China Pollution

[Kindred]

I have spend some time teaching and traveling in China. Given the amount of capital Canada and the US have invested in the country and the volume of outsourcing being channeled into China by the West I have to wonder if these same countries should feel some responsibility for the pollution being spewed out by factories producing goods for Western consumption.

Most of the "name brand" clothing is being made in China these days. Household items, cosmetics, electronics, you name it - its all coming out of China.

The unfortunate thing is that all these factories are powered by coal. 1 million people die a year in China, from lung diseases and infections, and this pollution is impacting NA. Its pretty far reaching.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Other than to call me a Chinese commie spy?

[geoffrey]

It's hardly our responsibility to implement pollution controls on an industrialized country. It's too bad, hopefully they see the error in their ways. But there isn't anything we can do about it. The government there is nearly as rich as ours.

[Rue]

I have spend some time teaching and traveling in China. Given the amount of capital Canada and the US have invested in the country and the volume of outsourcing being channeled into China by the West I have to wonder if these same countries should feel some responsibility for the pollution being spewed out by factories producing goods for Western consumption.

Most of the "name brand" clothing is being made in China these days. Household items, cosmetics, electronics, you name it - its all coming out of China.

The unfortunate thing is that all these factories are powered by coal. 1 million people die a year in China, from lung diseases and infections, and this pollution is impacting NA. Its pretty far reaching.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Other than to call me a Chinese commie spy?

Listen you commie spy-I of course find your comments interesting. The fact is China will contonue to pollute and run a country that is full of human rights abuses and violations and oppression and extreme inequity between rich and poor. China is the largest cheap labour economy in the world and the West has totally indebted itself to it. No one will say boo about anything China says or does and if millions die from lung cancer in China no one will notice-what's a couple of million per year in a country with 2 to 3 billion. Its a minor consequence for its government and for the world. That may be unfair but that is reality.

Life in China for the average person has always been cheap and it seems destined to continue that way.

[Kindred]

I would have thought that Capitalist Conservatives would be interested in a country that Canada has so much money invested in ... and who is a major trading partner and is driving Canada's economy.

The Canadian dollar fell by three-quarters of a cent Friday after China took moves to slow its economy — something that could lead to less demand for commodities.The loonie closed at 89.09 cents US. That was down 0.76 cents US. Analysts said the Canadian dollar and other "commodity-based" currencies began to slide after China ordered banks to increase their reserves — the amount of money they have to keep on hand as cash or in other liquid investments..... CBC news June 16

Most people these days getting an MBA or planning on becoming CEO's will find themselves traveling to China because thats where your manufacturers are. There are over 250,000 Canadians living in China, 250 buinesses just in Beijing.

I guess you all just missed the line in my post that said

and this pollution is impacting NA. Its pretty far reaching.

Like it or not it IS your problem too ...

no one will notice-what's a couple of million per year in a country with 2 to 3 billion. Its a minor consequence for its government and for the world. That may be unfair but that is reality.

China has a Medical System and medical technology that has doctors from Canada and other countries traveling to China to visit and talk to the doctors over there. A group from BC visited not too long ago. But, nice attitude I must say ..

I would have thought being a Convervative meant having an interest in Canada's position and trading partners, NAFTA, WTO, and the Global Economy,

If Canadians are to expect any kind of tax relief from the Government it will be because we have a strong global economy. Unless we want to lose our place in the world and become a "third world" country we have to strenthen our trading allicances with other countries.

I dont recall Harper saying he was going to cut off economic ties with China, in fact I believe his stated intention was to double trade with China.

China is transforming global commerce: it is driving down the cost of goods that are manufactured. This is leading to a reduction of the cost of goods in Canada, the United States and around the world. It is creating vast new demands for Canadian resources and technology, for Canadian skills and know-how. I can tell you this: Canada is not going to be left on the sidelines. We are committed to being a player. A major player and a winner......

