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Photograph by: Lynn Johnson, National Geographic May 2008
Everything about China is big. Its population, 1.3 billion, is the largest in the world. Its area--3,705,405 square miles (9,596,960 square kilometers)--is the fourth largest, after that of Russia, Canada, and the U.S. And its labor force, with 803,300,000 workers, is the world's largest.
China also has age on its side, with a rich culture, traditions, and technological advances dating back more than 40 centuries. An early producer of paper, gunpowder, and silk, China is today a leader in the manufacture of the world's retail goods. The move that began in the 1970s from a centrally planned economy toward a market-oriented one resulted in more private, entrepreneurial businesses and foreign investment—and propelled the rise of a vibrant middle class. Urbanization also followed, as 90 to 300 million people left rural areas for a new life working in manufacturing plants or the booming construction industry. With this development came pollution: China is now the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, on which it relies for energy. And extensive dam building to produce hydroelectricity has displaced whole villages and towns.
Not everything in China is in flux, however. Despite the country's tremendous economic growth, the government still maintains strict control over dissidents.
Hessler, Peter. "China's Instant Cities." National Geographic (June 2007), 88-117
Larmer, Brook. "The Manchurian Mandate." National Geographic (September 2006), 42-73
Becker, Jasper. "China's Growing Pains." National Geographic (March 2004), 68-95
Edwards, Mike. "Han Dynasty." National Geographic (February 2004), 2-29
Hessler, Peter. "Chasing the Wall." National Geographic (January 2003), 2-33
Carrel, Todd. "Beijing: New Face for the Ancient Capital." National Geographic (March 2000), 116-137.
National Geographic Atlas of China, National Geographic Society, 2008.
Other Resources
The Chinese central government's official Web portal
An authorized Chinese government website
China Daily (the state-run, English-language newspaper)
Background Note: China. U.S. State Department, October 2007.
Country Analysis Brief of China, U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.
China Country Profile August 2006. Library of Congress, Federal Research Division.
The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
Last updated: March 26, 2008
The People's Republic of China is the most populous country in the world, with about 1.3 billion people—a fifth of Earth's population. The country is also distinguished by its age. According to the National Geographic Atlas of the World: "China has perhaps the world's longest continuous civilization; for more than 40 centuries its people created a culture with strong philosophies, traditions, and values. The start of the Han dynasty 2,200 years ago marked the rise of military power that created an empire—one that provided a golden age in art, politics, and technology. Ethnic Chinese still refer to themselves as the 'People of Han.'"
Although the Han Chinese make up over 90 percent of the country's population, China is a multiethnic society. The government officially recognizes 55 minority "nationalities," or ethnic groups, who live in nearly two-thirds of the country. Some minorities have been so thoroughly absorbed into the mainstream that their status as separate peoples has nearly been lost; others strive to maintain their own distinctive customs, costumes, and languages. The strong presence of minorities in places such as Inner Mongolia and Tibet has led the government to designate several autonomous regions, conferring on them some small measure of political and cultural rights.
Riley, Nancy E. "China's Population: New Trends and Challenges" Population Bulletin 59, no. 7 (2004), 1-36.
National Geographic Atlas of the World, 8th ed. National Geographic Society, 2005.
Donald, Stephanie Hemelryk, and Robert Benewick. The State of China Atlas. University of California Press, 2005.
Other Resources
China's Ethnic Minorities. People's Daily Online.
"Regional Autonomy for Ethnic Minorities in China (2005)." Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
Gunde, Richard. Culture and Customs of China. Greenwood Press, 2001.
Olson, James S. An Ethnohistorical Dictionary of China. Greenwood Press, 1998.
Other National Geographic Resources
China Video
National Geographic Atlas of China. National Geographic Society, 2008.
Nestled in the remote mountains where Guizhou and Hunan Provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region meet are the villages of the Dong people, one of China's 55 officially recognized minority groups. With a population of three million, they're a relatively small group (the largest minority, the Zhuang, number 16 million), but their rich architectural and musical traditions are among the most distinctive in China.
Dong architecture features multistoried homes, drum towers, and spectacular covered bridges—all traditionally constructed without nails. Writer Amy Tan describes one bridge as "formidable as a dragon, with a scaly roof for its body and cupolas for its head and spine." Benches run along both sides of this "wind-rain bridge," making it a handy shelter in stormy weather.
The drum tower, Gail Rossi writes in The Dong People of China, "is the highest and most revered structure in the village. A giant drum within the tower served in the past as a warning device against invasions. In ancient times, villagers assembled at the tower with their weapons to await orders from the head of their clan." Each tower was also a community center—the site of festivals and special meetings—and villagers today continue to use it that way. This village landmark is held in such high esteem that whenever there's a flood or fire, which tends to happen every few years, it's usually the first building in the village to be reconstructed.
Music and song are other hallmarks of Dong life. Without a traditional written language (an orthography based on the Latin alphabet was developed in 1958 by government researchers but has never been widely used), the Dong have passed down their history and culture from one generation to the next in story and song. The Dong are especially noted for chorus singing, with men and women singing in turn. As Rossi observes: "People often sing while working the fields and as they do housework; at funerals they sing in grief, while at birthdays and weddings they sing for fun."
Tan, Amy. "Village on the Edge of Time" National Geographic (May 2008), 102-125.
Rossi, Gail. The Dong People of China: A Hidden Civilization. Hagley and Hoyle, 1991.
Swerger, Klaus. Vanishing Tradition: Architecture and Carpentry of the Dong Minority in China. Orchid Press, 2006.
National Bureau of Statistics in China. China Statistical Yearbook. China Statistics Press, 2007.
Other Resources
The Dong People of China.
The Dong Ethnic Minority. People's Daily Online.
Dong Folk Music. Western China Cultural Ecology Research Workshop
Long Yaohong and Zheng Guoqiao. The Dong Language in Guizhou Province, China, trans. D. Norman Geary. Summer Institute of Linguistics and University of Texas at Arlington, 1998.
Geary, D. Norman. The Kam People of China: Turning Nineteen? RoutledgeCurzon, 2003.
"Kid Chorus: Guizhou Province," National Geographic Traveler (January/February 2008), 67.
The ancient traditions of the Dong are still practiced in villages such as Dimen in China's Guizhou Province—but for how long? With many of the younger generation leaving to find work elsewhere, the traditional culture has been disappearing fast. In 2002 the privately funded Western China Cultural Ecology Research Workshop was set up to preserve and record the ethnic music of the area. As the project progressed, workshop founders Wai Kit Lee and Isa Chu say they saw the importance of balancing "the needs of development and preservation." Three years later the Dimen Dong Cultural Eco-museum, the first such Chinese museum administered by the private sector, opened in the village. Museum staff hope to help the local people recognize the beauty and importance of their culture as well as preserve their ancient arts: folk song, papermaking, cooking, textile weaving, dying, and embroidering. Local residents are encouraged to participate in managing workshop projects, from planning to the development of a community cultural center that will help researchers explore Dong culture. More information can be found at the workshop's website.
The Dimen Dong Cultural Eco-museum. Western China Cultural Ecology Research Workshop.
Ecomuseums in Guizhou—Preserving a Unique Lifestyle. Royal Norwegian Embassy, March 15, 2004.
By Ben Block
"Made in China" may be the most common phrase found on manufactured products around the globe. A powerful combination of efficient factories, cheap labor, and massive international investment has enabled Chinese companies to become major producers of everything from shoes to computers to musical instruments. China makes more crude steel, cement, fertilizer, and woven cotton fabrics than any other country. And based on revenue growth between 2006 and 2007, China (including Hong Kong) is home to five of the world's ten fastest growing publicly held manufacturers.
