global Citizenship

Information and Messages

Overview

A month previous to your receipt of this assignment, a disastrous earthquake killed two and trapped seven members of an international UN exploratory team. It’s thought perhaps China’s use of fracking may have led to the earthquake. China has been hydraulic fracturing in the Sichuan province, which borders the Yunnan province. Fracking, a method of extracting oil or gas from difficult places, has been linked in studies to causing earthquakes; supporters of fracking, however, also point out that some studies show no correlation. The research generally shows that although fracking methods create microseismic activity, if these seismic activities reach natural fault lines, they could be responsible for earthquakes. The international group is from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which includes delegates from Russia and Kenya, which are generally cooperative and friendly with China; the United Kingdom and United States, which are often critical of China; Tajikistan and Myanmar, who are bordering countries to China; and Chile, which has had a recent mining accident that was in the news, but also has positive international relations with China.

Messages

1. United Nations Secretary-General statement A tragedy has befallen a strategic UN exploratory team in China’s Yunnan Province. Though we do not yet know the fates of all nine team members, thoughts around the globe extend to hoping for the best. As an international community, we need to carefully vet our technological processes such as fracking. The United Nations recently published a report condemning the practice, and our partners in France soon after banned the process. We hope that this tragedy will resolve quickly, and also serve as a reflection for all of us. Cultural, political, and market factors: The UN Secretary-General speaks for the entire United Nations and provides a public mouthpiece for the recent publication about the negative effects of fracking. His statement was published a day after the SOS message was received, but before emergency teams were able to land. The message was intended for a global audience; however, countries that restrict press (such as China and North Korea) aren’t likely to allow the message to be heard. Other countries that have a time lag in press, particularly in rural areas, may have heard this after the crisis was averted.

2. News banner from government-supported press in Myanmar The seven UN exploratory team members still alive were extracted today. No closing of border crossings or lag in supplies likely.

Cultural, political, and market factors: Chinese investment in Myanmar is high, and it has chosen to continue engaging the country instead of sanctioning it like much of the Western world has. The Western world feels strongly about the humanitarian crisis, and that harsh measures must be taken. In addition to China’s

investments, the country has also pushed port proposals that may significantly burden Myanmar with debt to China. Though the civil crisis is ethnic and religious in nature, China ignores this aspect of it and instead focuses on political and economic gain. Additionally, China is funding ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that are fighting in civil unrest to attend peace conferences, thus positioning China as a diplomatic leader in the region. Because Myanmar borders China, the Chinese government has an interest in securing both the border as well as the border crossing, where significant trade happens. Additionally, China has an oil pipeline that crosses parts of Myanmar. China’s financial support of EAOs—and unwillingness to unequivocally back the government—has the Myanmar government on edge. This also concerns individual groups because China has supplied some EAOs with weapons. The national press reaches the entirety of the country that is occupied by government forces and won’t likely reach the northernmost regions of Myanmar, which are closest to the earthquake area.

3. Headline in Kenyan paper

Kenyan officials congratulate heroic locals who saved the UN exploratory team. (Accompanying the headline is a picture of on-the-ground heroism by Chinese disaster relief agents.) Cultural, political, and market factors: Kenya’s largest importer is China; the two countries boast long-standing positive economic relations. Additionally, the particular imports are from Chinese industry, which relies heavily on oil (which is obtained by fracking). Kenya does not have much international power, and thus it allies itself with China as its closest industrial superpower. Additionally, Chinese culture has taken hold in Kenya over centuries; there’s a new resurgence of Mandarin, Chinese cultural aesthetics (such as dance, music, and martial arts), and cultural exchanges. Numerous Kenyan grade schools teach Mandarin, which will hasten investments in Kenya due to an inexpensive yet fluent workforce.

4. Chinese newspaper write-up

National rescue teams save world delegates. In a daring rescue, Chinese rescue workers bolted into action to save seven trapped international delegates from imminent death. (Accompanying the write-up is a picture of proud Chinese leaders being praised at a news conference for having a quick response.) Cultural, political, and market factors: China tries to mitigate any negative press, particularly internally. It desires to praise national authorities in regard to their saving the common man. This article came out one week after the rescue, once families were already notified and people returned home. That said, China is investing billions in “green energy” and looks forward to a future without fracking; however, its strong industrial plants as well as the large scale of its industry make a transition to green energy many decades away.

5. Newspaper picture with caption from United Kingdom: “China Buries Seven, Kills Two”

After three days in a mine shaft, seven survivors from the UN exploratory team were safely extracted, and have all returned home. Unfortunately two members’ fate was sealed as victims of the horrendous natural disaster. (Accompanying the write-up is a graphic that questions the number of earthquakes in the Yunnan province but doesn’t mention fracking.)

Cultural, political, and market factors: The United Kingdom has embraced and even sped up their oil shale fracking, both onshore and offshore, though protesters and some scientists criticize these policies. Depending on which party is in power, the UK changes its support of this production method. That said, the United Kingdom remains hesitant toward China as an economic leader, and is concerned about China’s treatment of workers, who are significantly at risk in the fracking process. Though no workers were injured, this remains a significant possibility the more this method is continued. This newspaper picture ran directly after the rescue and was widely circulated within the United Kingdom. However, France’s newsrooms heavily chastised the UK for not speaking out against fracking.

6. Chile: Released a meme with satire about how China’s new diplomatic strategy is to bury people

alive and then save them.

Cultural, political, and market factors: Small local newspaper was burned after sending out meme the day after the tragedy, which was before the rescue. Chile’s international relations with China have been historically open and positive, as Chile invited Chinese workers and money into its economy. Also, Chile extracts minerals in Chile, which is in a fault line, and concerns about the use of fracking in Chile are heightened. Chile depends on Chinese workers and money, however many are concerned that China has been purchasing too much Chilean food production land at the detriment of Chilean food independence. The influx of Chinese workers and families has also stressed Chilean cultural homogeneity. Additionally, Chile recently had its own mining tragedy which had international press coverage, so the topic is extremely sensitive. Because of the burning of the local newspaper, this meme has been circulated around the western world on global news channels.

References

Inkey, M. (2018, August 15). China’s stake in the Myanmar peace process. The Diplomat. Retrieved from

https://thediplomat.com/2018/08/chinas-stake-in-the-myanmar-peace-process/

Kenya imports China. (n.d.). Trading Economics. Retrieved from

https://tradingeconomics.com/kenya/imports/china

Oil companies begin ‘fracking’ in China’s most dangerous earthquake zone. (2013, August 1). Russia

Times. Retrieved from https://www.rt.com/business/china-gas-shale-earthquake-895/

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. (2018, August 1). Commodities at a glance:

Special issue on shale gas. Retrieved from

http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/Ecsuc2017d10_en.pdf

Xinhua. (2018, April 20). Chinese language gains traction in Kenya amid robust economic and cultural

ties. Retrieved from http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-04/20/c_137125436.htm