China has released a shocking admission that at least 3.3 million hectares of farmland is now so polluted that it is effectively dead for purposes of growing crops. To put that into perspective, it is an area the size of Belgium. It is the latest statistical insight into the costs of the continued industrial output that reaches roughly 10 percent a year. That is two percent of China’s arable land and there is a concern about whether the per capita land allocation for food production has fallen below the communist regime’s own “red line” calculation. The country now has 135 million hectares of arable land, which translates to about 1.52 mu, or about a quarter of an acre, per capita. The world average is half of an acre, or 3.38 mu per capita.
The surprising disclosure of the previously classified information cam win comments at a press conference in Beijing, Vice Minister of Land and Resources Wang Shiyuan. The figure is a result of a five-year, $1 billion soil pollution survey started in 2006. Heavy metals are responsible for a large amount of the contamination.
Other figures are equally staggering. In the most populous province, Guangdong, a study found excessive levels of toxic cadmium in more than 40 percent of rice on the market. In addition, about 28,000 rivers have vanished since 1990 with a comparable loss of drinking water to industrial pollution and over-use.
China clearly see the emerging crisis but it continues to crackdown on environmentalists and activists protesting pollution and corruption tied to local officials.
Notably, the U.S. has also seen a loss of millions of acres of farmland in recent years.
Help please. I have a comment to pdm eaten. Thank you for your anticipated assistance.
Elaine M. 1, January 3, 2014 at 3:12 pm
davidm said: “I have read from Chinese officials that some of their environmental laws are actually more strict than the United States.”
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The equivalent of “reportedly” which is the equivalent of “catapult the propaganda” (Mocking America – 2).
It reminds me of the speech President Clinton gave after being “briefed” (now a porno term) by his “aides” (Weekend Rebel Science Excursion – 26).
This is a horrible situation for the world, not just China. This catastrophe represents unbridled do-or-die industrial growth without regard for spillover costs. The problem here is magnified because of what is used. During the industrial revolution, there were not as many chemicals and strange pollutants that could contaminate the environment. Now modern industry generates these dangerous chemicals and there is the same reckless abandon to achieve growth and production with the maximum potential damage.
It least with the “Dot Com” bubble that formed in the late nineties it was mostly excessive speculation and not much regard for traditional business models, the industry had little to pollute. Now we have the worst of both worlds here in China.
. One has to wonder how wide spread those other acres that are not over the line, but close to it
One more reason not to buy food food from China. But poeople will continue to buy from them in the never ending quest for Cheap Widgets.
Nick, put on your skeptic hat regarding North Korea. Just like you didn’t do when recounting the story about wealthy people scamming ACA subsidies.
Utah number one? It’s quite a racket. All that money going to the church in order to build more churches, more missionaries to ahardship post in Paris (during a war), more converts, more money to the church, to build more churches, more missionaries…. And all tax deductible.
Nick, there are thousands of lists that you can quote to prove any point you want to make up. Rank on the poorest states, rank the most uninsured? rank the least regulated with the most deaths due to chemical plants blowing up. What congressman has said the most stupid remark (so far) in 2014? List first ladies that consulted astrologers? What Republican gov said they shouldn’t be the party of stupid and then went on to make numerous stupid assertions. What state has the greatest numbers of citizens that don’t believe in evolution? What Speaker of the House zealously pursued Clinton over a blow job while he was getting his own from his now third wife while married to his second? What reality star advocates marriage to 15 year olds? How many of the above are Republicans? How many are Democrats?
nick spinelli 1, January 3, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Speaking of Commies, the official Commie newspaper in China revealed that the fat midget leader of the Cult of North Korea executed his uncle by the harshest penalty. He fed his uncle to a caged pack of 120 starved dogs. He watched for over an hour until his uncle was dead. And he’s got nukes!!
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That is actually a metaphor, epitome, or analogy for our and the Chinese “environmental protection” ideology.
Destroy in order to preserve.
Where is that gene coming from (“we had to destroy the village in order to save it”)?
The devious mind is often far more observant than the decent mind.
For example, take Joe Stalin’s deprived mind working up a comment in response to a question concerning the public mindset about mass murder: “One death is a trajedy, a million deaths is a statistic.”
That is our policy concerning global warming induced climate change (i.e. the damaged Global Climate System), which is an extension of our policy on the Global Environment.
That billions will die is a statistic.
That the river has some poo in it is a catastrophe.
