Trending in Beijing: TCM Law Fake News, the Trash Bin Dudes, and Beijing's Mosquito Feud
The fun, the strange, and the what-on-earth-is-this? Trending in Beijing is a wrap-up of top stories in Beijing as told by the trending hashtags, local press, and general power of the internet.
Beijing to punish criticism of TCM? Fake news.
After the hashtag ‘Beijing may outlaw and punish the criticism of traditional Chinese medicine’ #北京拟出新规对污蔑中医药行为追责# began trending on Weibo last week, TCM zealots were quick to praise the draft law, and hot debate between netizens was spurred. Even some major English language outlets, from The Guardian to South China Morning Post picked up the story.
Many netizens opined that such a rule would go too far. "If Chinese medicine really is a science,” wrote one user, “then it should welcome criticism and scrutiny like any other science."
Soon enough, however, a spokesperson for the draft stepped up to quell the flames, explaining to China News that the outrage had stemmed from a misreading of the draft. In fact, the wording does not state, as some outlets spuriously claimed, that any and all criticism of TCM would be punished, but rather that "false claims made for the purpose of advancing one’s interests or with the intention to provoke" would be outlawed.
An expert lawyer on the subject also spoke to China News to explain that limiting freedom of speech in such a way would be beyond the jurisdiction of the Beijing legislature – only the National People’s Congress has that authority. Moreover, technically speaking, the words used in the draft – defamation and degradation – are not legal terms in Chinese law. Rather, the law would have to criminalize the spreading of rumors which again, would require proof of intent to provoke.
If you are still concerned about pissing the wrong person off, however, it may be best to stick to the tried and tested rule: If you don’t have anything nice to say about TCM, don’t say anything at all.
Meet the trashy heroes that Beijing has been waiting for
Earlier this week, the Beijing Municipal Government introduced four exciting new mascots: mutant trash bin bros (sorry, ladies) who were brought to life so that they could teach us about trash sorting. Netizens have been following their adventures under the hashtag, ‘Beijing Trash Sorting Boys’ #北京垃圾分类Boys#.
Each of the anthropomorphic dumpsters is named after their color followed by "桶桶" (tǒngtǒng), meaning bin. For guidance, each is kitted out in their own special outfit and hat to indicate which type of trash you should throw into their noggin: Green Tongtong sports a chef’s cap to remind you that he will take your food scraps, Blue Tongtong wears a hard hat and overalls for collecting recoverable items like glass and metals, while Red Tongtong protects himself from the hazardous materials with a ventilator mask, and finally, Grey Tongtong is dressed like a custodian, collecting your toilet paper, bones, shards, and everything else.
READ: Beijing Releases Handy and Comprehensive English Guide to Recycling
It seems that the boys are already acting as a helpful memory device for the sorting system. One thankful account posted, “I can never remember which bin is which, I always have to Baidu it!” Wrote another, “Before the Trash Sorting Boys, I always thought that you could put the plastic trash bag in with the food. Now I know better."
In similar news, China has also unveiled two cute little mascots to represent the country’s environmental protection efforts. While adorable, we’re quite confident that Little Mountain (小山 xiǎoshān) and Little Water ( 小水 xiǎoshuǐ) would get their asses kicked decisively by the Trash Boys.
A new effort to take aim at mosquitos
Starting Jun 22, Beijing will launch a new citywide campaign against those pesky mosquitos, a move welcomed by the capital's red-blooded citizens, who used the hashtag 'Beijing to start an integrated campaign to extinguish mosquitos' #北京将启动统一灭蚊活动#.
The campaign will focus on the full life cycle of the insects to reduce their numbers in residential communities, unit courtyards, parks, and lakes this summer. People are also encouraged to aid the effort in their own homes and communities by covering unused plant pots, promptly cleaning up garbage, and maintaining screen doors.
“Oh my gosh, is this real?” wrote one user. “Finally, I will be able to sleep through the summer nights without slapping at mosquitos the whole time!”
Another user seems to think that the campaign doesn’t go far enough. “Extinguish? How about extinction?” they wrote.
READ: Trending in Beijing: A Special Flute, a Bathroom Dispute, and a Phone-Gazer Ruins His Suit
Images: Kan Zhongguo, Weibo, Егор Камелев (via Unsplash)