The growth spurt began in 1979, when China offered tax breaks to foreign investors willing to put capital into four designated coastal cities. Now more than 40 Chinese cities have become "special economic zones," and the cities and foreign trade have boomed. China became the world's number one recipient of foreign direct investment in 2003, though it has since fallen behind the United States. Most of the country's trade involves imported cheap materials that are transformed into new products. Manufactured goods, which made up less than half the country's exports in 1978, now account for 94.5 percent of exports.
The key to China's success goes beyond trade incentives—it lies in the nation's access to human capital. Many foreign companies prefer to manufacture their products in China because cheap labor is abundant. Since the markets were liberalized in the 1970s, an estimated 90 to 300 million rural workers have moved to industrialized cities as part of what some consider the largest migration in human history. The members of this vast employment pool work on assembly lines, sleep in factory dorms, and eat in factory cafeterias.
China's manufacturers are often criticized for having poor working conditions. Although the country's labor code mandates that the workweek be capped at an average of 44 hours, employees often work a 12-hour shift each day. In 2006 workers in publicly owned manufacturing plants averaged a salary of just $188 per month. Yet as the yuan's value increases, more and more factories are moving inland or to Southeast Asia, where land and labor cost even less.
Hessler, Peter. "China's Boomtowns." National Geographic (June 2007), 88-117.
Fallows, James. "China Makes, The World Takes." Atlantic Monthly (July/August 2007), 48-63.
National Bureau of Statistics of China. China Statistical Year Book. China Statistics Press, 2007.
"IW 1000: The World's Biggest Manufacturers." Industry Week.
Fishman, Ted. China, Inc: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World. Scribner, 2005.
Other Resources
Barboza, David. "Big Recalls Don't Slow Exports From China."
New York Times, October 13, 2007.
Marquand, Robert. "Booming China Raises Workers Hopes—and Discontent." Christian Science Monitor, September 30, 2004.
Adam, Jonathan. "Chinese Union." Newsweek (February 14, 2008).
Ren, Ruoen and Haitao Zheng. "Multilateral Comparison on Chinese Manufacturing's International Competitiveness." Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering (December 30, 2005), 400-416.
Photos of Yiwu's International Trade City Credit: Photographs by Mark Leong
Last updated: March 26, 2008
In the past decade an urban middle class has emerged in China, bringing with it grand aspirations for freedom and luxury. It's difficult to define this rising class precisely, but in general the families earn at least $10,000 a year, own their own apartment and car, buy high-end foreign brands, eat out regularly, take vacations, and are familiar with foreign ideas. Perhaps 100 to 150 million people—out of a population of 1.3 billion—are considered part of China's soaring middle class.
Yet these newfound freedoms have created anxiety, as people who grew up in a socialistic society feel compelled to get ahead and acquire more. The pressure is especially hard on the children of the middle class, who are pushed by their parents to excel in school so that eventually they'll make more money and gain higher social status.
Chang, Leslie T. "Gilded Age, Gilded Cage." National Geographic (May 2008), 78-97.
Restaurant chains long familiar to diners in the U.S. are now proliferating in China. KFC, which arrived in 1987, has become the favorite quick-service eatery on the mainland, with some 2,000 restaurants in 420 cities. Pizza Hut has opened 300 restaurants that cater to a casual dine-in crowd. The menu reflects the chain's adopted culture: One of the most popular pies comes topped with seafood, crab stick, pineapple, and green peppers.
Patrons are often young adults socializing in small groups—away from multigenerational family meals in crowded and noisy Chinese restaurants. To the members of this more affluent generation, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, and KFC are places to see and be seen. And in yet another sign of change, both McDonald's and KFC are capitalizing on the growing trend toward car ownership, adding drive-through lanes to meet the urban rush.
In a land where teahouses have proliferated for thousands of years, coffee is now the trendy choice. Students often carry packets of instant coffee to tide them over during the day, but relaxing at Starbucks over a pricey $3.50 latte is the latest after-hours pastime. The Seattle-based chain, which expanded into major Chinese cities beginning in 1999, now has hundreds of stores where the patrons often linger for hours. Not everyone has taken a liking to the U.S. coffee icon, however, and a blog campaign to remove Starbucks from its Forbidden City location is under way.
High-quality wine is another newcomer to China's burgeoning culinary scene. The preference has long been for beer and hard liquor, but wine, domestic and imported, has been making inroads over the past decade. Touted for its health benefits and cachet, imported wine, once too expensive for most people, is finding favor with newly affluent drinkers. Spotting this huge market potential, exporters in the United States, France, Spain, South Africa, Argentina, and Chile are vying with long-established and ever-competitive domestic brands—Great Wall, Zhangyu, Dynasty—to capture the palates and wallets of China's emerging middle class.
Yum! brands
Mei, Yang. China's Food Service Sector Continues Sustained Growth. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, July 2006.
"First McDonald's Drive-Thru Opens in China." McDonald's Press Release, December 10, 2005.
Ford, Peter. "China's Growing Blogosphere Turns on U.S. Coffee Icon." Christian Science Monitor, January 23, 2007.
China Wines Information Website.
Wei, Tan. "Fruit of the Vine." BeijingReview.com, November 1, 2007.
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Roberts, Dexter. "China Caffeinates Its China Growth Plan." Business Week, October 25, 2006.
"Wine: Is China the New Chile When It Comes to Wine?" China Wines Information Website, January 18, 2008.
"Napa Valley Wines Sold in Shanghai." WineChina.com, February 2, 2008.
Last updated: March 26, 2008
China is experiencing an immense building boom, fueled by a robust economy that's been expanding since economic reforms began nearly 30 years ago. Beijing, host to the 2008 Summer Olympics, has committed some 40 billion dollars to build a "New Beijing"—upgrading the city's facilities and infrastructure in time for the games. With tens of thousands of projects under way, the country has become an architect's playground.
Most of the high-profile projects—especially in the skyscraper towns of Beijing and Shanghai—have been designed by foreign architects. They're attracted to China's broad canvas, vast low-wage workforce, and 24/7 construction schedule. Moreover, Chinese architects have had to play catch-up since Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), when architects were denounced as part of the intellectual elite. Under Chairman Mao, functionality reigned over design, and architects had to go by the title of engineer. But now a generation of Chinese architects who began their education after the death of Mao is coming into its own. Many studied abroad, in Europe and North America, and those who remained in China took advantage of a growing number of architecture schools there. While many Chinese architects still work in engineering and architectural institutes associated with universities or the government, more and more are working in and even running local offices of foreign architects or starting their own independent businesses modeled on international studios.
Fishman, Ted. "The New Great Walls." National Geographic (May 2008), 130-41.
Other Resources
Ruan, Xing. New China Architecture. Periplus, 2006.
Dawson, Layla. China's New Dawn: An Architectural Transformation. Prestel, 2005.
Rowe, Peter, and Seng Kuan. Architectural Encounters With Essence and Form in Modern China. MIT Press, 2002.
Jodidio, Philip. Architecture in China. Taschen, 2007.
Lubow, Arthur. "The China Syndrome."
New York Times Magazine, May 21, 2006.
Yang, Andrew. "Studio Pei-Zhu Commits to an Energetic Urbanism in Modern China."
Architectural Record (December 2007).
Allen, Daniel. "Creativity Made in China—MAD Architects." January 21, 2008.
Len-Lin, Jen. "Several Art Schools in China Starting New Architecture Programs." Architectural Record (November 2004).
Profiles of Selected Architects—Chinese Architects
Fong, Mei. "CCTV Tower Mirrors Beijing's Rising Ambitions." Wall Street Journal Online, November 7, 2007.
Fong, Mei. ""Beijing Olympics 2008: Stadiums May Leave Costly Legacy—Transformed Host City Ponders Post-Games Facilities Management."" Wall Street Journal Asia, March 15, 2007.
Woodman, Ellis. ""New Towers for a New Superpower."" London Daily Telegraph, December 29, 2007.
