Rescuing Handicrafts

Oriental Outlook

August 5

In the process of modernization and industrialization, many traditional handmade products have gradually lost their market and disappeared. In the meantime, core handicraft techniques and cultural essence involved in the process are also missing.

Fortunately, Chinese people are starting to realize that traditional handicraft techniques embody the marrow of traditional local culture and the wisdom of their ancestors formed over thousands of years. In 2004, China joined the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage passed by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Intangible cultural heritages, including handicraft techniques, cannot only cultivate identification among groups who own them, but also improve cultural diversity and human creativity.

However, the road toward traditional handicraft rescue is still long and arduous because first, in an age when money and efficiency matter so much, many craftsmen would rather pursue quick material returns than waste their time in the slow handmade process; second, there are inadequate laws protecting handicraft techniques when faced with intellectual property right infringements.

Children in Libraries

people.com.cn

August 13

On August 8, a library in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, went into trial operation. Since then, many visitors have complained about noisy children. As it is summer vacation now, many children go to the library every day, making it something like a children's playground rather than a quiet place to read. Thus, the library decided not to allow children under 14 years old to enter before officially opening to the public. And it established a special children's reading area.

This act guaranteed adults' right, but in some way harmed that of the children. In fact, the library is not the only one to have taken action to drive children away.

But one of the functions of libraries should be to cultivate the children's interest in and ability of reading.

There should be a special area for children to read in libraries, or children's libraries are established instead. Libraries should also change the current policy of waiting for children to read voluntarily by encouraging them to read. The government should increase investment in this regard, helping libraries to complete the change. In this way, children can really find a place where they love to read and will not be hampered.

Illegal Construction

China Youth Daily

August 14

A giant villa, built with artificial rocks, a greenhouse and trees on the top of a 26-story park-view residential compound in Beijing, looks like a garden in the air. It is not a new scenic attraction, but an illegal structure that has existed for six years.

On August 12, Beijing authorities eventually gave the owner an ultimatum stating that if the construction is not demolished within 15 days, it will be torn down.

But why has Beijing law enforcers taken so long to act? The rooftop creation has not only violated the rights and interests of residents living in the building, but also changed its original structure and produced many troubles.

It is strange that the rooftop structure has survived for so long despite repeated complaints by neighbors to the property management company, local urban management officials and even the police since 2007. Even though local authorities urged the owner to dismantle the villa in 2008, construction has never stopped.

Right and wrong is very clear in this case. The public hopes to learn the real reason behind slack law enforcement.

Language Crisis

Lifeweek

August 12

The Chinese language is facing unprecedented challenges in the modern age.

First, many people, even those who have received a higher education, often forget how to write even some of the most common characters, because they type words into computers or mobile phones using a keyboard rather than writing on a piece of paper. It is only over a decade since keyboard writing was popularized in China and locals are starting to complain that they have forgotten how to write. Imagine that in 50 years, there may be a generation of master's degree holders who are unable to write.

The second challenge is that Internet buzzwords are weakening the beauty of the Chinese language. In the Internet age, new words created by netizens gain popularity without cultural connotations.

The third challenge is how Chinese, the world's most difficult language in the eyes of many foreigners, should adapt to the needs of international communication in a globalized world. Such an economy has forced many Chinese to learn foreign languages, including English, to facilitate communication. If such a trend continues, Chinese may one day give up their own language and embrace alphabetic foreign languages.