese and other Asian women that they feel fat and ugly because they do not fit the stereotypical mold of the thin and tiny Asian woman. Their families even tell them these things because it is so important in their culture for the women to be as small as they can. Works Cited Ellison, C. G. (1970, January 01). Religion, gender, and family relations in Taiwan. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/3369 Culture of Taiwan. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2017, from http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Taiwan.html S., & Y. (2014, August 21). Women’s and Men’s Gender Role Attitudes in Coastal China and Taiwan. Retrieved February 15, 2017, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255573453_Women's_and_Men's_Gender_Role_Attitudes_in_Coastal_China_and_Taiwan Welcome to my page. Comments are always encouraged and I hope you enjoy!
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