9JKN's thoughts on issues raised by the 'Last Train Home' by adamknapper https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y en-us 2017-10-18 07:58:12 UTC 2018-08-18 01:55:24 UTC hello@padlet.com J.N https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198128651 I thought that the girl was felling left out due to her gender and her being the oldest. I felt bad for her not getting any attention, compared to her brother. It was also very sad to see the relationship between her parents, because it must be hard never having your mother on your side. ]]> 2017-10-18 08:28:11 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198128651 Human rights J.N https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198129332 We have to release that not everyone has the chance of good technology, and in the rural areas, they mostly do everything by hand. Also if we would compare our selfs to them their is a big difference in technology. For example, in the movie as Qin got a flip phone she was very excited, but in the urban families, it will be normal to get a touch screen. I think this shows how big the difference is between the technology. ]]> 2017-10-18 08:31:14 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198129332 A. Y. -- Left-Behind Children, Hukou system and human rights https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198157419 Thoughts on the Documentary
I believe the issues raised in this movie is mainly based off of diversion. Time with family. An intriguing question that this film holds is that if family does not spend time with you, are they still family? Despite being bonded by blood, humans are social creatures, and feeling left out by someone is not really the best thing to do to improve a parent-child relationship, especially being gone for 13 years. These left-behind children will most likely only see their parents for nothing but a few days in the entire year. Meaning that they might have the false illusion of their parents not caring about them. That is not the case, as the parents are working hard to get these children out of the rural areas, to places they could develop better. As shown in the films, usually the left-behind children will always follow in their parents' footstepts, creating a loop upon loop in which they cannot escape.

-Human Rights Council-

As a humans rights advocator, the film suggests the exploitation of human rights through the inability to visit home and create strong and secure parent-kid relationships. As explained above, this right is severely exploted because of the Hukou system. The Hukou system would restrict any rural-urban migrators from directly settling in by not giving them needed education and health care. This means that not only does the emotional rights gets violated, but also a person's basic needs. A parent always want their child to perform best, but with the hukou restriction, this becomes hard as either the parents cannot be with the kids due to work in city, or to give up the work in city and suffer from income loss. A lose-lose situation.

-Government Officials-

As a government official, they would most likely explain that the hukou system is a nessecary act to prevent over-population of the already populated urban areas. A reason is because of the high population of China. Without the hukou system, the urban areas will most likely be flooded with citizens, with schools too loaded with students that it may affect efficiency, and maybe cause lack of storage of basic health care system. The lack of the hukou system will also most likely result in a heavily imbalanced population distribution, with the rural areas left unchecked. Overpopulation is a severe problem to face if the hukou system is abolished, as it will deny more people with the right to basic needs.]]> 2017-10-18 10:46:25 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198157419 Ethan Zhou's Reflection-Last Train Home-E.Z. 15177061 https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198159323 Discussion about the documentary:
This documentary informs us the severity of the issues caused by urbanization, mainly focusing on rural-urban migration.

Rural-urban migration is a crucial aspect of China's national developments. To be able to have resources which can be applied for trading, which ensures China's dominance on World Trade, the developments of products & services are required. The current rural residents work majorly as laborers based on how they lack the amount of education which can provide them the ability to work clerically. To the migrant workers, although working in factories and sweatshops may be exhausting, the earning is higher which can be significantly more effective than agriculture. However, the limited revenues of the workers were not used to enhance their living conditions, but used to educate their children, whom were considered as the future of their families.

This is a negative issue, to earn money for their children, the parents leave them behind, which alienates the parents with the children. This eliminates the close bonds and relationships in between the family members, while pressuring the children to work hard academically as shown in the film.

Furthermore, other issues in terms of organization of the government would definitely include the chaos of the train station, which is the lack of management of the congestion. With the largest population in the world, organizing the citizens is surely difficult. An essential scene on the film was a man arguing with a security guard, who rejected his offer to leave and find the train. This is a difficult situation to both perspectives. The man intended to travel home, and it surely was not wrong, he did buy the tickets, but had to wait for days to stay for the train. On the other hand, the guard was just doing his job, he could not allow illegal trespassing, although being immoral, he was instructed to do so.

The girl-Qin was rebellious, she did not have any affection to her parents who left her behind since she was one. This is acceptable for the girl, yet pitiable as a family. Pressuring academics and the limited interactions with parents a torture a youngster in adolescence. Although rural-urban migration has benefitted China in terms of its macroeconomy, the government is still not aware of how migrant workers' human rights are not being well respected.

