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This Is Singapore Nicher: A Humble Bakery Stall in an Old School Coffee Shop 4
Students do their homework at a study area at the protest site on October 10, 2014 in Hong Kong.
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The Real Reason Hong Kong Government Pulled Out of Dialogue By Diana Zhang Epoch Times Staff
T
he Hong Kong government pulled out of negotiating with protesters after news broke that in 2012, Leung Chun-ying received a $6.5 million payment from an Australian engineering company. But the real reason for the pullout can’t be seen from the
surface. Leung has been Beijing’s man in Hong Kong as chief executive since early 2012. The Communist Party backed him—until now. People’s Daily, the Party mouthpiece, previously said that the Party trusts Leung and expects him to calm things down and close up the Umbrella Revolution. See Reason on Page 8
In fact, the Party would never give up anything in negotiations anyway, and it was just a tactic to gain time and soften things.
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Ebola Outbreak Ebola Response Surging, But So Is the Virus 7
Read the latest news and perspectives on Hong Kong: http://goo.gl/vrBsEl
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Germany’s Economy Germany’s Economy: The Real Story 6
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Man is free at the moment he wishes to be. Voltaire (1694–1778) , author, historian, and philosopher A FREE CHINA
180,244,967 people have renounced the Chinese Communist Party. See Page 11 for Details
Fandi Ahmad is the first Singapore sportstar to feature in Madame Tussauds Singapore. The wax figure captures a special moment in Singapore’s history when the Singapore Lions won the 1994 Malaysia cup with Fandi as captain. Madame Tussauds Singapore opens on 25 October 2014.
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Hong Kong Media Become Propaganda Tool to Attack Occupy Central
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By Li Zhen Epoch Times Staff Many Hong Kong media outlets have followed the line of the Chinese Communist Party in reporting on the Occupy Central democracy protests. In mainland China, the staterun media have described Occupy Central as illegal, destructive of Hong Kong, and the result of foreign interference. The world’s media have in general praised the students for being polite, peaceful, and orderly, and condemned the Hong Kong police for using tear gas and pepper spray to disperse peaceful protesters on Sept 29. When the Hong Kong newspapers Wenweipo and Ta Kung Pao reported on the events of Sept 29, they published articles condemning Occupy Central for causing “a lot of chaos”. The Oriental Daily took a similar approach with an article entitled “Chaotic Protest Like Tides, Tear Gas Flies”. The report claimed that the students’ protest was “totally out of control”. When hundreds of anti-Occupy Central demonstrators suddenly appeared in groups and violently attacked pro-democracy protesters on Oct 3, Oriental Daily published a report showing sympathy and admiration for the attackers, titled “Citizens Angry, Voluntarily Cleared the Scene With Blood”. Many Hong Kong citizens who witnessed the attacks accused the police of colluding with triads and hiring gangsters to attack protesters. Others reported in
posts on the Internet and in comments to overseas media outlets that the attackers had a mainland Chinese accent. They said they suspected Beijing of having hired the attackers to create chaos. On Oct 4, Hong Kong Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) aired a video about a man holding a fruit knife who had removed a barricade set up by pro-democracy protesters. The report referred to the man as a “citizen”, meaning a Hong Kong citizen. Radio France International and Hong Kong’s iCable Television both interviewed this man and reported that he was from Shenzhen City, just across the border from Hong Kong in China’s Guangdong Province. The Office of the Communications Authority in Hong Kong says that there were at least 550 complaints that TVB had misled the public, was inaccurate and biased, and reported contrary to professional codes, according to Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong. A report by Sing Tao Daily of a tragic accident on Oct 4 shows how far some of the Hong Kong media outlets have gone to criticise Occupy Central. A Filipino maid was killed by a wall cabinet that accidentally fell on her when she was sleeping on the morning of Oct 4. Sing Tao Daily reported her death was caused by Occupy Central. The newspaper explained that the maid had slept in that morning because she did not need to accompany the family’s child to school, due to a school cancellation Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Students do their homework at a study area at the protest site on October 10, 2014 in Hong Kong.
A pro-democracy demonstrator places a message of support along a wall near the Hong Kong government headquarters on October 2, 2014.
caused by the Occupy Central protests. Miss Wu, a Master’s student in The Chinese University of Hong Kong, told Epoch Times that she noticed that some mainstream media in Hong Kong only reported the scenes of clashes and ignored protesters’ peaceful demonstrations. Miss Wu hoped Hong Kong media could objectively report the students’ appeals. She indicated that many student protesters do not want to be interviewed by Chinese language media due to the belief that they are biased. Hu Liyun, the International Federation of Journalists representative for the region of Hong Kong and China, said she is “very disappointed” to see the proCCP media’s reporting in Hong Kong. “In front of such a major incident, [the media] failed to present the facts that even ordinary citizens could see.” She indicated that the behaviour of the media is sounding a very serious alarm regarding the condition of press freedom in Hong Kong. In terms of reporting on Occupy Central, the behaviour of most Hong Kong media outlets has been mirrored by Chinese-language media outlets around the world. On Oct 2, 142 Chinese-language newspapers around the world carried an identical statement condemning Occupy Central.
During a protest to support Hong Kong’s democracy in front of the Chinese consulate in New York City on Oct 7, wellknown Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng expressed concern over the CCP’s control of Chinese-language media. “Chinese language media have changed a lot under pressure from the Communist Party, such as the pressure of getting
donations and advertisements. Those media changed the tone of their report to coordinate with the Communist Party,” Wei said. He added, “It shows that the Communist Party has very strong control of overseas media.” With additional reporting by Cai Rong
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october 17 – 30, 2014
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Epoch Times
this is singapore
Nicher: A Humble Bakery Stall in an Old School Coffee Shop By Li Yen Epoch Times Staff Nicher is a tiny bakery stall uniquely nestled in an old school coffee shop at 71 Seng Poh Road in Tiong Bahru estate, which is one of Singapore’s oldest and hippest towns where you can find many specialty cafes, coffee bars, modern bistros and trendy lifestyle stores. This humble bakery stall had caught my attention with its scent of freshly baked cake wafting out as I walked past. Nicher is run by two young and passionate gentlemen, Melvin Koh, 28, and his brother-in-law, Lewis Lee, 24. Lee is currently studying for his private degree, and because of that, Koh’s friend, Sean, is presently helping him to manage the stall most of the time. I met up with Nicher’s co-owner, Melvin Koh, an enthusiastic young man who shared with us his story about starting up this bakery. Humble, Home-Baked Pastries Literally translated as Nest in French, the owners of Nicher want to create an idea of a nest, where customers can savour baked pastries akin to having freshly home-baked products made especially by their mothers. “Everybody who bakes at home will do it with the best quality. We want to do it with good ingredients to make products of good quality. So Nicher is just like a nest, a place where customers can relax and enjoy good quality pastries, just like coming back home to eat pastries,” explains Koh. Melvin Koh, a graduate of At-Sunrice culinary school with a Diploma in Baking and Pastry, has been working in the F & B industry and honing his craft for a while before deciding to follow his passion to create something of his own. Koh’s fervent zeal to have his own baking production was unstoppable, and so he started this business. Due to low capital, the bakers did not want to invest too much by opening a cafe. By chance, however, they came across this down-to-earth old school coffee shop located in the Tiong Bahru hipster enclave. Delighted, they decided to start business in this small space that ideally fits their concept and budget. In fact, setting up a bakery stall in a coffee shop gives Nicher an edge among the other bakery cafes in Singapore. Situated in a nostalgic coffee shop, their customers can enjoy freshly baked pastries and wash them down with
inexpensive local coffee instead. This unpretentious bakery stall also stands out among the rest as their oven is situated in the coffee shop, and the baking process can be seen by the customers, unlike most pastry shops where the kitchens are at the back. “Customers can see how we make, how we bake, how we pack our products, so nothing is hidden. Everything is very basic, general, everyone can see what we are doing,” says Koh. Indeed, this humble stall from which aromas of freshly baked goods fill the air welcome its customers with a warm and unpretentious embrace. Koh and his baking partner bake their cakes early in the morning around 5-6am, and finish around 3pm. If they have bulk orders, they will extend their working hours to cater to the demand. “It is physical work; you have to stand in a non-air-conditioned place. How much effort you put in [is] how much you will get back. It is very relevant,” Koh says. Receiving customers’ compliments and the endless bulk orders motivate Koh. “Even though it is physically tiring, it is happiness at the end of the day,” he enthuses. Challenges In the beginning, they faced challenges in the form of feedback from customers saying the cakes were either too sweet or too dry. Knowing that they could not possibly please everyone’s tastebuds, they worked on the feedback and came up with recipes that suit the masses. “Customers definitely come first,” says Koh. Their customers range from middleaged housewives and office workers to the Japanese staying near Tiong Bahru. Initially, they had difficulties working in such a small space. But as time goes by, they are now very comfortable working in their tiny stall. Business has been brisk so far, and the only problem now is the rental cost. “It happens everywhere. In Singapore, property prices soar. If the rental goes up too much, it does affect our profits, especially in Tiong Bahru; it is quite expensive because it is a very good location,” he explains. When asked about his future plans for Nicher, Koh muses, “I don’t know. It’s actually based on opportunities. Whether we can find a new place, an
Fred fan/epoch times
Co-owner of Nicher, Mr Melvin Koh (L), and his friend, Sean (R).
