Living La Vida Local: China’s Take on Pollution, Clean Water and Helping the Children

How is China handling its pollution changes? How can we create sustainable solutions for clean water in rural villages? Does everyone deserve a chance at education? This week’s events will give us answers to all these dilemmas and more.

VIVA’s meeting this month couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. (These last few days’ PM readings have been positively dreadful.) Deobrah Seligsohn, WRI’s principal advisor on all-things-climate and energy in China, will discuss how the world’s most populous country is handling its pollution changes on April 25. As VIVA puts it, “How has China progressed and what still needs to be done?” If you’re a woman (VIVA is a professional women’s network) and this is a matter of some importance to you, we advise you to drop by.

Next up, RISE (Rural International Student Exchange Association) Tsinghua is a new Tsinghua University student-run organization seeking to create sustainable technology transfer and education in rural China. In laymen’s terms, RISE wants to create a forum for local and international students alike to discuss rural development, and together come up with creative solutions for very urgent issues.

This coming Friday (Apr 27), RISE is hosting a launch party at Cangku Bar in Baochao Hutong to celebrate its first project, aimed at promoting sustainable water sanitation and entrepreneurship in villages around China. The evening will consist of guest speakers (mostly members of China’s business, environmental, academic and media fields), live music and plenty of libations. To learn more about and/or join the cause, stop in for a drink.

Another month, another BJ Foodies dinner. April’s charity meal takes place at the newly opened Switch! Grill and all proceeds go to Bread of Life (see our Q&A here), a bakery that provides jobs for older orphans who are disabled. Please note that this month’s dinner takes place on a Saturday instead of a Sunday, and sounds as if it will be more alcohol-heavy than usual. Otherwise, expect spaces to fill up fast as usual. RSVP at bjfoodies@gmail.com as soon as possible if you’re interested.

In more sobering news, many of us take education for granted. New Life Centre, a local charity that has been helping underprivileged children attain education since 2001, recognizes that this is not the case, especially for migrant and orphan children from broken homes. Many of these kids also have no place to live, which means NLC must provide shelter. And now NLC is in desperate need of funding to continue ensuring that every child has the chance to receive an education. If you have any interest in donating or becoming a long-term sponsor, visit their website here.

And finally, you’re running out of time to buy tickets to the St. George’s Day Charity Dinner (Apr 28)! Find out why we should attend here. Speaking of formal events, there are still around 100 tickets left for the upcoming Alumni Ball. Look out for our interview on the blog with one of the organizers in this coming week.

EVENTS (APR 21-27)

Apr 21
BJ Foodies: April Charity Meal
Gorge for charity. Proceeds go to Bread of Life. RSVP at bjfoodies@gmail.com. RMB 100. 7.30pm. Switch! Grill (6553 5691)

BSK Cooking Class: Spring Favorites
Delicious dishes to complement the new season. RMB 300 (cash only). 10am-1pm. Black Sesame Kitchen (136 9147 4408)

Chinese Kitchen: Yunnan
Master Beijing’s “in-cuisine.” RMB 250, RMB 200 (members). 2-4.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Apr 22
The Beijing Chocolate Chronicles
Explore the wonders of chocolate fusion cuisine. RMB 280, RMB 220 (members). 4-6.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

BSB Jumble Sale
Peruse through a mishmash of goodies. Proceeds go to Roundabout. Free. 10am-2pm. British School of Beijing Sanlitun (8532 3088)

Chinese Kitchen: Homemade Organic Tofu
Transform organic soybeans into perfectly creamy tofu. RMB 250 (includes take-home materials), RMB 200 (members). 11am-1.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Sambasia Barefoot Percussion Workshop
Drum with your feet. RMB 80, RMB 240 (4 classes). Noon-2pm. UCCA Loft (8459 9269)

Survival Chinese
Acquire enough vocabulary to get by. Reserve at contact@cultureyard.net. RMB 200. 10am-noon. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Apr 23
Exploring Chinese Social Trends
How is the younger generation shaping China’s future? Reserve at contact@cultureyard.net. RMB 75, RMB 60 (members). 7-8.40pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

Apr 24
BSK Cooking Class: Chinese Flatbread and Baozi
Vegetarian and meat filling recipes available. RMB 300 (cash only). 10am-1pm. Black Sesame Kitchen (136 9147 4408)

Chinese Corner
Find a new language partner. Free. 1-3pm. Beijing Mandarin School (6508 1026)

INN Night Out!
Meet up with newcomers and long-time residents to swap stories about living in Beijing. RSVP by Apr 22 to innbeijing@hotmail.com. Price TBD. 7-9pm. Kashgar Restaurant (6358 2243)

Apr 25
VIVA: China on Climate Change
Deborah Seligsohn, an expert on domestic climate policy, talks about how China is handling its pollution changes. RMB 250, RMB 180 (members). 6.30-9pm. The Westin Beijing Chaoyang (5922 8888)

Apr 26
Chinese Kitchen: Vegan Cuisine
Now vegans can eat local, too. RMB 280, RMB 220 (members). 7-9.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)

INN Coffee Morning – Lido
Meet people who live nearby. Free. 10am-noon. Maan Coffee (8457 3470)

Introduction to Chinese Herbs
Find out the history and uses behind Chinese herbal medicines at your local pharmacy. RMB 150. Time TBD. The Hutong (6404 3355)

Apr 27
Community Yoga
Do good, do yoga. Proceeds to go charity. RMB 50 (minimum requested). 11am-12.30pm. Yoga Yard (6413 0774)

Introduction to Tea: Pu’er
Answers all your questions about tea and more. Reserve at contact@cultureyard.net. RMB 70, RMB 50 (members). 7-9pm. Culture Yard (8404 4166)

RISE Tsinghua Launch Party
Join the cause. Guest speakers, live music and plenty of libations. Free. 7pm-midnight. Cangku (6401 1066)

Wine and Woks
Create a contemporary Chinese menu revolving around select wines. RMB 300, RMB 250 (members). 7-9.30pm. The Hutong (6404 3355)