Life

Schools get green

By Mike Peters (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-23 11:09

Britain's Ambassador Sebastian Wood presented students from three Beijing schools with seed-filled acrylic rods from the UK pavilion at Shanghai's recently ended Expo 2010. In an effort to help schools teach biodiversity, Prime Minister David Cameron launched the British Council Climate Generation Expo Legacy program during his visit to China in November. Thomas Heatherwick's award-winning "seed cathedral" pavilion was comprised of 60,000 of the acrylic rods, and the goal is to distribute 1,000 of them to schools across China. On Dec 10, students from the Affiliated High School of Peking University, Beijing Yucai School and Beijing Bayi Middle School received the seed rods and also chatted with representatives from Roots and Shoots China about progress in the 10:10 campaign, designed to lower carbon emissions by 10 percent in 2010.

On Wednesday, Wood opened a new visa application center for the UK in Beijing.

...

The Belgian embassy was abuzz over the visit of tennis star Justine Henin, who was in Beijing this week to promote her recently opened tennis academy. It's the first visit to China for Henin, who retired just before the Beijing Olympic Games but is back on the courts with a vengeance now, ranked 12th in the world. "We are very excited to have her here," Sixth Sense Academy director Andres Bruno told China Daily as more than 100 members of the Belgian community and other guests arrived at a Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel ballroom to rub shoulders with the tennis star.

...

Every Monday in December, students at a Swedish culture course at TCG Nordica in Kunming will hear a lecture about Christmas holiday traditions and Christmas stories. On Saturday, Swedish choir Lucia presented a concert in conjunction with a banquet. TCG Nordica, celebrating its 10th year, was founded by Swedish and Chinese culture workers, Anna Mellergard and Wu Yuerong, who wanted to create a place that promoted their respective art and cultures.

Last Sunday, the Swedish community in Beijing gathered for a Lucia celebration and a Christmas bazaar, with Ambassador Lars Freden and Lennart Hamark, minister at the Church of Sweden based in Hong Kong.

...

Paintings by Czech artist Mirek Kaufman were on display on Thursday night as the Czech Republic's embassy hosted a pre-Christmas holiday party for its expatriate community and friends. Chinese musicians provided the ambient sound, as the artist presented works that will go on public display at a 798 Art Zone exhibition in Beijing in February.

It was the latest event for EmbassyArt, a three-year cultural-exchange program between the Czech Republic and China. Czech Ambassador Libor Secka said the program will bring together artists - painters, musicians, photographers, dancers and others - from both countries until it concludes in 2013.

Spring plans include a"Piano" exhibition by Chinese artist Huang Rui and the return to Beijing of the modern ballet troupe of the Czech National Theatre.

Underwriting for the program comes from two primary sponsors - the Czech automobile maker Skoda, now a subsidiary of Volkswagen, and the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei.

...

Turkey also plans a three-year celebration and cultural exchange with China, Turkish Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay told China Daily on a recent visit to button-down details in Beijing.

Gunay said the three cultural years include a celebration of 40 years of diplomatic relations with China (2011), a Chinese Cultural Year in Turkey (2010) and a Turkish Cultural Year in China (2013).

Turkey has roots in Asia, but 1,000 years of history as part of Europe, he said, noting that Istanbul is designated as one of Europe's three cultural capitals this year. "We have a lot in common with any culture on either continent."

Gunay said cultural relationships are important, but they are not strong enough to solve all problems and conflicts. That's actually a good thing, he said: "If culture was that strong, the whole world would look like the US."

Diplomatic Pouch