Latest comments posted about China’s drought: a taxi driver’s response on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1189-China-s-drought-a-taxi-driver-s-response http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1189-China-s-drought-a-taxi-driver-s-response In Beijing, many high-rise buildings have been built in in just a few years, fresh water ponds no longer exist, we can hardly find any fully-grown trees and manpower is required to irrigate any saplings. Beijing, starting as a ‘primitive tribe’ will very soon become a city which is not suitable for living. The pace of development terrifies me. Beijing is a city which is facing serious water shortages, especially groundwater that usually has great value. The city government constantly urges citizens to save water; such phenomena make me terribly indignant!!! Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:58:54 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4273 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4273 I do not agree with the comment no. 6, dated July 28, 2007, that’s just simply fault-finding. We are pursuing modernization and seeking for the benefit of our present society, it is rare to get such a person as Mr Liu. We do not have any other choice but to praise and to urge their awareness. As far as ‘data and scientific analysis’ concerns, if we just think about solving our problems, experts and government definitely would have the ability. However, we lack the recognition from the public and awareness from industry. Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:20:44 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4269 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4269 I admire Mr. Liu. As an ordinary person, I like to give suggestions on things happening to me for discussion with other readers. I think the use of rain water is of great significance to tackle water shortage problems. Though there were abundant rainfalls this year, but we do not have enough facilities to store it and people have less awareness to do so. The further urbanisation of Beijing is leading to the increased cement construction. As a result, underground water cannot be replenished, and the urban heat island effect becomes stronger. Beijing is gradually losing all its nature and is becoming less agreeable to live. It has lost its attractions described by China's renowned writer Lu Xun. I am sad for Beijing! I have some ideas regarding how to make a good use of rainwater. 1. plant more trees, especially fast-growing trees, in two rows. 2. use less cement to build roads. Instead, to use bricks through which rainwater can seep, and to grow more grass. 3. roads should be changed so their edges are usually higher than the road surface, which is better for drainage. Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:57:30 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4266 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4266 To resolve the serious water shortage situation in Beijing, I suggest that 1.The government create a online forum for everybody to discuss the problem. 2.The central reservation on the road should not be narrower than two meters, and it should be widened as long as the road is widened, otherwise plants in the reservation areas can not survive the increasing emissions. 3. Gutter should be used for storing rain water on the road for the central reservation. alkyc Wed, 29 Aug 2007 12:51:23 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4272 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4272 Modernisation means overpopulation and overdevelopment. The lanscape is filled by concrete and buildings. Even houseplants can be considered afforestation in this scenario. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:41:48 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4192 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4192 To do whatever we can do to store rain water is a good way to save water. There are lots of wild plants growing along the river banks in Beijing, many of them are flourishing. Lots of Beijingers go for edible weeds on weekends. However, on the upper stream, workers are getting rid of those weeds, and instead growing grass there, which doesn't grow well. We don't think it is necessary to do so, as the weeds don't need watering or tending, and they also help preserve the biodiversity, so why should we get rid of them? Zhang-Wang-Li-Zhao 100@sina.com Tue, 07 Aug 2007 03:04:17 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4150 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4150 Man has a hope to flatten the earth. Man also has a fear that unless he manipulates his entire natural environment he will not feel secure. Small ponds or lakes formed by happenstance, it's just hard to create such ponds as desired. Beijing is said to be enthusiastically active on this issue. However, the first thing to do should be changing the route of rain water, leading it into the small ponds. Otherwise, it won't work to use water-penetrating bricks only. When the downfall comes, a great amount of water will keep flowing away as floods, while the drought continues, in the arid little ponds. Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:12:02 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4140 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4140 After several decades of efforts in reclaiming lands by surrounding and filling in lake bottom, transforming the river and wetlands, finally people realize that the natural landscape shapes its own significance. Years of drought and floods mercilessly show how rediculous our folly is. And now we found the actual value of these "waste lands" . Yet, it is still something positive to beware of the problem and the solution before it’s irreversible. However, the city's enclosure movement is still prevailing. Facing the unprecedented pressure, how much land can be used for fulfilling the commitment to "keep the water"? Will the land used to keep the water be protected from expropriation? Land requisition is covered in news continuously. Then how many leaders in cities are really determined to employ land for the purpose of ecological protection? Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:20:06 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4105 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4105 While navigating through Xinjiang, found that accumulated water at the hollows by the road side at the foot of mountain, which was create through manual work, has incubated lots of green in this drought area. The lost of fresh water due to the global warming that we encountered, the method by Master Liu is a classic! Sat, 28 Jul 2007 10:37:29 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4106 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4106 Yes: "I asked the Water Conservation Department to find out why the ground in Xuchang was getting so much drier every year. They found the main reason was not industry and agriculture’s increasing burden on water resources, although these did have some effect. The main cause was that we were too concerned with flood prevention, instead of water retention. All the river channels had been straightened out, and the natural ponds that used to cover the countryside had either been drained or filled in. Any rain that fell, even light rain, immediately drained away to the sea before it had even wet the soil.” Yes: "direct cause of the drought is north China’s ever-decreasing rainfall. He looked at rainfall data and found 700-800 millimetres fell every year in some parts of the north China plain. But between 1997 and 2005, the average annual rainfall in Beijing was only 466 millimetres." No: Lower "volume and surface area of water in rivers, leading to insufficient evaporation, which affects regional climates and leads to a lack of rain – exacerbating the drought." Rain comes mainly from evaporation from the sea, not from continental areas. Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:00:48 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4110 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1189#comment-4110