(May 19, 2011) The world’s largest hydroelectric project was designed to tame the flood-prone Yangtze River and to generate clean energy. But the water is becoming polluted, and regular landslides are making life near the dam dangerous. Three Gorges dam is “a classic case in which government officials exaggerated the benefits and underestimated the risks,” says Patricia Adams of Probe International.
Garbage Country
(May 14, 2011) If China has a garbage crisis, and it does, then Three Gorges is likely its biggest dump.
Farming with China’s toxic soil
(May 6, 2011) Peasant farmer Wang Tao used to grow corn, potatoes and wheat within a stone’s throw of a dumping ground for rare earths waste until toxic chemicals leaked into the water supply and poisoned his land.
Dai Qing: On The Completion of the Three Gorges Project
(April 7, 2011) Dai Qing, Chinese investigative journalist and Probe International Fellow, delivered the following speech about the Three Gorges Dam project in November 2010 while on a speaking tour in British Columbia, Canada. In her address, she reports that the problems predicted by dam critics published in her books, “Yangtze! Yangtze!” and “The River Dragon Has Come!,” are now coming true.
Shouldering China’s toxic burden
(March 23, 2011) Four years ago a World Bank report landed on the desk of the Chinese health ministry containing shocking statistics on pollution-related deaths in the country, so much so that Beijing promptly engineered the removal of a third of it over fears that the findings, if they went public, could spark “social unrest”.
Only democracy can clean up the planet: Save the ballot box and save the world
(November 20, 2009) It should be easy to demonstrate that democracy (however defined) is better for the environment than dictatorship (however defined) – and it is.
[Channel 4 News] China’s Three Gorges Dam Project
(January 14, 2008) “The project could lead to catastrophe.” Not the words of a dissident environmentalist, but the official Chinese news agency in a story about the Three Gorges Dam. Lindsey Hilsum in this report for Channel 4 News (UK) looks at the concerns expressed by Chinese government scientists over problems associated with the giant dam.
China bows to public over chemical plant
(January 9, 2008) In an unprecedented move, the Chinese government appears to have bowed to public pressure to relocate a controversial chemical plant, reports Nature.
Xinhua: China to study pollution sources
(January 6, 2008) China will conduct its first national survey of pollution sources in some of the world’s dirtiest cities, Xinhua reported last week.
China shuts down 400 heavy polluting factories
(September 5, 2007) The country’s environmental watchdog has shut down 400 factories since the July launch of a national campaign to tackle water pollution and clean up industries along major waterways, including the Yellow and the Yangtze rivers.
Crude oil pipeline leak pollutes entire city’s water supply
(September 3, 2007) Wangyao Reservoir, the main water supply for 2.15 million residents in Yan’an, was polluted by crude oil leaking from a broken pipeline on Saturday. The pipeline, which belongs to the Changqing Oil Field, was broken by a landslide. The leaked oil quickly spread over eight kilometres of the Xingzihe River.
China withdraws credit from polluting companies
(August 2, 2007) A blacklist of polluting companies, including two well known food processors, was issued by China’s environmental watchdog yesterday, which denies bank loans in attempt to punish those that flout regulations.
Toxic Algae: Official warns of major algae outbreak
(July 14, 2007) The top environmental official has called for improved measures to protect the country’s lakes, warning that a major outbreak of blue-green algae may hit the nation’s three major water systems.
Five officials punished over Taihu Lake pollution crisis
(June 12, 2007) Five officials in east China’s Yixing city have been punished in the wake of the Taihu Lake pollution crisis that choked off freshwater supply to more than 2 million people, local government say.
China’s environment declining
(May 23, 2007) China’s environmental situation is deteriorating, with several major rivers and lakes clogged by industrial waste, state media said Tuesday.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 