Just caught part of a news item on the rapid growth of car ownership in China. If I heard it right it claimed 1000 new vehicles were being added to the roads in Beijing alone every DAY and that this rate is increasing fast.
Whilst it's impossible to condemn anyone for wanting what we take for granted, the implications of this rate of growth on future fuel prices, the world economy and the environment are alarming especially since oil reserves are apparently on the wane.
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China is BIG very BIG, about the size of expanded Europe.
How many new cars hit the streets of the enlarged EU? more than a 1000 a day I bet and they dont all replace scrapped cars
Its not just a chinese problem.
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Estimated sales this year for China:- 4 million cars
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And set to grow and grow as they become more able to afford cars.
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Maybe we should stop buying all our consumer goods (except cars) from China and support other economies? Perhaps our own.
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There are several key differences here between Europe and China - the first is that China's economy is expanding every rapidly, unlike any in the West, let alone Europe. Secondly IIRC there are about 1,500,000,000 people in China - several times that of Europe and the USA combined. Thirldy, they don't appear to have any real commitment to tackling environmental issues whatsoever. Finally, their government isn't renowned for doing what it's told by others. When added to the 1,000,000 people in India who appear to be following close behind, I think we're all in for a hard time so enjoy the 'Good Times' while you can :(
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>Thirldy, they don't appear to have any real commitment to tackling environmental issues whatsoever.
As opposed to the "leading-edge" USA action plan?
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Well we all know about the USA ONW but Europe at least tries to be a bit more enviro-friendly when it comes to cars and other things.
Tend to agree with Growler, HJ and RF (?) about the future balance of economic power. We've all grown complacent in this part of the world and having hosted and come to know a number of Chinese students over the last couple of years I can testify to the fact that they're singleminded and extremely hardworking! Something's got to give and it's
probably going to be us.
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If you have ever been to the PRC you will realise what a monstrous market and inceasingly voracious one it is. Buy anything in a US store and it is stamped "made in China". Western economies with their sloppy liberal labour laws and slack work ethics are increasingly pricing and legislating themselves out of business.
Mainland China has 50 years of consumerism to catch up on and boy they're making up for lost time. Growth of car ownership is the tip of the iceberg.
I'll take bets that in 30 years the US will be relegated to a spent power, the Chinese will have taken over most of Asia and they'll be the ones calling the shots. The EU -- well that's already a joke and a spent force anyway.
Europeans who sit there debating puny little rules and regulations about how to circumscribe the little man while augmenting their obscene pension packages simply have no comprehension of China. The giant is no longer sleeping and will dominate global economy before you know it.
Look at your car now. How many parts are made in China? Not many? Perhaps more than you thought. Just wait.
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I wouldn't call China a free economy, it's still highly controlled and very corrupt. The problem for China will come when their people get educated enough and rich enough to start wanting awkward things like democracy and individual rights. What then?
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Seems BMW customers there, expect the car to be PERFECT & NEVER go wrong - or they want anew one. Article I read a week or 2 back, stated this.Bit different to what we accept from BMW, according to backroomers!
Saying that, why shouldn't they have some of the material things we've been used too? Of topic, but we've spent a fortune doing the house up, recently, it seems that thats the only country that can make the furniture, lights, kitchen gadgets, we wanted.... all great value & quality stuff!
We'll end up as 3rd world, maybee in 20yrs time.
Serves us right!!
VB
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Sorry people, is all this a shock? Rise and fall of nations - never heard of it?
This is nothing new, however the speed of cylic change is.
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The EU -- well that's already a joke and a spent force anyway.
Hardly. Pre-enlarged EU accounted for a little under 20% of world trade; US about 15%; Japan about 9%. Not bad for a 'spent force'.
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With reference to the original thread, a google search of 'oil reserves' makes for some interesting reading.
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