Hello 402,
We'll be discussing about environmental sustainability in China. The following will be links to the readings. The readings will help you to have a better understanding of the situation in China. Pls read them and reply to this blogpost for our class discussion. All of you will also be divided into 6 groups, namely citizens, government, environmentalist, economist, farmers and lastly ecologist. Pls think about what point of view these group of people will take and the reasons supporting it.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_635519.html
http://www.fpif.org/articles/chinas_filthiest_export
Have fun!
From an economist's point of view, the three gorges dam project has economical benefits because it helps to generate renewable electricity at a lower cost. China will no longer have to import coal to meet its energy needs and due to its large population, this will help to save a significant amount of money.
ReplyDelete(Jolyn Pang & Ling An)
Famous Ecologist MELISSA:
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. One of the cons of the dam is that it ends flooding that help to clean out the silt in rivers, causing them to clog in the upper course of the river where the dam is. In addition, the spreading of the silt helps to fertilise the soil which helps farmers to grow more crops and improve their life. Finally, the clogging up of silt in the upper course affects the formation of delta in the lower course.
Pls state your name and role when u post. tks.
ReplyDeleteWe, Team Farmers, believe that the Three Gorges Dam is not sustainable. The government official in charge of the project has admitted that Three Gorges held "hidden dangers" that could breed disasters. It causes landslides, sedimentation, soil erosion and other enviromental problems which may affect the growing of our crops and our families. we depend of these fertile deposits to grow our crops and without them, our crops cannot grow.
ReplyDeleteHence, we feel that the Three Gorges dam is not environtal sustainable and we should not sacriface the enviroment in exhange for temporary economic gains.
Also, this dam is supposed to improve our lives, but it has resulted in large numbers of us to get relocated and we have been treated like refugees with only 50RMB every month as compensation. We have lost our hard earned farmland, and did not get the right amount of compensation so it is not fair to us.
Even though there are benefits, such as decreased floods and droughts, we still feel that the negative impacts outweigh the positive impacts therefore we feel that the dam is not environmentally on the whole.
Dear farmers, these benefits (money), can help to lighten the negative impacts. Because money can solve everything.
ReplyDeleteGovernment: The dam is able to generate more hydropower than any other dam in the world. This can be used to lessen China's dependence on coal, marking a decrease in the emission of pollutions from use of sources of unrenewable energy. Also, this can generate revenue that can stimulate China's economy. This can also lessen the government expenses from enviromental damage.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the dam has caused other environmental damage to the people, it is able to deter floods which has claimed the lives of many over the years.
it has resulted in lesser harmful emissions and successfully reduced air pollution(better for our health). also, we now have cleaner water. however, it is unfair for me as i have lost my land, home and property without sufficient compensation. what happened to my human rights?
ReplyDeletecitizen jazel
From the (ignorant) government official POV, the three gorges damn project is good. It appears that we're making steps in order to improve the environment conditions in China. The three gorges dam is reducing the emissions in China, which is what other countries have been demanding us to do. The majority of people in China will also be happy since we're doing something to reduce emissions and provide them with a cleaner environment.
ReplyDeleteI know that some citizens are affected by the landslides, but compared to the benefits that the majority has received, isn't it worth it? And for the farmers, they can learn another trade or something.
Bernie the evil + corrupt government official
Stupid Jolyn! You economists are so unfeeling. Yes, there was alot of revenue generated for China, but does any of the money go to us!!????!?!??! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom the farmers
Environmentalist MICHELLE :D
ReplyDeleteI do not support the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Without it, the Yangtze River is already pollution enough from the shipping of coal, acid rain and its central location in the Chinese industrial activity. Towns and forests located in areas that will be inundated will have to be demolished and removed in order to increase navigability on the river. The loss of forests and agricultural lands will lead to erosion and the build up of sediment at the base of the river and reservoir. This could lead to increased flooding upstream. Sediments and silt contain valuable nutrients necessary to agricultural production. The destruction of the villages also leads to problems of pollution. Pollutants from towns and waste dumps that will be inundated will add to this pollution. Some funds were set up to aid in cleaning the area for the reservoir, but only the future will show whether a sufficient job was done. Water moves slower in the reservoir and some are concerned that the pollution will sit and worsen water quality of the river.
Hence, it will worsen the already bad situation of the environment in China. How then, would China be able to achieve environmental sustainability at this rate?
From an ecologist's point of view, I disagree with the construction of the three gorges dam. First of all, the contruction of the dam tends to disrupt natural seasonal changes in the river and alter the natural environment. This will threaten the river's wildlife and affect an almost infinite number of species. As a result, this will disrupt the cycle of life and affect the relationships between certain species. As an ecologist, my job is to study the relationships of living things to their environment and with each other. Hence, if the cycle of life is disrupted and relationships between different species are affected or broken, how am I supposed to carry out my job?!?!
ReplyDeleteWhat is that little sacrifice in comparison to cleaner water and a better living environment for the entire population?
