Topic: Environmental awareness and anger grow in China
Michelle
Moderator
Babbler # 560
posted 10 December 2005 12:41 PM
quote:Much of China watched in horror as work crews struggled to contain the recent benzene spill that polluted the northeastern Songhua River and disrupted drinking water supplies to about 12 million people in the region for more than a week. But even residents of Beijing watching the event unfold on television weren't entirely safe from the effects of China's increasing environmental decay. China's capital is one of the most polluted cities in the world and lung cancer is now the number one cause of death.
From: I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell. | Registered: May 2001
| IP: Logged
fake_oxygen
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8898
posted 13 December 2005 08:18 PM
China really doesn't have much of a choice but to start taking its environment seriously. Its slowly starting to realize I think that the solution to pollution isn't blowing holes throuhg mountains to let the smog escape. They're generally driving alot smaller cars than we are, but as we can see they have a long way to go.
Does anyone know what precautions Russia has taken to keep the spill from tainting their side of the border? That part of Russia is home to some pristine wilderness, I wonder what they've done about it.
posted 14 December 2005 06:15 AM
It's estimated that over 10% of China's GDP is wasted away due to environmental mismanagement (government sourced figure that's widely quoted). This has lead to innovative measures such as advancing the idea of a "Green" GDP and "Green" quotas for officals typically told that short term economic growth is paramount.
That all said, environmental awareness on the part of an authoritarian regime will only go so far; endemic corruption by the CCP oligarchy ensures that ecological idiotic decision making will continue to be the norm.
From: Vancouver | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged
Email this thread to someone!
posted 10 December 2005 12:41 PM