Across the world, we are seeing a transformed global economy. It can no longer be business as usual; every business needs a China strategy. And let me say to our friends here from China that I don't have to convince you, I'm sure, of why Canadians can be winners in this new China-dominant economy.......

..... Canada also already possesses close links with China at the personal level. Over 250 thousand Canadians are living in China and, last year, 37 thousand Chinese studied in our country. In addition, many Canadian schools and universities provide education here in China. Most importantly, over one million Canadians are of Chinese origin—contributing so greatly to our rich cultural diversity, to our economic strength and to our national pride.............

Paul Martins visit to Beijing 2005

It may be a Liberal Speech but Harper and the Conservatives realize how important this alliiance is to the Canadian economy, and ultimately, to every one of you as well.

Pollution and Global Warming is also a global issue, the pollution doesnt stop at a country's border. China is developing Hydro power by damming the Yahngtze but we are all contributing to the problem and reaping the benefits and because it DOES impact on Canada I think it deserves consideration and intellectual discourse, not insults and ignorance.

http://www.as.harvard.edu/chemistry/trop/p.../jacob1999b.pdf Effect of rising Asian emissions on surface ozone in the United States

[Charles Anthony]

I believe that every person who does commerce with China is responsible for the effects of the Chinese industry on the poor Chinese people and environment.

I believe that every person who does commerce with China is financially supporting the "communist" government of China.

I believe that every person who does commerce with China helps continue the oppression of the poor Chinese people.

I believe that every person should boycott Chinese commerce.

http://www.tibettruth.com/boycottchina.html

http://www.buyhard.fsnet.co.uk/

http://www.boycottmadeinchina.org/

http://www.webcom.com/hrin/magazine/oct96/china.html

Many people say that it is close to impossible to boycott Chinese imports because the products are everywhere. It is precisely the opposite: since they are everywhere, it impossible to NOT be able to boycott them. All that we have to do is make a concerted effort to look at the labels and search for alternates. It is like being on a diet.

Make a sacrifice for the people and the environment who are abused by the Chines commercial regime.

[Live From China]

Listen you commie spy

You've got to be kidding!

I believe that every person should boycott Chinese commerce.

Dream on!

[Charles Anthony]

I believe that every person should boycott Chinese commerce.

Dream on!

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports can crush the evil "New Communism" of China instantaneously.

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports will liberate the people of China from oppression and human rights abuse.

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports will bring fair and honest capitalism to the people of China.

There is NOTHING that the Chinese government will be able to do to combat a boycott of Chinese exports.

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports will be a PEACEFUL overthrow of the evil "New Communism" that cowardly terrorizes its own population.

[August1991]

The unfortunate thing is that all these factories are powered by coal. 1 million people die a year in China, from lung diseases and infections, and this pollution is impacting NA. Its pretty far reaching.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Other than to call me a Chinese commie spy?

Poor countries, like poor people, are dirty. Cleanliness is a luxury the poor cannot afford. Many people in China are happily making sacrifices now for their children and grandchildren, who will have a better life. Our grandparents and greatgrandparents did the same for us.

It would make no more sense to insist that the Chinese adopt our environmental standards (or stop producing) than to insist you must wear the same clothes as Bill Gates (or go naked).

Air and water quality in North American and European cities is better now than 100 years ago. These photos show the effect of air quality in the past.

In the case of CO2 emissions which affect the global environment, I think China should be included into some kind of Kyoto-like agreement.

[Kindred]

I am not a scientist but if you have no alternatives what are the alternatives? China doesnt have natural gas reserves and Japan is now trying to claim the oil discovered in the China Sea.

China is a very dirty country, most people are fairly clean, but there are rural areas where they arent. The majority of Urban dwellers do have showers, but you still see a few women washing clothing in streams and drainage ditches, even on the outskirts of cities.

