This past week I spent working in Ningbo, and Hangzhou, China. They are both on the south/southwestern side of the greater Shanghai Area, part of the Yangtze River Delta. I have been in Ningbo many times, but never cease to be amazed, saddened, and excited about what is going on in areas such as these all around Asia. The rate of change in infrastructure (roads, buildings, power, availability of commercial and industrial goods, etc.) is amazing. The rampant pollution, absolute poverty and struggle to survive, to feed one's family, the 'Oh, well' attitude about one more person dying amongst 1.3 billion in the country, is saddening. The new opportunities for people to earn money, to take care of their families, and have capacity to ponder about why they are here on this earth is very exciting. I know money does not fix all things; look at the US! The opportunity to go beyond basic existence can often just result in idleness, and not a seeking after more cerebral and spiritual pursuits. At least the opportunity to pursue more than basic survival is arising now, and I do believe that is part of the reason for the resurgence and rapid growth of such pursuits now.
Odd in China, but observed a few times: in the background, there is clearly a church with a steeple.
Being in a river delta, water is everywhere, and flowing nowhere fast. The pollution and lack of infrastructure such as trash removal in outlying areas (we in Maine would call these cities!) makes these waters very questionable for more than moving goods on.
The land is not so fertile over here; pollution makes this worse. Notice the work to plant vegetables, but the dead trees.
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