Expo's entertainment extravaganza

Visitors to the 2010 World Expo will enjoy an entertainment extravaganza with countries from around the world promising to bring their best and rarest cultural acts.

The League of Arab States (LAS) is working with the organizer on staging an Arab arts festival during the 2010 event, which will feature art works mixing traditional and modern elements of countries in the region. Asian countries, such as Japan and the Republic of Korea, are planning special performances.

Arab performance

In Europe, German officials have suggested special activities at the Expo site to mark the end of a three-year cultural program - "Germany and China - Moving Ahead Together."

The program was inaugurated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2007 during her visit to China. It features a series of cultural events such as concerts and shows that give the Chinese people a better understanding of Germany. It is scheduled to land in Shanghai in 2010, the last stop after touring Nanjing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shengyang, Wuhan and Changchun.

scene of the "African Footprint" performance

Wolfgang Rohr, the former German Consul General in Shanghai, said he hoped the cultural exchange program would wrap up at the Expo site.

Wolfgang Schussel, the Federal Chancellor of Austria, has recommended an exhibition of sculptures by the famous artist Franz Andre Heller and architect Mark Fisher.

Meanwhile, Maximilian F. Huber, an official in charge of the "African Footprint" tour through Europe, has expressed interest in a cultural program to give Shanghai a taste of Africa.

African drums, soulful saxophones and haunting pennywhistles, dances such as traditional gumboot and hip-hop pantsulas, are all featured in the "African Footprint."

fire dance of Samoa

North American and South American countries are also enthusiastic about Expo. Professional troupes in the United States and Canada have expressed hope that they will be able to perform at the Expo, and Brazil plans to stage Samba dances, parades and percussion music on a large-scale.

Oceania countries such as Samoa, Kiribati and Marshall Island will present their own cultural programs as well.

Getting in tune for Expo

In a tune-up for the 2010 World Expo, some famous world musicians from China and abroad will perform at the Shanghai Century Park and Shanghai Oriental Art Center for the 2009 World Music Shanghai festival from April 30 to May 5.

Eleven world-famous musicians and ensembles will stage five breathtaking shows.

The lowest ticket prices start at 30 yuan (US$4.39). The Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, the Shanghai International Culture Association and the Pudong Culture Bureau are organizing the event.

The three shows set for the Shanghai Oriental Art Center will combine folk and popular music from all over the world. Audiences are able to feel the harmony and difference in culture in all the productions.

In the opening show of the music festival, Chinese performer Sa Dingding, a rising power in the international music scene known for her innovative combination of minority elements in contemporary music, will collaborate with the best-selling world music group, Grammy-winning Deep Forest.

Also on the stage at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center will be the London-born Zimbabwean singer Netsayi who embarks on a musical journey in search for her roots; Amrta, a band from Shanghai; and Zakir Hussain, a classical tabla (an Indian drum) virtuoso famed for his consistently brilliant and exciting performances.

At Century Park, five ensembles will present two shows of international music: Samba Batucada from Brazil will bring their carnival music from South America; Yi's Playground will present authentic music from the Huayao Yi minority group of China; Les Ballets African De Guinea will showcase their striking traditional dances from Africa; the Tibetan and Qiang from Aba, an ethnic group in Sichuan Province, will dazzle the stage with the fusion of Tibetan and Qiang minority music.

Also joining the holiday festivities will be the Shrine Synchro System, DJs famous for mixing Afro rhythms with electronic sounds. The Shrine Synchro System, one of the world's foremost DJ units, is a pioneer of the Afro beat and established a legendary club in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria's economic capital.

On May 5, a "China-Britain World Music Dialogue" will be held at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, at which Chinese and British scholars and musicians will discuss music programs for the Expo 2010.

The participants include Tian Qing, director of the Center of Protection of Oral and Non-material Cultural Heritage of China, performer Sola Liu, Professor Rachel Harris from the School of Oriental and African Studies of London University, and Clair Whitaker, the man behind the BBC World Music Awards.

Jackie Chan, Yao Ming appointed ambassadors for Expo 2010

Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan and NBA star Yao Ming were appointed promotion ambassadors for the 2010 World Expo yesterday.

"I will spare no efforts to pay close attention to the Expo and help promote it throughout the world," said Jackie Chan at a performance for residents relocated from the Expo site.

"Like every Chinese citizen, I am looking forward to the event," he said.

Yao Ming was quoted by the website as saying that as a native of Shanghai, he has always hoped that he could contribute to the event.

"I want to tell everyone: welcome to my hometown, Shanghai, and welcome to the 2010 Shanghai World Expo," he said.