investor, we do not have a good capital to start in the first place. Now, even when we have turnover, we are still paying ourselves salaries. So we actually don’t have much to launch a cafe.” Koh sees himself as a baker rather than a businessman. He welcomes investors who shares the same vision as him, but it is not money he is after. “If everyone just focuses on the money and the profit, then I don’t see a point. I started this business because of what I like, and not because of the money. “I will still stick to my stand that I want my products to go out well. My customers have to like my products,
money is the secondary part,” he emphasises. Continued on page 32
THIS IS SINGAPORE This Is Singapore is a fortnightly feature that delves into the life of an inspiring and talented individual in Singapore. Read all our interviews here: http://bit.do/thisissingapore
Epoch Times
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
october 17 – 30, 2014
Local Children’s Book Records Kate & William’s Historic Visit to S’pore – and a Hamster Connection
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photo Courtesy of Epigram Books
photo Courtesy of Epigram Books
By Li Yen Epoch Times Staff Do you remember the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s royal tour of Singapore two years ago? Many Singaporeans were thrilled by the visit – and so is the character Sam in local childen’s author David Seow’s latest work, ‘Sam, Sebbie & Di-Di-Di - A Day with the Duchess’. With beautiful illustrations by Soefara Jafney, David Seow penned his new children’s book telling the delightful adventures of Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di during the royals’ visit. Sam is so infatuated with the Duchess of Cambridge that she has named her hamster after the Princess - Kate. Together with her pet hamster, she drags her brothers, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di, to meet Prince William and Princess Catherine at Gardens by the Bay. As the ecstatic crowds shout for Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate the Hamster is terrified. Thinking that everyone is screaming for her, the fearful hamster leaps out of Sam’s pocket and escapes to the Duchess’s bouquet of flowers. Awash in anxiety, Sam, Sebbie and DiDi-Di follow the Duke and Duchess to their next destination - Queenstown, hoping to find Kate. But they cannot find their hamster there. At the last minute, they find Kate hopping into the car with the Prince and Princess. Seeing how sad his sister is, Sebbie
suggests making a trip to Raffles Hotel to meet the Duke and Duchess in order to get Kate back. Will Sam ever unite with her hamster Kate? And will they ever get to meet the Prince and Princess? Check out David Seow’s ‘Sam, Sebbie & Di-Di-Di - A Day with the Duchess’ to solve this royal conundrum. Dave Seow is an award-nominated
children’s author in the Singapore literary scene. He has written over 20 well-received children’s books in 13 years. His remarkable works include The Littlest Emperor, Monkey: The Classic Chinese Adventure Tale, and the Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di series, amongst others. His book ‘There’s Soup on My Fly!’ was nominated for The National Book Development Council of Singapore’s
Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award in 2011, and ‘Blow a Kiss’ was chosen as one of Singapore’s top ten children’s picture books at the IFLA Congress in Helsinki in 2012. Sam, Sebbie and Di-Di-Di: A Day with the Duchess is published by Epigram Books (www.epigrambooks.sg), and is available at major bookstores. photo Courtesy of Epigram Books
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NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Epoch Times
David Hecker/Getty Images
New manufactured cars are seen at plants due to slow exports in Germany.
Germany’s Economy: The Real Story By Valentin Schmid Epoch Times Staff Germany has been the global economy’s poster child since the last recession, with its record low unemployment, relatively fast growth compared to other countries in Europe, and two consecutive yearly fiscal surpluses in a row. Last week, it seems the whole story is going from hero to zero. Gross Domestic Product already shrank 0.2 percent in the second quarter, new factory orders fell 1.3 percent over the year in August, and now industrial production cratered 2.8 percent compared to August last year. Most economists now expect another quarter of negative GDP, which would be the second recession since the 2008. No Surprise However, this slow-down should not come as a surprise. Germany’s economy is operationally geared towards exports; it always has been and most likely will be in the future. Exports make up more than 50 percent of Germany’s
US$3.5 trillion (S$4.5 trillion) economy. Although the contribution to GDP netting out imports is only 6.1 percent, trade is a massive part of Germany when it comes to industrial production and factory orders. All of Germany’s major trading partners—aside from the United States—have slowed materially in 2014, with France and China being the main concerns. Sanctions against Russia have added to the weight. Export Dependency Now what does it really mean to be dependent on exports? Most people say it is a good thing and in a way it is. If you export a lot, it means your products are either better or cheaper (or both) than the global competition, which is definitely nice. Exports secure employment and bring in foreign currency reserves, which then can be spent on imports. So you always have something to exchange if you want to buy on the global market, unlike deficit countries like the United States, who need to borrow to do that. On the flip side, you are
Germany’s economy is operationally geared towards exports; it always has been and most likely will be in the future. dependent on the economies of your trading partners. First, if their economies slow, as is now the case, you get fewer orders and risk rising unemployment. Even worse, if their economies really deteriorate, they will not be able to make good on the promises to pay you back in kind for the goods you already sold them. For example, in the old days before the euro, France would give Germany French francs in exchange for, say, BMW cars.
When the French economy turned sour, those francs would be worth less and Germany lost out. With the euro, things have become more complicated, but the principle is the same. On another note and purely in terms of numbers, a reduction in German exports will boost the GDP of the importing countries – but this argument is shortsighted at best. First of all, the reason France and Italy are buying less stuff from Germany is because their economies are slowing in general, not because they are becoming more competitive. Second, trade overall is good. Germany imports US$1.5 trillion (S$1.9 trillion) worth of goods and services from other countries. If export orders slow, so will imports and so will trade. Everybody loses. Fiscal Policy Another factor is fiscal policy. Germany has often been criticised for being too conservative and spending too little money, hence its fiscal surplus. This argument is absurd because if the state does not get the money, it is companies
and citizens who get it and can spend it if they like. Private consumption is robust and contributes 57 percent to GDP. Germany has so far fared better with that model than other free-spending European parties such as Greece and France, for example. There is one way government can step up to the plate, though, and that is with public investment. When it comes to splurging public money on projects such as airports and universities, there is a risk a lot of money will be wasted. However, unlike China, where investment makes up more than 50 percent of GDP and effort and resources are wasted to build the thousandth unneeded shipyard, public investment in Germany and other Northern European countries has usually paid off. Historically, and despite some obvious blunders like a magnetic train, Germany has benefited from great roads, railroads and airports, worldclass public education as well as good health care. So in the face of slowing trade, why not upgrade this infrastructure to the next level?
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NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Epoch Times
High-Ranking Beijing Officials May Have Arranged Leak of Hong Kong Chief Executive’s Scandal Putu Sayoga/Getty Images
By Liu Xiaozhen Epoch Times Staff In the midst of the negotiations with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters, an investigative report that claimed Hong Kong’s chief executive received millions in undisclosed payments from an Australian company has triggered a strong public reaction. The leak of information about the payments suggests Beijing is pressuring Leung Chun-ying to resign, according to one analyst. On Oct 8, the Australian Sydney Morning Herald published a report saying a secret contract shows an Australian engineering company UGL gave Leung a $6.5 million payment for a deal in which UGL bought the property company DTZ Holdings. Leung served as a director for DTZ and as chairman of its Asia-Pacific operations. The payments were made in 2012 and 2013 after Leung became the chief executive of Hong Kong. UGL also guaranteed to give Leung a $2.4 million bonus. None of these payments were declared by Leung. The contract was dated Dec 2, 2011, five days after Leung announced he was a candidate for Hong Kong’s chief executive. The Sydney Morning Herald report was done by three authors, after receiving a copy of the secret contract from an anonymous
Timeline • Nov 24, 2011: Leung announced he is resigning from DTZ. • Nov 27, 2011: Leung formally became a candidate for chief executive, which was announced on the 28th. • Dec 2, 2011: Leung signed a secret contract with UGL promising him millions to be paid in 2012 and 2013. • Dec 4, 2011: Leung’s resignation from DTZ took effect, the same day UGL bought DTZ. • March 25, 2012: Leung elected chief executive of Hong Kong. • December 2012: Leung received first installment from UGL.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying speaks to Hong Kong journalists at a press conference during the APEC Summit on Oct 6, 2013, in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. The leak of confidential financial documents implicating Leung in possibly improper payments of $6.5 million was likely arranged by authorities in Beijing.
source on Oct 5, according to Voice of America. The paper’s parent company, Fairfax Media, refused to reveal the identity of the source. One of the authors, John Garnaut, an Asia-Pacific editor with the Sydney Morning Herald, told VOA that the chief executive office in Hong Kong responded with threats, when they tried to confirm the payments with the office. “As you can imagine, we had to escalate our questions until we got some pretty fiery legal letters from his office, acknowledging receipt [of those questions] and threatening to take us to
court if we publish anything,” Garnaut said. “In that process, we confirmed that he did receive the payments.” Leung Chun-ying released a statement last Thursday claiming that there was no requirement for him to declare the payments from UGL because they were for previous work before he served as chief executive, not for future work. When DTZ was sold it was insolvent, and, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, the value of DTZ to UGL depended on the contacts Leung had in Hong Kong and mainland China. Since Occupy Central started
on Sept 28, there have been loud calls from the protesters for Leung’s resignation. Although Leung refused to resign a fortnight ago, the sudden breaking scandal perhaps adds force to the calls for him to step down. Hong Kong Legislative Council member Sin Chung-kai told Epoch Times several possibilities of who could be behind the leak of the financial details. “It’s possible that his (Leung’s) political enemy released the information. It’s also possible that Beijing wants to deal with him and released some information to force him to step down. That wouldn’t be strange either… Only some confidential people are able to get those materials,” Sin said. Hongkongers have long believed Leung is an underground member of the Chinese Communist Party. He is known to have close ties with
the faction of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin. Jiang’s faction has interfered with current Chinese leader Xi Jinping since Xi took power. Washington, D.C.-based China expert Shi Cangshan suspects the leak of the contract was arranged by high-level CCP authorities. Shi said that, on the one hand, Leung’s stepping down would be the lowest cost way to solve the conflict between the government and Hong Kong people. Shi said that, on the other hand, Beijing will not let Leung step down during the protesters’ civil disobedience. “Such way [citizen disobedience] to make Leung step down will lead to a crisis of the CCP regime, because there have been constant protests in different provinces and cities in mainland China,” Mr Shi said. With additional research and translation by Lu Chen
The Real Reason HK Government Pulled Out of Dialogue Reason continued from Page 1 The Umbrella Revolution is a hot potato that the Party left in his lap. He was told it was his problem to solve, and to use any method short of using military force or killing people. So Leung tried all the tactics, such as using triads to do dirty work, and also strong-arming most of the media into attacking the protesters. He tried all his tricks, and he used up all his tricks—and the students are not going away. They continue to peacefully insist on a dialogue. The HK government first agreed to negotiate, then pulled out after the news broke.
