September 2008 Entries
Although the list of products recalled due to melamine concerns seems to grow a little every day, the number of those who have been affected seems more stable now.
If the melamine milk fiasco were only limited to baby formula, it would still be a national tragedy. Over 53,000 infants, and as many as 5% of infants in Shanghai alone, have been diagnosed with kidney stones. Unfortunately, the scandal’s scope is much more far-reaching, impacting a wide range of products and consumers. Here are a few: Cadbury Chocolate: Asia’s chocolate lovers have had a rude awakening. Cadbury PLC recalled all 11 of its products produced
Melamine in China's milk products has sickened over 54,000 infants, but the negative side effects of this milk aren't just limited to human beings; now two orangutans have been hospitalized with melamine-induced kidney stones. Of course, the orangutans aren’t the only others who have consumed amounts of melamine, a chemical that appears to add extra protein to foods, but is insoluble to humans. Neither were last year’s unsuspecting U.S. pets whose food also contained the toxic
Zhai Zhigang had a humble childhood in northeast China. His mother sold fried melon seeds to afford school for her six children, and that now effort has paid off. Zhai joined the army, worked his way up through the ranks, and was selected for the space program in 1996. Today he begins one of the most daunting challenges to date. Zhai will become the first Chinese citizen to walk in space. Zhai is one of three astronauts who today took off in the Shenzhou VII, China’s th
Although Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution guarantees its citizens freedom of religion, not everyone would say that they're free to worship without restrictions. Ongoing friction between the government and many in religious groups, like house churches, continues to challenge and test the limits of this religious freedom.
As more information surfaces in China's melamine milk crisis, the situation looks progressively worse. According to Chinese health officials, melamine in milk products has sickened about 53,000 throughout China, most of them babies. While most have been released, nearly 13,000 remain hospitalized, with 103 in serious condition. Four have already died.
There hasn't been much positive financial news this year- from failing banks to inflation and global food shortages. While China's stock market isn't looking much stronger than most of the rest of the world right now, its poverty reduction efforts have been much more rewarding.
Whether it's problems with toys, school safety, or baby formula, any quality control issue that affects children is especially troublesome for parents. For Chinese dairies, regaining the public's trust after the melamine milk scenario will be a daunting challenge.
When it comes to the melamine milk scandal, we still aren't seeing the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. The death toll has risen to four babies, and over a thousand remain hospitalized with kidney complications. Many expect these numbers to continue climbing, and parents nationwide are panicked over what to feed their children.
China's melamine milk fiasco remains a complex national crisis, dealing with a plethora of issues including business ethics, economic growth, government transparency, consumer safety . . . the list goes on. By comparison, the latest China scandal headlines don't really measure up.
News has gone from bad to worse for China's dairy farmers. First baby formula from Sanlu Dairy was on the hot seat, now 22 of 175 Chinese dairy firms, comprising 20% of China's domestic dairy supply, have recalled products due to melamine levels.
Just one month ago, China was reveling in its Olympic glory, with Michael Phelps winning his seventh gold medal. The pet food/toy/cough syrup/(your scandal here) problems of 2007 seemed like a distant memory, as citizens from all over the world came together for a collective kumbaya. Flash forward just one month, and the China coverage isn’t quite as glowing. Rather than hearing about the impressive achievements of the Paralympic athletes, we’ve been inundated with grav
How will our next president handle U.S.-China relations? Both Barack Obama and John McCain have published their perspectives for the monthly magazine produced by the American Chamber of Commerce in China.<
Last year it caused the untimely deaths of several dogs and cats in the U.S., and this year it's already killed at least one Chinese infant.
While athletes took center stage at much of the televised Olympic coverage, the Olympic hostesses faced some of the stiffest competition behind the scenes. Finding the right Olympic hostesses was fairly comparable to choosing the Rockettes in their prime, except China's population tops the U.S. by over a billion people.
Despite the heroic efforts of more than two thousand rescue workers, at least 128 are confirmed dead, and another 34 injured in Monday's landslide. Hundreds more in Shanxi province's Taoshi city might also be buried in the mud, and their chance for survival doesn't seem especially high.
China's famed Bird's Nest has been the site of many monumental events over the past few weeks, like Usain Bolt's incredible record-smashing sprints. Just because the Olympics are over, however, doesn't mean the venue is completely devoid of excitement, however.
If foreign policy experience were enough to win the White House, Joe Biden would have a clear advantage over the competition. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Biden stresses lofty goals, like strengthening American diplomacy. His website emphasizes his willingness to engage in bipartisan cooperation, and states that Biden "has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy."
It's pretty remarkable to watch the ongoing Sarah Palin media circus right now. When it comes to Obama, Biden, and McCain, you're just a brief Google search away from finding some of their past statements or legislations on a myriad of issues.