Needham, Kirsty. ""Extreme Makeover: Asia Special Report—Destination Beijing."" Sydney Morning Herald, October 6, 2007.
Gluckman, Ron. "Beijing: Bold? Brazen?" Wall Street Journal Asia, April 2004.
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China and one of the ten longest in the world. The roiling river begins modestly in the springs and glaciers of the high western province of Qinghai, on the cold, vast, mountainous Plateau of Tibet. Snaking across the North China Plain, it eventually reaches the Bo Hai sea, 3,400 miles away, where it deposits its sediment load in the delta's unique wetland ecosystem.
Known in Mandarin as Huang He, the river takes its name from the yellowish silt and sediment that clouds its waters. As it makes its way east, it passes through the enormous Loess Plateau, picking up loess, a loamy soil, and carrying it downstream. Historically the Yellow has discharged as much as 1.6 billion metric tons of sediment a year in the delta; today dams and lower water flow have shrunk that to around 680 million tons.
A Ferocious Dragon
To the Chinese people, the river is a living being, a ferocious dragon that has proved untamable. As early as 3000 B.C. people settled along its shifting banks, where they fished, farmed, and raised livestock, and for centuries the region around the middle stretch of the river formed the country's economic, social, and political backbone—it's considered the birthplace of Chinese civilization. But the Yellow, revered as the Mother River, provider of fertile soil and bountiful fish, was also a tormentor known as China's Sorrow and the Ungovernable: It breached its banks, repeatedly changed course, nearly dried up, then became a raging flood.
People tried countless times to control the river. Four thousand years ago the legendary Yu the Great, a minister in the court of Emperor Yao, tried to prevent floods by building dikes along the waterway and dividing its lower reaches into nine separate channels.
China's love affair with engineering and river control has endured. After the communists took power in 1949, Chairman Mao became obsessed with conquering nature and beating the twisting Yellow into submission. Massive dams were built, tributaries rerouted, and forests felled, but the river was not contained. Today it runs muddier than ever and still floods. Rapid economic development over the past 30 years has contaminated the river almost irreversibly, and high water usage and numerous dams reduce this mighty giant to a trickle where it meets the sea. See the BBC News report China's Famous Yellow River Is Fading.
Larmer, Brook. "Bitter Waters." National Geographic (May 2008), 146-168.
Pavan, Aldo. Yellow River: The Spirit and Strength of China. Thames & Hudson, 2007.
Shapiro, Judith. Mao's War Against Nature: Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China. Cambridge University Press, 2001.
Sinclair, Kevin. The Yellow River: A 5000 Year Journey Through China. Knapp Press, 1987.
"Yellow River (Huang He) Delta." Louisiana State University, Department of Geology and Geophysics.
Other Resources
China Air Pollution Map. Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.
China Water Pollution Map. Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs.
China Environment Forum. Woodrow Wilson Center.
Reign of Sand: Inner Mongolia. Circle of Blue.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. China Program.
Yellow River Conservancy Commission.
Gifford, Rob. "Yellow River: A Journey Through China." NPR, December 10, 2007.
"Yellow River at Risk." Greenpeace, 2005.
Larson, Christina. "The Green Leap Forward." Washington Monthly, July 2007.
Economy, Elizabeth. "The Great Leap Backward?" Foreign Affairs, September/October 2007.
The Cost of Environmental Degradation in China. U.S. Embassy in Beijing, 2000.
Ma Jun. Ecological Civilisation Is the Way Forward.
October 31, 2007.
China From the Inside: Shifting Nature. PBS, 2006.
Brown, Lester R. Plan B 3.0: Mobilizing to Save Civilization. Earth Policy Institute, 2008.
Economy, Elizabeth. "The River Runs Black: The Environmental Challenge to China's Future." Cornell University Press, 2004.
Jun, Ma. China's Water Crisis. Eastbridge, 2004.
By Linden J. Ellis and Jennifer L. Turner, China Environment Forum at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Every country in the industrialized world faces pollution problems, but the scale and speed of the environmental degradation in China has no parallel. Over the past 30 years China's transition to its new role as the world's manufacturing hub has brought millions of Chinese out of poverty—but at the cost of massive water, air, and soil pollution that threaten human health. The central government has committed considerable resources to solving this socially and economically expensive problem, but the lack of strong environmental governance structure continues to hinder progress.
Private cars in urban centers have become major polluters, but the biggest sources of air pollution are heavy industry, particularly construction, and coal-fired power plants—a new plant comes on line every week. About 70 percent of China's energy comes from domestic coal supplies, much of which is high in sulfur and contains mercury. Recent regulations require new plants to have scrubbers, but enforcement at the local level is inconsistent.
The construction sector is a major source of particulates and other dirty emissions. China produces half the world's cement, and in the process its often antiquated and inefficient factories can release high levels of mercury and CO2. The country is responsible for approximately 14 percent of global CO2 emissions, of which 6 to 8 percent can be attributed to its cement industry.
While air pollution problems are severe in China, water pollution is perhaps the greater threat, due to the nation's chronically low water supply: One-third of cities report water shortages. In addition, one-third of China's waterways are categorized as Grade V—unsuitable for industry, much less agriculture or drinking. On average, only 40 percent of municipal wastewater is treated, making it a leading source of this severe water pollution. All cities with populations above one million are required to have wastewater treatment plants, but they have little incentive to operate them given high energy costs and low fines for noncompliance.
Water pollution isn't just an urban issue. More than 300 million rural Chinese—about a quarter of the country's population—lack access to clean drinking water, thanks to untreated industrial, municipal, and agricultural waste that flows directly into waterways. In 2006 in Guangdong Province, pig farms alone contributed 72 percent of the nitrogen and 94 percent of the phosphorus emissions in the water systems. Each year, water-related illnesses affect 190 million Chinese, mainly in rural areas.
Pesticides, fertilizer, and animal waste also pollute the land. Official statistics indicate that 7 percent of China's arable land has been contaminated by the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The Cost to China
Government figures put the economic cost of pollution to China at $200 billion in 2005 alone, but the cost to the health of people and the environment is hard to measure. Estimates on premature deaths caused by air pollution range from 450,000 to 750,000 annually, and fatal illnesses resulting from water pollution have reached 60,000. Half of these deaths are among rural children who develop diarrhea from drinking contaminated water.
Not surprisingly, the impact of pollution does not fall evenly across the population. Pan Yue—a top official in China's State Environmental Protection Administration (now the Ministry of Environmental Protection)—told Der Spiegel in November 2007: "Environmental problems have become the main factors endangering the health and property security of rural Chinese, thwarting sustainable economic and social development in the countryside." Anecdotal evidence suggests that people living along major rivers and large lakes suffer higher than normal rates of cancer, tumors, spontaneous abortion, and diminished IQs, and the cause is believed to be high levels of contaminants in the soil and water. In 2007 China's Ministry of Health reported that between 2005 and 2007 cancer rates from pollution rose 19 percent in urban areas and 23 percent in rural areas. Urban NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) protests have exacerbated the problem by pushing factories, including a chemical plant scheduled to be built in Xiamen, into the countryside, where the residents are often too poor or too uninformed to stop them.
Nonetheless, increasing pollution problems have sparked a growing number of protests, mainly in rural areas. One reason is that farmers have suffered increasing losses because they can't sell their "toxic" harvests. The number of class action suits against polluters is also growing, and with the help of Chinese environmental groups and lawyers, some pollution victims are winning their cases.
The Broader Implications
China's pollution reaches far beyond its borders. Annual sandstorms caused by desertification in the country's northeast close schools and airports in South Korea and Japan, and Chinese sand has even been found in the Grand Canyon. California and other west coast states claim that particulates from Chinese coal-fired power plants are nullifying progress they've made under the Clean Air Act. To some extent, these consequences are a hidden cost we pay for being able to buy cheap manufactured goods from China, but this transboundary pollution also provides an opportunity for international collaboration—the state of California and Jiangsu Province are now working with the Natural Resources Defense Council to promote energy efficiency in the province.