The timing and the method of divulging the information about Leung’s payday are key. The paper with the information about Leung appeared out of nowhere in the hands of a wellknown investigative reporter whose father was Australia’s ambassador to China. Someone in a high position leaked the corruption information deliberately, knowing it would become news quickly. This made people realise that Beijing will sacrifice Leung if convenient. It’s a hint that Leung’s removal may come soon. Leung realised the backing he thought he had was tenuous at best, and he would not be able to
negotiate with anything behind him. What direction could he take and what tone could he bring to negotiations? There is no longer the perception of backing from Beijing. It was the hint from Beijing— in the guise of leaked news—that cancelled the negotiations. In fact, the Party would never give up anything in negotiations anyway, and it was just a tactic to gain time and soften things. Now the tactic has been withdrawn. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Epoch Times.
PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP/Getty Images
A pro-democracy demonstrator rests on the ground near a barricade in Hong Kong on October 9, 2014.
Epoch Times
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
Ebola Response Surging, But So Is the Virus By Anne Look VOA News DAKAR—In recent weeks, there have been high-level international summits on the West African Ebola outbreak. Millions of dollars have been pledged. The United States, Britain and France have sent troops to help out in affected countries. Other nations, like Cuba, have sent medical staff. But the virus continues to outpace response efforts. Since September 6, the number of Ebola cases and deaths reported by the World Health Organisation has nearly doubled. 40 percent of all those believed to have died because of the regional epidemic have died in the past month. Half of those deaths have been in Liberia. Response efforts are surging, but it may still be weeks, or even months, before a major impact is felt. Regional Ebola coordinator for the International Federation of the Red Cross, Birte Hald, says, “Maybe you can compare it to a war that is escalating ... It’s growing. It’s getting bigger and bigger and we’re running faster and faster.” On September 1 in Liberia, the Red Cross had six burial teams. Now it has more than 20, according to Hald, and by December that number will rise to 35. Bed count has been a key
Maybe you can compare it to a war that is escalating ... It’s growing. It’s getting bigger and bigger and we’re running faster and faster. Birte Hald, International Federation of the Red Cross Regional Cordinator metric in this response as getting patients into Ebola treatment units improves their chance of survival and gets them out of their homes and communities where they can infect others. Liberia has added at least 422 beds since September 1, but the WHO said last week that Liberia still has just one-fifth of the beds its needs. Sierra Leone has about a quarter. The Red Cross opened an Ebola treatment unit in Kenema, Sierra Leone, in midSeptember. Africa communications manager for IFRC, Katherine Mueller, is there in Kenema. She says the 30-bed clinic is full most days. They want to scale
up to 60 beds but they cannot get the international staff they need. “Just like people here in (this) country are frightened of Ebola, we are finding that international health care workers are also frightened of Ebola,” she said. “Their families are worried and scared for them if they come here, so we really need to make sure that we increase the sensitisation, not just here in (this) country but internationally as well.” VOA spoke to several other NGO operating treatment units in affected countries who said the same thing. They are struggling to get the doctors, nurses and other experts they need to work alongside newly trained local staff. Doctors without Borders turned down a US$2.2 million (S$2.8 million) donation from the Australian government earlier this month and asked it to send medical workers instead. 300 US troops are now in Liberia building the first three of 17 Ebola treatment units the military plans to set up there, but progress has been slow amid heavy rains and other logistical challenges. Liberian physician’s assistant Alfred Tommey says it is hard not to get impatient. “It’s gonna take time and every time, every minute along the way, somebody is dying of Ebola, so this is a serious concern,” he said. Liberia’s health ministry says
OCTOBER 17 – 30, 2014
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Reuters
James Knight and Ondraya Frick from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases train US Army soldiers who are earmarked for the fight against Ebola, before their deployment to West Africa, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, on Oct 9, 2014. AP
People construct a new Ebola treatment centre in Monrovia, Liberia, on Oct 10, 2014.
it now has 700 health workers trained and working in Ebola treatment units. That is up from 150 just seven weeks ago. However, the country’s health workers union is threatening to strike for more hazard pay. A development that several aid workers pointed to as a key advance are the mobile
labs that have been deployed by several countries, including the United States. In the three most affected countries, there are now 11 labs operating at full capacity. Liberia is testing 500 specimens a day, almost four times what they could test just a little over a month ago.
Epoch Times
NEWS & PERSPECTIVES
OCTOBER 17 – 30, 2014
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Corruption Investigation Targets Chinese Regime’s Mouthpiece, People’s Daily Goh Chai Hin/AFP/Getty Images
By Lu Chen Epoch Times Staff This summer, the key staterun China Central Television was subjected to a sweeping corruption investigation. Now the Party-mouthpiece People’s Daily has become a target for inspection. This pair of investigations seems to target Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan, who is in charge of media and propaganda in China. China’s anti-corruption department, the Central Commission for Discipline and Inspection (CCDI), stated on Oct 5 that a “special inspection” is under preparation for six units of People’s Daily, including three local branch offices and three affiliated newspapers and businesses. A meeting was recently hosted to explain the coming inspection, the statement says. At the meeting, a message from CCDI secretary Wang Qishan was delivered to show the concern central authorities have for this investigation. The content of the inspection
Chinese Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 3, 2013. China’s anti-corruption campaign is to inspect the People’s Daily, and the investigation is suspected to target Liu Yunshan.
includes “implementation of the Party’s policy and principles”, “clean governing”, “paid news and news extortion”, “recruitment”, “personal conditions of the leadership”, and so on. A significant leadership change took place at People’s Daily before this inspection. Four high executives of the People’s Daily were replaced in five days earlier this year in April, including the newspaper’s president, vice president, chief editor, and vice
chief editor. In the investigation of Chinese Central Television (CCTV) this summer, about 20 staff were taken away by the CCDI for investigations, including finance channel director Guo Zhenxi and famous TV host Rui Chenggang. Over 100 were summoned to assist in the investigation. Propaganda chief Liu Yunshan has recently been connected to several corruption scandals. Hong Kong’s Chengming
Magazine says in its October edition that Liu and his family took part in extensive corruption involving minerals in Shanxi, his home province, and Inner Mongolia, where he was an official for two decades. Liu has also been named in a bribery case involving a Taiwanese TV drama that was bought by the CCTV at an extremely high price, according to the Storm Media Group in Taiwan on Oct 3. The report says two Taiwanese film and TV producers bribed Liu’s son, the former head of the Propaganda Department, and Jia Qinglin, the former chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, for selling 800 episodes of the TV drama titled “The Unforgettable Memory” to CCTV. The two Taiwanese bought the drama at a price of US$3,000 (S$3,829) per episode from Formosa Television (FTV) in Taiwan, and sold them at US$6,000 (S$7,657) per episode to the CCTV. However, according to CCTV’s records, the drama was bought at US$18,000 (S$22,971) per episode, the report says, quoting an anonymous source at
the company. It is unclear where the difference of nearly US$10 million (S$12.8 million) has gone to. The report says Liu and Jia have been targeted for the investigation, although Chinese authorities have not confirmed that. Liu served as the director of the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee for over 10 years from 2002 to 2012 and continues to be in charge of the media propaganda due to his new position as chairman of the CCP Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilisation. Liu is a close ally of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin who served his term from 1993 to 2003 and maintained his influence in the government for another 10 years before current leader Xi Jinping stepped on the stage. Xi’s anti-corruption campaign has clipped the wings of Jiang’s faction by sacking many officials who have ties with him and his interest group, including the former head of the Ministry of Public Security Zhou Yongkang, and former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Caihou.
NY Hotel Sale to Chinese Insurance Company Raises Security Concerns Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By Joshua Philipp Epoch Times Staff Hilton Worldwide announced on Oct 6 that it agreed to sell New York’s famous Waldorf Astoria hotel to China’s Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion. Hilton will continue operating the hotel for the next 100 years. In most cases, a Chinese company buying an American hotel doesn’t raise an eyebrow, but the Waldorf isn’t just any hotel, and Anbang isn’t just any Chinese company. The Waldorf Astoria is known for hosting presidents and other high value individuals from around the world when they travel to New York. Matt Zolbe, head of sales and marketing at the Waldorf, told the Daily News in 2012 that “no sitting President since 1931 has stayed in any other hotel in New York but the Waldorf”. When China’s state-owned
companies have sought to purchase assets in the United States, they have often encountered obstacles. While Anbang is not state-owned, it is structured in a different way described in a 2007 report by the US–China Economic and Security Review Commission that still gives the regime control. “Beijing has been able to shroud its stake in a variety of firms by listing a portion of each such enterprise on public exchanges while maintaining ownership of the remaining equity, usually through a parent company,” the report stated. In the case of Anbang, stateowned companies, including Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and China Petrochemical Corp, are key shareholders inside a fairly murky ownership structure. In China, luxury hotels are often used as espionage chokepoints— places where surveillance cameras and other systems support everything from blackmail to theft.
