SHANGHAIology

Small Talk With ...Go Green

In honor of Earth Day we stopped to chat with Sophia Mendelsohn, a blogger trying to make a difference.

Tell us about the site you write for. I write for ResponsibleChina.com which is a site that bridges the gap between tree-hugger and pessimistic skeptic. Seems like a rather big gap. Well, rather than decry all of development's consequences as evil, the site explores how China can develop and still have breathable air left for the next generation. Did you get involved because you're a tree-hugger or a pessimistic skeptic? Neither, actually. My friend recommended that I check out the site when I would not stop talking about all the waste I saw around the factories [I work with]. From there, I emailed Erica, the site founder, and asked her how I could help. Your first blog post was an editorial about the "benefits of lifestyle publications in China." How'd you come up with that topic? Shanghai came up with it for me. There were billboards all over Shanghai that made it seem like the cover models were about to save the planet. At first, the contradiction seemed ridiculous, but since "anti-consumption.org" can't afford those billboards, it's good that someone's talking about the issue-a little awareness is better than none. Since Earth Day is coming up, how can people in Shanghai get involved? Earth Day is a Tuesday, so it's possible that half the expat population will be too hung over to plant a tree. If that's the case, there's still plenty we can do from our couches. For a quarter of the cost of getting into a club here, you can buy a tree from Roots & Shoots to be planted in China by going to http://www.jgi-shanghai.org. Or, look at one of Erica's recent posts for a link to CESDRRC's for directory of supermarkets, restaurants and home delivery services that provide organic food in China.

Everyone Is Talking About ...Performance Jeopardy

Recent controversies over the content of live music performances puts future big time shows in jeopardy

With the recent controversies surrounding big time stage performances, there's been a lot of speculation as to whether or not we'll be seeing fewer foreign performers in Shanghai.

Artists coming to perform in China already face pretty stringent guidelines. Promoters must submit set lists and lyric sheets prior to any concert. But the most recent rules laid out cast an uneasy shadow across the international music scene. As reported by China Music Radar, performances will be more closely monitored to ensure adherence to the approved set lists and artists will not be allowed unapproved encores. Not so bad? Here's the big one. In addition, organizers must front 50 percent of the total potential box office as a deposit paid in full to the government. If a performer doesn't live up to their end of the bargain, the deposit is retained by the government in addition to any other fines. Organizers must also sign guarantees that performers will not make controversial comments on stage.

Imagine a promoter trying to fill the seats at Shanghai Stadium. With a potential 43,000 seats, that's an extraordinary request, even for the most successful promoters, to fulfill. Such stipulations may tie the hands of many promoters by limiting their capacity to front the bill for imported acts, not to mention make them wary of accepting full liability for the behavior of those they bring into the country. It remains to be seen whether or not these new restrictions spell out a glum future for large upcoming events planned in the fall.

News You Can Use

The "No Name" Brand
Popular brand with "no branding," American Apparel, is setting up shop in Shanghai in the next few months. Despite its expansion, the clothing brand will reportedly continue to produce all its products from its factory in LA, following its fair trade, fair labor, fair pay philosophy. But, can a "no name" brand survive in a city that thrives on how many Guccis and designer initials you have scrawled on your bodily canvas? We'll see.

Going Downunder
If you've been wanting to head to and soak up the sun in Aussie land for a while but just haven't been able to, Qantas airline is now offering non-stop Shanghai to Melbourne flights twice a week for ¥5,000 if you book before May 31. Tickets are good until June 30. Find more info on qantas.com.

Film Panorama en Français
Unifrance and the French Embassy have organized the fifth edition of the French Film Panorama, a selection of recent feature and short French films that will be screened in commercial multiplexes around the city, each followed by Q&A sessions. World renowned directors, actors and producers will be traveling to Shanghai to promote their films. The festival begins in Shanghai on April 15 and runs until the 19th.

MUJI Moving its Mojo
MUJI's first store established on Nanjing Xi Lu is closing on April 15 to move to bigger diggs in the Infiniti Shopping Mall. Word on the street is look for the new location around October (although we all know how accurate those predictions are). In the meantime, you'll have to trek over to the Super Brand Mall with the masses to indulge your MUJI addiction.