The Olympics have highlighted China's struggle with pollution. Although the government has spent close to $12 billion to clean up Beijing's air, world-record marathon runner Haile Gebrselassie pulled out of the Beijing Olympics, explaining that he was concerned about the air quality. Some countries' teams will stay offshore and fly in only for their events. Team USA plans to bring its own food, citing recent scares about Chinese food safety.
Initiatives to Alleviate the Problem
China's central government is taking pollution seriously. In the past two years it has amended, revised, and added teeth to its car emission standards, energy conservation law, environmental impact assessment law, and water pollution control law. The main constraint in implementing these laws is the inherent decentralized structure of the government: Local governments have both the power and the incentive to favor economic growth over pollution control. One attempt to rectify this imbalance was a pilot Green GDP program that rewarded officials for their environmental performance; though widely supported by Chinese citizens, the program ended in 2007 because of opposition from local governments, which claimed the process wasn't scientific. The state's environmental protection agency has also partnered with more powerful financial agencies to put polluting industries on blacklists so they won't receive loans or export permits.
One promising sign that environmental protection has been given higher priority came in March 2008, when the environmental protection agency was promoted to a ministry and given more funding and six new regional offices—all of which could increase its capacity to enforce environmental laws. Over the past dozen years nongovernmental environmental organizations have also been given more political space in which to operate, though so far few have used that space to fight more aggressively against pollution.
Since 1997 the China Environment Forum (CEF) has been creating programming and publications to encourage dialogue among U.S., Chinese, and Asian policymakers, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, and researchers on environmental and energy challenges in China. With generous support from USAID, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Waters Corporation, CEF is focusing on the impact of polluted air, water, and land on human health and food safety as well as on the policies and activism that offer solutions.
Cho, Jung-Myung and Suzanne Giannini-Spohn. "Environmental and Health Threats From Cement Production in China."
China Environmental Health Brief (2007).
Ellis, Linden and Jennifer Turner. "Surf and Turf: Environmental and Food Safety Concerns of China's Aquaculture and Animal Husbandry." China Environment Series (Issue 9, 2008).
Economy, Elizabeth. "The Great Leap Backwards."
Foreign Affairs (September/October 2007).
OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: China. OECD, 2007.
"Survey of Rural Pollution to Start Next Year." China Daily, December 14, 2007.
Taylor, Jerome. "Air Pollution Forces Star to Pull Out of Olympic Marathon."
Independent, March 11, 2008.
Turner, Jennifer and Juli Kim. "China's Filthiest Export." Foreign Policy in Focus (February 2007).
Other Resources
"1m [million] People Short of Drinking Water in Guangxi."
Xinhua, December 17, 2007.
Blanchard, David Jorge Perez Izquierdo. "Taming the Dragon." Industry Week (November 2007), 28.
"China to Set Resource-Based Cities on Path of Sustainable Development." Xinhua, November 28, 2007.
"China's Environmental Chief Reiterates Measures to Combat Water Pollution." Xinhua, November 20, 2007.
Country Profile: China. BBC News Online.
Economy, Elizabeth. "Scorched Earth: Will Environmental Risks in China Overwhelm Its Opportunities?"
Harvard Business Review (June 2007). (Summary.)
Economy, Elizabeth. "The Great Leap Backward?"
Foreign Affairs (September/October 2007).
Bolin, He and Wu Jiao. "Survey of Rural Pollution to Start Next Year." China Daily, December 14, 2007.
Liu, Jiangou and Jared Diamond. "Science and Government: Revolutionizing China's Environmental Protection." Science (January 4, 2008), 37-38.
Xiaohua, Sun. "Public Yet to Read the Green of Environment." China Daily, January 8, 2008.
"Survey Finds Chinese Concerned With Pollution-Related Food Safety." Xinhua, January 8, 2008.
China's Famous Yellow River Is Fading. BBC.
Gifford, Rob. "Yellow River: A Journey Through China." NPR audio slideshow, December 10, 2007.
The following is a list of sources used for the "China by the Numbers" pages in the May 2008 issue of National Geographic magazine.
China's one-child policy created a generation of only children that numbers 90 million.
"According to three surveys carried out by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 1982, 1993 and 1997, more than half of urban families in China are 'core families' consisting of a father, a mother and a child." "Changes in Chinese Family." National Population and Family Planning Commission of China.
"In the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of the mainland of China, there were 348.37 million family households with a population of 1,198.39 million persons. The average size of family household was 3.44 persons, or 0.52 persons less as compared with the 3.96 persons of the 1990 population census." "Major Figures of the 2000 Population Census (No. 1), National Bureau of Statistics, People's Republic of China."
National Population and Family Planning Commission of China, March 28, 2001.
Feinian Chen, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, North Carolina State University
"90m Chinese Grow Up as 'Only' Children." China Daily, January 20, 2007.
119 baby boys are born for every 100 girls.
"Number of Young Unmarrieds in China Increases." National Population and Family Planning Commission, December 11, 2007.
Hudson, Valerie M., and Andrea M. Den Boer. "Bare Branches and Security in Asia." Harvard Asia Pacific Review (Winter 2007), 18-20.
Hudson, Valerie M., and Andrea M. Den Boer. "Missing Women and Bare Branches: Gender Balance and Conflict." Environmental Change and Security Program Report (Issue 11, 2005).
The number of unmarried young men–called bare branches–is predicted to be 30 million by 2020.
Hudson, Valerie M., and Andrea M. Den Boer. "Missing Women and Bare Branches: Gender Balance and Conflict." Environmental Change and Security Program Report (Issue 11, 2005).
Hudson, Valerie M., and Andrea M. Den Boer. "Missing Women and Bare Branches: Gender Balance and Conflict." Environmental Change and Security Program Report (Issue 11, 2005).
Valerie Hudson, Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University
Laurel Bossen, Department of Anthropology, McGill University
45 percent of Chinese women surveyed say they do not want to give up their careers to get married.
The survey was done in 2004 by the Women's Study Center at Peking University.
Mullen, Mark, and Alex Johnson. "On-the-go Chinese Women in No Hurry to Wed: Younger Generation, Outnumbered by Men, Can Build Careers and Wait." NBC News, October 16, 2007.
Three in ten Chinese families have grandparents living in the same household.
Chen, Feinian. "Patterns of Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren." In The Family and Social Change in Chinese Societies, ed. Dudley L. Poston, Jr., and Wen Shan Yang. Springer Publishers (forthcoming). Also presented as a paper at the 2005 annual meeting of the Population Association of America.
Feinian Chen, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, North Carolina State University
Beijing enforces a one-dog policy that prohibits pets more than 14 inches high.
Kerry Branon, International Fund for Animal Welfare. According to Branon, Beijing's "Dog Keeping Regulation" was adopted at the sixth session of the 12th Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee, on September 5, 2003; it went into effect on October 15, 2003.
Cody, Edward. "Dog Owner Takes on China's Web Censors."
Washington Post, December 26, 2007.
China is expected to overtake the U.S. as the world's largest economy in ten years.
World Bank. China Data Profile.
"Recalculating China's GDP: Clipping the Dragon's Wings." Economist (December 19, 2007).
Elwell, Craig K., and others. "Is China a Threat to the U.S. Economy?" Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, January 23, 2007.
"China Set to Be the Largest Economy." BBC News, May 22, 2006.
China has the world's highest number of annual deaths triggered by air pollution.
Anthony J. Hedley, Department of Community Medicine, University of Hong Kong. Hedley says that China and India may have a similar rate of premature deaths due to air pollution, but China has a larger population, so it has more deaths triggered by pollution.
"Estimated Deaths and DALYs Attributable to Selected Environmental Risk Factors, by WHO Member State, 2002." World Health Organization, January 2007.