So much for military propaganda molded minds.
davidm2575
1, January 3, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Thank you for the letter link. I am not surprised about the author’s conclusions. It’s the same with bankster oversight by the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, Treasury, etc. where the revolving door and the Executive branch water down and often kill any real oversight and ignore punishments beyond those paid by innocent shareholders.
Government agencies are increasingly becoming shills for the corporate and not the people. That’s a fact.
I have been involved with lead and metals contamination at gun clubs. It’s huge problem and it affects thousands of gun clubs across the US. Most gun clubs will eventually close and then the taxpayer will pick up the cost of remediation, which will be in the millions of dollars at most locations. When I first contacted the EPA in 2001 (GWB had just taken office) about a certain gun club and it’s location on a creek, the EPA rep was very interested and actually told me that it was likely that it would have to close. EPA did a cursory investigation and the club did some good PR by instituting a non-regulatory best practices policy that does not need to be followed – it’s all PR. I asked why the sudden change from closing the club to handing them a useless guidebook and the EPA rep basically said that new management (GOP controlled) had different ideas. The gun club is still contaminating the soil, groundwater and creek with lead and metals, but it can continue to do so. You’ll laugh at this logic. Lead bullets are not considered hazardous waste if used for intended purposes. I asked the question “What if you used a slingshot to shoot bullets?” I was told that the waste would then be considered hazardous. It’s a scam, but it’s environmental law.
http://noflac.org/
And workers at these unregulated clubs are at risk too:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020353191_gunrangeleadxml.html
My argument is that without some sort of oversight – be it weak or strong – business would not have ANY incentive to do what’s right for the environment. At least the threat of punishment has some affect.
David,
If it were truly the other side of the coin I think if be able to follow you…. You must be really good at bill drafting…. Most if the time no one has a clue what it is you stand for…
Yeah…. Dredd you can donate as well…. It’s a great site that I’ve been reading…. The observer is a great publication…
I’d like to reply davidm2575 but my comments are being eaten.
davidm said: “I have read from Chinese officials that some of their environmental laws are actually more strict than the United States.”
Which laws would those be? Their Clean Air Act? Soil Protection Act?
davidm2575
1, January 3, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Thank you for the letter link. I am not surprised about the author’s conclusions. It’s the same with bankster oversight by the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, Treasury, etc. where the revolving door and the Executive branch water down and often kill any real oversight and ignore punishments beyond those paid by innocent shareholders.
Government agencies are increasingly becoming shills for the corporate and not the people. That’s a fact.
I have been involved with lead and metals contamination at gun clubs. It’s huge problem and it affects thousands of gun clubs across the US. Most gun clubs will eventually close and then the taxpayer will pick up the cost of remediation, which will be in the millions of dollars at most locations. When I first contacted the EPA in 2001 (GWB had just taken office) about a certain gun club and it’s location on a creek, the EPA rep was very interested and actually told me that it was likely that it would have to close. EPA did a cursory investigation and the club did some good PR by instituting a non-regulatory best practices policy that does not need to be followed – it’s all PR. I asked why the sudden change from closing the club to handing them a useless guidebook and the EPA rep basically said that new management (GOP controlled) had different ideas. The gun club is still contaminating the soil, groundwater and creek with lead and metals, but it can continue to do so. You’ll laugh at this logic. Lead bullets are not considered hazardous waste if used for intended purposes. I asked the question “What if you used a slingshot to shoot bullets?” I was told that the waste would then be considered hazardous. It’s a scam, but it’s environmental law.
http://noflac.org/
http://www.vpc.org/studies/leadone.htm
And workers at these unregulated clubs are at risk too: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020353191_gunrangeleadxml.html
My argument is that without some sort of oversight – be it weak or strong – business would not have ANY incentive to do what’s right for the environment. At least the threat of punishment has some affect.
davidm2575
1, January 3, 2014 at 2:20 pm
Thank you for the letter link and your environmental concerns. I am not surprised about the author’s conclusions. It’s the same with bankster oversight by the SEC, CFTC, FINRA, Treasury, etc. where the revolving door and the Executive branch waterdown and often kill any real oversight and ignore punishments beyond those paid by innocent shareholders.
Government agencies are increasingly becoming shills for the corporate and not the people. That’s a fact.
