Where Seattle Meets the World
“Many things that shouldn’t have happened, happened because of money,” Mr. Wang Youliang tells the camera in front him.
“The situation in (Wenzhou) is a secret everybody knows but you can’t talk about it in public.”
He is a young entrepreneur and shoe manufacturer working in Wenzhou, China. Among his friends, five factory owners escaped and one killed himself.
18 Jan
It’s Saturday night high school basketball in West Seattle. There are sneakers squeaking on the court and dutiful families chatting in the bleachers. Suddenly the crowd stands and turns towards a red flag hung beside the hoop as the band strikes up a brassy version of the national anthem…of the People’s Republic of China. This [...]
16 Jan
Once people discover that I speak some basic Chinese, the typical conversation I have here in Juijiang goes something like this: A few standard queries regarding my nationality, occupation, marital status, salary, and maybe my opinions on Chinese food. And then it happens. “Which city are you from?” “I am from Seattle.” I say, bracing [...]
04 Jan
It was the middle of that dark week before the New Year. Christmas cookies were growing stale in tins on the counter and emails had begun to pile up again. But the news of a plea for help from a forced labor camp in China cut through my holiday hangover. The Oregonian reported that a Portland [...]
02 Jan
As I sat clicking dispiritedly through take-out menus in search of lunch, Chi Sun Lu walked by my desk on her way outside for a quick cigarette. ”Lu,” I asked, ”Can you recommend any really good, authentic Chinese restaurants in town?” She stopped in her tracks, turned, and eyed me silently as though waiting for [...]
by Nadia
"I read this article today and cannot tell you how many levels I relate to it on. I am also ..."by Lisa Norton
"The commentators above make important points. The first step for anyone wanting to help solve a global issue should be ..."by M
"I second this. Starting your own non-profit without first understanding the landscape of services already available and the true needs ..."
29 Jan
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