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Over the past week, I have spent much time with some of the country's most famous artists – including filmmakers, singers, choreographers, writers, actors, painters and musicians - during the NPC and CPPCC sessions. One thing that I can confirm about these people is that – perhaps unsurprisingly – they are usually completely devoted to their art, talk about little else – and they seem to live in their own world. I assumed they would support policies relating to their own field – possibly relating to financial assistance and promoting their art to the general public. Well, they did do that – but not only. Most of the time, when they were sitting together and chatting, they discussed social issues that affect everyone. Just this Sunday morning, the actress Song Dandan began a discussion about recent worrying trends that have been widely covered in the media. For example, there have been cases of people – especially the elderly – lying injured or sick on the sidewalk and passers-by walking past, ignoring them completely, as many are apparently afraid of being accused of involvement in the person's plight and some fear being blackmailed. Song and the rest of the group were dismayed by these incidents, and Feng Shuangbai, a dance critic, proposed a solution involving an improved medical system for the elderly – with the aim of putting an end to such incidents. The comedian Gong Hanlin - who often appears on CCTV's Spring Festival gala - made several suggestions, including naming the area which was occupied by Japan's Unit 731 during the Anti-Japanese War a heritage site – so as to remember the victims - tackling pollution and offering financial support to those involved in endangered traditional art forms. Regarding the smog, Gong said: "What has the Ministry of Environment been doing?" and he called for civil servants to "take the blame and offer to resign". He added: "We've only seen expelling. But is this all that a transparent government does?" | 
