A BBC report on Thursday said that 1/3 of the Yangtze River is irreversibly polluted. It documented the lives of fishermen who once (no longer) lived from the catches in the river. It ended by showing small protests to new factories popping up along the river which contributed to the river's pollution. Any thoughts on that?
http://www.yahoo.com/s/833112
That's where I saw the report.
That is definitely nasty! The pictures that were shown in class from space was a real eye opener. I also heard another report that I cannot say for sure is accurate but the report said that 25% of the particulate that is in the air pollution in the L.A. basin is from China.
I never heard about the 25% particulate matter. If it's true, I dont think it would be the same constituents as smog (mostly nitrous and sulfur oxides). A big dust storm in the Sahara would create just as much particulate matter and it doesn't mean that it's bad for us.
I just did a lesson on the Yangzi River Dolphin in my 3rd grade class. I tied our science on Biomes with the upcoming earth day and pollution. There is a book titled "Almost Gone" that outlines the story of the dolphin. In 2007 scientist were unable to find a single specimen still in the wild. It's so sad the pollution has reached such a horrific level.
It is sad to see the fresh water river dolphins dieing off. What bothers me even more is the smaller and less regarded species and salamanders and frogs that die off. Obviously, we'd care more for the larger mammals are dolphins and pandas, but the smaller and more sensitive organisms are not just the "canaries in the mine shaft" but also the animals that feed the larger ones. The amphibians are the most sensitive organisms and they are the ones that have/are most endanger of extinction.
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River in central China has many drawbacks, including the survival of the Chinese river dolphin, also known as Baiji. Having first appeared 25 million years ago, the dolphin is considered a modern day living fossil. Fewer than 100 of these dolphins remain, making it one of the 12 most endangered species in the world.
I tried the link but it's not working on my computer. Where can I get additional information? Unfortunately this is happening around the world and I want my students to be aware of the damage humans are causing to nature.
We are going to here more and more about the problem of pollution in China during the Olympics. Just this morning there was a segment on Good Morning America about the Olympic athletes adjusting to the pollution around Beijing particularly the marathon runners. It will be interesting to see how much press the pollution gets during the games in a world that is trying to go green.
I was searching the forum for a space to post some serious information regarding the environmental issues facing the globe and the Chinese in-particular. I was actually kind of taken aback to see the few views on this thread as opposed to others. The number of views was eight. The number of replies was one. In addition, the topic was on the second page, meaning that it was not continually being updated, discussed and debated.
Why are we so focused on Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Cambodian restaurants but not fed up with and fervently conversing over the environmental challenges that are slapping us in the face!?
I have two articles that I am recommending for a thorough look into the ecological disasters Chinese are facing. The fist is summarized by the publication who published it, Foreign Affiars. The name of the article is "The Great Leap Backward". The editors summarize,
"Summary: China's environmental woes are mounting, and the country is fast becoming one of the leading polluters in the world. The situation continues to deteriorate because even when Beijing sets ambitious targets to protect the environment, local officials generally ignore them, preferring to concentrate on further advancing economic growth. Really improving the environment in China will require revolutionary bottom-up political and economic reforms."
Although you have just read the summary let me tell you a couple of my impressions. We need to do everything we can to combat the horrible pollution our industrialized nations are dumping into our eco-system! The article, written by Elizabeth C. Economy, purports that one certain days 25% of the particulate matter found in LA comes from China!!! Read on.
The second article I would like everyone to read is attached below. It is about the water crisis facing China today. Noam Chompsky said that the next world war would be fought over water. Well, after looking into the issues China is facing, I would not doubt that they might be a force to be reckoned with!See the article here!
I found another superb article discussing the global effects of China's pollution. The article, "The Last Empire: China's Pollution Goes Global" is published in the progressive periodical Mother Jones.
I am curious and energized to find out as much information as I can right now on this topic. (I also want to keep it at the top of the list so more people will be discussing it.) :-D This article, without giving too much away seeks to answer whether of not the world will face overwhelming challenges and consequences because the Chinese want to industrialize and modernize and be a full working force in the technological age.
In a way, isn't the United States partially responsible for setting the standard and allowing its own citizens to use so much of the worlds resources? Have we paved the way for this situation with our endless car washes, lawns, golf courses and beef addiction?
The author, Jacques Leslie, makes some stirring points.
I forgot to mention that there is also an amazing photo essay regarding the same topic as I posted previously, about the article in Mother Jones entitled, "The Last Empire" The photo essay can be accessed by clicking here. It is quite astonishing to see. The visuals could really drive the point home for the students we teach. Also, maybe in a photo or art class or as a interdisciplenary project students could try to photograph our won way of life or our own environemntal hazards, challenges or problems locally.