Any store you go into, even in rural areas, has a whole lot of shampoos, soaps, deoderants, etc for sale. In the cities most larger stores have such a huge section of them that its am amazing thing to see --

China also has no way to dispose of garbage other than to burn it, they doesnt appear to be any kind of garbage collection.

It would make no more sense to insist that the Chinese adopt our environmental standards (or stop producing) than to insist you must wear the same clothes as Bill Gates (or go naked).

Actually they kind of do, you see many male labourers wearing what I suppose we would call busines suits to work, (the Mao suit is dead and has been for years.) The amount of clothing for sale, and fashion consumption by the Chinese is also amazing. Other than in very rural areas the Chinese are well dressed people.

Production for export and domestic consumption. Anything that is exported is also for sale in China and at reasonable prices.

[Rue]

Listen you commie spy

You've got to be kidding!

Yes I am! By the way, being serious for a sec, is it dangerous if you are in China to send posts critical of the country? I hear it is and that they monitor everything. Any truth to that in your opinion?

[Rue]

I believe that every person should boycott Chinese commerce.

Dream on!

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports can crush the evil "New Communism" of China instantaneously.

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports will liberate the people of China from oppression and human rights abuse.

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports will bring fair and honest capitalism to the people of China.

There is NOTHING that the Chinese government will be able to do to combat a boycott of Chinese exports.

A world-wide boycott of Chinese exports will be a PEACEFUL overthrow of the evil "New Communism" that cowardly terrorizes its own population.

I appreciate your idealism and support it but I fear the cost of business human greed will protect this nation.

[Kindred]

aw yes the terror stories about China and people being monitored on forums, etc, as I said before how many people would be required to monitor all the internet traffic in a country who's population is over 1 billion. Live From China is posting here, and I have posted to political forums my entire time in China,

There are a lot of untruths and exagerations about China. I spent most of my time in Northern China, in the Beijing area the country capital.

China is well aware of its pollution problems they have dammed the Yangtze now, just completed and are looking into other areas for hydro power sources. On a bad day you can actually taste the pollution, your eyes burn and your throat hurts - you cant open your windows - and its best not to go out unless you have to. Winters in the north are very cold and that compounds the problem.

Pollution cloaks the Forbidden City

From China Daily

Emergency plans, which could see factories slash production, have been made to tackle heavy air pollution during the Beijing winter, an official with the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said on Sunday.

According to the bureau's vice-director, Du Shaozhong, the plan, which will swing into action after two consecutive days of heavy pollution, was made after consultations with government departments and companies.

Polluting factories

To clear the city's air, street cleaning and sprinkling work will be organized and heavily polluting factories ordered to reduce emissions.

As of Sunday, Beijing had seen 190 "blue sky days" this year, eight more than at the same time last year.

However, Du was not optimistic. "Looking at the changing trend in Beijing's weather over the past few winters, the situation is not very promising," he said.

By Gillian Wong

Zhong'ershi Village - The Dasha River hasn't run clean for decades. Pollution from coal mines and steel mills fouled the river, leaving it fit only for watering livestock and crops in the communities downstream.

Then a truck overturned on a windy mountain road earlier this month, dumping 60 tons of potentially cancer-causing coal tar into the Dasha. The spill killed off the remaining small fish, shrimp and frogs, stressed an already hard-pressed ecosystem and left locals fuming.

"No one died from the pollution, but our livelihoods are being threatened," farmer Li Si said, standing above the river, now a murky green, in Zhong'ershi village, five kilometres downriver from the accident. "Once the river is flowing properly again, we'll have to use this contaminated river to irrigate our crops."

What happened along the Dasha illustrates China's environmental predicament. An environment already out of balance from decades of overpopulation, intensive farming and rapid industrialisation is being further degraded by accidents - often the result of lax regulation.

Its off topic but here is a site for Chinese Womans Workers demanding improvements and higher wages - these are all accessible to and by the Chinese http://www.solidarity-us.org/atc/113Luce.html