Heated debate on public heating

Public heating has triggered heated discussions during winter in recent years. Proposals on public heating have also been hot topics at the annual sessions of the national legislative and political advisory bodies. The issue concerns not only Chinese people's livelihood, but also the country's environment, says an article in Qianjiang Evening News. Excerpts:

Those who support South China should have public heating argue that the region south of the line from Qinling Mountains to the Huaihe River deserves the same treatment as North. And people who oppose the idea claim that it would not be possible to provide public heating in South China because of shortage of fuels.

But the fact remains that without a strategic green revolution in public heating there cannot be a winner in the battle of energy consumption.

Apart from causing pollution, the alarming rate of energy consumption is also becoming increasingly unaffordable. Statistics show that the consumption of energy by buildings in urban China is two to three times that of developed countries with similar climate.

Public heating mirrors the structural problems of China's energy woes. The extensive public heating system in North China has come at huge energy and environmental costs when people in South China have had to endure the cold without public heating. This is not conducive to boosting domestic demand.

The annual Central Economic Work Conference has stated that the country will focus on urbanization in the coming years. Providing public heating might be a good way of accelerating urbanization as well as boosting domestic demand, but the system has to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

An example of grit and hard work

The amazing rise of Yang Shaoping from a restaurant waiter to a lawyer should encourage youths to follow his example, says an article in the Beijing Times. Excerpts:

Eight years ago, poverty forced Yang Shaoping to give up his studies. But he kept the fact a secret as he chose another way of pursuing his dream - he got a job as a waiter in a restaurant to help his poor family and continued his studies, though a bit irregularly.

Thanks to his grit, determination and hard work, he cleared the national judicial examination, or lawyer's qualification exam, at the end of 2012.

He should have achieved his goal much earlier had he not been handicapped by poverty. But he did not allow poverty to dash his dream.

Yang is unlike many Chinese youths who often tend to become cynical, feisty and helpless because of social inequality and the income gap. Yang doesn't think like many of his peers that in today's society only the offspring of rich or powerful parents can achieve success.

Yang chose a meaningful way. He faced the challenges of life instead of only complaining about discriminations and injustice.

Yang will face more challenges because of his social background and lack of resources, and has to continue working hard to fulfill his dream of becoming a successful lawyer.

But more importantly, while people in Yang's situation should think and act positively, the government should also take measures to create more opportunities for them.

(China Daily 01/09/2013 page9)