Friend of 2point6billion, Jerry Stryker, shares a comment on today’s blog censorship in China and referrs to an all-too-sensational Youtube clip of a day in the life of online games-junkies in a Beijing-outskirts correctional camp!!!…

Here’s an illuminating piece from Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post (available by subscription only) with some detail additional to what we know already about how the internet censors do their work in China.  This article is about the censorship of blogs. Presumably the same system, more or less, applies to all email.

Words do matter. 

Also, while we’re on the subject of the internet… have you read about a camp near Beijing where well-off parents send their children to be cured of addiction to computer games? One of several such camps in China, this one costs 10,000 yuan a month and has treated 1500 addicts since it opened in 2004.  A video of the camp in operation was posted to Youtube last November. It runs only three minutes and is available at:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DYp2lw3d-p8

Way back in the mid 1700’s there were large numbers of British troops in colonial India. Malaria was a problem, and a preventative cure was to drink massive amounts of quinine. Quinine tastes absolutely terrible on its own, and various concoctions were drummed up to make the proper dosage palatable. The one fix that everyone could agree on was to add a bit of gin to the medicine, and besides evolving into the gin and tonic it saved many lives.

Now, large numbers of British soldiers drinking large amounts of gin created a problem: There wasn’t enough gin in India. Creative entrepreneurs on the subcontinent began to distill their own, but the recipes from England and Holland had ingredients that were very expensive in India. The distilleries improvised, and a new style of gin was born. These new gins tasted slightly sweeter and carried less of the “Christmas tree” juniper essence. The exotic botanical infusions in “Indian Gin” are spicy and intriguing in the way that other gins aren’t.

Now, being in India one should always do what the Indians do, and that is, enjoy a decent gin. However, in this multi-nationally distilled world we live in, it seems many of the original brands – labeled “Bombay Gin” for example – have now upped sticks and gone to live in Warrington, in rainy Northern England. Hardly the spot for a cooling tonic after a chukka or two. So the search for an Indian gin – distilled in India – began.

With the help of some of Delhi’s outrageously priced bars (USD48 a shot) it is (a) hardly surprising the Hindus don’t drink, and (b) I had to resort to some internet resources as well. Nonetheless – this is what I found is still out there, either carrying the flame or still distilled in India:

Tanqueray Rangpur Gin - a new, lime flavored gin, distilled with rare Rangpur limes for a subtle gin taste. The Rangpur lime, only found in India, resembles an orange or tangerine but tastes like zesty lime. Mix with a few drops of bitters for a ‘Rangpur Ginger.’ Indian ingredients, but distilled in the UK.

McDowells “Blue Riband” Gin - Distilled since 1959, this is the best established and well known of the native Indian gins. Slightly sweet, it’s great in a Gin Fizz…the top range brand being “Premium Blue London Dry Gin.”

Saffron Gin - Saffron Gin is a unique recipe discovered in the archives of France’s colonial past when England and France both claimed India as their jewel and gin rich in exotic botanicals was the fashion. This handcrafted, small batch pot distilled gin is made from the finest natural botanicals, in addition to the Saffron which gives a delicately spicy character, the recipe has Juniper, Coriander, Lemon, Orange Peel, Angelica Seeds, Iris and Fennel. Note: It’s bright orange…

Bombay Sapphire – Yup, that blue bottled gin. Spicy, with a pronounced juniper palate, this super-premium version of regular Bombay (originally distilled in India) is the brainchild of marketing genius Michel Roux of Carillon Importer. Only introduced in 1988, it has become a major hit among gin connoisseurs. Sapphire offers a combination of no less than ten natural botanicals–more than any other gin–including grains of paradise, almonds, lemon peel, licorice, juniper berries, cubeb berries, orris, coriander, angelica and cassia bark. Makes a martini of unprecedented smoothness. Not Indian, but it harks back to the good old days.

Gilbeys Gin - Manufactured in Aurangabad, under licence. So it’s actually made here. Reminiscent of spices, minerals, and dried herbs. Medium light body with a delicate, creamy texture, and a good combination of rich aromatics.

High Society Gin - A 1970’s brand made by Herbertsons in the initial distillery at Cherthala in Kerala. I’m not sure if this is still available.

