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Jan Barendrecht's avatar

Cause and effect matters here: whereas the Chinese leadership can enjoy high appreciation (with corresponding health, economic, environmental and military effects), the contrary is true for Western regimes. Hence the gap between Chinese and Western development will only grow.

One example, the West "treats" obesity with ozempic (look up the side effects) while China uses this approach:

https://metallicman.com/laoban4site/how-china-deals-with-obesity/

Ugo Bardi's avatar

Good point about Ozempic and the alternative Chinese way to encourage public dances. I was in Shanghai a few months ago, and I witnessed a public dance in a square. Nice people, nice idea, good feeling. I almost danced with them. I'll do that next time!

Jan Barendrecht's avatar

I would have joined immediately, knowing that in an ambiance of trust (result of meritocracy) the dancers would appreciate foreigners joining them.

Ugo Bardi's avatar

I was a little too shy!!

Ugo Bardi's avatar

I am preparing a post on "Living Earth" on that dance -- thanks for the suggestion.

Jan Barendrecht's avatar

Great Idea Ugo. Healthy people are far more sensitive to nature ("living earth") than those under medication. Healthy environment should be the number one priority as every organism both depends and contributes to it (+ or -). About 60% of Western populations have at least one chronic disease - a disaster unless having shares in pharmaceutical corporations.

Our Russian friends have their own way of "living in harsh conditions":

https://englishrussia.com/2009/12/03/socializing-with-bears/

Ivan Lukić's avatar

RIP Renee Nicole Macklin Good.

Dead Primate's avatar

The US has always been what it is. Its' just naked now.

John Day MD's avatar

I remember Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, North Carolina fondly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Andy_Griffith_Show

Richard Reiss's avatar

About narratives and China, they seem to be improving but there's a callous legacy, even after the wild excesses of the Cultural Revolution and later, Tiananmen.

The Washington Post, 2012: https://archive.ph/n0wwS

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/22/china-nation-cold-hearts

More accurate narrative transparency on Covid would have helped the world, had that happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Wenliang