Today’s guest David W. Ferguson has written several original books on contemporary China. His latest book takes a deep dive into the strategies used in China’s successful campaign to end absolute poverty. He has also researched the greening of Beijing and the methods China uses to promote environmentalism. Join us as we interview the editor of the Governance of China about China’s path to modernization. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A college education used to be part of realizing the American dream for young Americans. But with the crippling Student Loan Crisis, college enrollment in the US is falling faster than any time in recent history. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, fall enrollments in 2010 were 21 million. By 2021, enrollment had fallen by three million to 18 million. Is a university degree becoming out of reach for less affluent Americans?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New technology promises to recycle hundreds of thousands of tons of textiles by 2030. The damage that the fashion industry brings to our planet is beyond belief. What’s at stake? How big is the problem? What can we do to address the problem of fast fashion in 2023? With Earth Day approaching, we take a look at impulse shopping and our unused wardrobe. There is hope, but only if we take a few steps together. Join the show to become part of the solution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest Michael Crook is a British/Canadian who was born in Beijing in 1951 to parents who met in China. Michael grew up on a university campus in Beijing, worked in Chinese factories, and went to university in Britain. Michael helped found the Western Academy of Beijing in 1994. He is also the Chairman of International Committee for the Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives (known as ICCIC) which involves rural development, environmental protection, and heritage preservation, especially of old Beijing city. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Statistics show that US police kill "Far more civilians than any other wealthy country." A Colorado sheriff recently received an honorary award after shooting an unarmed man at an elementary school. What's going on in US policing? How do other wealthy nations have such low incidence of policing-related fatalities? Can the US change, and what would it need to do? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the US finally going to enter the High-Speed Rail game? A new article on KTLA says a line will connect a county outside LA with Los Vegas. With Spain, France, Germany, Japan, China and others in the club, we at The Bridge take a look at the global landscape of High Speed Rail, its advantages in using green energy, de-stressing, and easing road congestions. What's the past, present and future of High Speed Rail in the USA? Once we in the US get a taste, we’ll be demanding more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As China observes annual Tomb Sweeping Day, we explain the tradition of burning joss money. From China to Amazon, the sacred money is going global. We take you inside the Chinese customs associated with respecting your passed loved ones. China doesn’t have a single set of traditions; we discuss the variety which makes understanding ‘China’ an ongoing exercise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are 500,000 kids working in agriculture in the US where “Unlimited Hours” are legal. For more than a century, Americans have fought to limit the work and related dangers that children could legally endure. The latest political trend in some states even weighs the merits of allowing children as young as twelve years old to work. A new law would increase both permissible work hours and the number of child workers, and protect employers from liability for injuries and even deaths at work, and all these for children. Listen to this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first installment of The Bridge’s “Home Sweet Home, China,” where we show folks how to make China their home. And if you already live here, we have insights for you too. In this episode we’re going to cover how to come to China for work, choosing the right job, negotiating contracts, choosing the right city for you, getting a passport, visa, flights and all the steps you need to take to ensure your success. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We interview Dr. Tang Xiaoyang, Chair of Department of International Relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing. A highly noted academic luminary on China–Africa economic cooperation, Dr. Tang has published extensively on the Belt and Road Initiative. He also has experiences working at the World Bank, UNDP, USAID, SAIS and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in Washington DC. We ask him about his time in Africa. He discusses how China and Africa are working together to build a common future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.