Real Thought

Yes, folks, it turns out that even the progressive, open hearted, haven of worker’s freedom, defender of human rights, the People’s Republic of China has a pollution problem. This story from the Scotsman, quotes the state run Xinghua News Agency in saying that the mighty Yangtse River is “cancerous with pollution”. Evidently, the enlightened leaders of the PRC thought that the Yangtse was “self-cleaning”. Now the river poses a serious health threat to millions who live along its banks and depend upon its water including the entire city of Shanghai. The story goes on to quote Professor Yuan Aiguo stating that if nothing is done the Yangtse will be incapable of supporting any form of aquatic life in five to ten years.

I would like to know where Greenpeace is? Why isn’t the Rainbow Warrior cruising up and down the Yangtse filled with long haired, patchouli wearing ecological watchdogs waving banners and signs? Well? Could it be they aren’t there because the People’s Navy would have no qualms about blowing them to kingdom come? Or could it be that the activists in Greenpeace are willing to give the PRC a pass because after all, they are in solidarity with the People’s Republic? Or is it that the life of one harp seal or one whale is more valuable to them than the lives of millions of their fellow humans who just happen to be Chinese? My guess is all of the above.