I have been involved with lead and metals contamination at gun clubs. It’s huge problem and it affects thousands of gun clubs across the US. Most gun clubs will eventually close and then the taxpayer will pick up the cost of remediation, which will be in the millions of dollars at most locations. When I first contacted the EPA in 2001 (GWB had just taken office) about a certain gun club and it’s location on a creek, the EPA rep was very interested and actually told me that it was likely that it would have to close. EPA did a cursory investigation and the club did some good PR by instituting a non-regulatory best practices policy that does not need to be followed – it’s all PR. I asked why the sudden change from closing the club to handing them a useless guidebook and the EPA rep basically said that new management (GOP controlled) had different ideas. The gun club is still contaminating the soil, groundwater and creek with lead and metals, but it can continue to do so. You’ll laugh at this logic. Lead bullets are not considered hazardous waste if used for intended purposes. I asked the question “What if you used a slingshot to shoot bullets?” I was told that the waste would then be considered hazardous. It’s a scam, but it’s environmental law. http://noflac.org/
http://www.vpc.org/studies/leadone.htm
And workers at these unregulated clubs are at risk too: http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020353191_gunrangeleadxml.html
My argument is that without some sort of oversight – be it weak or strong – business would not have ANY incentive to do what’s right for the environment. At least the threat of punishment has some affect.
Anonymously Yours 1, January 3, 2014 at 11:18 am
Dredd,
You wanna take a look at this….[Vancouver Observer] they don’t really like the issues with the tar sands project….. Multiple story’s in depth coverage….
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Good site.
Government regulations of the type davidm2575 / Koch brothers are in favor of are the cruel, murderous lies that have gotten us to this point.
I have several times before, and will now again put up the link to the history taught in Universities, which is ostensibly an autopsy of the Republican Party that once cared (The Exceptional American Denial). It has an index into the video so one can zero in on a particular time-frame or issue.
David, I get that “He’s all over the place” from many ideologues. “Little boxes on a hilltop little boxes made of ticky tack, little boxes on a hilltop and they all look the same,” You may have noticed Mr. Turley gets some indignation from folks here when he doesn’t fit into an assigned box.
Speaking of Commies, the official Commie newspaper in China revealed that the fat midget leader of the Cult of North Korea executed his uncle by the harshest penalty. He fed his uncle to a caged pack of 120 starved dogs. He watched for over an hour until his uncle was dead. And he’s got nukes!!
davidm2575 1, January 3, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Dredd wrote: “China has no EPA.”
Are you being sarcastic?
… China’s EPA is now called the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP). They are responsible for regulations regarding water quality, ambient air quality, solid waste, soil, noise, and radioactivity.
——————————————-
nick spinelli 1, January 3, 2014 at 12:56 pm
David, Orwell could not have come up w/ a better name than those Chinese.
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It takes “good” regulations to get a river glowing in the dark as AY alluded to.
They are little more than fronts now, like commercial camouflage cloth wannabe warriors wear, to make folks think they are what they say they are.
Dredd wrote: “They are little more than fronts now, like commercial camouflage cloth wannabe warriors wear, to make folks think they are what they say they are.”
Yup. Totally agree.
David,
Have you ever….. Ever down hill skied….. I think you’d be good at it…..
I do have some friends that do what’s called extreme skiing….. They get dropped off via helicopter…. Then they are on there own….. You’re good a zig zagging…. But I wouldn’t try the extreme sport yet…..
AY wrote: “You’re good a zig zagging…”
What I hear you saying is that I don’t fit your stereotype of what I am suppose to be. I get that from people on the right as well as the left.
Sometimes I have to reveal the other side of the coin about what I think. Sorry if you find that frustrating. The varied aspects do fit together in a nice unified whole.
davidm2575 1, January 3, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Dredd wrote: “China has no EPA.”
Are you being sarcastic?
Originally founded as the National Environmental Protection Agency, China’s EPA is now called the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP). They are responsible for regulations regarding water quality, ambient air quality, solid waste, soil, noise, and radioactivity.
==========================
I think that our EPA and their whaterve it is are both fronts for Oil-Qaeda, not doing what they are charged with doing.
They are weak, thus, we are poisoned.
I fault a certain democrat for some of that failure because of weak regulation that is pro-pollution.
JD-Bankster…
Wasn’t the love canal beautiful when it glowed….. At night… It’s radiant beauty….. Bestowed by battery leakage…… Full charge…… And when the glow was lit up.. It was even more enlightening……. Canada was instrumental in forcing the US…. And the State of NY to clean this area as they shared a common water filtration…..just a little east of the falls….
You wonder why it’s safe to eat most fish in the northern part of Lake Superior….. Because they hammered the polluters….. And put pressure on the US not to discharge pollutants in the lake….
Good to see that this site includes multiple viewpoints.
Okay, one more thought. Why is it that rightists are so concerned with their grandchildren’s generation’s national debt, while they don’t appear to care about the possibility of their grandchildren living in a very polluted, toxic world?