Creeping Blandness Prevention Group » Research

Peaceful protest turns violent in Urumqi

sarah — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:31:32 +0000

While I’m still really heartbroken that we don’t get to drive through Xinjiang on the way to Mongolia (China doesn’t allow you to drive your own car in China, someone else must drive, and not even sure if it can be your own vehicle…), sounds like it’s not quite the time to be visiting Urumqi (the capital of Xinjiang province, also known as East Turkestan by its Muslim population ). Unrest apparently broke out today at protests featuring between 1000 and 3000 Chinese Muslims (Uyghurs). The Chinese government has been waging a slow war of attrition/assimilation on the Turkic Muslim population in the province, arresting dissidents and sending many Han Chinese to live in Urumqi (pronounced ooh-room-chee) to thin out the Uyghur population. There are supposed to be fascinating things to see over there, including some nearly 4000-year old mummies of Caucasian descent. In any case, though, it sounds like another place we’d probably have to scratch off our list, had we been allowed to go there in the first place.

Update: Interesting story and photo essay in WaPo and Foreign Policy.

Documentary: Manhole Children

andrew — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:49:37 +0000

I’ve been meaning to post about Manhole Children, a Japanese-made documentary I saw toward the end of the Seattle International Film Festival a couple weeks ago. The film’s website gives this background:

In early 1990, with the fall of the Soviet Union, Mongolia was forced to make the transition from a communist to capitalist economy. The rapid introduction of a free market economy, however, produced massive economic confusion that caused massive unemployment and plunged nearly half of the population into poverty.

The documentary begins 8 years later in 1998. By this time, desperation has driven many parents to abandon their children. The thousands of homeless/orphaned children take refuge from the harsh Mongolian winter in manholes under Ulaan Baatar, where a networks of steam pipes keep them warm. The children, anywhere from 4 years old to teenagers, organize themselves in to gangs that look out for each other, scavenge for food together, and fight other gangs. We meet a few children who eke out a sad living eating things from the trash, and occasionally finding something they can sell to buy food. The filmmakers come back every few years, amazingly finding the same people again each time and following them through ups and downs all the way until 2008.

I can’t say it’s an uplifting or encouraging story, but it’s amazing to see how hard-working and brave these kids are living on their own, and eventually growing up and having children of their own. Seeing this makes me feel really good that we’re doing something to help out in Mongolia. If you’re interested in seeing this film, the website says it’s showing in theatres this summer, although they don’t list where. At the SIFF it won the Special Jury Prize for documentaries “For its emotionally brutal depiction of children surviving underground in Mongolia; the film both repulses and engages at the same time.” Very true.

What’s up in Ferghana?

sarah — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:03:10 +0000

So, we have some potential route changes due to current events in Central Asia. As this news hasn’t been in any mainstream media that I’ve heard, I thought I’d share it with folks. In response to a suicide bombing on May 26th in the far eastern Uzbek city of Andijon, Uzbekistan has closed its border with Kyrgyzstan, as that is where they believe the bombers came from. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan all have border disputes around the Ferghana Valley, with each country maintaining ownership of enclaves in the other countries. Border guards seem to be forever capturing each other, shooting each others’ citizens, and building arbitrary walls. Given all this, at the moment we are sadly considering to bypass Kyrgyzstan. I, for one, have always wanted to eat Osh Palov in Osh, but unless the Uzbeks relent and start letting people through to the other side, it looks like that dream will have to go unrealized. All this is to say, “See mom? I’m not completely disregarding my own personal safety!”

Looking up the Shakhimardan towards Kyrgyzstan

As a p.s., it’s not actually too dangerous for Americans to be traveling in Uzbekistan. We’d have to be more worried if any of us looked Muslim (we’ll have to make sure Anand shaves…). Although it’s ostensibly a Muslim country, the government is staunchly atheist and has done much to try to suppress the post-Soviet resurgence of Islam.

This Book Exists?!

andrew — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:12:22 +0000

How to Build a Successful Low-Cost Rally Car

I was down in Portland, OR last weekend and stopped by Powell’s Technical Books. Imagine my surprise in the automotive aisle as I turn up this gem: How to Build a Successful Low-Cost Rally Car by Philip Young. The subtitle, covered by my hands in the photo, reads “Applies to cars for road rallies, including Marathon, Endurance, Historic & Budget-car Adventure events.” The first chapter is a case-study on modifying an Austin Allegro for the Mongol Rally! I’ve only flipped through it so far, but it looks like it’s got a ton of useful information about easy modifications we can make before we go that will make the car last a whole lot longer. It was $34, but with such specific niche information I had to buy it (it’s $23 on Amazon).

Also picked up at Powell’s: Automotive Engine Rebuilding, which might not be that useful ultimately, and Auto Repair For Dummies, which I believe Sarah also has.