[SUBMAN1]

Heard on the radio this morning some eye opening things about this country. China seems to be in deep trouble in the coming decade due to multiple issues. One of those biggest issues has to do with their 1 child policy. This is causing problems on multiple fronts, not least being that there are no longer enough women in the country. Parents will kill of girl born in favor of trying again for a boy, and they even bribe their doctors (against the law) to tell them the sex prior to birth so that they may opt for an abortion if need be. I've heard this before, but I didn't hear of the consequences of such actions - in the next 10 years, there will be over 30 million men (To put this into perspective - Canada's entire population) and growing expenentially without the ability to marry - there will be no wifes for them! On top of this, the 1 child policy has created the majority population problem that will be over the age of 65 by this time, withless than half the entire population of the country under the age of 65 - and Chinas leaders have no idea how to combat this major issue. Most western countries have age population problems from the baby boomers, but Chinas problem is insane, and makes the Western world's problem minor in comparrison.

The results of the above 2 have caused a couple more issues even - One being that companies are wary of investing in China now, when a decade ago, you couldn't get them to stop investing in this country. This is beginning to create work shortages to those wishing to enter the cities work forces, with no jobs available to them. The second is that it has caused a brain drain. The brain drain is so bad, that over 2/3'rds of the students who go overseas to study, never return!

Things have got so bad, that China's leadership is up in arms about what to do about it. Go figure.

I haven't even begun to touch on the environmental problems they are also facing.

This is strange to hear when all I ever hear about this country is how big an economic powerhouse they have begun - that seems it will be a fleeting moment in time after listening to this.

-S