In small-town China, movies are big

From the fake to the fabulous

Urbanization as a result of economic growth creates its own problems, which are shared by almost all countries. The urban-rural divide was exacerbated in China when migration was held in check for non-economic purposes. Ideally, people should settle in places they can afford to live in. But people can be ambitious and upwardly mobile and it is cruel to rob them of the dream to make it big in a big city.

Civics lessons are a way of raising awareness among those previously not familiar with them. But it usually works for the young generation who get a head start in school. I have seen children who discourage their parents from jaywalking while adults get the idea only when they are levied a penalty for it. Many cities in China have printed and circulated pamphlets of do's and don'ts, but Chinese have developed inertia toward campaigns of all kinds, which work in fits and starts at best.

Gentrification in either landscapes or civics is a process. While outside forces such as education may work to some extent, change ultimately has to come from within. Only when people feel it is the right thing not to litter or spit or jaywalk will they refrain from doing it even when no one is watching. With mobility so high, the whole country has to reach middle-class income and, with it, the level of education and civilities that accompany it.

The same goes for residents and tourists. In the 1990s scenic sites looked as if a planeload of rubbish had been scattered over them. Marked improvements have come from more rubbish bins, more cleaners and, most importantly, a perceptible change in behavior. When everyone around you makes the extra effort to place a soft drink can into a rubbish bin, you would feel awkward to throw it onto the ground.

For those who ignore the warning and deliberately "spoil" the environment, the most effective way is to slap them with a financial penalty, or force them to clean up after themselves. Shaming them with the unflattering nickname of "locusts" may be ineffective. Rather than reminding them of their outsider status, it is better to let them be proud of a city where they can feel totally at home.

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