The entrance to the Waldorf Astoria, the landmark New York hotel, is viewed on Oct 6 in New York City. Hilton Worldwide will sell the Waldorf to the Beijing-based Anbang Insurance Group for $1.95 billion.
A 2012 report from the US State Department sums up the problem of China’s hotels. It states, “All hotel rooms and offices are considered to be subject to on-site or remote technical monitoring at all times.” It adds that in Chinese hotel rooms, “All means of
communication—telephones, mobile phones, faxes, e-mails, text messages, etc.—are likely monitored.” If someone brings a companion back to his or her room, a video can be used for blackmail. If a computer connects to a building’s Wi-Fi network, the computer
can be breached. Meetings can be listened on. RFID scanners— scanners that read information embedded in chips—can be used to remotely scan and steal personal identification cards. The options are nearly endless. As part of the purchase, the Waldorf will “undergo a major renovation”, according to the announcement. At press time, Anbang could not be reached for comment. There is no evidence that Anbang intends to use the Waldorf for espionage. However, its state-run shareholders should raise warning flags here in the United States that Beijing may be calling the shots in the Waldorf deal. The unfortunate reality of selling assets to companies in China is that under China’s laws, oversight and transparency become nearly impossible. For a location where security is as crucial as the Waldorf Astoria, that lack of transparency should have travelling dignitaries concerned.
10 october 17 – 30, 2014
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An Insider’s Perspective on the Umbrella Revolution
A student clips a yellow paper umbrella to others along with her wish for democracy in the ‘Occupy Central’ camp on Connaught Road, Admiralty, on Oct 13, 2014 in Hong Kong.
global insights By James Green A lone call for democracy and universal suffrage was heard in Hong Kong in January 2013. This voice was soon to become what is now known as the “Occupy Central with Peace and Love Movement”, a civil disobedience campaign with the objective of pressurising China into granting Hong Kong universal suffrage in its Chief Executive election in 2017, as promised according its Basic Law Article 45. In September 2014, this campaign made a dramatic entrance in Hong Kong Central amidst tear gas and pepper spray. Subsequently, the campaign escalated into a much wider movement. The Occupy movement – or what is termed as the “Umbrella Revolution” in Hong Kong today – is no longer just about democracy and universal suffrage. Despite the various agendas and concerns of those among its ranks, they are all united in their dissatisfaction towards the governance and current state of Hong Kong. The present Occupy movement cannot be adequately understood without unpacking and studying its diverse views and perspectives. Pursuit of Democracy Hong Kong’s desire for democracy must first be understood against it historical background. Even though Hong Kong has never formally attained universal suffrage, it is historically more accustomed to the liberty and rule of law it experienced under
British colonial governance. Colonial Hong Kong in the 1980s and 1990s was widely known for its democracy and freedom of expression. Its laissez-faire economic environment was one of the main reasons for its prosperity in the late 20th century. During this period, it was also insulated from the social and political upheaval wrought by communism and the Cultural Revolution in China. As the deadline for the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to China neared, it became a source of alarm for many Hong Kong citizens. China, as a condition of re-attaining sovereignty over Hong Kong, promised the British government and the Hong Kong people that Hong Kong would “enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs”, and that the “lifestyle and rights and freedoms” enjoyed by the people of Hong Kong would remain unchanged. The spirit of this promise, articulated in the Sino-British Joint Declaration, was officially enshrined in Hong Kong’s Basic Law under article 45, which states that the chief executive is to be eventually chosen by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee. However, these promises alone were insufficient to allay the fear and pessimism that many Hong Kongers felt towards the future rule of the Chinese Communist Party. In particular, the bloody Tiananmen Square incident of 1989 sparked a mass migration of Hong Kong citizens over the next
five years, as they sought to avoid communist rule. A direct result of these mass migrations can still be seen today in the large enclaves of Hong Kongers in various foreign cities, such as Vancouver. To date, the Chinese central authorities have done little to fulfil their original promise to Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s ranking on the Press Freedom Index has fallen steadily every year, from 34 in 2010 to 61 in 2014. In June, China published a white paper stating in definitive terms that China has “comprehensive jurisdiction” over Hong Kong, and that Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy is not an inherent power, but one solely authorised by the central leadership. In August this year, China’s NPCSC announced that an internal nominating committee would perform a prior screening of election candidates before they could be subject to public vote, effectively ruling out the possibility of any meaningful universal suffrage. But what is more worrisome is not the denial of universal suffrage, but the pessimistic and uncertain future of Hong Kong as China tightens its grip on the region. Against this backdrop, the protest for democracy and universal suffrage is not only a call for China to fulfil its promise, but more importantly, a pivotal step to restore the Hong Kong people’s rights and liberties, and their old way of life. Dissatisfaction with Government Few societies ever strive for liberty and democracy in the
abstract. A struggle for freedom is often symptomatic of greater social ills. To many members of the Occupy movement, the protest is not so much for democracy as it is for better governance, one that does not prostitute the interest of Hong Kong citizens for political patronage of China. Hong Kong has been described as a “rich business society, but with a suffering majority”. Today, Hong Kong ranks among countries with the most serious income inequality in the world. According to its Census and Statistics Department, its Gini coefficient hit a record 0.537 in 2011, well above the international warning line of 0.4. Life is difficult for the middle and working class, their wages unable to match the rampaging inflation fuelled by the rich. According to the University Grants Committee, average starting salaries for university graduates have grown at a paltry 1% per annum for the past 17 years. The average monthly household income of the poorest 10 percent fell by 16% in the last decade. On the other hand, Hong Kong’s property prices are at record highs, having nearly doubled since 2009, and its retail rents are currently the most expensive in the world. Detractors often point to the contribution of Chinese businesses and consumers to Hong Kong’s economy. However, the reality of it is far more complicated. Wealth in Hong Kong is often concentrated among property owners and retailers
of luxury goods to Chinese tourists, and they do not reach the majority of the workforce. At the same time, exposure to the Chinese economy also increases competition for both local businesses and employment. Efforts to redress these problems have met with systematic hindrance in the decision making process. Currently, Hong Kong’s legislation adopts a “functional constituency” system that guarantees votes to certain economic sectors and corporate entities. This system vests power and influence in a minority who have historically exercised their powers to block bills – such as minimum wage and standard labour laws – in the interests of businesses and capitalists. Identity Crisis Alongside the real fears and concerns that have fuelled the Umbrella revolution, is a more intangible concern of identity and culture. The Hong Kong identity is a source of pride for many Hong Kong people. In a survey by the Popular Opinion Programme, four out of 10 respondents described themselves distinctly as “Hong Kongers” out of a range of identities including Chinese, Asians and global citizens. Anson Chan, former Chief Secretary of Hong Kong, said that Hong Kongers pride themselves in having an identity separate from the rest of China, one that is firmly rooted in the culture of freedom, order, and the rule of law. Hong Kongers have further demonstrated their love of civic
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peace in the Umbrella Revolution, with impressively peaceful and non-violent protestors who have gone as far as setting up recycling stations and cleaning up protest grounds regularly. But this identity and culture is increasingly under siege in China’s zealous effort for assimilation. The Chinese society today feels a nationalistic entitlement over Hong Kong, one that stems from a deep seated grudge over the historic subjugation of the weak Qing dynasty by foreign nations. The desire for difference on
one hand and assimilation on the other gives rise to a tension between the people of China and Hong Kong. The pervading presence of mainland Chinese in recent years is perceived by the Hong Kong people as an affront to their dignity. The image of wealthy and uncouth tourists from mainland China who cut lines, spit freely, and act with overbearing arrogance have earned them the name of “wong chung”, or locusts, among Hong Kongers. A common response is that it is
the Hong Kong people who ought to be thankful for the presence of Chinese consumers, but for Hong Kongers, it is precisely this air of self-entitlement and the you-are-indebted-to-us attitude that has turned into a cause for resentment. Conclusion Despite the commitment of pro-democracy protesters to enacting change in Hong Kong, they have met with obstacles both internal and external. The long-drawn protests have
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seriously disrupted both vehicle traffic and livelihoods, giving rise to an undercurrent of antiOccupy sentiments in the city. At the same time, it is doubtful that the Chinese leadership will ever accede to a compromise. China expert and commentator, Heng He, notes that throughout 65 years of communist rule in China, there has not been a single case of the CCP negotiating with or compromising with groups inside the mainland. Moreover, on Tuesday, Hong Kong police have started dismantling street
barricades manned by prodemocracy protesters. But one thing is for sure: to the pro-democracy protesters, the Umbrella Revolution is not a moment of fervour, but an outpouring of resentment and grievances that have brewed among Hong Kongers over the past 17 years of Chinese Communist Party rule. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
NINE COMMENTARIES
CCP’s political campaigns in the second half of the 20th century has resulted in a widespread destruction of families. In many cases, people were forced to renounce their relationships with their “anti-revolutionary” family members. Zhang Zixin is a famous dissident during the Cultural Revolution who suffered physical torture and gang rape, and was driven to insanity for airing opposing views. But behind her tragedy lies yet another tragic story, a story of how her family struggled to cope with her mistreatment and death. Zhang Zhixin’s daughter Lin Lin recalled the early spring of 1975: “A person from Shenyang Court said loudly, ‘Your mother is a real diehard counter-revolutionary. If she is executed, what is
180,244,967
people have renounced the CCP as of October 14, 2014.
your attitude?’ “My heart was broken. But I pretended to be calm, trying hard to keep my tears from falling. My father had told me that we could not cry in front of others, otherwise we had no way to renounce our relationship with my mother. Father answered for me, ‘If this is the case, the government is free to do what it deems necessary.’ “Staggering along, we walked home against the howling snow storm. Father split the only coarse corn bun we had and gave it to my brother and I. He said, ‘Finish it and go to bed early.’ I lay on the clay bed quietly. Father sat on a stool and stared at the light in a daze. After a while, he looked at the bed and thought we were all asleep. He stood up, gently opened the suitcase we brought from our old home in Shenyang, and took out mother’s photo.
