LETTERS

People with good sense all agree that China has grown stronger in terms of innovation， though it is indisputable that globally the country still ranks well below the top-tier innovators. On this issue， attention always focuses on research institutions and industries， which stand at the forefront of innovative ideas and practices. In fact， we need to examine the upper streams of creativity – in education. June is exam season： 9th graders take the exam to enter senior middle schools， and 12th graders compete for seats at colleges and universities. Recently an article by a former student at one of the top high schools in Beijing went viral via social media. He claimed his alma mater did nothing better than churning out test freaks. This is no surprise to most of us， as test scores are of paramount importance in todays educational system， leading to rote-learning and the erosion of critical thinking. What innovative capacity could be expected from those who have learnt from 20 or more years of early life that academic success comes by accepting word-for-word what textbooks and supervisors say？ To build an innovative China， first of all， we must cultivate innovative children.

Jiang Mingkai

Beijing， China

“Waste Recycling the Green Way” was a very heartening and inspir- ing article. The e-waste recycling industry is highly polluting， but is embraced by many smaller cities and towns in China for its lower capital and technical inputs and higher profits. We have seen grisly pictures through Chinese and foreign media of the damage these industries inflict on the local environment and peoples health， such as in “cancer village” communities where people suffer higher rates of cancer due to contaminated soil and water. Ziya sets an encouraging example with modern technology and management of electronicwaste recycling that can be done in ways that avoid environmental and health hazards. It can thus continue to be a source of income for communities that have few alternatives. Any anti-pollution scheme that doesnt consider the subsistence needs of local residents is futile.

Zhang Haibo

Quanzhou， Fujian Province， China

Now in my 40s， I didnt personally live through the war against Japanese invasion. But when I was a child， a friend of my grandmas talked of her cousin being bayoneted to death by Japanese soldiers during forced construction of a fortress. Though the agony and humiliation of that war may now be a distant memory， it is very real to many Chinese. This is why any attempt by certain Japanese politicians to deny or distort the ugliest part of their history is met with such strong protests from China， not only from state leaders but also from the general public.

Wei Lan

Handan， Hebei Province， China