Taking pride in Censorship and Business

Feb 18, 2015

Menno van Doorn

Many things already have been said about the Cyberspace Spirit song. But if for some reason you missed it, watch and enjoy, and start your day with a smile. The song is  an initiative of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC). The CAC is also responsible for managing China’s internet and filtering out unwanted messages, aka “The Great Firewall”. Cyberspace Spirit glorifies the cleanliness of the Chinese internet.

A few months earlier, on November 11th 2014, China celebrated the spirit of cyberspace business. It’s big sale on the internet, aka ‘singles day’. On that day internet company Alibaba and its partners sold goods for $ 9.3 billion. Yes, in one day. I can imagine Jack Ma, CEO and founder of Alibaba, taking a shower next morning, singing “The Web is where glorious dreams are. Offerings to the global village become the most beautiful of scenery”

This full text of the song was published in The Wall Street Journal:

Keeping faithful watch under this sky, the Sun and the Moon
Undertaking this mission for the break of dawn [in the East]
Creating, embracing everyday clarity and brightness
Like a beam of incorruptible sunlight, touching our hearts
Uniting the powers of life from all creation
Offerings to the global village become the most beautiful of scenery

Internet Power! The Web is where glorious dreams are
Internet Power! From the distant cosmos to the home we long for
Internet Power! Tell the world that the China Dream is lifting Greater China to prominence
Internet Power! One self represents the nation to the world

In this world, all rivers loyally seek to return to the sea
Bearing the measure of Chinese civilization
5,000 years settle and give light to creative new thinking
Incorruptibility is the clear rippling of a nation
We unite at the center of Heaven and Earth
Belief and giving flow for thousands of miles down the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers

Internet Power! The Web is where glorious dreams are
Internet Power! From the distant cosmos to the home we long for
Internet Power! Tell the world that the China Dream is lifting Greater China to prominence
Internet Power! One self represents the nation to the world

About the author

Menno van Doorn

Director and Trend Analyst VINT | Netherlands

Menno is Director of the Sogeti Research Institute for the Analysis of New Technology (VINT). He mixes personal life experiences with the findings of the 19 years of research done at the VINT Research Institute. Menno has co-authored many books on the impact of new technology on business and society.

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