Bulldog Gin – This is a new brand, and is designed to be an Indian Gin in the truest definition, carrying the torch that Tanqueray dropped when they discontinued their Malacca Gin brand. Twelve ingredients are used to impart flavor, and the more unique are dragon eye, poppies, lotus leaves, cassia, and almonds. Dragon eye is better known as longan, and is reputed to help both sexes with a little extra zing in the bedroom. Wahey ! Bulldog contains medium juniper, strong citrus, cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper, and spicy grains of paradise finish. Not many gins are pleasant warm, but this is a welcomed exception. A small splash of water subdues the nose into a flowerful bouquet, and removes some of the fire from the spices on the finish. Distilled in London, but ‘in the tradition’.

The following Gins are around, I was lucky enough to get on the Indian licensing boards website for brand licensing, so these brands are somewhere out there too. Drop us a line if you find any!

Savoy Club Gin, by Sunshine Distillers of Delhi;

Big Band London Dry Gin from Mohan Meakins Ltd, who also make the Goan “Old Monk Rum” which is a favorite;

Blue Moon Extra Dry Gin from NV Distillers;

Lady Di Gin with fresh lime, distilled by Gwalior Distillers of New Delhi;

21^st Century Extra Dry Gin from Som Distillers;

High Ball Gin from Kedia Great Galeon Distillers;

White Mischief Paradise Gin from Shaw Wallace Distillers – which sounds like it might be exported to Africa with a name like that;

Blue Berry Dry Gin from Kesar Enterprises;

And last but not least, Calcutta Dry Gin from Gajaraj Distillers, which I bet is a cracker.

So there you have it. Indian Gin is alive and well, and still living in India.

Pip Pip!

Friend of 2point6billion, Jerry Stryker, shares his thoughts on what’s happening with the China’s new property rights law and discussions about it at the NPC…

“The Economist” again, this time the print edition: a very informative article on the property rights law about to be approved by the NPC (National People’s Congress). Be sure to read the article all the way to the end, because the enthusiasm in the first portion of the article is substantially moderated by realities brought out in the latter portion.

But first, a word from the NPC itself.  The official NPC website highlights an article from the People’s Daily Online, saying that:

After seven discussions within the NPC Standing Committee and more than 100 symposiums and legislative meetings based on over 10,000 submissions from the public on the full text, the draft of a Property Law was finally submitted to the fifth session of the 10th National People’s Congress on March 8. A careful reading of the final version of the draft enables people to see that it fully embodies the spirit and principles of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China.

Property Law with Chinese characteristics serves China’s basic economic system.

The explanation of what is meant by a “property law with Chinese characteristics” which followed is rather murky, but perhaps the essence of it is caught elsewhere, in these two excerpts from a statement made to the NPC Thursday by a vice-chair of the NPC’s Standing Committee:

Keeping public ownership dominant and having the economic sectors of diverse forms of ownership develop side by side constitute the basic socialist economic system of the State in the primary stage of socialism.  Enactment of the property law will serve to define the scope of State-owned property and collective-owned property and the exercise of State ownership and collective ownership and strengthen protection of State-owned and collective-owned property, and will be conducive to consolidating and developing the economic sector of public ownership; and it will serve to define the scope of private property and protect private property in accordance with law, which will be conducive to encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the economic sector of non-public ownership.

As the reform and opening-up and the economy develop, people’s living standards have improved in general, and they urgently require effective protection of their own lawful property accumulated through hard work, of the right to land contractual management they enjoy in accordance with law, and of their other lawful rights and interests. Enactment of the property law will serve to define and protect private ownership, condominium right, right to land contractual management and house-site-use right, for the purpose of protecting the immediate interests of the people, stimulating their vigor to create wealth and promoting social harmony. (source: http://english.people.com.cn/200703/08/eng20070308_355491.html)

Reference: Property Rights in China, China’s Next Revolution (Economist, March, 2007)

Thanks Jerry for sharing your introductory comments.  We look forward to the next one!

With reciprocal flights having recently commenced between these two huge Asian capital cities - well, whats the difference between them ? Like all such - to be honest - somewhat superflous debates (I make no apology for trivialsing the Chindia topic at this stage), a lot remains hidden. It’s a combination of finding the pulse, and then later the true source - the heartbeat - of a city that determines exactitude. Having lived in Beijing for many years, and being a relative newcomer to Delhi, I may sound trite to longer established locals or expatriates in either locale. Yet I make no apologies. Newcomers need not, and as a Taurean I am astronomically bound to charge around like a bull in a China shop. No offense is meant by my observations, and our dear readers should remember that criticism need not forgo fondness. So kindly let me plunge in, hoofs first, into my initial observations:

1) Air Quality.