"Methods for Quantifying Environmental Health Impacts." World Health Organization, 2007.
"Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environments: Towards an Estimate of the Environmental Burden of Disease."
World Health Organization, 2007.
"China: Country Profiles of Environmental Burden of Disease." World Health Organization, 2007.
"Environment Health Country Profile—China."
World Health Organization, June 9, 2005.
Platt, Kevin Holden. "Chinese Air Pollution Deadliest in World, Report Says," National Geographic News, July 9, 2007.
Hotz, Robert Lee. "Huge Dust Plumes
From China Cause
Changes in Climate."
Wall Street Journal, July 10, 2007.
Urban Chinese earn more than three times as much as those in rural areas, the highest income gap since the start of reforms in 1978.
"China Population Data Sheet 1." National Population and Family Planning
Commission of China, 2002. In 2001 rural Chinese earned an average of 2,366 RMB, while urban Chinese earned 6,860 RMB, or 2.86 times the rural figure.
"Rural-Urban Income Gap Still Widening." National Population and Family Planning
Commission of China, December 27, 2007.
Mi Diao and others. "Urban-Rural Disparity in Post-reform China." China Rural Development Center, September 9, 2004.
Dobson, Wendy, and others. "The Contradiction in China's Gradualist Banking Reforms, Comments and Discussion." Brookings Panel on Economic Activity, September 2006.
Public protests rose by 50 percent in 2006.
According to Joshua Rosenzweig of the Dui Hua Foundation, arrests for state security crimes, including public protests, doubled in 2006.
According to Reporters Without Borders's "China Annual Report 2008," in 2007 China arrested and imprisoned more than 100 of its own journalists and Internet users on charges related to covering banned subjects, and it arrested or harassed 180 foreign correspondents.
Fan, Maureen. "State Security Arrests in China Doubled in '06, Group Reports."
Washington Post, November 29, 2007.
One in four residents of Beijing is a migrant from the country.
Zai Liang, Department of Sociology, SUNY Albany
Statements by Yu Xiuqin, deputy director and spokeswoman of the Beijing Municipal Statistics Bureau.
"Beijing Sees Annual Growth of 520,000 in Population." Xinhua News Agency, January 21, 2008.
67 percent of millionaires surveyed say they are sacrificing health for money.
This figure is based on health checks of and interviews with 123 men and 60 women from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou by the Ciming Health Checkup Company of Beijing.
"China's New Rich Not Healthy." Xinhua News Agency, September 3, 2007.
China has the world's largest number of Internet users–220 million--surpassing Web surfers in the U.S.
"The 21st Statistical Survey Report on the Internet Development in China." China Internet Network Information Center, February 29, 2008.
"China Surpasses the US to Become the World's Largest Internet Population—BDA." Technewsreview, March 13, 2008.
Authorities have added 171 new pop culture phrases to China's national language registry.
Li Yuming, the Ministry of Education senior official in charge of standardizing the use of the modern Chinese language, also a professor of linguistics at Communication University of China.
"Modern Marriage, Mortgages Enter Chinese Lexicon." Reuters, August 21, 2007.
"New Words for New World." Xinhua News Agency, September 17, 2007.
31 percent of Chinese 16 or older say they are religious, four times the official estimate a decade ago.
This finding was based on "a poll of 4,500 people conducted by professors at East China Normal University in Shanghai," including Liu Zhongyu , a philosophy professor. Cody, Edward. "Poll Finds Surge of Religion Among Chinese."
Washington Post, February 8, 2007.
Raman, B. "China in Hu's Colours, Part IV."
Chenai Center for China Studies, C3S Paper No. 66, October 27, 2007.
Saiget, Robert J. "China's Rising Number of Young Christians Gear Up for Easter." China Post, April 7, 2007.
French, Howard W. "Religious Surge in Once-Atheist China Surprises Leaders." New York Times, March 4, 2007.
Cell phones in China have grown from 87 million in 2000 to 432 million today.
In 2008 the number was updated to 600 million cell phones.
Morrison, Wayne M. "China-U.S. Trade Issues." Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, March 7, 2008.
Elwell, Craig K., and others. "Is China a Threat to the U.S. Economy?" Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, January 23, 2007.
32 percent of Chinese say the Internet broadens their sex life, compared with 11 percent in the U.S.
"America's Emobyte Deficit: China's Youth Surpass Their American Rivals Online."
Economist (November 27, 2007).
Last updated: May 13, 2008


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Saying Sorry @ RomanceClass -
sorry about my temper
I'm sorry i hurt, you. You see ur duh one ho hurt mii.Kind of, hehe ur not worthy of anything. But I am. Very , i neva ment to hurt you the way you hurt ed mii. And i dont lovee u.Now a days when u like someone we always say i love .Like NOO shut up!! but seriously i nevaa meant to hurt u. Ur the one ho cheated on mii, not technically because u didnt actually go out with someone, but wat i mean izz daht, as soon as i broke up with u, u wrote diz beautiful poem too ur x.... like forreal, dahts how i know u never cared bout mii, yuh just wanted to play, cause u know every body likes mii (cause dey all mannwhores),soo yuh just wanted demm to be impressed, cause u know i rejected all of dem -__- go f*ck urself. i was kinda jealous, because like ho does daht?? apparently u du, -__- ... and am glad i dumped ur *ss, i wasnt proud of it, but i waited a little too see duh real u, and am gladd i did daht. But now.. yuh could SMD. Anyways my point izz. I'm sorry duh way i handled it. I never meant to embarrassed to like daht.I did it overboardd. Sorry, i gotta bad temper. Ps : lol, i know ur thinkinn like wtf, is dis, but w.e i just started readinn all dis cr*pp and i added my own, cause i want yuh guys to rate it, and tell mii did u guys actually like all dis drama... like du u find it entertaining...Imaoo am in Middle skool soo i guess yah went through dis already. But to be honest am Confuse with all dis.
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Hogan Lovells Advises NAMA on Sale of £660m Maybourne Hotel Group Debt
13 October 2011
Hogan Lovells had advised NAMA in April this year on a restructuring of facilities originally provided by Anglo Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland to the Maybourne Hotels Group, owner of prestigious London hotels The Berkeley, Claridge's and The Connaught, which had previously been transferred to NAMA under the NAMA Act 2009.
The Hogan Lovells team advising NAMA on the sale was led by London Business Restructuring and Insolvency partner Paul McLoughlin, assisted by senior associate Stuart Tait.
Commenting on the transaction, Paul said:
"Hogan Lovells has been advising NAMA since November 2010 in relation to the facilities acquired and we are pleased, almost a year later, to have completed the sale of the debt. We hope to continue what has been a successful working relationship with NAMA."
Hogan Lovells advised NAMA on English law and Maples and Calder advised on Irish law.
About Hogan Lovells
Hogan Lovells combines the breadth of business-oriented legal advice and high-quality service that clients have come to expect through working with its two founding firms – Hogan & Hartson and Lovells.
"Hogan Lovells" or the "firm" refers to the international legal practice including Hogan Lovells International LLP and Hogan Lovells US LLP. Hogan Lovells International LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC323639. Registered office and principal place of business: Atlantic House, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2FG. Hogan Lovells US LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in the District of Columbia.
The word "partner" is used to refer to a member of Hogan Lovells International LLP or a partner of Hogan Lovells US LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications, and to a partner, member, employee or consultant in any of their affiliated businesses who has equivalent standing. Where case studies are included, results achieved do not guarantee similar outcomes for other clients.


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Join Shopmaster and MadScientist06 as they host another exciting Game Changers Radio Show. In this episode Shopmaster and Madscientist06 talk about this past weekend's Virgin Gaming Challenge Series, the stream was live and everyone had an opinion about the coverage. We'll discuss it all from FIFA to NHL and we'll have Special Guest Eric "Problem" Wright; the Madden Challenge Series Champion, with us on the line to help recap his run to another Championship. As Community Days approach Shopmaster let's you know his "Top 10″ day 1 fixes.