Human Rights Council Resolution:
As a member of the Human Rights Council, I endorse the governmental protection of the rights of the migrant workers whose labor should be deeply appreciated.

The basic welfare of the migrant workers were impacted by an unequal treatment from the government compared to the local citizens in various aspects. These aspects can include the disorganization of public transport during Chinese New Year, the inequality on the welfare received from the household registration system, the paltry wages, and the issues in terms of  the family relationships.

To begin with, the council understands the difficulties of organizing the chaos of the congestion during festive seasons. Nevertheless, the government should construct rails allowing small lines to ensure the orderliness of the station. The council invites the government make reliable promises in terms of instructing the trains to arrive early, or at least remind the residents that the train has a high possibility of being late. This links to migrant workers based on how most of the wealthy citizens travel by plane or via high-speed railways.

Secondly, although the council agrees upon how the regions of China have different household systems, to ensure the welfare of the migrant workers, the government can provide more care for them. The care can be performed in measures such as providing them the access to medical centers, education, houses, and to increase their wages while reducing overnight working.

In addition, as mentioned previously, the council strongly advocates the government to particularly allow migrant workers to bring their children for education, which is fairer for their family relationships.

Thoughts from the Government Officials:
The government believes that for the benefits of our urban environments, the loosening of the Hukou System should not be implemented.

As a country which has a large population, the population density in essential areas should be controlled for the welfare and organization of the urban areas. 

The abolition of the Hukou system should not be suggested based on its numerous possible detriments. A major function of the Hukou system was to regulate the population ratio between urban, suburban, and rural areas. If the government provides subsidies to the migrant workers while rescinding the main restrictions from the Hukou system, the workers would be greatly motivated to come to the city, thereby causing more congestions in public transport, while causing a significant increase of the urban areas' population, which prompts disorganization. 

The government compromises on providing some subsidies to the migrant workers including the increase of the wages, the treatment, and the access to education & medical care. Nevertheless, with some payments required, equally with the locals.
]]> 2017-10-18 10:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198159323 Other Family Issues -E.Z. 15177061 https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198164139 The film also raises awareness for gender inequality, which still cannot be prevented based on how several older Chinese people value male more than female, this can be shown through the grandmother's treatment on Qin and Yang. This had created a negative effect to Qin psychologically, which prompts her to believe that she is unvalued, thereby divesting her confidence. 

Education is also an issue that has been expressed in the film. The mother strongly hoped her children to receive education and particularly cares about the children's academic ranking in the class. I understand that they did not receive enough education, prompting their poverty. However, bringing too much pressure to their children would negative impact their childhoods. This is also a significant issue in which urban education can solve in order to bring the children to a better university.]]> 2017-10-18 11:22:32 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198164139 A.W. https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198173518 I feel like the main issue is that left-behind children tend to be given inadequate care and therefore develop issues such as suffering from depression or dropping out from school due to the desire for independence, which means they will have to become migrant workers just like their parents, and have kids whom have to be left behind at home, and the kids have to suffer from the same issues their parents had suffered from as well... ]]> 2017-10-18 12:02:27 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198173518 I.T. https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198197868 I feel like one of the issues this documentary is trying to tell us is the left behind children, which in the movie's case the girl. Her parents left her with her brother and grandmother when she was really young (one). At home she doesn't het a lot of respect from her grandmother, since the grandmother believes that boys are better then girls and have a better future then her. As she gets older and older she decided to drop out of school (that her parents spent a lot of money on) and went to work in the city and get a taste of freedom]]> 2017-10-18 12:57:51 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198197868 I. https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198198086 2017-10-18 12:58:14 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198198086 J.C mobuk1116 https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198221581 I think that the Chinese government has a valid reason for this Hukou system as many people are benefiting from it. 

The Documentary has shown the negatives of the hukou system. It is trying to convince us into believing that it is actually a negative thing, and it is for many migrant workers however without the hukou system, I think China would not be the China it is now. 
Without the Hukou system the Chinese population density and distribution will tumble and cause great chaos. 
I realize the pain that the Left behind children and their parents are going through. But it is necessary for this Hukou system to take place to create a much better environment for most of the people in China. 

For us, it would be much better if the Hukou system to exist since most of us are benefiting out of it. 


BTW, the movie earned $228,328
]]> 2017-10-18 13:39:46 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198221581 KC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198230578 I think that this documentary tells us the advantages and disadvantages of Rural-Urban migration. It shows that in order for the people from the countryside to make more money, they have to go to the city to work, but they also have to make sacrifices, and one of the major sacrifice is leaving your children behind. 