A photo of people mourning Zhang Zhixin, 1971.
He looked at it and could not hold back his tears. “I got up from bed, put my head into father’s arms and started crying loudly. Father patted me and said, ‘Don’t do that; we cannot let the neighbours hear it.’ Father held my brother and I tightly in his arms. That night we did not know how many tears we shed, but we could not cry freely.” Adapted from Commentary 7, On the Chinese Communist Party’s History of Killing
Quitting the Chinese Communist Party www.NineCommentaries.com
Thousands of Chinese people are quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliate organisations every day through a special website established by The Epoch Times. Others are quitting by calling an international hotline, posting statements
on public walls and poles, or writing on banknotes. Read the full “Nine Commentaries” book, as well as recent statements from Chinese people who have quit the Party, at www.theepochtimes.com
It was famously said that Communist regimes turned mass crime into a full blown system of government. Each of them has received its just verdict in history – all but the Communist Party of China which has persisted to this day. The “Nine Commentaries” is an award winning editorial series that offers a vivid and perceptive account of the CCP from its inception to the present. By unmasking its perversion, Nine Commentaries seek to recall the Chinese people and the world from the slumber of ignorance and inaction. Thus far, the series first published in November 2004 has led more than 170 million Chinese to renounce the CCP and its affiliations, trailblazing a massive yet peaceful movement for China’s transformation and change. Read more of this groundbreaking editorial series at: http://goo.gl/yQ2Jox
12 OCTOBER 17 – 30, 2014
BUSINESS & PROPERTY
www.TheEpochTimes.com David McNew/Getty Images
‘Bad News is Good News’ Financial markets commentary
A swallows flies over a canal in an oil field over the Monterey Shale formation where gas and oil extraction using fracking takes place near Lost Hills, California.
By Rahul Vaidyanath Epoch Times Staff Financial markets ended a volatile period on a positive note after the US Federal Reserve minutes released last Wednesday implied that rates would stay low given concerns of slowing global growth. The past five trading sessions had their share of marketmoving events, but the general trend of a strengthening US economy with the backdrop of weakness in Europe and China remains the same. Most importantly, the US jobs report from Oct 3 was robust. The unemployment rate fell below 6.0 percent for the first time since July 2008, to 5.9 percent. A new Fed gauge that relies on 19 separate jobs-related measures also showed that the labour market recovery quickened in September; however, the labour force participation rate (62.7 percent) reached a new low since the late 1970s. Market tone went south with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) gloomy global economic outlook released
last Tuesday. It discussed the eurozone’s three largest economies—Germany, France, and Italy—facing slower growth prospects than previously estimated. German industrial production fell four percent, adding salt to the wound. The IMF’s global outlook improved for Canada (2.3 percent this year and 2.4 percent in 2015) and the US (2.2 percent this year and 3.1 percent in 2015) from what it was six months ago. The interesting dynamic, though, is the euro strengthening after it had hit its low for the period after the strong US jobs report. The US dollar saw profit taking after a brief period of strength. It had hit a four-year high a fortnight ago and was discussed by some Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) members as slowing the “gradual increase in inflation toward the FOMC’s two percent goal”. Adding to Europe’s woes, the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted a wait-and-see mode on Oct 2. It did not announce a target size for the assetbacked and covered bonds they will soon begin buying. The ECB’s balance sheet has been
gradually sinking, while the Fed’s has continued to rise over the past three years, which is one sign the ECB has not acted decisively enough to stimulate its economy. Oil on a Slippery Slope Oversupply (US shale, Libya) and weak global growth prospects have sent West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude down 11.3 percent and 17.3 percent year to date respectively. The effect on Brent is more magnified due to less demand from Europe. It remains to be seen what OPEC decides to do with the oil supply it controls. For now, the path of least resistance seems to be lower for oil. Still, the boost given by the Fed minutes should be temporary as the Fed’s asset purchases end this month, while the bigger picture is that rates are expected to rise in the middle of next year. Some concerns about US corporate earnings have also emerged given the falling oil prices and strong US dollar’s impact on export-driven companies. But for the time being, the bad news is taken to mean
central banks will keep rates low, which the stock market thinks is “good news”. Rahul Vaidyanath is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 15 years of capital markets experience. He has
worked in the Financial Markets Department at the Bank of Canada as Principal Trader, Foreign Reserves Management. He has also worked as a mortgage bond trader in the US. Follow him on Twitter @ RV_ETBiz.
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Short-Term Sacrifice is Key to Long-Term Success By Song Woo Career Corner I’ve been getting a lot of requests from recent college grads and mid-career individuals lately. Looking back, it’s surreal that I too at different points in my life belonged to both categories. So I can definitely relate to the struggles that these folks are going through. The biggest quandary I faced back then was the doubleedged sword of “potential” vs. “experience”. As a brash new college graduate, I was sure that I was going to take the world by storm. I was going to have the pick of the litter in terms of jobs. Boy was I wrong. I had a tough time even getting interviews. It seemed as though my résumé was going into an abyss. All throughout college, I thought all I had to do was get good grades and companies would line up to hire me on the spot. So I studied hard, graduated with honours, and even won a scholarship award from Chevron as the top student in my major. In fact, the first job I applied for online was a job posting from Chevron. The sad irony was that I didn’t even get a response from the company that just gave me a scholarship award— no interview, no phone call, not even an email. I laugh whenever I think about that, but it wasn’t funny at the time. In fact, I was quite bitter. So bitter, that I boycotted getting gas from Chevron for a long time. So for years I went out of my way to get gas at other stations even though Chevron was right around the corner from my house. I learned a harsh lesson back then that no matter how good I thought I was or how well I believed I could do the job, it was not going to mean as much to hiring managers than if I had done the job. Here’s another equation for you: Could do the job < Have done
OCTOBER 17 – 30, 2014 13
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images
the job There are always exceptions to the rule, but by and large, most hiring managers want to see “done” over “could”. So how do you get the experience if you can’t get the job?
For years, I passed up good opportunities to get experience in the field I had studied for because I had it ingrained in my head that I needed to make a certain salary. It’s not impossible. For me, as a young grad, the first thing I had to do was take my ego and expectations down a notch. For a long time, I passed up good opportunities to get the experience in the field I had studied for because I had it ingrained in my head that I needed to make a certain salary. I also had to change my short term objective from trying to get the highest salary possible to getting the highest learning opportunity possible. The fact is, there are employers out there who do want to hire high potential. You just have to alter your expectations and adjust your attitude to be able to spot those opportunities more easily. Making those adjustments was like taking a blindfold off. I saw opportunities in a new light and sure enough, I found a job that was in line with where I wanted to take my career. The starting pay wasn’t great, but I realised what I lacked in salary made up for the learning experience I was going to gain. You have to understand that your career is a long journey
Office workers walk out for a lunch break at Raffles financial district in Singapore on Oct 30, 2013. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Students participate in the Work In Japan job fair hosted by Recruit Co. in Tokyo, Japan, on Aug 18, 2014. About 150 students from Asian countries are taking part in the series of job hunting events to have interviews with Japanese companies.
and that short-term sacrifices are needed to get the pay-off you want in the long run. It’s funny; I even put gas in my car today from a Chevron station. I guess you can say I’m no longer bitter. In fact, I’m quite thankful for
the experience. Song Woo, an awardwinning employment and career management expert, is the President and CEO of Lighthouse Management Group. He has been featured in
both print and electronic media for expertise in employment trends and career management. In addition, Lighthouse Management Group has also been honoured as the #1 Fastest Growing Private Company in Silicon Valley.
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14 OCTOBER 17 – 30, 2014
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Three Key Lessons for Strategists From Siemens’ Success PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images
By Christian Stadler University of Warwick While General Electric (GE) has been the worst-performing stock on the Dow Jones this year, amid calls from analysts for the conglomerate to break up, its European rival Siemens has been busy repositioning itself since Joe Kaeser took over as CEO just over a year ago. The German engineering and electricals conglomerate recently acquired industrial equipment manufacturer Dresser Rand and sold its 50% stake of household appliance manufacturer BSH. These were the two latest steps in a journey mapped out in May when Vision 2020 was announced. Siemens’ plan: focus on growth fields in electrification, automation and digitisation. I have been following Siemens for more than a decade and have written two books featuring their success story dating back to 1847. Not surprisingly, this was sometimes a bumpy ride. Kaeser took over from Peter Loescher, who was forced to resign after failing to meet ambitious profit targets. These days, there is optimism again. The share price has climbed by almost 15% since the new CEO took over, beating both archrival GE and the general stock exchange. So how has Siemens done this? Here are three lessons we can learn from Siemens’ new strategy and, more importantly, its implementation. Know Your Strengths and Play to Them Stock analysts like quick fixes. But it is important for a company to understand its strengths and play to them consistently. For decades, calls were made to break up Siemens, arguing that this would enhance flexibility and performance. Siemens never complied, confident that the synergy it had between its different arms would outpace the costs of co-ordinating them, if severed. At the same time, it worked hard to figure out its core competence: using its engineering talent to develop solutions and equipment for industrial clients.
