China's Big Dam
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/05/21/transcript.mon/index.html#second
China's Big DAM
CHA: China is a nation of superlatives-- It's the world's most
populated country. You can see its Great Wall from space. And now,
it's home to the planet's biggest DAM, built across the Yangtze
River. But what some say is an engineering masterpiece, others
call an environmental nightmare. Stan GRANT explains the
controversy, in the heart of China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAN GRANT, CNN REPORTER: Mao Zedong dreamed of a 'great wall of
stone' taming the mighty Yangtze River. Now it is complete. To
stand at the THREE GORGES DAM is to see a display of force
unequalled at any hydropower plant on earth. Massive generators
will pump out energy equivalent to 15 nuclear power plants. Its
transmission range: 1,000 kilometers...doing away with dirty coal
fuel and potentially providing millions with reliable electricity.
Seventeen years in construction, a cost of 25 billion U.S.
dollars, at its peak 30,000 workers and at the center of it all -
one man.
CAO GUANGJING, VP THREE GORGES DAM PROJECT: It's a race against
time - haha yes.
GRANT: Only 38 years old, CAO GUANGJING has been the man in charge
pulling all this together. He has delivered. Construction of the
DAM has been brought in 9 months ahead of schedule. The entire
project will be fully operational by 2009. An impressive feat, but
not one without criticism. Activist Dai Qing has long campaigned
against the DAM citing dammage to the environment.
DAI QING, ACTIVIST: It's too huge. What critics try to suggest is
stop it - don't have it...keep the river but no, this is a
political project.
GRANT: Critics say the damming of the Yangtze will increase
pollution and the spread of disease. LEI HENSHUN is a retired
professor and respected environmental expert. He is concerned
about the varying water levels of the river. During the dry winter
months it will be kept at 175 meters to maximize hydropower. In
summer it will be lowered to 145 meters to allow for the flood
season.
LEI HENSHUN, ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT: Some special problems will show
up because a large area will be exposed in summer and then the
garbage, plants, dirty mud will easily become disease breeding
grounds.
GRANT: Look at the state of the river. It is a muddy brown color,
medical waste visible, floating debris even the bodies of dead
animals. But, Chinese officials say don't believe your eyes.
CAO GUANGHUI, ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION BUREAU: Monitoring results
obtained by the environmental department show that with the rise
of the water level the quality of water has in fact improved
instead of deteriorated.
GRANT: Then there are the people - forcibly removed from their
homes as villages and towns have been submerged. More than a
million people have been displaced. Many complain they don't want
to move...and in any case, can not afford it.
MAN ON THE STREET: How can they force us out? We have no place to
live and many of us are old people and children.
GRANT: Yet in China the past must make way for progress. The DAM
will provide much needed power and help with flood prevention. The
project stands as a symbol of China's precarious balance between
nature and the future. Stan GRANT, CNN, THREE GORGES DAM, China.
--
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※ 編輯: zmcse 來自: 61.230.50.45 (05/26 00:39)
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