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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Hutiao dam project demands reconsideration |
| 2004-10-04 |
| Beijing, Sept. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- Were it not for the nine non-government organizations focusing on environmental protection, most people would not know that a dam is going to be constructed at Hutiao Gorge in South China's Yunnan Province. On Sunday, the nine organizations urged local authorities to suspend building the dam over one of the world's deepest gorges before it is too late, reported China Daily on Tuesday. Hutiao, or Tiger Leaping Gorge is well known for its glorious natural scenery and sharp cliffs which allow only a sliver of room for the Jinsha River to pass. Thanks to its unique geographic features, the natural beauty of the gorge is preserved, as well as its zoological and botanical resources. Damming the Jinsha River in the valley would destroy the local environment, threaten the area's distinct plants and animals, and flood surrounding lands which are the most fertile in the mountains. The environmentalists' calls are now being heard by all, but whether the decision-makers will listen to them and take action remains uncertain. After all, the supporters of the project are eagerly awaiting its benefits: after the dam is built, water from the Jinsha River could be diverted conveniently to the central part of Yunnan, where clean water is scarce. Adding leverage to their argument is the fact that the cities of central Yunnan produce 50 per cent of the province's GDP and 66.7 per cent of the province's industrial and agricultural output. They are in need of water because their rivers and lakes have become badly polluted due to heavy usage. The provincial authorities expect the water from the Jinsha River to ease the thirst of its economic engine and boost further development. But their expectations may not be easily met. The reason is obvious: this issue, after being boiled down, is again a conflict between economic development and environmental protection. Too many lessons can be drawn from past experiences that economic growth, if not environmentally friendly, is not sustainable. Because of the aggressive exploitation of water resources, the rivers and lakes of central Yunnan have already been used up. It is hard to convince people that the Jinsha River would not suffer the same fate even after it has been diverted smoothly to the regions as planned. And if this happens, do we divert yet another river to sustain economic growth in the region? Besides, the huge project of diverting the river in its volatile geographic environment could have environmental consequences that are impossible to predict beforehand or even within several years of the project's completion, like earthquakes and mudslides which may choke the reservoir and disable the project. As all hydropower endeavours, the project has to deal with resident resettlement and many other issues, the costs of which, both in economic and social terms, would be gigantic. When these costs are counted, the economic growth achieved by industry and agriculture in central Yunnan would not appear so remarkable. Many of the country's traditional industrial bases are painstakingly seeking ways to transform their economic development into more sustainable modes. The decision to ruin a natural miracle to boost economic growth is not wise. Much like how communist China's cultural revolution resulted in the destruction of countless treasures and historical artifacts, so does China's industrial revolution promise to do equal damage. The Three Gorges dam has already obliterated some of the most ancient archeological sites involving early human inhabitation. China's headlong rush to modernize has led them to destroy some of their most beautiful urban features. Ancient canal cities were stripped out and rebuilt with modern roads and transportation. A NOVA program dealing with reconstructing a very old wooden bridge design detailed how the city of Jinze is one of the last canal districts left relatively unscathed by this merciless progress. When China finally comes to its senses, all of its wealth will never recover the plundered scenic beauty their nation is so endowed with. Be sure to click the Tiger Leaping Gorge link above to see some breathtaking images of this natural wonder. |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #5 Dennisw's reference to the "Farmers of Forty Centuries" is here. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-10-04 10:59:06 AM |
| #4 Someone please deal with that horrid cut and pasted URL. It's turing the formatting to crap. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-04 7:58:48 AM |
| #3 dennisw, yuck! You've mangled the formatting. Swear you'll never do it again! (Use the standard html for url - some label here, with single quotation marks instead of double q.m.) |
| Posted by: Memesis 2004-10-04 6:28:22 AM |
| #2 They claimed it to be the Deepest Gorge in the World, which resulted in much discussion as to how you actually measure the depth of gorge. Anyway, it's high on either side, so you could pour in a lot of water and not really notice much difference. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-10-04 5:25:54 AM |
| #1 I've been to TLG. It's OK. Rocky. Some might say a little overhyped. |
| Posted by: Bulldog 2004-10-04 5:22:58 AM |