rural – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

China: May 1st – International Workers’ Day – Celebrating the Empowerment of Women & Girls! (1.5.2026)

01/05/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Zhong, 49, who is also a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, and an inheritor of the She ethnic martial arts, said: “Only a thriving village can preserve the She ethnic martial arts.”

Under her leadership, roads were repaired, streetlamps installed, and tourism facilities upgraded. Instead of moving away, many villagers became homestay hosts or martial arts performers. Thanks to rural tourism centered on the She ethnic martial arts, the village’s revenue jumped from 200,000 yuan ($28,000) in 2021 to 500,000 yuan in 2024.

According to the 2022 progress monitoring report of the Outline for Women’s Development in China (2021-30), women accounted for 54.3 percent of neighborhood committee members and 41.3 percent of neighborhood committee directors, as well as 26.1 percent of village committee members and 10.9 percent of village committee directors.

Data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed that in 2022, there were 489,000 village committees, with a total of 2.154 million village committee members. And there were 118,000 neighbourhood committees, comprising 663,000 neighbourhood committee members.

A Cuckoo Pecks the Tree Outside Our Bedroom Window!

Sutton: A Woodpecker Outside Our Bedroom Window! (6.11.2025)

06/11/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Whilst getting ready for school – our youngest daughter (Kai-Lin) – heard a “knocking” outside our bedroom window in our first-floor flat (the window is more or less in-line with the treetops nearby). When Gee pulled-back the curtain (it was around 8 am) to everyone’s surprise – there was what looked like a juvenile Woodpecker attempting to develop a head of steam through its inexperienced pecking! Normally, we only ever hear these birds “out of sight” as it were, but even then, only at a considerable distance (usually in woodland or nears forests) – but I have never seen such a rural bird landing within a city context.

Rutland Farm Park – The Visit! (28.10.2025)

28/10/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Unlike the City Farms or the bigger commercial entities – the atmosphere is relaxed. Indeed, a cadre of very alert geese provide the security detail – patrolling the grounds and showing the guests which way to travel in and out of the park! I remember once reading in a book at school (a very long time ago) that Celtic people used to live on the top of mountains and hills – and that it was geese (and not dogs) that used to warn the inhabitants of any approaching strangers! Geese “honk” really loud, and are physically brave, being willing to protect their owners with their lives! Brave little fellows they are!

Lovely Ketton - Perhaps We We Were an Episode of the "Prisoner"!

UK: Dialectically Walking Through the Quaint Village of Ketton (Northants)! (5.8.2025)

05/08/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Recently, I spent a week in the Northants countryside. Fresh air, good food, wide open spaces, a garden, things to do, and everybody saying “hello” – and “good morning” – and meaning it! Coming from a London suburb, the general rule of thumb is “silence” – when meeting people you do not know just in case they want to rob or rape you. There is also the ever-present threat of someone you don’t know asking for “money” or “food”, etc, all things that are not allowed within cities. My children are taught to remain well-behaved by the school when meeting others – to be “quiet” so as not to attract the unwanted attention of others. Walking through the picturesque village of Ketton last Saturday (1.8.2025) was interesting, as well-meaning groups of old ladies loudly greeted us like they knew us – all ready to help at a moment’s notice – we were even invited to a Church Service within ten minutes of arriving!

UK: Visiting Haytor – Dartmoor National Park! (17.4.2025

17/04/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

We were committed to traversing directly up before we fully appreciated the difference. Nevertheless, hundreds climb Haytor every week – with wild Dartmoor ponies wandering around the car-park area. These animals may – or may not – come over for a stroke, but visitors must be careful not to be bitten, head-butted, or kicked, etc. This does not happen very often – but wild animals should be respected. Another issues are yapping dogs (which must be kept on leads). As matters transpired, there was one or two calm and sedate ponies that wanted to be stroked and petted, etc. The general experience is important for children – particularly those from city areas – to re-connect with nature and experience the feeling that the immensity of nature – wide-open spaces – can generate! I last visited probably about 20-years ago with Gee – but our two children not yet born.

China: Support for Rural “Left-Behind” Women [and Disabled] Intensified! (13.04.2025)

13/04/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

It encourages their involvement in care services for left-behind children, elderly care and support for people with disabilities.

The working plan also calls for assistance to rural left-behind women with disabilities or financial difficulties and their families, while supporting charitable organizations in launching targeted public welfare initiatives.

In addition, the state departments would strengthen the protection of rural left-behind women’s legal rights, work to prevent discrimination and domestic violence, and expand access to healthcare services for this population, according to the working plan.

Rural left-behind women are defined as those who remain in rural areas while their husbands work away from home for more than six months.

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