SALT PANIC: Supermarket workers are keeping order amid salt buyers in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, and every buyer is only allowed to buy a maximum of three bags (IC)

Salt Panic Groundless

As worry over the Fukushima nuclear crisis cools down, China's supermarket shelves are again being stacked with salt. A nationwide panic buying of salt in mid- March caused by Japan's nuclear leakage soon proved to be a farce and quickly ebbed. But it undoubtedly contains a lesson for the Chinese people.

On the first day of the panic, the relevant governmental departments immediately worked out policies to stabilize the salt market by increasing supply and strengthening supervision. The media also kept calm and reported objectively, helped by science organizations' explanations. The rational voices soon won the battle against rumors.

Although the panic has quietened down, the rumors have exerted a negative impact on ordinary people's lives. After madly buying salt, the public soon became eager to return it to retailers. Either because they were fooled by the rumors or because they were worried about salt shortages, millions of families were affected. Businessmen who wanted to speculate in salt found themselves finally with huge losses. Speculative money was found to be behind the ups and downs of salt-related shares in the stock market.

In the wake of the panic, innocent consumers have more or less suffered losses while speculators have already withdrawn. While the shadow of a nuclear crisis is still here, the public has many reasons to review this whole ridiculous process. Who are the people circulating rumors that stoked the crazy panic buying and what should we do to prevent other rumors from affecting normal life?

Salt buyers can be classified into four categories: First, those who really believe iodized salt will help against nuclear radiation because they believe radiation has already spread to China; second, those who were worried once sea water is polluted by nuclear radiation, future sea salt would be unsafe, so they have to stock up on as much clean salt as possible; third, those who happened to run out of salt or who were worried about future salt shortages; fourth, the speculators who want to make huge profits from an insane market.

The first group is in need of relevant, accurate and simple scientific explanations, so when the media gave them basic scientific knowledge, the rumors were soon dispelled. For the second group, authorities need to make more transparent the whole process of salt production. They should be told that 90 percent of salt sold in China is good salt and sea salt is unlikely to be polluted by nuclear radiation. For the third, authorities should try to ensure market supply, and publicize salt production and stocks. Finally, speculators must be severely punished and the results should be made public. To deal with the hidden speculators behind the rumors, the capital market should be made more transparent. In the case of unexpected incidents, supervision should play a bigger role.

Jiefang Daily

Charity System Upgraded

The Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) launched a database fundraising program on March 22. In the Internet era, launching a database project is no longer big news, but for the purpose of charity it is a significant step forward, providing wider access to charity for people and organization.

The database will enable the RCSC to send letters and emails out to individuals, spread the Red Cross spirit and report on its work, attracting and encouraging greater numbers to take part in charitable causes.

In countries like the United States, Britain, Norway and Australia, individual donations account for 70 to 80 percent of the totals while businesses' donations are only a small fraction. The situation in China is just the opposite. How come this result? The Chinese people are sympathetic and always ready to help the needy, which is reflected in their enthusiastic donations to alleviate various natural disasters, including the recent earthquake in Japan. What exactly is preventing people from giving donations? There are many reasons.

Information transparency, as well as continuous and effective communication, is the basis, because this makes it possible for donors to track where their donation goes and ensures every donation is well spent. More importantly, it is a channel for the public to supervise the charity organizations' work.

Charity activities are by nature mutual help among the people, where everyone participates equally in joint efforts to make human life better. The database program now brings a social charity network closer to the ordinary people, and it's hoped that this will encourage and strengthen the people's confidence in participation.

Beijing Times

Daily Commodities First

At the 12th China Development Forum, China's Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said that China would take measures to promote commercial competition, improve logistics systems, and reduce retailing sector's burden to put prices of various international luxury products in China on a par with those in other countries. If everything goes well, not only will excessively high logistics costs be cut, but Chinese consumers will also become more willing to spend money on these products. The measures to narrow the price gap should not be limited to luxury commodities. Applying them to livelihood-related commodities may be more effective. After all, only a small fraction of high-income earners are consumers of luxury commodities, but common commodities affect daily lives of the majority. Take Internet service fee, for example. The State Information Center of China last year released a report saying broadband users in China have to pay 83.8 yuan ($12.7) for their Internet connection service every month, which is 18 times South Korea's $0.37 and 51.5 times Japan's $0.13.

As far as commercial departments are concerned, the priority now should be focused on narrowing the price gap in daily commodities, as this is more useful in improving people's daily lives and boosting consumer willingness, rather than just dealing with luxury commodities.

Qilu Evening News