Latest comments posted about Hydropower on the Nu: one river, many perspectives on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1816-Hydropower-on-the-Nu-one-river-many-perspectives- http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1816-Hydropower-on-the-Nu-one-river-many-perspectives- Nujiang has been exploited under the premise of protection. Under this circumstance, economy is well developed, our people and country benefit from the exploitation. The natural beauty of the river and the mountains well remains in the area. The picture of barren land with little population and visitors will no longer exist. I wish I can see truly spectacular Nujiang one day within my life. Thu, 28 May 2009 09:18:07 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-8909 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-8909 Chris, I believe that your article is written with good intention, but it doesn’t make me feel good. I agree with your view: “The Nu River is home to some of China’s most isolated and thriving ethnic minority cultures, rich biodiversity, and pristine and scenic wilderness”, however, have you ever considered the local people, who are longing for development and the rich life that you have had? They don’t have any opportunities, but the construction of the dam will at least give them hope. Don’t you think we should proactively participate and maximize the dam’s benefit for the interest of the local people? In actual fact, the local people’s primitive cropping methods have destroyed the local environment and biodiversity, for example, by chopping down trees to get wood for cooking. If cheap hydropower was available or local people could migrate to more developed regions, these negative effects could be avoided. Actually many Chinese dams have become a draw for sightseers – Thousand Island Lake is a typical example. Its understandable that the boaters will feel sad about the whitewater's disappearance, but the local people who are longing for development can't wait. Bill (translated by Fangfang CHEN) Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:50:02 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-8510 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-8510 If someone could provide the capital, environmental protection would be an obvious and easy thing to do. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:44:32 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-8317 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-8317 Its great that China is becoming less top-down; however, the majority of Chinese people, along with the government, care much more for economic prosperity than the environment. Whatever brings the most money now or in the near future will be the ultimate decision for hydropower. I would like it if China would think more about the environment. Developments in hydropower is great for many people in China. Many of the arid regions can sustain life only because of hydropower, but have any China officials thought about the effects of unchecked development. Soon all of China's sacred and natural river systems will be gone; forever. These rivers have a high value that wont be appreciated until China's steady economic growth slows or flat-lines. - Chad Sun, 27 Apr 2008 02:19:08 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7268 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7268 So the fundamental problem is not about environmental awareness, willingness, technological capacity or whatever, but it is down to this question: whether those in power intend to make the country prosper and thrive, or they're simply interested in their personal gain. I suspect they haven't figured it out yet. Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:39:51 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7201 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7201 It is great to see everyone's comments on my article. I agree with Thomas H. Kahn (and Andy Mertha) that hydropower politics in China are much less top down than 10 years ago. But leaders in the Nu Prefecture want the dams mostly because they will see a 27 fold increase in government revenue if they are built, not because they are visionary water managers. And though there has been opposition to this project among concerned environmental organizations, journalists, and academics, I disagree with characterizations of the Nu River situation as a "grassroots victory." No one in the Nu River valley can openly argue against the dams without facing punishment, nor would many of them want to. It is very different than the Tiger Leaping Gorge case. My dissertation "Damming China's Grand Canyon: Pluralization without Democratization in the Nu River Valley" goes more into this. Again, wonderful to dialogue with everyone. Thanks! - Kristen Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:42:13 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7172 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7172 Dear Everyone, The Nu / Salween River basin is very remote and spectacular place on earth as to hydro-meteorology, ecology and culture. It was topic of my MSc thesis in 2005. If you are interested, visit the corresponding website on http://www.salween.unibe.ch Regards, Chris Wed, 26 Mar 2008 09:01:59 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7167 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7167 Environment protection vs development is a issue never easy to cope with, however,China only need to undertake the obligations which should be undertaken. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:19:23 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7155 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7155 In China, few people care about environment protection and those who claim to be protectors seldom act upon the words. It is very regretful. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:22:47 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7161 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7161 I think the Chinese government must have considered the advantages and disadvantages that the dam projects may come into being. And their action must be reasonable. I stand with them. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:45:29 +0000 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7156 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1816#comment-7156