You'll hear all of that plus more on the next Game Changers Radio which will be airing live Tuesday February 12th @ 9:00pm est.
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Executive Summary
Growing economy and rising disposable incomes is driving the Meat market in Hungary. The market is being led by the Chilled Raw Packaged Meat - Processed category and the Ambient Meat category is forecast to register the fastest growth during 2015-2020. Hypermarkets and Supermarkets is the leading distribution channel in the country. Bonafarm Group and Debreceni Group are the leading players in Hungary's Meat market.
Key Findings
- The Meat market in Hungary is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.9% in value terms during 2015-2020.
- The 'Chilled Raw Packaged Meat - Processed' category has the highest volume share in the overall Meat market.
- The Ambient Meat category is expected to register maximum gain in market share during 2015-2020.
- Hypermarkets and Supermarkets is the leading distribution channel across all categories in the Hungarian Meat market.
- Gallicoop is the leading brand in the Frozen Meat category in Hungary.
- Private label products in the Ambient Meat category registered the fastest growth during 2012-2015.
- Rigid Plastics is the most commonly used packaging material in the Hungarian Meat market.
Canadean's Consumer and Market Insights report on the Meat market in Hungary provides insights on high growth categories to target, trends in the usage of packaging materials, types and closures category level distribution data and brands market shares.
What else is contained?
- Market data: Overall market value and volume data with growth analysis for 2010-2020
- Category coverage: Value and growth analysis for Ambient Meat, Chilled Raw Packaged Meat - Processed, Chilled Raw Packaged Meat - Whole Cuts, Cooked Meats - Counter, Cooked Meats - Packaged, Fresh Meat (Counter), and Frozen Meat with inputs on individual segment share within each category and the change in their market share forecast for 2015-2020
- Leading players: Market share of brands and private labels, including private label growth analysis from 2012-2015
- Distribution data: Percentage of sales within each category through distribution channels such as Hypermarkets and Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Food and Drinks Specialists and others in 2015
- Packaging data: consumption breakdown for packaging materials and containers in each category, in terms of percentage share of number of units sold. Packaging material data for Flexible Packaging, Rigid Metal, Rigid Plastics, and others; container data for: Tray, Can-Food, Bag/Sachet, Film, and others
Reasons To Buy
- Identify high potential categories and explore further market opportunities based on detailed value and volume analysis
- Existing and new players can analyze key distribution channels to identify and evaluate trends and opportunities
- Gain an understanding of the total competitive landscape based on detailed brand share analysis to plan effective market positioning
Read More
Contact Us:
- Report Scope
Country Context
- Macroeconomic indicators - GDP Per Capita, Population, Consumer Price Index and Age Profile
- Retail and foodservice figures - Key Takeaways
Market Overview and Consumer Demographics
- Value and volume analysis for the Hungarian Meat market
- Impact of exchange rate fluctuations on the Hungarian Meat market
- Volume analysis by category
- Market value and growth rates, by category
- Historic and forecast value analysis by category
- Winners and losers by categories with change in market share
- Segment share in a category (value terms) and change in market share
- Average category level pricing
- Volume consumption analysis by gender, age, education and urbanization - at category level
Retail Landscape and Key Distribution Channels
- Leading retailers in the Hungarian Food market
- Leading distribution channels (value terms) in the Hungarian Meat market
- Leading distribution channels (value terms) by category
Competitive Landscape
- Market share of leading brands (in value terms) by category and segment
- Penetration of private label by category in the Hungarian Meat market
- Private label growth (in value terms) compared to brands
- Meat market by type of packaging material/container (in volume terms)
- Meat market by type of packaging closure/outer (in volume terms)
- Meat market by type of packaging, forecast (in volume terms)
Innovation examples
- New products launched in the European Meat market
- Country context
- Category value and volume data
- Consumer Demographics data
- Sector Overview
- Segment data
- Packaging data
- Category definitions
- Segment definitions
- Channel definitions
- Methodology
- About Canadean
Figure 1: Macro economic analysis: GDP per capita, Population, CPI (2010-2015), Age Profile (2015)
Figure 2: Foodservice transactions by sectors, profit and cost, 2015
Figure 3: Market volume analysis, 2010-2020
Figure 4: Market volume share analysis by category, 2015
Figure 5: Market value growth analysis by category, 2010-2020
Figure 6: Historic and forecast value analysis by category, 2010-2020
Figure 7: Change in market share by category, 2015-2020
Figure 8: Category volume consumption by age, gender, education and urbanisation,2015
Figure 9: Leading distribution channels, overall Food, 2011-2014
Figure 10: Leading distribution channels, overall Meat market, 2015
Figure 11: Leading distribution channels by category, 2015
Figure 12: Brand share analysis by category (by value), 2015
Figure 13: Private label penetration by category, 2015
Figure 14: Private label and brand share growth, 2012-2015
Figure 15: Packaging analysis - key packaging material, container, closure and outer type, 2015
Figure 16: Growth in key packaging material, container, closure and outer type, 2015-2020
Table 1: Country Indicators - overall food value and volume, 2015
Table 2: Market value analysis in HUF and USD, 2010-2020
Table 3: Market volume growth analysis, 2010-2020
Table 4: Exchange rate fluctuations: USD to HUF
Table 5: Market volume growth, by category, 2015-2020
Table 6: Segment level analysis by category, 2015
Table 7: Average price per kg comparison by categories
Table 8: Leading retailers
Table 9: Leading brands by category, 2015
Single User License:
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Corporate User License:
Unilever PLC
DEKO Vleeswarenfabriek NV
Zwanenberg Food Group B.V.
HAMe s.r.o.
Merian Foods Kft.
Zaklady Miesne WERBLINSKI Sp. z o.o.
Szegedi Paprika Zrt.
Bonafarm Group
Kometa 99 ZRt
Debreceni group
Zador-hus Kft.
Gyulai Huskombinat Zrt.
Hormel Foods Corporation
Bernard Matthews Holdings Ltd.
Hungerit Zrt.
Premium Bacon Kft.
Wiesbauer-Dunahus Kft
Zimbo Perbal Kft.
Landhof GesmbH & Co KG
Papa Meat 1913 Ltd.
Kaiser Food Kft.
asz-Kolbasz Kft.
Hod Golan
Lac-Hus Kft
Selection Gourmand
Pannon Lud Kft.
Rex Ciborum
Victus Emak Sp.�Zoo
Horvath Rozi
Hercsihus Kft
Tetrabbit Kft
The Gastor Poultry
Gallicoop Turkey Processing LTD
Jegtrade Kft.
Babolna elelmiszeripari Kft.
Plusfood (a Brasil Foods resze)
MAR-NE-VaLL LTD.
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My teacher responded to a poem a student had written about his suicide attempt. The room fell silent. Everyone else in the room was Black but her. "I mean, I didn't think they had serious problems," she added.
Sitting there in the classroom, I thought that had to be the most ignorant comment I had ever heard in my life. Now that slavery was abolished, the Civil Rights movement over and some African-Americans upwardly mobile, everything was alright? Blacks did not have any more problems? Wrong!
I found my teacher's statement absolutely offensive. But later, realized I had never thought about suicide among African-American teenagers either. Even though I had considered suicide myself, I didn't think that other Black kids did.
I Thought Suicide Was a White Thing
Like my teacher, I guess I thought suicide was more of a problem with White teens. Teen suicides talked about in the media were always White. If Blacks of any age were committing suicide, I had never heard about it in the news or on TV. Suicide never came up in a conversation with my friends, and my parents never talked about it.
My teacher's ignorance as well as my own led me to do further research on Blacks and suicide. I now know suicide is a real problem in the Black community and that I'm not the only Black teen who has ever thought about it.
