General Electric shareholders are getting involved in the riskiest and most destructive dam project ever, according to seven environmental groups, representing nearly 900,000 supporters across North America. Their message was sent in letters to the largest shareholders in General Electric Company, after it was announced last month that General Electric Canada, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Connecticut – based General Electric Company, was awarded a contract to supply turbines and generators to the Three Gorges dam project in China.
News briefs
(i) Half a Million to be Moved After Disastrous Floods
(ii) Senior Dam Opponent Speaks Out Again
Can’t rule out possibility that dams induced earthquake, says expert
(May 28, 2008) Chief engineer of the Regional Geology Investigation Team of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau argues that the now damaged Zipingpu dam may have induced the May 12 earthquake.
China considers earthquake danger of dams
(May 28, 2008) With so many of Sichuan’s dams and reservoirs at risk of collapse, this month’s earthquake “may tilt the balance of public opinion in favour of a more cautious and environmentally conscious approach to such development,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
Odious Debts: Loose Lending, Corruption, and the Third World’s Environmental Legacy
(May 28, 2008) We’ve all heard of the Third World’s debt crisis, of hopelessly poor nations unable to pay their debts, and of the human suffering and environmental consequences of their desperate predicament. Amid emotional calls from some to forgive the debt outright come the sober solutions from bankers and bureaucrats, with their seemingly unending stream of Brady and Baker Plans, and bewildering variants of them.
Chinese dams in danger of collapse
(May 27, 2008) As many as 2,830 reservoirs nationwide have been damaged by the earthquake.
Chinese troops blast rock dams to drain off lakes as threat grows
(May 27, 2008) The Tangjiashan lake in northern Sichuan province has forced the evacuation of 160,000 people and is putting a further a million people at risk, reports The Australian.
Update for Three Gorges Probe
(1) Residents in Three Gorges reservoir area apply to move out
(2) Clean-up of river a sham – academic
(3) Insurers share 3 Gorges coverage
(4) Two more Yangtze dams planned
(5) Resettlement rules
(6) Project to be launched to improve the environment of Three Gorges area
Chinese troops blast rock dams to drain off lakes as threat grows
(May 27, 2008) The Tangjiashan lake in northern Sichuan province has forced the evacuation of 160,000 people and is putting a further a million people at risk, reports The Australia
Three Gorges Probe – pollution, water diversion and water transfer
(1) Plan curbs Three Gorges pollution
(2) China speeds up plans for water diversion project
(3) Thousands to be moved for water transfer project
Three Gorges Probe – climate change, drought and relocation
(1) U.S. scientists predict Three Gorges dam could alter climate
(2) Severe drought threatens power production at China’s Ertan dam
(3) 75,000 people to be relocated as part of Longtan Power Station project
Corruption plagues Three Gorges resettlement
(1) Corruption impacts China’s Three Gorges resettlement
(2) Many Chinese farmers oppose Three Gorges resettlement
Yangtze water diversion scheme will impact environment
(October 10, 2001) Commenting on an official assessment of a controversial scheme to divert water from the Yangtze River Basin to northern China, the Vice-Minister of Water Resources, Suo Linseng, admitted to Xinhua news agency yesterday that there would be "some impact on the natural environment," reports South China Morning Post.
Earthquake Information
(May 23, 2008) For updates on the Sichuan earthquake, including information on landslides, dams, aftershocks, regional tectonics, intensity and exposure estimations, see this comprehensive website.
Chinese banks to forgive debts of uninsured survivors
(May 23, 2008) The Chinese government has told Chinese banks to forgive debts owed by uninsured survivors to revive Sichuan’s economy, reports the BBC.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
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Probe Media
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