(Cartoon from Arthur's Amphibians)

I've been thinking about this question for a while now: Why couldn't China jump straight into new forms of alternative, sustainable energy technology instead of going the old route of heavy use of fossil fuels? Well, it seems they just may be doing that. Leapfrogging. From China Daily:

Manzini said although China had so far mirrored the industrialization process of Western countries, he hoped the country would develop a new strategy for the next stage.

"China is showing itself to have an amazing energy," he said. "The issue, for China itself and for the world in general, is in which direction this energy will be directed.

"At the moment, it seems the driver for a mainly quantitative growth: to assume the traditional and unsustainable industrial model and to do the same things that have been done by the others, but in a faster and cheaper way.

"The hope is that the Chinese energy could be re-oriented towards a different model; that is, towards qualitative, sustainable development."

It is possible, Manzini argues, for China to be a pioneer in developing innovative technology in the use of renewable energy resources.

Let's hope Manzini is right. A China (and India) with a billion people wanting Western-style standards of living isn't sustainable unless alternative energy technologies are embraced.

In other news from China:

*Some big American companies received CSR awards at a recent American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai Corporate Social Responsibility Conference.

*Krispy Kreme + China = Global Obesity Pandemic Worsening?

*This from a week or so ago ... iPod labor relations hit sour note in China, via CSR Asia. Peter at Credo Advisors has word on a libel suit against two reporters over iPod stories citing labor abuses has been dropped.