My teacher and I weren't totally wrong to see suicide as a problem for White teens more than for Black teens. Until recently, White teens committed suicide at a much higher rate than Black teens, according to reports. But over the last 20 years, the rate of Black teen suicide has increased dramatically.
Paying More Attention to Suicide in the Black Teen Community
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 1980, the suicide rate for Whites aged 10-19 was 157% greater than that of Blacks. However, by 1995 there was only a 42% difference. Although Whites are still more likely to commit suicide than blacks, the suicide rate for all African-Americans doubled between 1980 and 1996.
These statistics startled me. I wondered why there was such a dramatic increase in Black suicides. Dr. Juliet Glinski, of the Montefiore Medical Center, suggests that medical officials may be identifying suicide as a cause of death more frequently because education about suicide is more a part of their training than it used to be.
"Is there an increase among Black teenagers or in fact are we paying more attention to the problem?" said Alan Ross, executive director of the Samaritans of New York, a suicide prevention organization. "When you pay more attention to a problem, you become more aware of the number of people suffering from it," he says.
Possible Causes of the Increased Rate of Black Teen Suicide
Black Teens Get Depressed, Too
It's also possible that there are simply more Black teens committing suicide than in the past. But what could be making more Black people end their lives? For some, the same reasons as White people, such as depression, social isolation and hopelessness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the most common reasons given for attempted suicides by teen suicide survivors were a conflict with a boyfriend or girlfriend, an argument with parents and school problems. And gay teens of all backgrounds have a much higher rate of suicide because they often feel conflicted about or ashamed of their sexuality.
"Certainly the warning signs of suicide and the risk factors that touch all teenagers would be there for Black teenagers," said Ross.
When it comes to the motivations to commit suicide, Ross said, "there is no difference between us." Just like White teens, Black teens have had exposure to conflicts and sexual identity issues.
Depression and Isolation a Cause of Black Teen Suicide
Is there anything that might account for the dramatic increase in suicides among African-Americans? Donna H. Barnes, one of the founders of the National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide, notes that depression, which often goes undiagnosed, is on the increase among African-Americans.
This might be because, says Barnes, "Blacks are being taken away from the traditional Black community and moving into White communities. Blacks feel isolated."
Barnes mentions that since the Civil Rights movement produced advances in law and equality, there are more opportunities available to Blacks than there used to be. Because of this, though, when they fail they may begin to blame themselves instead of the system. This can lead to depression and suicide.
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There are still plenty of opportunities to participate in the "Every Hero Has a Story" summer reading program at the Mary P. Shelton Library in Georgetown.
Ronald McDonald will be demonstrating his "magic super powers" in the meeting room from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8. Sidekicks, heroes and villains should collect their next word bracelet and sign up for door prizes.
The Mary P. Shelton Library joins the Courthouse Square Association, on the courthouse square, to present a newly released movie sequel about a famous mall cop who proves a hero is never off duty at 9 p.m., Friday, July 17.
Freshly popped popcorn and door prizes will be provided free of charge, courtesy of a donation to the Mary P. Shelton Library. In the case of rain, the movie will be moved to the Gaslight Theater.
Buckeye Search and Rescue Dogs will be visiting the Mary P. Shelton Library 6 p.m., July 22. Meet the dogs and handlers and learn about their training. Collect your next super word bracelet and sign up for door prizes.
All family nights and events are free to the public and designed for all ages. Registration is not required. For more information, call the library at 937-378-3197 or visit the website at www.browncountypubliclibrary.org.


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This weekend's Trifextra challenge:
Describe something that is three different things at the same time, in 33 words.
I used to dream of being buried in my birthplace half-way around the world. Now, home is the roof that stretches over my children's heads and the land in which they are rooted.
To submit your entry, please click on the Trifecta button above for this weekend's prompt and detailed directions. Follow www.trifectawritingchallenge.com for its weekly Trifecta and weekend Trifextra prompts and to read other amazing entries!


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Calendar of Events
Here is a calendar of upcoming BIA-MA Support Groups, Events, Conferences, and Workshops.
Use the arrows on the top left corner of the calendar to switch between months and see what events we have planned. Click on an individual event for more details!
It is a good idea to call the listed contact of the individual event if:
- You are attending a support group for the first time
- There is inclement weather
- The group falls within a major holiday timeframe


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Take a look at the below list of Top 10 Most Humorous Jokers In The World of all time till 2017. Jokes are good because they make us laugh and forget life stress. This is why jokers are important in the society. They are crack jokes which leave people's ribs aching. There are many jokers in the world. Even though there is no specific parameter for rating jokers, there are those that are known for the exceedingly humorous jokes. You can't help laughing regardless of whether you are bored or not. Some of them have funny faces that will make you begin to laugh even before they make any utterance. You are probably interested in knowing some of the most humorous jokers in the world. Just relax. Here is a list of top 10 most humorous jokers in the world of all time till 2017.
List of Top 10 Most Humorous Jokers In The World of all time till 2017
10. Louis. C.K
This interesting joker is known for his exemplary performance when cracking jokes on stage. He is very creative and takes advantage of the situation to create new jokes that usually send the audience into laughter. He is liked by many fans because of his honesty. Even though he has a frank attitude on stage, some people consider him bitter. His jokes mainly revolve around kids. Some people believe that he hates kids because his jokes speak negative things about children. Nevertheless, he is a great comedian whose jokes will stand a test of time.
9. Dennis Leary
He started his career in comedy as a stand up comedian. He would live many people laughing uncontrollably. His game is still up and many people admire his unique jokes. He has performed in different places in the world. Thanks to his irresistible jokes. He is extremely humorous and this has earned him not only fame but also good money. He is currently working in a number of TV shows as a comedian.
8.Robbin Williams
During his time as a comedian, Robbin's shows were full of energy. He would drive his fans insane. He was very talented. He had the exceptional ability to crack several jokes within a short period of time. This would leave his fans laughing non-stop. He is regarded as one of the best stand up comedians. His extraordinary ability made him popular in the comedy industry. He later on began acting movies and eventually quit comedy.
7.Rodney Dangerfield
Even though retired from comedy, Rodney will still be remembered as the most humorous comedian the world has ever had. He was so gifted and would crack funny jokes at perfect times . His stage performance was outstanding. He inspired many talents. Most of the people he insipired are now comedians. He was maestro in stand up comedy.
6. Steve Martins
His comedy mainly featured great pick up lines. This would send the audience in continous laughter. The most impressive thing about Steve Martins is that he was very versatile. Unlike other comedians who mainly concentrated on cracking jokes, Steve Martins could also sing besides making rib-cracking jokes. He was and is still adored by many comedy enthusiasts.
5. Eddie Murphy
During his time as an active comedian, Eddie Murphy was fond of impersonating famous personalities. This made him stand out from other comedians. He is also known for his super stage performance that leaves many fans wanting more. He later on ventured in acting. Many people still remember him as a very humorous comedian. He is dearly missed in the comedy industry. He is one of the world's most Humorous Jokers in 2017.
4. Lenny Bruce
He was the Most Humorous Jokers in The World of All Time. Bruce shook the comedy industry, taking it to another level. He will be remembered forever for his immense contribution in comedy. He was however contraversial and this landed him in jail. His choice of topics was awesome.
3. George Carlin
He had his own style of making people smile. He was loved because of this. In his comedy, he would make people laugh at the top of their voices by prophesizing about dooms day. He was very pessimistic and liked talking about wars and how it helps to eliminate human beings from the face of the earth.
2. Richard Pryor
His jokes revolved around demons inside people. He also talked about how different human races relate. People liked him because of his versatility. He had the ability to crack jokes on virtually anything that came in his mind. His fame spread like wildfire. He however began to use drugs such as cocaine and this negatively affected his comedy career. His jokes were inspired by personal issues. He is one of the most humorous jokers in the comedy industry.
1. Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks likes pointing at people when cracking jokes on stage. His interest is to see people deviate their attention from this commerce dominated world. His wish has always been to see a world where people share love instead of focusing on business. He cracks very funny jokes that usually leave the audience yelling for more. He is urguably the most humorous jokers in the comedy industry.
The above are the top 10 most humorous jokers in the world of all time till 2017. Some are still active while others have already retired from the comedy industry. But their rib cracking jokes makes them relevant up to day. If you watch their performance, you shall surely laugh your ribs off.


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Hi, here is some info about me so that GirlOfTheForestGreen won't be a complete blank to you:
I'm 13
A girl (obviously)
Things that I like: nature, zebras, turtles, lizards, the color green, strategy, and I'm kinda tomboyish though I dress normal.
Things that I like to do: draw, write, read, run, farm, think.
A little of what I look like: I'm 5 foot 6 inches, long honey colored hair, freckles, green/brown eyes.
Favorite books: Percy Jackson series, Kane Chronicles, Eragon.


text:
By Rick Reeno
Sampson Lewkowicz, the adviser to WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, tells BoxingScene.com that his fighter is putting on a boxing clinic with his sparring partners. Martinez (50-2-2, 28KOs) will defend his title against unbeaten Martin Murray (25-0-1, 11KOs) on April 27th at Club Atletico in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Martinez is sparring with undefeated super middleweight prospect Julius Jackson (15-0, 11KOs), who Lewkowicz promotes under his Sampson Boxing banner. Jackson, 25, is very impressed with the speed, accuracy and power of the 38-year-old Martinez.
"Martinez is sparring with Julius Jackson Jr., the son of the legendary Julian "The Hawk" Jackson. I spoke to Jackson and he told me that Martinez is so fast, and so accurate, and so strong in training - that there is no way possible that Martin Murray will last beyond the eight round. He believes Martinez will 100% get the knockout within eight," Lewkowicz told BoxingScene.com.
Martinez himself has predicted a knockout victory in eight rounds or less.


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Eastern Michigan hires former Buckeye and Wolverine Heather Lyke as athletic director and vice president
Eastern Michigan University will turn over the reins of the athletic department to a longtime Buckeye with Wolverine roots.
Heather Lyke has been hired as Eastern Michigan University's new athletic director and vice president, the university announced on Monday. Lyke has spent the past nine years as a senior associate athletic director at Ohio State University. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1992 and was a four-year letter-winner on the softball team under Carol Hutchins.
Lyke's contract is for five years at an annual salary of $245,000 plus incentives based on championship and bowl appearances, academics, attendance, and more. Lyke replaces Derrick Gragg who spent seven years at the helm of Eastern Michigan's athletic department before accepting the same position at Tulsa University in March. Gragg made $200,000 in his final year at EMU. Gragg's last day was April 17. Melody Reifel Werner has been the interim athletic director since Gragg's departure.
"I am honored and excited to be named the Director of Athletics at Eastern Michigan University," Lyke said in a release. "This is a tremendous opportunity to become a part of a dynamic leadership team. I am eager to serve and build great relationships with president Martin and the university leadership, the faculty, our student-athletes, coaches and staff, alumni and donors, and the greater Ypsilanti and Michigan community. Eastern Michigan has a rich history of athletic success and academic achievement. I look forward to being part of the continued success of Eastern Michigan University as we help shape the next generation of leaders and achieve even greater accomplishments."
Lyke has spent the past 17 years working in intercollegiate athletics, the past 15 of which have been at Ohio State and nine at her current position under the direct tutelage of Smith.
In her current role at OSU, Lyke is a member of the athletic department's executive team and is responsible for the assessment, design and development of the department's strategic plan. She directly oversees 10 of OSU's 36 athletic programs and manages and supervises 31 full-time coaches and staff. She also has oversight over all facets of the athletic councils involving budget oversight, revenue generation and facilities as well as the golf course operations.
Ohio State had a total revenue of $142,043,057 versus expenses of $124,419,412, second highest in the nation according to USA Today and was one of few Division I programs operating in the black and receiving no subsidies. Eastern Michigan is at the opposite end of the spectrum with $29,062,905 in revenue versus $27,798,118 in expense, but with $24,298,925 in subsidies, according to USA Today.
Lyke supervised the sport performance division of the department, which includes the strength and conditioning coaches, athletic training staff and sports medicine staff. On a national level, Lyke has been active within the NCAA and Big Ten committee structure as a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Committee and Big Ten Sports Management Committee and previously served on the NCAA Softball Rules Committee and the NCAA Amateurism Committee.
Lyke's previous roles at OSU include associate athletic director for sport administration (2002-2012) and associate athletic director for sport administration, compliance and camp operations (1998-2002). Prior to Ohio State, Lyke was at the University of Cincinnati for two years, serving as the assistant athletic director for compliance as well as the senior woman administrator. Lyke began her athletics administrative career at the NCAA national office as an intern in the enforcement and student-athlete reinstatement department. Lyke also has worked for the Big Ten Network as a color analyst for softball games.
"Eastern Michigan University Athletics is defined by success on the field, in the classroom, and the overall well-being of our student athletes" said Francine Parker, chair of Eastern's Board of Regents. "Heather Lyke's background and experience in athletics administration, as a compliance officer and as a student-athlete, ensures Eastern's focus on the entire student-athlete experience will remain a top priority."
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 3:24 a.m.
"When I think of EMU, I think Everyone Must Unite" - Heather Lyke. Pass the barfing bag, please.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 11 p.m.
Welcome to EMU, Heather. I look forward to meeting you.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 7:35 p.m.
Welcome - I wish you the best. A challenging job to say the least.
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.
The entire Mid-American Conference is subsidized in some shape or another from general funds, student fees, etc. Hell, MOST of NCAA college athletics is in the red. While WMU and CMU are subsidized less from general funds and student fees, they also only offer 15 and 17 MAC sports, respectively. EMU has 20.
Tue, Jul 2, 2013 : 12:07 a.m.
Challenging in that when you make no money from the two revenue sports it puts you at a bit of a disadvantage. Compared to CMU and WMU, Eastern just can't bring in the cash for these two sports. Then, when the team down the road gets the majority of the fans, support, and headlines, it makes for a challenging job. As far as the other sports and level of competitive product put on the field, EMU is fine; I agree with you. I for one wish that the football 'albatross' went away and Eastern opted for a league like the Horizon or Summit where football does not exist and therefore does not drain the budget. Still personally waiting since 1980 for two consecutive winning seasons. He'll, one would be good!
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 10:54 p.m.
Why is it challenging? EMU' s athletic department is pretty good outside of MBB and football. They rank third all time in terms of MAC titles won.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 7:31 p.m.
Just out of curiosity, what percent of female AD's are out there in this Division? how does that compare to Division 1?
Pete Cunningham
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 10:57 p.m.
Lyke is the first female AD in EMU's history and is there are just six female AD's out of 228 NCAA Division I athletic departments.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 8:08 p.m.
last time I checked EMU is Division 1.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 7:30 p.m.
20% cost increase for the position? No wonder tuition is up each year! No brick and motor business operates this way, but public institutions....amazing. I am certain she is qualified and all, but doesn't anyone care about the students?
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 7:46 p.m.
Agree with you, but Eastern just offloaded a bunch of senior administrators... presumably to make room on the salary rolls for increased compensation for folks like this.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.
Welcome to EMU, Heather. We look forward to you building on the successes of Derrick Gragg.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 10:53 p.m.
And without the NCAA violations and other unethical practices by Gragg's hires.
Mon, Jul 1, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
Welcome Heather! As an Alumnus (93), I wish you all the best!:)


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Not very many people can say they've scored a mention in a Jay-Z rap verse, but Tomi Lahren can.
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