Well neither country has a lot to be proud of, and especially the dreadful state of affairs in Hong Kong and Mumbai, both of which are increasingly appalling despite all the denials. But this is about Beijing and Delhi. The Indians win. Largely due to the introduction of a ‘clean fuel’ initiative that sees all public transport use emission free natural gas, the skies are blue. Consider this - I suffer from mild asthma - which always gives me mild grief in China. Delhi, not a sniffle and there are Plum Headed Parakeets flying about. As an orinithologist I tend to notice bird life - and Beijing is a desert.

2) Recreation.

Again, it has to be said, Delhi. Every park space is devoted to the national sport, cricket, and everyone, from young to old, is involved. Cricket is even used as a nationalistic drum to beat the pride of India into it’s citizens. China has Yao Ming and the admiration of his US dollars and green card. Even with the Olympics, Beijing cannot compete in sporting fervour, and Delhi holds the Commonwealth Games in 2010. Which will be a major distraction to Shanghai’s holding Expo.

3) Motivation.

It’s a tricky one this, especially as people are motivated by different things. That’s OK, and after all it’s a personal thing. Life would be dull if everyone were motivated by the same incentive, we’d become Lemmings. However, I am worried by the out and out general lemmingness of China. Money tends to rule hearts, and there seems to be no other major distraction. A nation full of Gordon Geckos ? “Greed is good” - well re-run the end of the film. India of course has it’s entrepreneurs and it’s greedy - but it doesn’t seem to have penetrated the nation psyche to such a degree. This is a complicated subject, and I am inclined to believe it is tied up in religeon and the purging of the intellectuals. China dumbed down, and eradicated it’s top tier of society under Mao. India dumbed down, but only to give the man in the street a voice. There’s the political difference; one nation got to keep it’s intelligesia, while the other is still recovering.

China is newly rich, and it shows. India has always been rich, and that shows too. I feel the motivations directing the two countries however are rather different. Perhaps someone with more intelligence than I can elucidate upon or dispute this observation with me.

4) Paranoias

Whats China scared of ? The power of literature and communication. Odd for such a culturally rich nation, and almost certainly an historic abnormality. A problem India doesn’t have, where internet access and books for all are freely available. Even the wonderful Nickelodean cartoons are broadcast in Delhi (dubbed into Hindi), and the world and all it’s pleasures and sins is just a click away online. That is not the case in China, where publishing is heavily monitored, WWW access restricted, and debate on non-approved topics such as Tibet or Taiwan illegal. China remains scared of the outside world.
So what’s India scared of ? Itself, largely. A huge chip of insecurity on it’s shoulder, it remains a fractured picture, acknowledging Ghandi’s efforts to free the entire nation yet afraid to let those same people free through the lowering of trade tarriffs and barriers. A nation that has stood still for 60 years, glares at the oncoming headlights of globalisation and stands petrified that things may change. For neither nation are these sustainable policies.

I think that’s enough to chew on for the time being. Comments, as always welcome, and remember my terms : Criticism does not come at the expense of fondness.

I happened upon a neat blog focusing on Chinese youth, urban culture and media.  It’s a bit outdated (most recent post from February 22nd) but well worth visiting.  There are a number of articles on China and media, how Chinese businesses are using Youtube for advertising, how Shanghai youth are digitizing their social circles and turning makeshift film into big hitters online and even a few links to sites with information about youth in India.

check it out at: http://www.youmeiti.com/

US traditional advantages - in science, technology, higher education and human capital - “are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength…decisive action is needed now.” (Democratic Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid)

A bipartisan group of US senators introduced the America COMPETES (Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education and Science) Act last Monday.  The legislative move is a bold response to recommendations in the National Academy of Sciences report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm (published earlier this year) which flagged up the serious need for American institutions to heavily improve competitiveness as China and India pose challenges in advancing science, technology and education.  The report sites some shocking statistics - in 2005, it says, more than 600,000 engineers graduated from higher educational institutions in China, and 350,000 in India but only 70,000 in the US.  America is now a net importer of high-technology products - in the ’90s it was a net exporter with a US$ 54 billion surplus.

