Chinese Coal -- the price to pay
I'm looking at Power Generation (of which most comes from Coal Burning Plants). I have been looking at the Chinese and their horrid Environmental situation (and considering that the Northern Hemisphere winds blow from West to East, our situation as well) (and don't forget that they are exempt from anything having to do with the Kyoto protocols -- worst polluter, least price) and I ran into this article that talks about another cost the Chinese are paying for their energy -- from
China Labor Watch:
The world's most dangerous job?
The news of the death of 213 miners following a gas blast at a colliery in Liaoning on February 14 barely registered outside China, but it was further evidence of an ongoing tragedy, and symbolic of the enormous human cost that China is paying for its phenomenal economic growth.
Officially, more than 6,000 Chinese miners lose their lives each year in industrial accidents. The real figure is believed to be much higher, however, because operators often conceal accidents to avoid fines and costly shutdowns.
China produces 35 per cent of the world's coal but accounts for 80 per cent of fatalities globally. The death rate is 30 times that of South Africa and 100 times higher than in the United States. Mining coal in China is probably the most dangerous job in the world.
And another excerpt talking about the reason why:
The problem is that Beijing is devoted to a policy of economic growth, regardless of the human cost. It is also devoted to its monopoly of political power, which means there are no effective counterweights to its control.
The rapidly growing economy places a high demand on energy, which the coal mining industry can supply without advanced technology and safer - but more expensive - equipment. It has an abundant supply of workers, whose wages are kept artificially low by repressive policies. In a system where lives are so cheap, there are huge profits to be made - a powerful lure to maintain the status quo.
There are also political considerations. The Chinese government does not allow miners to form independent trade unions to protect their rights, nor does it allow non-governmental organisations to monitor the safety of the industry. Of course, the miners know the dangers they face, but they have no way of protecting their interests and rights. They have no option but to go down the mine each day in order to support their families.
Communism is such a
successful form of government isn't it...
It will be interesting when the winds of Democracy blow strong and clear over there. We have seen some gusts (Tienanmen Square) but the old corrupt party hacks are still entrenched and living in the Celestial Palace.
Posted by DaveH at April 12, 2005 6:07 PM