Pollution in China is killing hundreds of thousands its people every year. People in many industrial cities in China never see the sun, or blue sky. Cancer is now the number-one cause of death in all age groups. 500 million Chinese people lack access to safe, clean drinking water. The Times paints a grim picture in today's issue.
The International Energy Agency predicts that China will pass the United States in 2010 as the number one producer of greenhouse gases, though other agencies have declared that it has already reached that unfortunate leadership position. Chinese plants and factories use coal as fuel and hold the dubious distinction of using more than 40% more energy than comparable plants in other industrialized countries.
Chinese officials are correct in their assessment that Western countries, including the United States and the EU, are complicit in the environmental disaster. Now that those countries have transitioned from industrial to service and information-based economies, the pollution is cleaned up after the fact. China is being forced to meet the "Wal-Mart" demand for cleap plastic crap while cleaning up its act. No other country has ever done both at once.
The demand for Chinese products will only continue if Americans keep buying it. A good first step is to stop shopping at Wal-Mart, the number-one reason China has become the world's dumping ground. Another thing you can do is speak out. Talk to the manager of your local Target or grocery store, and tell them you are interested in buying goods from American manufacturers.
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