ProsackHenry-World+in+the+Balance

=World In The Balance=

The documentary film World in the Balance: China Revs Up was released in 2004 by Chris Schmidt.
 * 1.** **Title, director and release year?**

 
 * 2. ****What is the central argument or narrative of the film? **
 * This film focuses mainly on every situation that concerns China and the world. They are concerned with the economy, industry, and environment of China. This particular country has been known for its communist ideals until recently when they adopted the western way of life: materialism. This new transformation has been causing a bunch of problems. The desire for products has caused China to disregard the environment entirely. **
 * 3.** **What sustainability problems does the film draw out?**

There are so many sustainability problems that are introduced in this documentary, which means there are several problems associated with China’s new movement. One of China’s sustainability issues is the environment. The future of their environment will determine the world’s environment. China has not cared about how they have been affecting what’s around them. They are getting closer to the United States as the leaders of world CO2 emissions, as coal and cars have a major influence in their economy. 70% of their fuel usage is by coal, as they even heat their homes with it. Cars are another issue. They are not fuel or emission efficient due to the fact that if they were, more jobs would be lost and the prices of the vehicles would rise. This would hurt their economy, so these environmental regulations are not being met. Globalization is another problem. China has been looking towards other countries such as the U.S. to import goods. As there is more money and the less farming, there is a greater contribution to environmental problems. Another sustainability problem is media control. The Chinese government is still communist, so there is little room for protest. In result, the amount of environmentalist groups is very small and is not that effective. Whatever the cost to sustainability, China has the fastest growing economy and are not likely to change.


 * 4.** **What parts of the film did you find most persuasive and compelling? Why?**

The most interesting concept that this film addressed was the automotive industry. In the past generation, China has become obsessed with cars. It has become one of their biggest modes of transportation. Yet, there is no incentive to get more efficient cars, not even cars that will last the consumer longer. There is no room for more environmental friendly cars due to their economy. They will lose jobs if more efficient cars are being sold. Also, the prices of the cars would increase. There is no reason for China to make any changes, which is a major problem to the rest of the world. The United States has slowed their environmental affects compared to recent years. However, China is increasing their levels of emission and will soon catch up and surpass the United States. With both of these high levels, the world will suffer. Both the United States and China need to resolve their economic and environmental conditions to better the world.


 * 5.** **What parts of the film were you not compelled or convinced by?**

What I was not convinced by was the fact that the film stated that companies can change the public opinion. I believe that is true, but only in a negative way. Generally, companies in China will not encourage the environmental situation as it would only hurt their profit. The film did suggest that it is up to the government to change things, and this is the correct statement. The only way China and the United States can better these sustainability issues is to pass legislation and make policy changes. Until this happens, we will continue to see the increase in materialistic desires in China as they follow the path of the western nations, worsening the environmental situation of the world.


 * 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.?**

What I have already done in retrospect to this movie was what I researched for my Rare Earth Metals presentation. China produces 97% of the world’s supply of these metals, and these metals are heavily used in high end technology such as green technology. The irony in that is the fact China produces the materials that are needed in these green technologies, and they have no consideration for the environment whatsoever. They have also been considering a ban of the exports of these metals in order to benefit their own economy. This wouldn’t benefit their own economy, because this would cut out business with the United States, and every economist knows that China and the United States need to be in agreement in trade to help the economy. This is besides the fact. The matter is that the ban of these exports would hurt the promotion of green technology. This is irony indeed.


 * 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 mainly addresses to the college students and beyond. The viewers of the movie could hopefully pass the knowledge onto others, and stir environmental movements. What I would like to see is this movie distributed to the masses in China. However, this would probably not get past the government and be censored, not allowed. We can only vote for the representatives that will want to make a change and that will want to maintain trade with China and implement environmental regulations with each other. Al Gore mentioned that China agreed to sign an agreement with the United States on a certain piece of environmental legislation. If this is true, it would be a great step. However, looking at what is currently happening, it’s not looking good. The Chinese government really needs to look at their own structure and make the necessary adjustments. However, this would require major changes in their philosophy of government. So what we as viewers can do is help out our own environmental situations at home, in hope that the United States can be a representative in environmental leadership.


 * 8.** **What kinds of action or points of intervention are suggested by the film?**

As an intervention, environmental legislation was suggested. Uniting as a world in order to solve our environmental problems is the only way we are going to save our earth. My personal viewpoints, not coming from the movie, are that we need to have an international governing body that will be able to place regulations. These regulations may not be enforced well, yet they show one thing. A united agreement for environmental concern shows that the involved countries want to change and make a difference. Another issue is the fact of war. No country will send their men to war in order to enforce environmental legislation. The only way this united agreement would happen would most likely be when a severe and deadly environmental problem arises. The one thing we can do at the moment is improve the United States and China’s environmental problems.


 * 9.** **What could have been added to this film to enhance its environmental educational value?**

I am not sure as to what would make this a more educational film to the environment. There are so many other factors that were necessary to discuss and they hit mostly every one of them. I believe the film did a fantastic job portraying China’s environmental issues, and I learned a significant amount. This documentary film has opened my mind to many other theories. I highly recommend this documentary.