Also appointed was Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

The Expo ambassadors already include Japanese table tennis star Ai Fukuhara, Japanese image designer Junko Koshino and British singer Sarah Brightman.

The Expo is expected to attracted 70 million visitors, 5 percent of them from abroad.

Forest concert adds harmony

scene of the forest concert

scene of the forest concert

Expo sounded good yesterday at a special forest concert at Gongqing Forest Park in Yangpu District marking the one-year countdown to the 2010 World Expo.

Expo songs and classical music were played by the Symphony Orchestra of the People's Liberation Army of China and PLA Navy.

The concert was part of the 2009 World Music Shanghai Festival.

Shanghai Party Secretary Yu Zhengsheng, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng, Wang Zhongwei, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China's Shanghai Committee, Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong and Zhong Yanqun, full-time deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee were among those who enjoyed the concert.

New souvenirs for sale

scene of ceremony

Wu Yunfei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, gives a speech.

Children's Expo drawing display

Spectators of the ceremony

Shanghai 2010 Expo authorities yesterday rolled out about 300 new official Expo souvenirs to the market.

The launch and promotion ceremony was held in Xujiahui's Oriental Shopping Center. Wu Yunfei, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, presented at the ceremony. On-the-spot sales of Expo souvenirs such as Expo mascot Haibao souvenirs were also available.

To date, the Shanghai Expo has issued more than 2,000 souvenirs which are available at designated retailers in Shanghai and throughout the Yangtze River Delta.

Kweichow Moutai joins Expo 2010

Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong meets Ji Keliang, Board Chairman of China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co Ltd.

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, delivers a speech.

The China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co Ltd has become a senior sponsor of the 2010 World Expo, and will provide its famous Maotai or Moutai (baijiu or Chinese liquor) for the event.

The Guizhou-province-based enterprise signed a senior sponsorship deal with the organizer in Shanghai yesterday.

Maotai came to world fame in San Francisco at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in 1915. It won a gold medal after exhibitors accidentally smashed a bottle and its flavor attracted visitors.

Zhong Yanqun, fulltime deputy director of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai Executive Committee, expressed her hope that the company would play a role as a friendship ambassador by displaying China's liquor culture to the world and make contributions to the 2010 Expo.

Ji Keliang, Board Chairman of China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co Ltd

scene of the signing ceremony

Ji Keliang, Board Chairman of China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co Ltd, said the pursuit of Moutai in "brewing" a high-quality life well matches the Expo theme "Better City, Better Life." As a typical example of a Chinese brand, the firm would contribute to the 2010 event as a senior sponsor.

Hong Hao, director of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, signed the contract with Ji.

Expo 2010 has 13 global partners, 11 senior sponsors and 13 project sponsors so far.

Shanghai Executive Vice Mayor Yang Xiong, also the executive deputy director of the Executive Committee of the World Expo 2010 Shanghai, attended the signing.

BIE president confident of success

Jean-Pierre Lafon, President of du Bureau international des expositions (BIE), said that this is the first time China will host a World Expo but it will do a great job for Expo 2010.

Lafon told Xinhua reporters that Expo 2010 will be significant for China. He said that the theme "Better City, Better Life" is a major concern for the world's urban population which began to outgrow the rural population in 2007 for the first time in history.

He said that Shanghai is mysterious for some people but familiar for many others as one of world's major financial centers. He said that Shanghai was a blend of Chinese and Western culture, representing China's openness to different cultures.

No one doubts that the Expo 2010 will be a success and 70 million are expected to visit, creating a new Expo record, Lafon said.

Lafon said that urbanization has brought many problems and Expo 2010 will be a stage where ideas on possible solutions to these problems will be aired.

Lafon wished China good luck for Expo.

Volunteer drive at university

Students at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade have responded enthusiastically to the volunteer recruitment drive for the 2010 World Expo.

A total of 743 students applied to become volunteers as of 2pm on May 1, the first day of the drive.

A ceremony was held on May 1, during which Chen Jie, vice president of the institute, called on faculties and students to contribute their wisdom and strength to make a "successful, splendid and unforgettable" event.

Chilean president: Expo Shanghai represents most important event in world

hilean President Michelle Bachelet has said that Expo 2010 will be the important event in the world.

"Expo Shanghai will be the most important event in China as well as in the world in 2010 and it is of key significance for Chile to participate in the Expo," Bachelet told Xinhua recently.

The remarks were made after Bachelet attended the launching ceremony of Chile's participation of Expo 2010 last Thursday.

"Chile has decided to participate in the Expo and design its own pavilion because we want to convey a clear message to the Chinese government and the Chinese people that Chile is a reliable and capable partner of China," she said.