Leaving your children behind will make the relationship between you and your children bad, as shown in the documentary. From the daughter's perspective, Qin, she doesn't know all the hard work her parents went through, and that the only thing she knows is that her parents isn't spending enough time with her.

Although in the parent's perspective, they want to earn more money to make the children's life better, all the children need is the parent's time with them.

The film also showed the struggles of trying to see your children- tickets not available, people pushing and trying to get into trains, and some people even had to wait for a week just to get back home. 

I feel that this issue has happened to 1.3 million other migrant workers, and this is only from one of the family's perspective. Every migrant worker is going through the same issue- arguing with their children after not seeing them for a long time, and turning what's supposed to be a fun holiday (Chinese New Year) into a disaster.

This film makes me feel sorry for all of the family members, the parents working hard in the city, and the children working at school and in the farm, but never really got what they wanted. ]]> 2017-10-18 13:53:01 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198230578 Thoughts of I.C 22isaacc https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198289007 I felt that the film was a powerful representation of the rippling effect that can be caused by things like urbanisation and/or a global financial crisis. 

Although the film does only focus on one family affected out of the millions and only one "left behind child", it still manages to portray a clear and easily comprehendible state that these families are in.

It could be argued that the rapid urbanisation of China and its massive production of goods is a strong way that china can keep up with the rest of the world in terms of technology. But on the other hand, the film has shown us the sacrifices made to achieve this success. Sacrifices like a united family, a happy life and so on.

The film takes on a whole new perspective to this problem to show us the true thoughts of the people whom have to go through this. It shows us the way they think, the things they take interest in and so on. This proves not only that they are just as human as the rest of the world but they are indirectly being forced to deal with problems that they never asked for.

The film also shows us the story of a young girl names Qui, she was brought up in a farm area and had parents who left to a city to work. She is a "left behind child". It shows us that the distance put between her and her parents stops her parents from being able to raise her as a daughter, and how this has put so much pressure on her that she begins to ignore her parents and drops out of school to work as well.

A scene often redundant in the film was the scene of the train station, filled with people, nowhere to breath. It shows the amount of effort people put in just to be able to get home and see their family. 

The film also shows us a glimpse of what these Chinese migrant workers think that the "western" lifestyle is like. They say that it is a high spending luxurious lifestyle and they see themselves as just the makers of what makes that world of the westerners possible.

Another idea reenforced throughout the film was the idea that all these people were poor, this can be inferred with the use of words such as peasant and phrases such as "Not enough money". 

The film not only shows the lack of the abilty of the government to keep all people happy, but it also clearly embodies the meaning of cause and effect. This is becaucse of the scene where there was a global financial crisis, people ended us leaving their lives aimlessly, with nothing left.]]> 2017-10-18 15:15:03 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198289007 AL https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198523818 This film represents millions of peoples lives who are migrating from rural area to urban areas and the problems they face.  And the gender inequality that the girl face. The parents have very high expectations on their children wishing them that they could study hard so they won't end up like their parents. A parents always wants the best for their children, but the hukou system stops the parents from being with their kids because they have to work and earn money in the city or they can stay home and work on agriculture missing out economic opportunities,]]> 2017-10-19 04:18:59 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198523818 Mr Knapper adamknapper https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198564359 This is one family's story which gives us a human slant on this issue. We live their hopes, dreams, sadness and despair with them in 90 minutes. Multiply this by 100 million and you have the the true scale of the problem. What will be the social consequences of this for China in the near future?]]> 2017-10-19 08:45:13 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/198564359 T.P. https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278240 The film shows us that even though people have to go through rough things, the government has its own reasons for the benefit of the country. It is like for the hutongs, it is for the greater goods and that they have to turn a blind eye to the feelings of the locals.]]> 2017-10-25 06:08:40 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278240 SY https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278301 I think this film shows  there are  still a lots of Chinese family take boys more important than girls, it shows from the treatment between Qin and her brother. The grandma and parents are all putting their hopes on the boy like buying a big house. Also, the mom would give up her job to take care the boy, but when Qin is younger and needed her parent they didn't give up their job.]]> 2017-10-25 06:09:09 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278301 A.D. angelinadong66 https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278378 The documentary showed the problems of China's migrant workers. I don't think it's a good situation for either workers or the police working at train stations. I thought that the filmer shouldn't have filmed the scene when the girl and the parents are yelling at each other. He should have respected their privacy, but if he haven't filmed it, we wouldn't known the effects of this migration. It also shows that genders are still not equal. The grandmother in the film still value the young boy more than the girl. ]]> 2017-10-25 06:09:48 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278378 Movie Review by Chinese Official. -KJ https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278391 I think that this film was not very good because it makes the audience believe that being a migrant worker is bad but it is not. It is very good to have migrant workers because they earn enough money to support their families on the farms and they get to do work that helps increase the profit of the government.]]> 2017-10-25 06:09:57 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278391 I thin https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278407 2017-10-25 06:10:05 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278407 The problem that have been seen in the movie, The last train home - Kane Lee https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278408 This film criticizing the problem in Migrant worker in China, and I have spotted quite a lot of problems with the migrant worker in China.