With trade liberalisation and easier access to the German market, it became more and more obvious that Siemens was less suited to consumer-facing businesses. In 2005, it started a slow journey of dispensing with these, selling its loss-making mobile phone arm. Kaeser is now taking the final steps with the sale of the stake in BSH and the upcoming quotation of its hearing aid business on the stock exchange. At the same time, he has added to its core, acquiring Rolls Royce’s gas turbine business and Dresser Rand. This gives the company access to the booming unconventional oil sector in the US. Siemens’ new strategy is consistent with what it intuitively understands it is good at, and this series of smaller deals is a prudent approach. The company has wisely avoided putting all its eggs in one basket by attempting a big mega-merger, choosing instead to enhance its strengths through specific deals. Even When You Lose, You Can Win One of the most interesting aspects of Siemens’ journey over the past year was its battle with GE over the acquisition of French energy and rail group Alstom. Siemens’ plan was to get its hands on the promising energy business and get rid of the weaker transport business. This obviously did not work out as GE managed to win over sceptics in the French government. But Siemens’ bid drove up the costs of the acquisition for GE considerably. Great companies know that sometimes you enter fights you cannot win in order to gain something different – in this case, a less attractive deal for GE. Great companies also understand that bad performance provides rare windows of opportunity to introduce more radical change. The ousting of Loescher highlighted the increasing pressure to improve profitability. This gave Kaeser a licence for change. Even though outsiders often think that a CEO always
An employee of German multinational group Siemens checks measuring devices on June 19, 2014, during a visit by Siemens France president at the Siemens site of Haguenau, eastern France. Siemens
Honing in on Siemens’ strengths.
has this licence, the truth is that a large and complex organisation can “sit out” a CEO. In addition, what helps is that Kaeser is a trusted Siemens lifer who has the necessary networks and credibility to drive through this change. Keep Your Options Open A successful strategy has to fit with the business environment. As the environment is in constant flux, great companies need to make sure they have some flexibility. Siemens’ relatively broad portfolio has historically given them this
flexibility. For example, Siemens was not overly affected by the financial crisis, whereas GE suffered from its exposure to the financial industry – usually the main driver of its strong profitability. Kaeser is keeping the company fairly diversified, but has also taken additional steps. Most importantly, he has structurally separated the medical equipment business. This allows the business to adjust better to its markets. It also allows the medical equipment business to go to the stock market to finance big
investments without tapping into Siemens’ coffers and, if necessary, the business can be sold entirely. Another pragmatic decision has been a joint venture with Mitsubishi-Hitachi Heavy Machinery to create a global supplier of metals technologies. This allows Siemens to exit more easily at some point in the future. At the same time, they can benefit from a promising business at arms-length just as they did with BSH for almost 50 years. Overall, Siemens is on a good track. Its strategy implementation is a step-bystep process where executives realise that consistency matters. Often, companies fail because they try to do too much and do not put sufficient energy into sorting out the details. Siemens has historically had the patience to get things right and the stock market is rewarding this at the moment. Christian Stadler does not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has no relevant affiliations. This article was originally published on The Conversation.
16 October 17 – 30, 2014
Technology & science
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Does the Age of Online Education Herald the Death of Academics? Shutterstock
By Chris Hackley Royal Holloway
In the mid-1980s, as a further education lecturer, I was mocked by some more traditional colleagues for using “lantern slides”, their term for the then newfangled technology of the overhead projector, or OHP. These Luddites strutted the corridors with coffee-tinted sheaves of notes stuffed untidily under their arms. They would sweep into the classroom, fling their pencil-written papyri on the lectern and, without so much as a glance at their students, commence reading out loud. They seemed to think that their exegesis of the sacred texts of economics and business studies was blessed with a natural authority. The students concurred. Even when I projected my plastic slides onto the paintpeeling wall in lurid colour, they were inattentive. They took my colleagues’ aural dictation with the utmost seriousness. It was almost as if the ritual enunciation of the notes by the lecturer’s voice sanctified them as a legitimate source of learning. Digital Expectations In contrast, academics today are increasingly expected to embrace all manner of digital media. Instead of sheaves of notes, we carry laptops, tablets or USB sticks to our lectures, to plug into multi-media audio-visual suites. We might be asked to teach Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS), to use social media for research impact or course delivery, or to reach wider audiences through YouTube clips or podcasts of our lectures. We are also encouraged to embrace webbased teaching and assessment, and to offer student support via email, text messaging, or even Facebook. This digitisation of education makes perfect sense at a time when a huge proportion of under-30s rarely engage with print media, preferring to access their information via internetconnected mobile devices. But, engaging as digital media may be, is there a risk that the importance of the academic role is
“taster” or self-study units. As media “content” that can be “delivered”, some of the work can be devolved to less-qualified staff, or even to machines (for example, to mark online multiple choice tests). The author of the course, whose curation of ideas and intellectual judgement lie at the core of the entire process, can be reduced to a faint imprint, or even erased altogether. Even a star academic who earns millions of views for an online lecture is little more than a social media marketing tool. Education, as opposed to entertainment, is inherently incremental and demands a judicious mix of personal and mediated interaction between students and academics.
Is human-centred learning a thing of the past?
Academics today are increasingly expected to embrace all manner of digital media. Instead of sheaves of notes, we carry laptops, tablets or USB sticks to our lectures, to plug into multi-media audiovisual suites. being forgotten, to the detriment of the student’s education? Medium and Messenger No doubt, digital media can make higher education more appealing – and there is something suspiciously medieval about fetishising the personal authority of the individual scholar. But the
foundation of Western education for two and a half thousand years has been not the medium, nor the message, but the messenger who gives physical expression, ritual force and emotional texture to the abstractions of the intellect. The nuanced intellectual interaction of student and teacher in a shared physical space, stimulated by reading and expressed in voice or writing, is the motif of a higher education. Today, the Oxbridge model of small group tutoring remains the gold standard for higher education, reflecting the importance of proximity and dialogue in the scholarly relationship. But few academics succeed in avoiding the need to translate their work into the latest communication media. Most universities try to improve the economic efficiency and market attractiveness of their offer by digitising courses to attract audiences that are bigger, more dispersed, and, perhaps, less skilled in the art of listening. First-year classes numbering in
the hundreds are made possible through multimedia course delivery – and the equivalent learners overseas can number in the thousands. At Georgetown University, for example, the chief information officer has explained that students check their mobile devices 43 times a day. In response, the university now has 35,000 students and faculty interacting on a mobile platform. Which is all very well, but, as the late Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan pointed out: a medium is not merely a means of transmission. A medium influences the character of the message. Rebranded for Simplification There is a risk that academic ideas, adapted for digital presentation, might be reduced to misleading but easily conveyed simplicities. This reductionism lends itself to the commodification of higher education. Digitised courses can be subdivided, rebranded, repackaged, sold on and distributed in different forms as part-time, distance learning,
Keep the Academic Authority Central I might be exaggerating the downsides of digitisation. Most universities, I think, are sensible enough to allow the academic author control over, and physical presence in, the courses they create. In any case, there are inbuilt limits to the extent to which higher education can be depersonalised. For one thing, academics as a species tend to be natural technophobes. Many fully digitised classrooms bear the hallmarks of Ludditism after a class leaves the room – a well-used A3 pad, interactive whiteboards written on in indelible marker, and an unbooted classroom PC. The notoriously high noncompletion rates for MOOCs testify to most students’ need for a personal level of engagement. There is no turning back the tide of digitisation in higher education, but the integrity of the process demands the presence and authority of the academic. The media will obliterate the message, unless there is room in the digital university for the reassuring voice of the academic author and their skills of argument, inspiration, content curation and creation. Chris Hackley has received funding from ESRC. This article was originally published on The Conversation.
