LHASA - Residents of southwest China's Tibet autonomous region have been mobilized for government-paid patrolling jobs to protect the ecosystem on the "roof of the world."The regional environmental department said on Monday that the government has created 620,000 jobs for forest wardens, patrollers in water source conservation areas and wildlife preservation workers.The department's figures suggested that since 2004, the regional government has spent 19.2 billion yuan (2.9 billion US dollars) to subsidize environmental jobs.All 3 million Tibetan residents can volunteer to choose these jobs, and most of them opt to do the work part time, according to the department.Purbu, 51, of Gyibo village in Xigaze city is a forest patroller responsible for reporting fire hazards.The cargo truck driver just spent 1 million yuan to build a new house. He said the annual pay of 6,000 yuan for patrolling does not matter much to him, but he is willing to patrol in the winter, when the fire risk is high."We have depended on the forest to live for generations. The government pays to have it protected. How could we not do something?" he said.The city's virgin forest, located 4,600 meters above sea level, yields abundant resources for farmers like Purbu.Qiao Liwen, a 12-year-old primary school student in Lhasa, the regional capital, is among the youngest patrollers.She and other students at Nanmuxiang Primary School pick up garbage on the street and throw it into a garbage classification and recycling station at the school, which they call the "Green Bank." charity silicone wristbandscustom rubber braceletsflash drive wristbandmake your own rubber braceletsilicone keychain
BEIJING -- A leading US expert on China studies said the ongoing 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China marks a "new historic starting point," believing it will exert influence on China and the world for decades to come. "Xi Jinping set out an audacious, grand vision for China's future development, which, without doubt, is the highlight of the political report," said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, commenting on the report Xi delivered to the 19th CPC National Congress on Wednesday. What impressed Kuhn was the report's "comprehensive scope" and that it "established the policies not only for the next five years, but framed the agenda and set the strategies for the next 30 years." While announcing socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a "new era," the CPC leader envisioned China with "socialist modernization basically realized" by 2035, and then developing into "a great modern socialist country" by the middle of the century with a leading influence in the world. That's why this congress has special significance as it marks the start of a five-year period that is the confluence of the two centenary goals, said Kuhn, who was at the Great Hall of the People as the co-producer and host of "Closer to China with R.L. Kuhn" on China Global Television Network when the report was delivered. "People orientation and rejuvenating the country, in the historic context of China's ancient civilization and long struggle against foreign oppression, form the foundation of the report," Kuhn said. The report also gave Kuhn, author of bestseller "How China's Leaders Think," a sense of how confident the Chinese leader and the country are in socialism and their commitment to deepening reform and strengthening rule of law. From the report, he also saw the "strict governance of the Party by reforming and purifying itself," which he said is "unambiguous." "The anti-corruption campaign not only continues but is enhanced," he added. On the economic front, Kuhn saw the increasing role of innovation, especially in science and technology. Regarding military, he described the content concerning military reform and modernization as "open and specific." From the report, he also saw China's sovereignty as "sacrosanct" and its international engagement as "pro-active, confident and growing." It impressed Kuhn that "the leadership of China, led by Xi, has a profound understanding of the country, its governance, economy and society, and is determined to bring about its great rejuvenation." "Xi gave a realistic appraisal of problems, including social imbalances, economic structure, endemic pollution," while making an "epic narrative of what China has remarkably achieved, what China has yet to do, and what China envisages as necessary to be a great nation," he said. It is on this competence and accomplishment that the political legitimacy of the CPC is founded, said Kuhn. With this political report and the congress, Xi, who is the core of the CPC Central Committee and of the whole Party, sees China as standing at a new historic starting point and that socialism with Chinese characteristics is entering a new era, Kuhn added.
