Sympathetic towards Chairman Mao and his Great Leap Forward , I bought an early made in China axe , probably made from pig iron produced in those do- it- yourself blast furnaces which dotted the land . There was bright red paint on the blade. It proved to be awful axe – heavy and blunt , very so. Each chop reverberated through my body. A series of files failed to sharpen the cutting edge and , thankfully, the handle broke .
Years later , about the time of the Cultural Revolution, I bought a made in China hatchet to chop up a tree riddled with white ants. It had a yellow wooden handle, a nice feel and a sharp blade. Obviously part of the big hop forward. Several energetic blows and it broke, the blade spinning backwards , cutting my right arm .
When I examined the hatchet, I discovered that what looked like a metal wedge in the top of the handle was red paint. My uncouth comments about Chinese cutting tools would have filled three volumes about the size of the famous little Red Book .
Nursing my wound which became two permanent scars , I discussed Chinese axes with a handyman who said Chinese axes and other tools were junk that should not be allowed into the country. Buy Australian , British or American , he advised.
In recent times my wife bought a made in China electric stove and a top element suddenly burst into flame. Still covered by warranty , an electrician was called in and said it was the second stove in a week that burst into flames, which was odd.
As he tinkered away he drew our attention to the wiring , saying it could not be any thinner and implied that Australian standards were not being observed . Thereafter , we were never confident about the stove. Later , a member of the family had another made in China stove snugly fitted into a made over kitchen and said he was surprised at the amount of heat it put out and its likely impact on adjoining cupboards. He also commented on the thin wiring .
This morning I hear that a variety of vegetables imported from China are being examined to see if they have any toxic content.
When you read about the monstrous pollution of air, waterways , dog food, rice , baby milk, lollies and chocolates , there are strong grounds for concern . Are our regulatory agencies up to the task? Are we constantly being sold a Beijing Duck? The residents of Toowoomba , Queensland, rejected the idea of drinking recycled water . A recent Australian traveller to China who took in agricultural regions as well as the dazzling new cities, said his abiding memory of the country was the overpowering smell of human faeces. He has gone off tossed salads.
Cyclops
Years later , about the time of the Cultural Revolution, I bought a made in China hatchet to chop up a tree riddled with white ants. It had a yellow wooden handle, a nice feel and a sharp blade. Obviously part of the big hop forward. Several energetic blows and it broke, the blade spinning backwards , cutting my right arm .
When I examined the hatchet, I discovered that what looked like a metal wedge in the top of the handle was red paint. My uncouth comments about Chinese cutting tools would have filled three volumes about the size of the famous little Red Book .
Nursing my wound which became two permanent scars , I discussed Chinese axes with a handyman who said Chinese axes and other tools were junk that should not be allowed into the country. Buy Australian , British or American , he advised.
In recent times my wife bought a made in China electric stove and a top element suddenly burst into flame. Still covered by warranty , an electrician was called in and said it was the second stove in a week that burst into flames, which was odd.
As he tinkered away he drew our attention to the wiring , saying it could not be any thinner and implied that Australian standards were not being observed . Thereafter , we were never confident about the stove. Later , a member of the family had another made in China stove snugly fitted into a made over kitchen and said he was surprised at the amount of heat it put out and its likely impact on adjoining cupboards. He also commented on the thin wiring .
This morning I hear that a variety of vegetables imported from China are being examined to see if they have any toxic content.
When you read about the monstrous pollution of air, waterways , dog food, rice , baby milk, lollies and chocolates , there are strong grounds for concern . Are our regulatory agencies up to the task? Are we constantly being sold a Beijing Duck? The residents of Toowoomba , Queensland, rejected the idea of drinking recycled water . A recent Australian traveller to China who took in agricultural regions as well as the dazzling new cities, said his abiding memory of the country was the overpowering smell of human faeces. He has gone off tossed salads.
Cyclops
Be Australian, Buy Australian and keep away from any food not produced in Australia.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese have used human faeces as fertiliser for centuries and they also use arsenic to cure leather.
I have stopped nervously sucking the leather on my Ferrari keyring as I watch my shares dive, dive, dive.
ReplyDeleteWould check the leather on your Ferrari seats did not come from China. If it did and if it has been cured with arsenic, then you will very shortly after a very swolen back. Quite the opposite of your share account.
ReplyDelete