*VIDEO - 4 Million Chinese Evacuated
Focusing on the dam, it hopefully will direct your attention to some of the ills in the system when it comes to environmental issues and management in China.
Historically the Three Gorges have been of inspiration to many famous forms of expression. I’d like to begin with this poem.
Sadness of the Gorges
Above the gorges, one thread of sky:
Cascades in the gorges twine a thousand cords.
High up, the slant of splintered sunlight, moonlight:
Beneath, curbs to the wild heave of the waves.
The shock of a gleam, and then another,
In depths of shadow frozen for centuries:
The rays between the gorges do not halt at noon;
Where the straits are perilous, more hungry spittle.
Trees lock their roots in rotted coffins
And the twisted skeletons hang tilted upright:
Branches right as the frost perches
Mournful cadences, remote and clear.
A spurned exile’s shrivelled guts
Scald and seethe in the water and fire he walks through.
A lifetime’s like a fine-spun thread,
The road goes up by the rope at the edge.
When he pours his libation of tears to the ghosts in the stream
The ghosts gather, a shimmer on the waves.
Meng Jiao (751–814) tr. A. C. Graham
At the railings edge of the boat you are looking up into the awe-inspiring Three Gorges area, located in China’s southeast, in the same way that has been done for centuries. Inspiration captures you just as it had to those millions before you floating by or sitting at the banks. Yet, clearly you see in front of you those painted markers reminding you that soon probably over 175 meters of this very awe inspiring space will be under water. It becomes visually obvious some of the use values lost by water cover already.
China’s water resources are one of the most historically manipulated resources for reasons ranging from a symbol of political power to the practical use of flood control. The Cultural Revolution brought China into its dam boom, having built over 80,000 dams since then, 1966 (Chetham, 186). When ground broke in 1994 for the construction of the Three Gorges Dam a discussion had finally met an abrupt conclusion that had been going on since early that century. A discussion that in fact was limited in itself. A landslide vote in the congress came from a silenced voice of many who had tried to speak out against the project. Ridden with holes in the protection of free speech the market for information suffered its greatest negative externality, conversation without criticism.
As recent as 1999, 2000, and 2002 issues regarding embezzlement, quality of materials, and cracks in the walls of the dam have had to be investigated. It now, is an expensive reality that cannot be ignored. Improvements and alternatives aren’t commonplace considering that criticism of the dam remains strictly forbidden. The integrity of the dam is up in the air and it begs the question if it is worth all the negative externalities created as a result.
Do you think it’s worth it? They do…
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Does this ring true for you?