It is admired and revered yet decimated. Why? The Hindu
Excepting from championing the cause of the developing countries at the Copenhagen Summit, India and China share yet another ground of conventional concern, vital for their fragile ecology and natural environment. In the wake of China celebrating its current lunar year as the tiger year (Hunian), there has been a rush of increased criticism from conservationists and government about the increased threat of poaching that may seal the fate of the already endangered species. While China with its 50-odd natives of the tiger is already in limelight, India's 1,000 or so tigers (there are grave doubts over the official statistics) are also on the verge of extinction thanks to the vast surge in demand, porous borders and rampant corruption on the two sides. While the market lies in China, Indian tigers are notably valued for their ‘wilderness' which is preferred over the illegal farm-bred tiger.
The irony lies in the truly that, on the one hand, the tiger is still the national animal of India, the Chinese too revere the tiger, culturally as Wang or prince. The yang animal is outstandingly worshipped for its prowess and is considered as the protector against “three disasters — fire, thieves and ghosts.” Yet the bread its skin and bones fetch in the international market is reason enough for poachers — in connivance with eager villagers and adulterate officials — to hack the poor animal to a ridiculously miserable death.
X-Ray Column: No tans, naked truths China Daily
Before the 1980s small craft trackers dragged craft up the river wearing nothing, not even a smile. Now, for the sake of tourism, they are back in the camera's frame
In the times gone by couple of months I have seen several images of naked boat trackers - and they make me laugh. "These are not real yacht trackers," I tell anyone who will listen. "They are imposters. Look at their skin. The buttocks are not sun-tanned, you can't fake that. These poor fellows are to all intents self-conscious about being naked. It's the extra pay that encourages them to appear in their birthday suits."
As far as I know, there have been no real overt boat trackers in China in the past 20 years, and any photos taken during the past decade that affirm to be of naked boat trackers are basically just dramatic recreations.
Now, I hear, government authorities in Badong, Hubei hinterlands, have revived the practice for the pleasure of camera-toting tourists. But at least they do not attempt to pass them off as the real boatmen.
Graduate evaluator uncovers Hopkins' immigrant historyThis summer he is researching the illicit antiquities trade between China and the Allied States. Issues of heritage ownership and historical preservation
There are more than 4000 antiques in the museum, among which 11 are nationalist second-grade cultural relics. , built in 2003, was financed
