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__**FILM ANNOTATION FOR "WORLD IN THE BALANCE: CHINA REVS UP"**__

World in the Balance: China Revs Up, Chris Schmidt, 2004  The central argument of the film is that with China’s increasing middle class, there is a demand for an increase in “quality of life” which inevitably refers to an increase in desire for physical possessions. The increase in demand for consumer products is spurred by people’s need to flaunt their wealth. The problem with this is how China is accommodating this desire with a complete disregard for the environment. 3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out? ** This film draws out sustainability issues revolving around the economy, technology, culture, and ecology. There are sustainability issues concerning the economy because of the sudden increase in the socio-economic middle class in China. With this booming economy, the Chinese people are lining up to spend their newfound wealth. To meet these demands, corporations are coming to answer their call. However, with the lack of environmental regulations, China’s natural resources are being stripped, forests destroyed, farmland leeched of nutrients, and air and water heavily polluted. The issues surrounding technological sustainability are linked with the economic issues. Automobiles release more pollutants because there are not strict regulations for emissions. Coal is also being used to produce energy as opposed to more sustainable sources because it is so cheap despite its tendency to create massive amounts of air pollution. Culturally, the Chinese are not used to this kind of wealth and are attempting to fulfill the “American Dream” by consuming as much as they wish without giving any attention to the affect it might have on the environment and the future. Ecology is always an issue when dealing with sustainability issues. This film touched on the fact that there have been many floods around the rivers running through China because farmers have cut down all of the trees. Pollution is so high in China that it is carried over to the state of Washington. 4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? ** I found it particularly interesting how a country so involved in using bicycles as a main mode of transportation could convert so quickly to automobiles. I am interested to know why they were so quick to choose the automobile when they had used bicycles for so long and why they chose to follow the steps of Americans and Europeans as opposed to setting a new example of what a country can do with wealth and success. I was persuaded to acknowledge the seriousness of this issue just due to the sheer number of the Chinese population, how much pollution they have the potential to produce and how that can affect the quality of life for the entire world. I was also greatly disturbed by the quality of automobile manufactured in China and how they are admittedly made to lower emission standards purely because it is cheaper and completely within the law. Finally, I was persuaded by this film when it showed how the rise of the consumer culture in China is leading a rapid loss in the practice and recognition of long-standing cultural traditions. 5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? ** Nothing in this film would lead me to believe that this issue was anything below a very serious problem. However, like a majority of these films we have watched, there seems to be very little possibilities for “righting this wrong.” 6. What additional information does this film compel you to seek out? Where do you want to dig deeper and what connections do you want to make with other issues, factors, problems, etc.? ** Like I said before, I am very curious as to why China, with such a great potential for innovation, chose to follow in the footsteps of the West. Knowing them to be a proud country, I would assume that they would want to set out on their own path and not follow the lead of others. For instance, with the global push towards sustainability, it is a wonder that they did not attempt to be the leading country in this issue. Instead, they burn coal to bring energy to their citizens and allow massive amounts of pollutants to be released into the air and the water just to increase production rates. I would be interested to learn more of the automotive industry’s role in the rising consumer market in China. It would also be interesting to learn more about the environmental regulations that are in place and how well they are enforced. The contrast between rural and city life is also a very intriguing issue to me. 7. What audiences does the film best address? What kind of imagination is fostered in viewers? Do you think the film is likely to change the way viewers think about and act on environmental problems? ** I think this is a great film for engineers and businessmen—both students and professionals. It can give them an idea of what the effects of wealth and disregard for the environment can do to a nation and the world. This film can make them understand how their products and businesses can create problems for future generations if they do not practice environmental responsibility. 8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film? ** This film only pointed out the causes for concern with regards to China’s increase in consumption and production, not any solutions. I could only take out of this film what I think could be solutions, starting with the increase in environmental regulations and a wariness to American automakers. 9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? ** It would have had more of an environmental educational value if the film delved more into the scientific aspects of the pollution and how it affected the rest of the world. It would also have been educational to learn more about the specifications of the existing environmental regulations in China.
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