Veggie Dream

I was interested to read your articles about vegetarianism (January issue) and how it is catching on in China. I always imagined China to be a meat eating country before. Being vegetarian is very misunderstood by many people. I am a vegetarian and it has taught me to be very tolerant. If I go to any banquet, dinner, buffet, cocktail party, or any other event where food is served, I have learned to always try and eat beforehand or at least carry some of my own snacks. Vegetarians are rarely, if ever, catered for at social events, apart from the odd carrot or celery stick, tucked away in between the mountains of chicken wings, fish sticks and meatballs. And why is it that non-vegetarians are always so surprised when they learn we don't eat fish. I have heard a thousand times, when telling people I am a vegetarian, "but you do eat fish – right?" Fish is not flesh and flesh is meat. Vegetarians are still treated like we have some sort of disease, either pitied or offered a plate of steamed vegetables as dinner.

Many people become vegetarians for religious reasons and others for health reasons. The interesting thing is the spin-offs that come from vegetarianism. Most vegetarians do not smoke or drink much alcohol and certainly vegetarians are much less prone to anger.

Perhaps Africa would be a more peaceful place if we were all vegetarians. But the way things are going is still a pipe dream. Perhaps we need a fast-food chain of good quality vegetarian food to fix things.

Keep up the good work in your magazine and look forward to more green stories from your team.

Dorothy Pierce, South Africa

Changing values

In your article about Understanding Confucius (January issue) I felt obliged to bring up an issue that I was made aware of while studying in China. There seems to be little use for moral philosophy when most people are battling to make a better life for themselves and striving to buy that long-dreamed home and car. Morals, along with a sense of righteousness, are often seen as something that is not pragmatic and even idealistic. This I found especially evident in younger people. While it is abundantly clear that family ties are by far the most important aspect or even goal of Chinese life, all the other priorities that characterize Confucian thought are seen more as ideals, rather than having any practical application by most of the Chinese I encountered. Perhaps Confucian way of thought, and what it implies, should make way for something more generic like a Chinese value system, which can include the more modern way of thinking and adopt a new way of looking at what is important in life.

Precious Mabuza, Zimbabwe

Decisive Days

As the outcome of the Sudan referendum is awaited and a new Southern nation seems imminent, it is clear to me that oil has, does and will always be the major factor in any divisions, discontent and future outcomes of Sudan. Two parts of one country vary so much in race, culture and religion. With the country storing about 5 billion barrels of oil in reserves and exporting billions of dollars worth of oil every year, one wonders if the split comes, how Khartoum can possibly open its hand and release the oil abundant south of the country? It is common knowledge to all that the South has never benefited proportionately from the oil wealth. Perhaps all will be settled by drawing a line in the sand. It has been coming for hundreds of years. We all hope for a peaceful end to so many years of fighting. We hope our children can learn what it is to live a peaceful day without the threat of violence of some kind around the corner. In the meantime we wait to usher in Africa's newest country. We hope your magazine can give the topic some space.

Mijak Chol, Sudan

Socially responsible

We are very happy to read your story Developing a Mindset of Corporate Consciousness (January issue). It is very important for China's progress in Africa to integrate into the societies in which businesses operate. As Africans we are very conscious of past colonialism and the separate nature of "us and them."v We therefore expect the Chinese companies and workers to become part of our society. We understand we have different culture but at the end of the day we are all people. If business is making a profit then some of that profit must go back to benefit the people. Not only is this sound business practice, but in this case it also falls in line with the Chinese philosophy of Confucianism – as it generates harmony. We are happy to read that the Chinese leaders are telling the Chinese companies in Africa to make bigger contributions to social welfare. We look forward to more practical examples of this in the future.

Blessed Moyo, Botswana