The legislation is a protective measure, that’s for certain, but what’s more is that the world’s superpower is finally recognizing (and reacting to) the ability of China and India to achieve much more than it had ever expected - to become world leaders in human capital, a quintessential driving force behind the rise of economic power.  “There is no more important piece of legislation in Congress this year because it goes to the heart of how we keep our high standard of living” said Lamar Alexander, a Republican Senator from Tennessee who is said to be the mastermind behind the legislation.  “Our position of dominance has been lost today…we are challenged by emerging economies like India and China, where investment in basic research and subject areas as math and science continues to grow at a far greater pace than here in the United States” said Reid who is also a major driver of the legislation. The legislation follows a bill introduced at the end of last year by a group of Senate Leaders, it focuses on two main areas highlighting the importance for America to maintain and improve innovation in the global marketplace; increasing research investment, and strengthening education opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and maths from elementary through graduate-level academia.  The bill will be placed directly into the Senate calendar, a fast-track to congress decision-making (most bills are usually first referred to the Senate committee before debated and resolved).

Check out what others have to say on the Hill Blog.

China and India are leading the developing world’s quest to treat disease - through nanotechnology research.  Patent applications from these two countries are among the world’s highest with China third only to the US and Japan.  India’s Department of Science and Technology is investing US$ 20 million to nanotechnology research between 2004 - 2009, their aim is to pioneer the world’s best nanomaterials and molecular robotics devices that can improve the way cancer and other diseases are prevented.  While both countries are ambitiously engaging in this revolutionary industry, nanotechnolgoy funding remains considerably low.  To date India has only put up US$ 24 million, its scientists say this is simply not enough to support the extensive developments that are needed to be made for breakthroughs in disease research.  They say that government support in China has allowed scientist in that country to push much farther ahead but India’s government is now starting to provide more support to nanoscience by promoting links between institutes and industry both domestically and with international private sector partners.

What others have to say on Nanotechnology in China and India:

Nanotech to propel China’s economic growth (EE Times Asia, February 2007)

India poised for breakthrough in Nanotechnology (India PR Wire, February 2007)

India replaced Japan as Asia’s top billionaire locale says the Forbes 2007 billionaires list released last Thursday.  India now has 36 citizens with over a billion dollars (and an accumulated US$ 191 billion); nine of them were in the top 12 richest in Asia and of the continent’s 54 new billionaires, 14 were Indian.  Globally, India is only 4th to Russia (53), Germany (55), and the US (with 415) and of India’s top three - Lakshmi Niwas Mittal (world’s 5th), Mukesh Ambani (14th), and Anil Ambani (18th) - the feuding brothers have made it into the world’s top 20 this year.

For China, Li Ka-shing remains the richest - ranking 9th globally with US$ 22 billion.  Dumpling maker and self-made magnate, Li Wei (founder of Synear Food Holding, China’s largest frozen foods producer) made it into the list this year along with a dozen other Chinese new billionaires.  Though not in the world nor Asia’s top rankings, China’s richest 40 had a combined net worth of US$ 154 billion this year.

Tecnova India shared with us a presentation they made on India’s youth.  It focuses mainly on the interests around young Indians and their consumer abilities & cultures but it also gives some basic insight on the socio-economic evolution of India’s young people, including the changes and structures of values & beliefs, career and knowledge opportunities, changing lifestyles & entertainment interests, and access to information & knowledge.  What it doesn’t go into - just because of its tailored interest and coverage - is the movement of youth from different levels of socio-economic groups up the ladder of prosperity (if at all).  I’d be interested in hearing what others might have to say about this.  In the interim, do have a look at the presentation, its informative and you’ll enjoy reading it. 
The presentation can be accessed at: http://www.2point6billion.com/The_New_Indian.pdf.

Thanks to Tecnova India and Rahul Singhal for sharing their presentation with us.

Another notable World Bank publication just put out in January this year.  A great resource for those wanting to learn the basics and current movements of these two huge economies into the international marketplace as their companies and national interests ‘go global’.  The book comprises of six essays focusing on China and India’s foreign trade, domestic industrial development capabilities and financial systems and the rest of the book looks into the challenges these two countries face which may influence their aims to develop.  The book also goes into implications of energy and environment, two major areas of criticism that China and India face from the global community.

The book’s 292 pages (full text) is available for free at: http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/01/10/
000020953_20070110150325/Rendered/PDF/383390Dancing0with0giants01PUBLIC1.pdf