A very sobering look at the environmental horrors in China from the New York Times: IN CHINA, A LAKE’S CHAMPION IMPERILS HIMSELF

Now that Gore has been made Global Eco-Commando-In-Chief, it would seem China could use his help. Alas, the man has yet to come up with a plan to reduce emissions by the needed 80% in the next twenty years, but perhaps he can fly to Beijing and screen his film a few times. Should do the trick, no?

What? You’ve seen “Inconvenient Truth” but you haven’t read George Monbiot’s “HEAT: How to Stop the Planet Warming” or Lester Brown’s “Plan B 2.0?” You mean to tell me you have no idea WHAT DO DO ABOUT THE MESS WE’RE IN?

Seriously, though, this article will remind you of just how difficult the task ahead will be. Thanks, Danny Eagle.

Here’s a little sneak peak: “In 2001, Wen Jiabao, then a vice premier, now China’s prime minister, came to investigate reports of Lake Tai’s deterioration. Like most Communist Party inspection tours, word of this one reached local officials in advance. When Mr. Wen asked to see a typical dye plant, one was made ready, according to several people who witnessed the preparations.

The factory got a fresh coat of paint. The canal that ran beside it was drained, dredged and refilled with fresh water. Shortly before Mr. Wen’s motorcade arrived, workers dumped thousands of carp into the canal. Farmers were positioned along the banks holding fishing rods.

Mr. Wen spent 20 minutes there. A picture of him shaking hands with the factory boss hangs in its lobby. READ ON . . .

[tags]china, chinese[/tags]

Tags: environment, Plan B

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