First of all, I think the biggest problem Migrant workers  are working hard with small profit. I think this is not that good situation as it is the problem of human right. In the movie, even though Qin's parents have worked hard, and they are living in the house that doesn't even have the door, and they use the bed that looks like it is going to break in few seconds. Plus in the movie, when they are eating their foods, they eat together with the other migrant workers and they only have rice and the green thing. 

In this movie, there are also the problem of the Chinese Police while they are in the train station, as they are controlling and trying to block all the people who are trying to go in to the train station. They are trying to block them even though the child go missing, or when their family goes missing. They are trying to block the people all the time, but I don't think this is write as this is a desperate thing for the migrant worker in China. And Police doesn't know how desperate it is.
I think the police system have to be changed. 

Third, they still believe in the fact that boy will be the leader of their house later on, and I think this is the problem of gender equality. Their father have blamed on their daughter with the fact that their grandfather have died, even though on the other hand Qin's mom is phrasing and saying the fact that Yang have to work hard. They only talk about Yang, they only worry about Yang but they don't think about Qin (They think about Qin. but then they don't really think and worry like their son). Also their father have hit their daughter and went violent to her, because he sweared at his father with the fact that grandfather have died because of her. I think this is the problem of their father, because her father have did so much sexist things  to their daughter about the problem of studying and all that. 








































































































































































































































































































]]> 2017-10-25 06:10:05 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278408 V.X https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278442
In this film the parents only get back to see their children once a year, and every time about less than a month. They only provide the money, but not the whole responsibility of caring and staying by their side. this shows how unfair life is

]]> 2017-10-25 06:10:21 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278442 SYK ksyon2004 https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278449 Thoughts On The Documentary
This film has made helped me get a larger view of what rural to urban migration is like. Seeing the way how these migrant workers get home for Chinese New Year made me compare it to how I travel during the holidays. I feel as though it was more eye-opening because it was based on a family that includes one teenage girl and a young boy, rather than one person. This film not only shows the hard life of migrant workers but also the life of left behind children too. It also showed a gender equality issue, the grandma preferring the son over the daughter.

A Government Official
A government official would argue that the hukou system is very beneficial for many reasons. One of the reasons is the economy of China, with more workers in factories, the factories would be able to make more products, with more products they would be able to sell more to other countries and make more money. Another reason is for the country socially. With more products stamped with 'Made in China' the country would become more well-known throughout the world and this would attract more tourists too. This reason links to the economic reason.

A Human Rights Campaigner
A human rights campaigner would be against the hukou system and rural to urban migration. The hukou systems makes children grow up without their mum and dad. Growing up without the supervision of parents may not have a large impact on the short term but it does in the long term, because as the children grow up, the relationship between the parents and the child would become more strained. Additionally, the way the migrant workers get back home, the pushing, being forced to wait without knowing how long they have to wait is very unfair to all of migrant workers.]]> 2017-10-25 06:10:28 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278449 LM 22letiziam https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278511 This film allowed us to realize how much trouble migrant workers have to go through, especially in order to reach their homes every chinese new year and visit their children. These children are also known as 'Left-behind children'. 

The film also showed us how hard the children at home have to work as well, for example, they had to go harvest crops and carry very heavy loads to support the family with food. Not only do the children need to work hard, also the grandma, this shows us how desperate the family is to survive. In addition, it also gave us an example of inequality, when the parents had higher expectations from Yang rather than Qin. Moreover, the parents strongly wished that their children would study hard and get a good job in the future, giving an impression that education is very important for all families.



]]> 2017-10-25 06:11:02 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278511 CW https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278757 Last Train Home told us that migrant workers have to suffer with in economic issues and family issues. They also have to suffer every year when they get home. ]]> 2017-10-25 06:13:28 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278757 https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278937 2017-10-25 06:14:50 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200278937 TL https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200279505 The film Last Train Home showed what all migrant workers have to face every Chinese New year to get home on time to celebrate and be with their family.

]]> 2017-10-25 06:19:02 UTC https://padlet.com/adamknapper/o1bcvw4rgp1y/wish/200279505