..9.. three gorges dam

the three gorges dam is the world's biggest hydropower project, producing 18.2 GW, which is a hell of a lot. still, only 5% of China's energy demand by the time it's finished in 2009 (still much construction). the project has been quite controversial - environmentalists complain that it will ruin the water quality and emit tons of greenhouse gases as flooded areas decay. they also say it will endanger protected species, such as the Yangtze dolphin and the Chinese sturgeon. human rights activists argue that displacing a whopping 1.3 million people is a crime. (these people's homes have been underwater since the dam started being built, so must be relocated) the communist government seems to have an affinity for dominating nature, and this truly incredible engineering feat does indeed appear to dominate nature, steadying the rapidly-changing water level and making the river more navigable for ships between Shanghai and Chongqing (which is the world's second most populous city with 32 million people!). i think i've asked everyone who could speak more than 2 words of english what they thought about the dam. most say that it's great, and whatever the government says is true, and they're being taken care of completely. some admit that the older people are upset at having their houses destroyed by the permanently risen water level. they say young people see it as an opportunity to get out of a difficult farming lifestyle. (people who are relocated receive the equivalent of about $1,250 in compensation) one man was quite frank with me, telling me this dam had ruined the water quality in his city and people were angry about it. the government makes empty promises. and he can't protest because he needs a permit for that, which of course the government won't grant. it's very interesting to see the way people grapple with a communist government.