SEX ED FURORE

China Newsweek

September 12, 2011

Recently, a new sex education textbook for elementary school students, about six to 12 years old, in Beijing triggered a heated debate countrywide. While being glad to see more attention paid to sex education, many people also criticize the images and illustrations of sexual intercourse in the textbook as being too explicit and graphic.

In this issue, China Newsweek looks at the current situation of China's sex education. Currently, sex education in China does not have any unified planning and institutional support. Under such circumstances, the lack of qualified teachers and textbooks worsens the problem in education practice.

Experts believe apart from teaching students how to prevent disease, it is more important to adhere to Chinese traditional morals of being conservative about sex.

UPGRADING WATER CONTROL

China Economic Weekly

August 22, 2011

Water conservancy projects are vital to China's agricultural development. A string of floods and droughts in recent years have exposed weakness in the water conservancy infrastructures mostly built in 1950s to the 1970s. This July, China pledged to reinforce its water facilities during the following five to 10 years to ensure the security of grain production.

This issue of the magazine looks at the current situation of water facilities nationwide and the problems with reinforcing those that are in disrepair (almost half).  However, local governments can't afford such a huge reinforcing project as it needs large funding, exceeding the amount allocated by the Central Government. Moreover, ensuring funds invested in water conservancy projects are not embezzled and how to guarantee the quality of the construction, are problems also needing resolution. 

MOON CAKE SIMPLICITY

Guangzhou Daily

September 7, 2011

During this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, different from previous years, in Guangzhou, south China, a lot of simply packaged moon cakes instead of elaborately packed high-end ones were available in local markets. Not only are these simply packaged moon cakes much cheaper than those lying in luxury packages, they are also more energy-saving and environmentally-friendly.

Returning moon cakes to what they originally were, a simple gift, will encourage more people to save energy and reduce waste.

To make more room for simply packaged moon cakes and to restore their original significance, the state needs to strictly regulate moon cake packaging and educate producers, in order to prevent energy wastage. The whole society has to be educated as to the benefits of being frugal and consuming rationally.   

HEART OR HOUSE  

Xinmin Weekly

September 12, 2011

The amended Marriage Law stating that property bought by one part of a couple before marriage will be deemed as his or her personal estate attracted extensive concerns among the public. It has called people to question whether love or property is the most important aspect in marriage.

Xinmin Weekly, together with QQ.com, conducted a survey on marriage after the new regulation became effective, and the majority still believes love is the most valuable foundation for marriage. But the new regulation has made people more cautious about marriage.

The magazine promotes love as the motivation of getting married and not material possessions.

BOTTOMS UP!

China Youth Daily

September 2, 2011

The biannual report of listed companies in 2011 reveals that distillery companies continue to reap huge profits. While China's overall economic growth begins to slow down and lots of businesses see reduced profits, spirit companies have continued to perform well in terms of sales and profits, thanks to the rocketing prices of alcohol.

Spirit production and sales have long been restricted to developed countries. However, in China, the spirit industry seems to be a "sunrise" sector, enjoying surging prices.

Why does the industry perform so well? One important reason is that high-end spirit producers, in particular, contribute high tax revenues. Another worry is the connection between the consumption of spirits and corruption. To some extent, some government departments' enormous consumption of liquor, using public finances, has pushed up the price of spirits.

It's time to limit profits, regulate spirit prices and monitor the consumption of high-end spirits by officials.