Epoch Times
technology & science
October 17 – 30, 2014 17
The Dangers of Talking to Your Car AP Photo/DanCampbellPhotographer.com via AAA Foundation
By Joan Lowy
WASHINGTON, AP—Just because you can talk to your car doesn’t mean you should. Two new studies have found that voice-activated smartphones and dashboard infotainment systems may be making the distracteddriving problem worse instead of better. The systems let drivers do things like tune the radio, send a text message, or make a phone call while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel, but many of these systems are so error-prone or complex that they require more concentration from drivers rather than less, according to studies released last Tuesday by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the University of Utah. One study examined infotainment systems in some of the most common auto brands on the road: Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai and Mercedes. The second study tested the Apple iPhone’s Siri voice system to navigate, send texts, make Facebook and Twitter posts, and use the calendar without handling or looking at the phone. Apple and Google are working with automakers to mesh smartphones with infotainment systems so that drivers can bring their apps, navigation and music files into their cars. The voice-activated systems were graded on a distraction scale of 1 to 5, with 1 representing no distraction and 5 comparable to doing complex math problems and word memorisation. The systems were tested by 162 university students and other volunteers in three settings: a laboratory, a driving simulator
This March 6, 2014 image provided by AAA Foundation via DanCampbellPhotography.com shows a driver during the Cognitive Distraction Phase II testing in Salt Lake City. Two new studies have found that voice-activated smartphones and dashboard infotainment systems may be making the distracted-driving problem worse.
and in cars while driving through a Salt Lake City neighbourhood. Apple’s Siri received the worst rating, 4.14. Twice, test drivers using Siri in a driving simulator rear-ended another car. Chevrolet’s MyLink received the worst rating, 3.7, among the infotainment systems. Infotainment systems from three other automakers — Mercedes, Ford and Chrysler — were also rated more distracting for drivers than simply talking on a handheld handphone. Most of the cars were 2013 model year vehicles. “What we continue to see from customers is that they demand this level of technology in their vehicles, that access to music and access to calls is now a critical part of the driving experience
and so we’re looking at innovative ways to provide that,” said Chevrolet spokeswoman Annalisa Bluhm. Apple noted in a statement that researchers didn’t use the company’s CarPlay or Siri Eyes Free, which are designed for use in cars. However, David Strayer, the University of Utah psychology professor who led the two studies, said researchers consulted with Apple before beginning the study. The study used an iOS 7 version of Siri that was tweaked to be nearly identical to the iOS 8 version, which was just recently released, he said. The systems with the worst ratings were those that made errors even though drivers’ voice commands were clear and
distinct, said Strayer. Drivers had to concentrate on exactly what words they wanted to use and in what order to get the systems to follow their commands, creating a great deal of frustration. For example, an infotainment system might recognise a command to change a radio station to “103.5 FM”, but not “FM 103.5” or simply “103.5”, he said. Siri sometimes garbled text messages or selected wrong phone numbers from personal phonebooks, Strayer said. During one test, Siri called 911 (the emergency number used in the USA) instead of the phone number requested by the volunteer driver and the driver had to scramble to end the call before it went through. Siri
found the number in the driver’s phonebook because the driver had called it once before. “When these systems become more complex, like sending text messages or posting to Facebook, it pushes the workloads to pretty high levels and may be dangerous while driving,” Strayer said. The studies contradict claims by automakers, who have been pitching the voice systems to car buyers as a way they can safely enjoy social media and connectivity. Safety advocates say drivers assume that such systems are safe because they are incorporated into vehicles and are hands-free. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates vehicle safety, has issued guidelines to automakers for dashboard systems and is working on similar guidelines for handphones and voice-activated systems, but the guidelines are voluntary. “Infotainment systems are unregulated,” said Deborah Hersman, president of the National Safety Council and former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. “It is like the Wild West, where the most critical safety feature in the vehicle — the driver — is being treated like a guinea pig in human trials with new technologies.” Two of the infotainment systems were rated relatively low for distraction. Toyota’s Entune received a 1.7, the distraction equivalent of listening to an audiobook, and Hyundai’s Blue Lin Telematic System received a 2.2. “The good news is that really well-designed systems offer us the possibility to interact in ways that aren’t so distracting,” Strayer said.
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octoBER 17 – 30, 2014
TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE
Epoch Times
BEYOND SCIENCE
150,000-Year-Old Pipes Baffle Scientists in China: Out of Place in Time? NASA; Pipe image via Shutterstock
By Tara MacIsaac Epoch Times Staff The universe is full of mysteries that challenge our current knowledge. In “Beyond Science”, Epoch Times collects stories about these strange phenomena to stimulate the imagination and open up previously undreamed of possibilities. Are they true? You decide. Oopart (out of place artefact) is a term applied to dozens of prehistoric objects found in various places around the world that seem to show a level of technological advancement incongruous with the times in which they were made. Ooparts often frustrate conventional scientists, delight adventurous investigators open to alternative theories, and spark debate. In a mysterious pyramid in China’s Qinghai Province near Mount Baigong are three caves filled with pipes leading to a nearby salt-water lake. There are also pipes under the lake bed and on the shore. The iron pipes range in size, with some smaller than a toothpick. The strangest part is that they may be about 150,000 years old. Dating done by the Beijing Institute of Geology determined these iron pipes were smelted about 150,000 years ago, if they were indeed made by humans, according to Brian Dunning of Skeptoid.com. And if they were made by humans, history as it is commonly viewed would have to be re-evaluated. The dating was done using thermoluminescence, a technique that determines how long ago crystalline mineral was exposed to sunlight or heated. Humans are only thought to have inhabited the region for the past 30,000 years. Even within the known history of the area, the only humans to inhabit the region were nomads whose lifestyle would not leave any such structures behind. The state-run news agency Xinhua in China reported on the pyramid, the pipes, and the
A file photo of a pipe, and a view of Qinghai Lake in China, near which mysterious iron pipes were found.
research began by a team scientists sent to investigate in 2002. Though some have since tried to explain the pipes as a natural phenomenon, Yang Ji, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua the pyramid may have been built by intelligent beings. He did not dismiss the theory that ancient extraterrestrials may be responsible, saying this theory is “understandable and worth looking into … but scientific means must be employed to prove whether or not it is true”. Another theory is that it was built by prehistoric humans with techniques lost to humans of a later period. The pipes lead into a salty lake, though a twin lake nearby contains freshwater. The surrounding landscape is strewn with what Xinhua described as “strangely shaped stones”. Rocks protrude from the ground like
broken pillars. The head of the publicity department at the local Delingha government told Xinhua the pipes were analysed at a local smelter and eight percent of the material could not be identified. The rest was made up of ferric oxide, silicon dioxide, and calcium oxide. The silicon dioxide and calcium oxide are products of long interaction between the iron and surrounding sandstone, showing the ancient age of the pipes. Liu Shaolin, the engineer who did the analysis, told Xinhua: “This result has made the site even more mysterious.” “Nature is harsh here,” he said. “There are no residents let alone modern industry in the area, only a few migrant herdsmen to the north of the mountain.” To further add to the mystery, Zheng Jiandong, a geology research fellow from the China Earthquake Administration,
told state-run newspaper People’s Daily in 2007 that some of the pipes were found to be highly radioactive.
Other Theories
Jiandong said iron-rich magma may have risen from deep in the Earth, bringing the iron into fissures where it would solidify into tubes – though he admitted that “[there] is indeed something mysterious about these pipes”. He cited the radioactivity as an example of the strange qualities of the pipes. Others have said iron sediments may have washed into the fissures, carried with water during floods. Though Xinhua and other publications in China have referred to a pyramid or even a mysterious pyramid in which the pipes were found, some have said it was a pyramid-shaped natural formation.
Another theory is that the pipes are fossilised tree roots. Xinmin Weekly reported in 2003 that scientists found plant matter in an analysis of the pipes, and they also found what looked like tree rings. The article related the finding to a geological theory that in certain temperatures and under certain chemical conditions, tree roots can undergo diagenesis (transformation of soil into rock) and other processes that can produce iron formations. Reports on the tree-root explanation for the so-called Baigong pipes often lead back to this Xinmin Weekly article or lack citation. It is unclear exactly how well-supported this theory is in relation to the Baigong pipes. An article published in the Journal of Sedimentary Research in 1993 describes fossilised tree roots in South Louisiana in the United States.
Epoch Times
TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE
octoBER 17 – 30, 2014
19
Ancient Egypt Illuminated by Electricity?
Lasse Jensen/Wikimedia Commons/ Shutterstock
By Paul Darin Epoch Times Staff Today, we take for granted nightly city skylines, streetlights, and the overall power that drives our modern convenience. But could the wise-men of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia have had knowledge of electricity, even electric illumination, or even electric-based technology? Within the framework of some archaeological evidence, the answer seems affirmative. The most widely cited evidence that the ancient Egyptians used electricity is a relief beneath the Temple of Hathor at Dendera, Egypt that depicts figures standing around a large light-bulb-like object. The socket is represented by what appears to be a lotus flower with a stem that runs like a cable along the bottom of the “device”. Inside the “bulb” is a snake-like line winding its way out of the lotus flower “socket”. According to supporters of the hypothesis that this depicts an electrical light,
such as Erich Von Däniken who wrote “Chariot of the Gods”, the snake represents the filament of the bulb. Von Däniken created a working model of the bulb in the laboratory which works, emitting an eerie, purplish light. He used the same measurements, including two metal beams that look like arms stretched into the big end of the bulb, and a wire connecting those beams with the “socket” at the other end. But where did the power come from to light the bulb in ancient Egypt? An artefact found a long distance away from Egypt, outside of modern-day Baghdad, shows some electricity production was possible in the Middle East thousands of years ago. This artefact is known as the Baghdad Battery. The Baghdad Battery is simple in comparison with today’s batteries. It consists of a clay jar with a stopper made of asphalt. Through the stopper is an iron rod surrounded by a copper cylinder. It is believed that the jar would have been filled with a common acidic
Top: Pyramids in Egypt. Bottom: A light-bulb-like object engraved in a crypt under the Temple of Hathor in Egypt.
substance such as vinegar that would allow it to produce about 1.1 volts of electricity. Replicas of the battery have shown it works. 1.1 volts may not seem like much, but if you string several of these batteries together, the voltage increases. The battery was dated from 250 B.C. to 250 A.D. The current belief is that these batteries were used in early electroplating (bonding a layer of one type of metal onto the surface of another). These batteries aren’t the only theoretical power source.
