Our guest speaker was past district governor and past president Ron Seeto
Ron spoke to us of his visit to Chongqing in Central Southwest China.
Chonqing is a large city with a population of over 30 million. The city is one of four municipalities directly administered by the Chinese central government. The city is located on the confluence of the Ynagtze and Jialing Rivers.
Ron showed us some spectacular photos of the central city and the urban landscape to be found. He also noted that within two hours drive there is unspoiled country, mountains rivers and gorges. There is a bit of a problem with pollution, something which appears to be a work on for the leaders of the Chongqing municipality.
The purpose of Ron’s visit to Chongqing was to offer perspective and proposals for a restaurant project in a city tower, the concept being based upon dining in bush so that diners though in a sophisticated city building are given the impression that they are dining in the New Zealand bush. All while eating a hot pot. A local Chongqing special.
Ron also spoke of a recent polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea. Rotary International is working to respond as are the Australia and New Zealand governments. The point Ron wanted to make is that polio is only a short plane ride away from us that we should never lose sight of the objective which is ridding our planet of this disease.
It would appear the outbreak in Papua New Guinea is caused by low immunisation rates which enables the polio virus contained within the vaccine to mutate organically and then spread amongst the susceptible. Hopefully the outbreak will be brought under to control.
The outbreak noted above just serves to reinforce the need to be vigilant in dealing with this disease.