rss feedIn China, including Beijing, issue of “nail houses” and development remains tense
In December, I wrote about Edith Macefield, the late Seattle resident, and her refusal to take $1 million from a developer for her house. That prompted crews to build around that structure.
Her actions later sparked online chatter in China – about a homeowner in Seattle who said no to developers – because a Chengdu area woman ended her life when she was forced to move so developers could begin work.
As you can see in the video and story from The New York Times, the issue remains hot, especially among ordinary people who are being pushed from their homes.
In China, a “nail house” is one in which the owner refuses to leave and make way for development. Fair compensation for the property is often a sticking point.
Certainly, I appreciate The New York Times for covering this issue, especially since its journalists were detained, and for letting people embed the video on websites.
UPDATE: The Times was letting people embed this video after I first saw it. But the company has since removed the code from its website. I should add that my site is free of advertisements.
MORE: One working theory – which sounds very plausible – about why some Chinese government leaders are putting so much pressure on homeowners to leave so that skyscrapers and modern structures can be built is because the more modernization an area or city has, the more likely officials will receive a promotion.
My wife spotted a Chinese online article that talked about this. We’re trying to track that down to provide a link.
But one saying appearing in some online articles refers to having some change in one year but having a larger amount of change in three years. Meaning: There is a goal, of sorts, to raise skyscrapers within three years.
If that goal is met, then, Chinese officials can present that fact, as well as point to shiny, soaring buildings, to senior leaders in hopes of receiving a better job at a higher government level.
All of this is just another example of the rapid, eye-catching change in China.
That one man in The New York Times video talked about how the masses are feeling the pinch of these evictions and new construction.
One interesting note is that Chinese leader Mao Zedong often used the phrase, “Serve the People.” In fact, that phrase is on a wall at Zhongnanhai, the headquarters for the senior Chinese leadership.
And in the video, that large Chinese character on those brick walls and painted in red is “chai.” Its meaning: Demolish.
Also: Sad news regarding a factory in China where iPhones are made.