Chile will continue to support China in promoting its economic development and boosting its relations with Latin American countries as the two countries share the common aspiration to promote the harmonious and sustainable development of their economies and improve the living standards of their peoples, the president added.

The president regarded Chile's participation in Expo Shanghai as a new opportunity for boosting bilateral economic and trade ties.

She also said the event would strengthen Chile's status as a platform for Chinese investment to enter Latin America.

The Chilean government decided to actively participate in the event shortly after it received the invitation, she said.

The Chilean pavilion at the Expo, designed by a Chilean company and constructed by a Chinese one, will shorten the gap between the two peoples and facilitate the Chinese people's better understanding of Chile, its product and its people's view on the world and future, said Bachelet.

The president said the friendship between the two countries can be traced back to long time ago, noting that Chile expected its best performance at Expo Shanghai.

Expo 2010, under the theme "Better City, Better Life," is expected to build a powerful and lasting pilot example of sustainable and harmonious urban living.

改变您一生的90/10原理

读过由Stephen Covey发现的90/10原理，您的一生或许会有所改变，至少，您对待事情的态度会与以前不一样了。

什么是90/10原理？即在您的一生中，只有10%的事情您无能为力，而90%的事情都在您的把握之中。

我们无法阻止汽车老化出故障，我们无法预料飞机晚点，我们的行程可能被司机耽误在路上，等等，这些都是我们没办法控制的事件。然而剩下90%则不一样了，比如您可能左右不了红灯，却能控制您等车的情绪。请看下面的例子：

您正与家人共进早餐，女儿不小心打翻了咖啡杯，弄脏了您的西服。这是突发事件，您无法阻止它发生，而接下来事情如何发展，则完全取决于您的反应。

您勃然大怒，严厉地训斥女儿，她大哭起来。训斥完女儿，您转向您的太太，责怪她把咖啡杯放得离桌沿太近，您太太与您发生了争吵。之后您愤然上楼，换了件干净衣服，下楼时发现女儿仍然在哭，耽误了早餐，也因此错过了校车。太太也要赶时间，所以您要负责送女儿去学校，由于已经迟到，您以40km/h的时速在限速30km/h的区域飞驰。为此您被罚款60美金并且耽误了额外的15分钟。学校到了，女儿头也不回地径直奔向学校。当您到公司时，已经迟到了20分钟，而且这时您发现忘了带公文包。接下来的这一天，事情变得越来越糟糕，您期盼着能够早点下班回家。回到家中，您能够明显感觉到女儿和太太对您的疏远。这一切都是为什么？因为咖啡，女儿，或是警察，还是自己？答案是您自己。

对于打翻的咖啡杯，您无能为力，而接下来那五秒钟的表现，却决定了一天。下面是另外一种情形：

咖啡杯不小心打翻，弄脏了您的衣服，女儿马上就要哭了，您温柔地说："孩子，没关系，下次小心一点就好了。"您拿起餐巾稍加擦拭，然后上楼换了件干净衣服。您提起公文包准时下楼，通过窗户目送女儿上了校车，女儿转身向您挥手再见。您提前五分钟到达公司，并愉快地跟同事们问好。

是不是区别很大？同样的开头，不一样的结局。有些事情您真的无能为力，但是大部分情况，您是可以掌控的。

我们应该怎么做？如果有人说你坏话，别放在心上，不要让负面评论影响了你的行为。正确的反应，会为你挽回美好的一天，而不适当的表现，可能导致你失去朋友，丢掉饭碗，或者背负沉重的压力。设想一下开车的你遇到交通堵塞时可能的反应，失去耐心？敲打方向盘（曾经有个朋友把方向盘捶掉了……）？漫骂？血压升高？谁会在乎你迟到几分钟呢？为什么平静的一天要因此而黯淡？当你被开除了，想想90/10原理吧，为什么要辗转反侧，怒不可遏呢？没有用的，用这些时间和精力来找新工作吧。飞机晚点，你的行程被延误，为什么要把气撒到飞机上，利用这点时间来学习，来观察一下行人，急躁只会让事情变得更糟。

现在你知道了什么是90/10原理，把它应用到你的生活当中吧，你会发现效果很神奇，你甚至将不再失去任何东西。千百万的人被问题困扰，被压力和头痛折磨，我们很需要90/10原理，它会改变你的生活，你需要的只是一点点意志力去执行它。期待回报之前，先看看自己有没有付出，也许付出了得不到回报，但是你仍然心安理得，因为你的心灵已经打上了爱的烙印。

图标

小标