China forces 2000 plants closed to save energy

This is a pretty bold move.  The Chinese government is forcing over 2000 industrial plants to close in order to conserve energy.  The plants chosen were the worst-performing, lowest-tech producing lower grade steel.

The NY Times reports that China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has published a list of 2,087 steel mills, cement works and other energy-intensive factories required to close by  September 30 after discussions with provincial and municipal officials to identify industrial operations with outdated, inefficient technology. The goal of the factory closings is 'to enhance the structure of production, heighten the standard of technical capability and international competitiveness and realize a transformation of industry from being big to being strong,' the ministry says.

And it's a matter of national security:

As China has become increasingly dependent on imported oil and coal, its national security establishment has become more visibly involved in energy policy and energy security, including efforts to improve energy efficiency.

 China has made strides in reducing pollution from industry, but this will be overshadowed by increases in pollution from personal vehicles as their population grows and becomes more affluent.

Depressing state of China

I guess with great economic growth comes great pain and suffering. This is what I take from the following sad examples of stress and despair from China's working class.

China has a dire need for psychiatrists. Depression is a growing problem and is manifesting in terrible ways. Children are senselessly hacked to death at school.[Toronto Star May 12, 2010]

A disturbing trend indeed. Police are called in and it still continues to happen. [Vancouver Sun, May 13, 2010]

I've had a fascination with China for several years now. Their culture, communist government, loyalty, perseverance... thus the section on this site.

Stress at the workplace takes a toll on electronics assembly plants. Foxconn has been trying to stem repeated suicides. [Daily Tech, May 31, 2010]

Thus far 10 employees have taken their lives at the Shenzhen plant, which houses between 330,000 and 400,000 people. Three others were seriously injured in suicide attempts.

Manufactured Landscapes DVD

To follow up on my last China post, I wanted to mention the movie Manufactured Landscapes. This is a documentary featuring vivid photography by Edward Burtynsky. Photographers and environmentalists alike should see this film.

Burtynsky gives an unbiased view into the dark ugly underbelly of our global industry. The viewer is left to decide whether what they see is beautiful, ugly, avoidable or just an unfortunate consequence of our global industrial system.

Tiny Chinese fingers toil for hours to assemble everything from electronics to squirt bottles. Did you know practically all zippers in the world were made in China? Something to watch. Trailer below.

Tired in China

I would kill myself if I had to live like this:

"Showing Chinese sweatshop workers slumped over their desks with exhaustion, it is an image that Microsoft won't want the world to see."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1266643/Microsofts-Chinese-workforce-tired-stay-awake.html

Read the article. It's enough to make you not want to buy anything made in China. (gee...)

And why does this happen?  The way our global economy works means the cheapest labour is used to make everything.  Consumer prices in North America are kept as low as possible to keep us buying stuff that eventually breaks and needs replacing, which in turn adds to landfills.  And so many people still don't realize that when they buy stuff they vote for this perpetual cycle.

That's why I like it when I hear the economy is failing. I would rather spend my money on used stuff, or higher-priced durable goods that last and are built closer to home anyway.

China leads the economic recovery

China is beating its growth estimates for the past few quarters coming out of this economic recession.  According to the article linked below, China's economic growth rate is about 8% per year.  I've read that in "normal times" China has grown 10% or more per year.  This is a phenomenal rate, which would double their GDP every 7 years.  (An interesting video on the power and consequences of exponential growth is shown here).

As I mentioned in a recent post, more people in developing countries can now afford cars, adding to the global climate problem and regional air pollution:

China's car market has become the world's largest, with sales up 34% to 9.66 million vehicles in the first nine months of the year.- China economic growth accelerates - BBC News

But why should we in the developed world impose limits to growth and prosperity to those in the developing world?