Some claim that one of the most iconic structures in Egypt is in fact the most misunderstood device on the planet. Specifically, supporters of the ancient Egyptian electricity hypothesis say the Great Pyramid of Giza was actually used as a power plant. This idea was first championed by author and researcher Christopher Dunn in his books “The Giza Power Plant” and “Lost Technologies of Ancient Egypt”. Dunn said the “Kings Chamber” located in the heart of the Great Pyramid was once the
central power generating apparatus of the super structure. It is constructed primarily of pink granite, a material rich in microquartz-crystals. In fact, the Great Pyramid is mostly granite, and granite is made up of many tiny quartz crystals that, when exposed to pressure and/or energy vibrations, generate electricity. This is known in the scientific community as the piezoelectric effect. This effect is used in many modern technologies, such as loud speakers, signal transducers, and it has some applications in the automotive industry. According to Dunn and other supporters of this theory, the granite sarcophagus in the King’s Chamber (also intricately carved in solid pink granite) could have been instrumental in transmuting the low-frequency vibrations emitted by the earth into electrical energy. Additionally, Dunn said, the supporting beams in the ceiling of the king’s chamber all seem to have been precisely tuned, or cut to size, to perfectly resonate with this frequency.
20 october 17 – 30, 2014
TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE
Epoch Times
Shutterstock
Less Than 60 Days Before Dozens of California Communities Run Out of Water
Water irrigation pipes in the dry Southern California farmland.
By J. D. Heyes Chronic drought conditions throughout the West continue to wreak havoc on the general public, as well as farming operations, but in California, things are about to get much worse. Some regions of the state are now within two months of completely running out of water, according to CBS San Francisco, which reported that communities in central and northern California could see their water supplies completely vanquished in less than 60 days.
Pretty much anything that was alive weeks ago is dry ‘cuz we haven’t been able to water. Michelle Payne, resident “The areas in jeopardy include Colusa and El Dorado County. These are relatively small communities and they rely on one source of water,” the news site reported, adding, “Butte County north of Sacramento is getting hit hard.” The water supply at the Big Bend Mobile Home Park near Oroville, which is home
to some 30 families, has gotten so low that it is now turned off between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. “Hard when you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night,” resident Michelle Payne told the local news site. “I guess we’re not flushing.” A single well supplies her entire community, and while there are other wells on the property, they have all gone dry. At-Risk Towns Increasing by the Month “There’s really nothing you [can do] about it,” resident John Dougherty told CBS San Francisco. “I don’t water any plants… try to cut back on toilet usage… whatever we can do is what you gotta do… all we can do.” “Pretty much anything that was alive weeks ago is dry, ‘cuz we haven’t been able to water,” added Payne. Some area residents have taken to driving five or more miles (8 kilometres or more) to get drinking water from a spring box, both for their consumption and for their animals. Statewide, water shortages are increasing. In one month’s time, for instance, the Water Resource Board’s list of cities and towns at most risk of running out of water within two months has grown from eight to 12; the Big Bend Mobile Home Park is now on that list. “There is some help on the way for the people here. The state just approved plans to drill a new well. It’s not clear when the
work will begin,” CBS San Franscisco reported. According to the US Drought Monitor, the western drought remains widespread, with California suffering the worst of it. Nearly all of the state is either suffering “Extreme” or “Exceptional” drought; most of the state is in the “Exceptional” category, which is the worst. The centre says dry conditions in the West are affecting more than 51 million Americans, or roughly 16 percent of the population. ‘It Will Take Substantial Snowfall’ As reported by Bloomberg News, California will continue to suffer chronic drought without substantial mountain snowfall this winter; snowfall that melts in spring replenishes the state’s water systems, but there has been a dearth of snowfall in recent years. “All eyes will be turned to the winter because it is a really critical winter, not just for California but the rest of the West and the lower Great Plains as well,” Mark Svoboda of the National Drought Mitigation Centre in Lincoln, Nebraska, told Bloomberg. “For the majority of the West, the lifeline is the snow that falls in the Rockies, the snow that falls in the Cascades and the snow that falls in the Sierra,” he added. Kevin Werner, the western regional climate services director with the National Climatic Data Centre, told Bloomberg
that the Western states of Arizona and New Mexico were able to experience some relief from their drought during the recent annual monsoon season. Also, they were relieved by a great deal of rain that fell from hurricanes Norbert and Odile. But that rain did not make it far enough north to have much impact, so snowfall remains vital for California.
[..] Dry conditions in the West are affecting more than 51 million Americans, or roughly 16 percent of the population. “Most of our water, from 80 to 90 percent of it, falls in the form of snow in the winter time,” Warner told Bloomberg. Natural News editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, reported recently that, in California, some residents are now experiencing water rationing of 50 gallons a day. J. D. Heyes is a contributing writer to Natural News.
Epoch Times
TECHNOLOGY & SCIENCE
october 17 – 30, 2014 21
India’s Tiger Protection Squad Ensures No Poaching Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images
By Ramya Naresh “Tyger, tyger, burning bright,” wrote William Blake in his famed poem. And now it appears that thanks to a dedicated team belonging to the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF), tigers will once again shine bright in the forests of Maharashtra. The expertise of these trained hands was on display in February at the Ashta village which falls in the buffer zone of the Tadoba-Andhari tiger reserve of the state. A tiger had strayed into the village in the buffer zone of the reserve. This team managed to lure away the tiger from the village without any damage to human lives, while simultaneously managing a crowd of villagers who had gathered out of curiosity as well as fear. This was probably the first time that a tiger venturing into a human inhabited area was spared from being mauled by the crowd. Since 2012, the STPF has been deployed in two tiger reserves in Maharashtra, one at Tadoba and the other at Pench tiger reserve. Tadoba is believed to be home to about 50 tigers, according to experts. The tiger population in India was 1,706 in the last survey conducted in 2011 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, over half of the total tiger population of the world. Swapnil Ghure, who heads the STPF
Three six-month-old Indian white tiger cubs are pictured with their mother Sameera (R) in their enclosure at the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad on March 29, 2014.
says, “There has been no poaching incident in Tadoba since the STPF has been inducted. In a conflict situation, they are helpful in two ways: to control the mob and ensure safety of wild animals besides monitoring wildlife.” Reduced Poaching Instances of poaching are usually more common in summer when tigers approach water bodies and become easy targets for
poachers. The summer of 2012, when the STPF was first introduced in Tadoba, witnessed three instances of suspected poaching. In 2013, two incidents had evidence of poaching, but was not confirmed. The summer of 2014 showed brighter results with not one occurrence of poaching in Tadoba. The STPF was formed following guidelines from the government to
protect the tigers. Funds were released by the Government as early as 2008 to raise, arm, train and deploy the special tiger protection force in 13 sensitive tiger reserves. Karnataka was the first state to deploy the STPF in 2012. Other states soon followed. The main duty of the STPF members is to protect the tigers and their cause by taking anti-poaching measures in the park. Controlling mobs of villagers is just one of the other tasks to facilitate the main objective of protecting tigers. “We patrol the forests; our strength is in our numbers. We can take on a big group that is doing illegal activity inside forests and ensure the safety of wildlife animals from poachers, “said a female officer of the force. Kishor Rithe, a member of the Satpuda Foundation that works for animal welfare, said, “STPF has been very effective not only in controlling incidents of poaching, but it has also played a crucial role in making people more aware especially in an area like Tadoba where there are incidents of man-animal conflict. That’s why we are eager to get two more STPFs for sensitive reserves like Melghat, which borders MP, and Navegaon Nagzira tiger reserves in the state.” This article was originally written and published by Ramya Naresh, a contributing writer for indiasendangered. com
How Thunderstorms Could Help Save African Elephants Lara Zanarini/iStock/Thinkstock
By Keith Randall Texas A&M Elephants can tell when a storm is approaching, even if it is 150 miles (241 kilometres) away. Scientists hope one day to use this ability to save them from being killed by thousands by poachers. Researchers analysed data from GPS tracking devices placed on elephants in 14 different herds in the Nambia region of Africa and plotted the elephants’ movements for seven years. The region has a distinct rainy season and conditions are usually hot and dry with little precipitation. The researchers found that elephants can “sense” thunderstorms—often hundreds of miles from their current location—and seem to predict approaching rain several days before it occurs. “The onset of the rainy season there is very abrupt and lasts just a few weeks, and the rest of the time, there is little or no rain at all,” explains Oliver Frauenfeld, assistant professor in the geography department at Texas A&M University. “With the GPS device attached to them,
we learned that the elephants can detect thunderstorms at great distances. We don’t know if they can actually hear the thunder or if they are detecting other low-frequency sounds generated by the storms that humans can’t hear. But there is no doubt they know what direction the rain is.” Getting Elephants to Safety Frauenfeld says the information could have conservation implications for helping elephants survive the rampant poaching trade in Africa by allowing wildlife officials to better predict the location and movement of elephant herds. A recent study by National Geographic estimates that at least 100,000 elephants were killed during a three-year period from 2010-2012, and Central Africa has lost 64 percent of the elephant population in the last decade. Some localised populations could be wiped out entirely within the next 10 years, the study says. “While the environmental trigger that causes their movements remains uncertain, rain-system generated infrasound, which can travel great distances and be detected by elephants, is a possible trigger for changes in their
migration patterns,” Frauenfeld adds. “Our study suggests that the elephants are responding to a common environmental signal. The change in their movements occurs well before— from days to weeks—of any rain in the
elephants’ current location.” Coauthors from the University of Virginia, Australia’s University of New South Wales and the University of Utah contributed to the study, which appears in PLOS ONE.