ReplyDelete(Ling An & Jolyn Pang)
Jodie (government):
ReplyDeleteI support the three gorges dam!
two thirds of energy consumption is satisfied by burning coal, which has detrimental effects on the environment. However, this dam can help reduce the amount burnt by producing energy with hydropower plants. This seems like the most pressing issue in China right now, so it seems that this three gorges dam is actually improving the situation. Since the environmental problems are such huge issues, this dam can help improve this.
Also, this provides an alternative source of energy, so it can bring about economic advantage to our country. Hence, it is beneficial to our country in whole.
On the other hand, there would be social unrest from relocation, landslides, earthquakes, but looking at the bigger picture, the dam seems to be more of an aid in solving environmental problems than causing problems. we can compensate the people who have been relocated and so on.
Environmentalist - lydia
ReplyDeleteRegarding the environmental effects the three gorges has brought about, i think that although it has massively reduced the amount of air pollution, the government has to consider the harmful impacts it has on the other aspects of the enviroment.
For example, the three gorges dam has triggered several landslides due to the increased pressure surrounding the land. Water first seeps into the loose soil at the base of the area's rocky cliffs, destabilizing the land and making it prone to slides. Then the reservoir water level fluctuates—engineers partially drain the reservoir in summer to accommodate flood waters and raise it again at the end of flood season to generate power—and the abrupt change in water pressure further disturbs the land. Also, In a study published in the Chinese journal Tropical Geography in 2003, it was predicted that such tinkering with the water level could trigger activity in 283 landslide-prone areas.
In the short term, the three gorges dam project has brought on positive economic impacts by generating hydroelectric power. The dam generates 18,000 megawatts of power, eight times that of the U.S.'s Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. However, in recent weeks, Chinese officials have admitted that the dam was spawning environmental problems like water pollution, landslides that could become severe. The dam alters entire ecosystems and causes other serious environmental problems—and, by extension, endangering the millions who live in its shadow. More money would have to be spent to provide relief for these environmental problems and also, to relocate more residents living near the dam. For a short term economic benefit, the economy has to pay the repercussions of it. Hence, the three gorges dam project does not benefit the economy in the long term.
ReplyDeleteEven though the Three Gorges Dam Project
ReplyDelete1. Generates revenue for the province
2. Generates hydroelectric power that is ever-lasting for an energy-hungry nation
3. Gives temporary economic gain
4. Provides employment opportunities for engineers, construction workers required for maintenance etc..
5. Lowers costs of trucking
However....
1. Tourism industry is affected as sceneries are detroyed when the dam is built
2. Lack of silt deposit affects livelihood of fishermen
3. Dam becomes useless when there are droughts
4. Money spent on repairing the damages caused by the dam will be fair greater in the long run. These damages include: waterborne disease, landslides, frequent flooding that affect thousands of people annually.
We shouldn't sacrifice the environment for short-term economic gains. Hence, I do not feel that the Three Gorges Dam is beneficial for the country.
Although the dam has indeed caused many detrimental effects on the environment, we have to consider the positive effects of it too!
ReplyDeleteFor example, the dam will decrease coal emissions by around 1.2 to 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide. It will also reduce nitrous oxide emissions by around 10,000 tons.
Judging from the poor air quality in China, these reductions in air pollutants will surely benefit China.
Ecologist (Yumeng)
ReplyDeleteThe construction of the 3 gorges dam in China has both pros and cons in many differents aspects.
However, from an ecologist's point of view, the cons seems to outrun the pros.
The construction of the dam disrupts the ecosystem of animals (both on land and in water).
A number of species will be adversely affected by the construction of the dam. There are 300 species of fish in the Yangtze River. The dam will create a barrier in the river that these species will not be able to cross. Fish will not be able to travel upstream to spawn, so the populations of the species will decrease. There are a total of forty-seven rare or endangered species in the Three Gorges Dam area that are protected by Chinese national law. The only natural habitat of the Chinese River Dolphin is the Yangtze River, and there are less than one-hundred of these endangered dolphins in the river. The reservoir created from the construction of the dam covers a significant amount of the dolphins’ natural habitat. The government plans to sustain the River Dolphin and other endangered species by creating natural reserves and artificial spawning programs. It should be noted that past attempts to relocate the Yangtze River Dolphin have failed. Dolphins in the river. The reservoir created from the construction of the dam covers a significant amount of the dolphins’ natural habitat. The government plans to sustain the River Dolphin and other endangered species by creating natural reserves and artificial spawning programs. However, the fact that past attempts to relocate the Yangtze River Dolphin have failed, tells us that the government still has much to do.
It is also known that the dam traps many pollutants and animal corpses from upstream. This causes the water in the reservoir and upstream river to be more polluted. Futhermore, the silt trapped by the dam reduces the silt downstream. This deprives the marine creatures living in the downstream river of their food. These also affects the marine animals living in the river negatively.
