WBEZ | China

China's poultry passion persists despite bird flu blues

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:00:00 -0500

Greetings from Shanghai, where a new strain of bird flu has killed two men and caused four more people to become critically ill. A patient diagnosis leaked to the Chinese social media site Weibo offered details of the most recent patient: a woman who worked as a poultry butcher in a Nanjing market. On March 30, doctors confirmed she was infected with H7N9 avian influenza. There is no vaccine for this version of the flu.

In the meantime, despite reports to the contrary, and the lack of any visible signs of an emergency plan in action, I can tell you that from here, the taste for poultry lives on in Shanghai.

In the few days I've been here, I've eaten tea-smoked duck, tea-smoked goose, and even chicken feet for breakfast.

At the Lotus supermarket, located at the foot of Shanghai's most famous landmark, the Oriental Pearl Tower, I found blue-black-skinned Silkie chickens, as prized as ever. In Chicago you can find them at the live markets, too.

Lean and gamy, Silkies are used most often as a traditional Chinese tonic soup, fragrant with ginseng and other medicinal herbs — a rather ironic cure-all given the present state of things.

Follow Louisa Chu on Twitter.

Worldview 1.8.13

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 11:56:00 -0600

Five countries that will be mentioned during tonight’s debate

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 10:43:00 -0500

1. Libya

Duh. Mitt Romney’s had two chances to go at President Barack Obama on this issue, where there’s enough haze for him to make some hay, but has blown both. Which means that if there’s one issue, one question, that the Romney debate prep team has been hammering, it’s this one. I know everybody was blown away by Obama’s answer last time, but he missed an opportunity to poke back at Republicans, and particularly at Romney’s VP choice Paul Ryan, all of whom voted against more funding for embassy security, not just in Libya, but all over the world. C’mon.

2. Iran

Iran suddenly says it’s willing to talk, but is just waiting for the elections to know who the chat will be with. Obama says nothing’s new on our end and, of course, we talk. Romney says Obama’s weak, weak, weak, but can’t seem to say what he’d do different. If Obama doesn’t turn this around and make it seem like Romney wants to bomb Tehran tomorrow, it’ll be another missed opportunity -- especially to bring back women voters, who are particularly anti-war.

3. Israel

The men don’t differ much on actual Israel policy, except for the fact that Romney has pretty much said he’ll back Israel on a unilateral strike against Iran if Israel feels threatened. This one isn’t actually a Middle East concern -- this is all about Florida, where Romney looks poised to win, leading in most polls. He’s hoping seniors in Florida forget his Medicare policies and vote ethno-religiously.

4. Cuba

The biggest strawman in American politics, Cuba was mentioned a handful of times at the GOP convention and will come back for two reasons: one, rumors were hot all last week that Fidel Castro was on ice and, two, Florida. Never mind that the pendulum is swinging away from hard right politics in the Cuban-American community as those who were born and/or raised in the U.S. come of age. And never mind that the Latino group that has the power to swing the state is now the Puerto Ricans in Orange and Osceola counties. Never mind, too, that most Puerto Ricans don’t give a twit about a Cuba and that the only real question is whether they’re going to show up at the polls -- in Florida, Puerto Ricans have numbers, even on registration, but blow it on attendance -- but nobody can keep themselves, it seems, from playing the useless Cuba card.

5. China

Romney will continue to accuse the Chinese of being currency manipulators (they are) but offer no plan. And Obama, with an opportunity here to make Romney squirm about the Chinese factory with virtual slave women workers that Bain may or may not have bought while Romney was at the helm, will probably not mention it. But he should.

Men's hairstyles throughout history, as seen on the heads of Olympic male gymnasts

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:05:00 -0500

CHINA! (Spoiler: They won.) Japan came in second in the men's gymnastics team finals, but only after a little intrigue; judges took a re-look at Kohei Uchimura of Japan's pommel horse performance, which bumped Japan up from fourth place to grab silver. This meant that the U.K., who originally thought they pulled off a revelatory second place win, was moved to bronze and poor, poor Ukraine didn't medal at all.

But was the upset of the U.S. team the most important thing? No. It's all about the hair.

