Loeper-+FA+5-+World+in+the+Balance

1. Title, director and release year? World in the Balance: China Revs Up Chris Schmidt 2004

2. What is the central argument or narrative of the film? The film talks about the pollution and overconsumption in China because of the massive industrialization and growing economy. There are just so many people in China and with the population increasing and the rising consumerism, the problem is getting more difficult. The film also discusses the role that coal plays in China and how the factories are polluting the country, but also reaching the other side of the world. The explosive growth of China and increasing consumerism is affecting their energy consumption, working and living conditions, and their pollution of the world.

3. What sustainability problems does the film draw out? Mostly, this movie points out how overpopulation and consumerism is a serious issue to sustainability. These issues increase energy, which is mostly achieved by coal in China, and brings up more sustainability issues like using fossil fuels that will run out, not focusing on renewable energy and pollution as well as dangerous and unhealthy working conditions. This touches on the effects of industrialization, technology, and energy and how this is making China become the greatest polluter in the world.

4. What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why? - When the environmentalist went shopping for a car, even though she was looking for a car that was eco-friendly o China’s version of eco-friendly is on the standard of Euro-2 emission ratings, which is years out of date because most of Europe is on the Euro-5 standards. o Even when people are trying to do good for the environment in China, they are still very behind in their standards and are still substantially polluting - When they discussed how the pollutants can travel across the ocean, and are reaching the shores of the US. o This shows that what we do does not just affect us and our country, we are polluting the world and affecting all countries and all people o This puts the serious damage that industrialization does into perspective o The poor and out of date standards that China has is not just their problem, it’s affecting everyone - This is the largest migration in history, when 100 million people moved from the suburbs into the cities o This has given China 7 out of the 10 most polluted cities in the world o Lead and sulfur has been found to be in the air at all times o China was able to go through 20 years of an industrial ‘binge’ where they were able to operate their factories and plants without having any kind of pollution restrictions § With the scale that the population and industrial world grew, they polluted so much and the laws stopping them did not follow

5. What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by? - I didn’t believe when it was said that China can’t afford to build cleaner and more efficient plants, but 6% of their GDP is going to health related issues every year o In the long run, it would be more beneficial for the people and environment and cheaper for them to make their plants cleaner than let it keep polluting and keep making their people unhealthy - I didn’t think when they compared the US and China with in emissions is was accurate o They should have talked more about the population difference with the pollution difference § Maybe they could have made it a better comparison, focusing more on the population differences compared to the world pollution

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.? - I would like to know what other countries are doing or could do to help countries like China deal with their pollution issue o What are Chinese politics like? Are they as corrupted as American politicians or do they have a better chance of getting decisions made faster for the environment and for social health? o How much do the Chinese people value their social and environmental health in their culture?

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? This film addresses people that are concerned with overpopulation and the effects that it has on the world pollution problems. It goes into detail about the population and over consumption problem, which is not necessarily a problem that the general population is especially concerned with, or much that they can do about it.

8. What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film? This film basically puts the responsibility of these problems on the Chinese government. They need to get up to standard with other countries that are fighting for the environment. This means that the government needs to change the standards for factories and cars, and focus on the population problem, which they are trying to address with the limit of children. The government and people of China need to focus more on the environmental and health issues that are threatening their sustainability.

9. What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value? I would have appreciated more background information on China and its people. This is my fault for not knowing more about China and its culture, but this would have helped understand their problems more. For example, how their culture views the environment and how they feel about their social responsibility for the environment. Also, how their government works and how their politicians get their positions and whether the environmental and health issues aere of any importance in their government.