Other than the effects on marine life, the land animals with habitats near the river are also affected. The construction of dam causes upstream flooding and the water level rises significantly. This destroys the habitats of the animals living there, forcing them to move to other possible habitats in the area. If the animals failed to find a habitat, the animals' will be in danger of dying out...
I belive that the government can do more to help lessen the effects of the negative impacts of the dam on the ecological aspect.
We're environmentalists serene and marissa!
ReplyDeleteAn environmental problem caused as a result from building the dam is the decline of biological diversity. For example, dam operation reduce water flow, stimulating carp to migrate back to the flood plane earlier than normal. There has been an estimated fall from 2.5 billion to 100.5 million eggs and larvae, and it is unlikely that the carp can adapt to such regime.
Another negative impact is the fertility of the surrounding soil. The three gorges dam destroys river deltas by restricting river water and soil sediments upstream. This stops muddy delta bottoms from being replenished each year from spring floods which bring fresh soil sediments to the delta from upstream. The effect of this is that the delta bottom then begins to sink into the sea each year allowing salty sea water to flood further and further into the delta which salt poisons and kills fish, plants and other delta life. This highly impacts ocean fishing since much of the ocean fish as well as birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and other life spends a good portion of their life in river deltas feeding, breeding and seeking cover. This will negatively impact the livelihood of the fishermen living in the three gorges dam area.
Dear farmers,
ReplyDeleteThe revenue generated goes towards developing the city and will improve the quality of life for you and those around you. How is this not beneficial to you?
(Jolyn & Ling An)
FARMER SHERMAINE AND TRUDY:
ReplyDeletedont inTRUD our land!
to ling an and jolyn: but y must it be me?! u consider losing your home as a 'little sacrifice'?! how will u feel if it is you who have lost your home? and there isnt a 'better living environment' because there is an increased risk of earthquakes and landslides etc!! :(
ReplyDeleteFrom government(OPPOSITION):
ReplyDeleteAfter building the dam, there's is still flooding in that area.
Also, the people living near that area had to be relocated, and they were relocated from more fertile land near the river to less fertile land.
As government, shouldn we be thinking abt the welfare of the people?
To Jazel:
ReplyDeleteBut then the government will give you money as compensation. If the officials in your province are corrupt, then too bad. *evil laugh*
As a member of the government, i support the Three Gorges Dam project as it is able to bring about secrurity to the land around that area. For instance, it can block floods from entering, hence, preventing destruction and death due to natural disasters.
ReplyDeleteInevitably, i acknowledged the fact that the project brought about negative effects likewise such as soil erosion and deforestation. In addition, the livelihood of the farmers are affected when they are relocated to less fertile land. However, i would like to point out such consequences have been considered from the viewpoint of the larger community. For the welfare of people who also live in that area, it is neccessary to sacrifice our environnemt sometimes for the greater good.
ahhh O:
government koh!
The government estimates that the Three Gorges Dam project will cost 180 billion yuan (US$22.5 billion). By the end of 2008, spending had reached 148.365 billion yuan, among which 64.613 billion yuan was spent on construction, 68.557 billion yuan on relocating affected residents, and 15.195 billion yuan on financing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, this massive hydroelectric dam, may be triggering landslides, altering entire ecosystems and causing other serious environmental problems—and, by extension, endangering the millions who live in its shadow.
Saving on other sources of electricity is but a mere temporary economic gain. The money needed to clean polluted water for usage is no small amount. Compensation towards citizens for relocating them won’t come cheap either. Long term problems that could arise out of the construction of the dam, especially the alteration of entire ecosystems, could result in long lasting problems that would not only take time, but also a lot of money to fix.
Therefore as an economist, I do not support the Three Gorges Dam project as money needed to fix problems that could arise would surely escalate to an amount higher than the money the Chinese could save on buying sources for electricity.
SHUYI the economist :D
Ecologist - Cassmain
ReplyDeleteThe construction of the three gorges dam would inevitably alter the dynamics of the Yangtze River.
The Yangtze River is habitat to 37 percent of all freshwater fishes in China, there are 360 species of fishes living in the river. Also, 27 percent of all endangered fishes in China live in the Yangtze river.
The construction of the dam would alter the dynamics of the Yangtze river in terms of chemical, temperatures, composition of the water and the character of the natural habitat and food resources available for the fishes. Besides this, the dam also retains silt and sediment flow to the lower and middle courses of the river.
This would ultimately cause a sharp and rapid decline of the fish population and would cause a greater threat to the endangered fish species.
Apart from that, the dam also blocks migration of the fishes and access to spawning grounds. This would cause a change in lifestyle of the marine animals hence adversely affecting their growth.
On a side note, the construction of the dam also adversely affects the biodiversity around the dam as in the midst of construction, much of the natural vegetation had been torn down in order to create space for the dam. Hence, many other animals would also lose their habitat and source of food.