The Caesar, with a touch of front hair flip. Popularized by George Clooney.

He just needs a moment to get over how good his hair looks.

Classic gelled front hair flip.

A modern adaptation of a look popularized by German soldiers during World War II.

But with a touch more bumpit to it.

A fuller, less gel-oriented 90s 'do.

Spike tip and a faux-hawk. Who knew it was possible?

You can't really see how good this faux-hawk is from the front, but it's a thing of beauty.

A more subtle faux-hawk.

"YEAAAA!" is what we call this look.

Worldview 5.24.12

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:26:00 -0500

Thursday on Worldview:

After two decades of economic growth, people in China aren’t necessarily happier than they were 20 years ago – at least, that’s what a recent economic study found. Better economic conditions haven’t really affected middle-income earners and the poor have become significantly more unhappy. Shanghai-based Worldview contributor Robert Price and economist Betsey Stevenson explain why income and material wealth don’t necessarily correlate with a sense of well-being.

Then, the Voices and Faces Project is a documentary initiative created to help survivors of sexual violence. On our Global Activism segment we hear about their latest project, which addresses sexual violence in the Congo.

And, Worldview film contributor Milos Stehlik checks in from the Cannes Film Festival.

Worldview 5.2.12

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:54:00 -0500

Earlier today, U.S. officials received assurances from their Chinese counterparts that Chen Guangcheng would remain safe following a tense diplomatic standoff over his whereabouts.Six days ago, the blind human rights attorney escaped house arrest and sought refuge in Beijing's American embassy. Sophie Richardson, Human Rights Watch’s china director, analyzes the deal’s murky details. Also, it’s been one year since Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. Navy Seals. President Obama marked the anniversary by delivering a live address from Bagram Air Base and signing an agreement with Afghan President Hamid Karzai that paves the way for U.S. troop realignment. Kevin Martin, executive director of Peace Action, discusses U.S. policy on Afghanistan.

Documentary ‘Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry’ offers intimate portrait of the Chinese artist and activist

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 11:05:00 -0500

Chinese dissident artist and activist Ai Weiwei is best known for helping design the famous Bird’s Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He has also become renown for his brave public rebukes of the Chinese government. Now under house arrest for seemingly bogus tax evasion charges, the artist is suing the Chinese government over the fine they levied against him. While this challenge to Chinese authorities may seem surprising, it wouldn’t be for anyone who’s seen the Alison Klayman's new documentary, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry. Alison discusses Ai Weiwei and her new documentary.

Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry will be shown at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival at 5:30pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art on Friday, April 20th.

Trailer for Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry:

Who's winning the race with China?

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 10:13:52 -0500

The eternal race between the United States and China for dominance in the global economy complicates the relationship between the two nations. Mistrust abounds as each side wants to see itself as the winner. Worldview talks with University of California-Irvine professor Jeffrey Wasserstrom, who studies the relationship. He’s the author of China in the 21^st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Jeffrey Wasserstrom is speaking on China tonight at 6:00pm at the Harold Washington Library Center as part of Chicago Public Library’s One Book One Chicago program.

Worldview 4.4.12

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:49:26 -0500

According to Syrian opposition groups, the Assad regime has sent tanks into rebellious areas to hunt down activists and torch or bulldoze their homes. The actions come ahead of an April 10 United Nations deadline calling for full compliance with a peace plan to end the violence. Worldview talks about the fighting and burgeoning refugee crisis with Karen AbuZayd, commissioner for the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry for Syria. Also, the race between the U.S. and China has many observers claiming China the winner. Jeffrey Wasserstrom, author of China in the 21st Century: What Everyone Needs to Know, gives Worldview his take. And on Global Notes, Jerome and 848/Radio M host Tony Sarabia listen to Portland-based Y La Bamba's latest album, Court the Moon.

A Bai Wedding in China

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:32:00 -0500

Russell Johnson followed a truck full of drum-banging party-goers near Lake Erhai in Yunnan Province, China. He was unexpectedly invited to a very happy and noisy traditional Bai wedding. Russell shares his experience on Worldview.

This piece comes from the Public Radio Exchange.