Probe International

(December 27, 2005) Scientists in China are preparing a drastic rescue plan for one of the planet’s rarest animals – a dolphin with the misfortune of living in one of China’s busiest and most polluted rivers.

(December 28, 2005) With cracks to fill and toxins to remove before the water rises next year, the people of the Yangtze can only hope no one cuts any fatal corners, John Gittings writes.

(December 28, 2005) The downstream cofferdam was demolished on July 1, two months ahead of schedule, Xinhua reports.

(December 29, 2005) Project officials still need to raise US$7.2 billion to complete construction of the world’s biggest dam.

(October 12, 1999) Environmental campaigners say the Yangtze is just the latest, biggest example of the flipside of China’s ‘economic miracle’ and that the Three Gorges dam, by slowing the river’s flow, will worsen the pollution.

(September 27, 1999) Electronic triggers will control 2,540 detonators, which will set off 971 consecutive explosions around the cofferdam when it is blown up on June 6, Xinhua reports.

(August 31, 1999) Two rows of ‘bubble curtains,’ resembling car air-bags, will be set in an effort to protect the main dam wall by absorbing 50 to 70 per cent of the energy from the huge blast that will demolish the top of the cofferdam Tuesday afternoon, Xinhua reports.

(August 31, 1999) The demolition on June 6 of the last cofferdam protecting the Three Gorges dam will take about 12 seconds and use 191 tons of explosives, enough to destroy 400 10-storey buildings, Xinhua reports.