FYI, Journeyman Pictures is a London based, independent film company that produces documentaries on all sorts of things from around the world. Here are some of their short films about China. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry; others will make you angry, and still others will make you proud. All in all, every one is a fascinating glimpse into that vast phenomenon known as China. Oh, and as I expect, many of these clips would probably make Chinese nationalists very angry, and they tend to consider such commentary to be skewed reporting by a biased western press. Just remember one very important thing; the people in the clips voicing their complaints are Chinese living in China: NOTE: IF EMBEDDING WAS DISABLED, JUST DOUBLE CLICK ON VIDEO FRAME TO BE TAKEN TO YOUTUBE WHERE YOU CAN STILL SEE THE VIDEO. (These are but a small sample of Journeyman's clips about China, there are many more available on Youtube and at their Journeyman website. Just typing the term "China" netted 163 videos by Journeyman on China) Brat Camp China & Sex And The City - China Because They're Worth It One Child Policy - China Kidnapped Wives - China Internet Addiction - China The New Workers Revolt, Cost Of Capitalism & Handle With Care - China The Sexist Revolution, The Granite Women & Mosuo Women - China China Rocks - China China Slowdown - China Inside The Lao Gai, Executing Dad, Trading In Death & Xinjiang Repression - China China's Pollution Busters & Black River - China The Long March - China Asia's Honey Pot - China Cyber Warriors & Cultural Revolution Nostalgia - China Kung Fu Monks - China Electronic Trash Village - China The Day The Schools Fell Down & China's Foul Play - China Painting Village - China The Cold Boundary - China/Russia Glowing Mountains, The People's Church & Beyond Belief & The Spiritual Fugitives - China Winds Of Change, A Land Without Water & China's Empty Forests - China
From the Glowing Mountain story, I was struck by the fact that China too, had coal seam fires (some of which had been burning continuously since the Qing Dynasty). As China needs ever more coal to support its expanding industrial and economic engine, that common mineral is probably as important as gold. Coal seam fires destroys so much of this resource, that the Chinese government has taken the extraordinary step of actually excavating entire mountains to salvage as much coal as it can, rather than leave it in the path of an underground fire. Oh, and BTW, these things generally occur spontaneously from natural oxidation, and are almost impossible to put out. Raw water may be the worst thing that one can put on top of a coal seam fire. The fires can be so hot that any water used is quickly turned to steam, which then rapidly dissociates into oxygen and hydrogen. Since both are highly flammable, pouring raw water into the ground may actually feed and strengthen the fire. In a rush? For a quick synopsis, just read the red highlighted lines. Here's a report from China View detailing one small success story: And another story that gives you a better world's eye view on these types of fires:
