Three Gorges Dam

1. Three Gorges Dam David Homsher & George Lyons

2. Yangtze River • Over 3,900 miles long (6,300 km). Third longest in the world. • The land area of Yangtze river valley is 19% of the total land in China. • The total population of Yangtze River valley is 358 million, nearly 35% of the national population (1983).

4. Three Gorges Dam Project • Located on the Sandouping, Yichang and Hubei provinces. • Height: 590 feet (181 m). • Expected investment: 203.9 billion renminbi (US$24.65 billion).

5. More Facts • Number of migrants: 1.13 million. • Installed power generation capacity: 18.2 million kilowatts. • Produce 84 billion kilowatt-hours annually. • Functions: Flood control, power generation, improved navigation.

6. Recent History • March 1989 construction is suspended • After Tiananmen Square • Public debate over dam forbidden by government • Foreign critics accused of ignorance • Famous critics imprisoned • Resettlement and physical preparations begin in 1994 • Government solicits technology, services, hardware and financing from abroad

7. Construction Site

8. Construction Timetable • November 1997 Yangtze River was diverted. • The first batch of generators will begin to generate power in 2003. • The entire project is to be completed by 2009 when all 26 generators will be able to generate power.

9. Benefits of Dam • Energy: • Its 26 700-megawatt turbine generators have a productions capacity equal to the energy produced by 18 nuclear plants or the burning of 40 million tons of coal. • Will provide energy to 60 million residents currently without power. • Economic Growth and Development: • Provide power for economic growth. • Allows improved shipping on the Yangtze.

10. Benefits of Dam • Flood Control: • Lessen the frequency of large floods from once in 10 years to once in 100 years. • Environmental: • Hydroelectric is cleaner than coal burning and nuclear waste. • Ozone protected from greenhouse gas emissions.

11. Problems With Dam • Energy: • Combined cycle plants are predicted to make hydroelectric dams obsolete. They promise comparable energy production without many of the problems associated with dams. • Economic Impact: • Relocated residents could become unemployed. • Possible the project does not have enough funding to be completed.

12. Problems With Dam • Flooding: • Critics claim The Yangtze will add 530 million tons of silt into the reservoir on average per year and it will soon be useless in preventing floods. • Dam will not prevent floods on downstream tributaries. • Environmental Problems. • 14,500 hectares of agricultural land will be lost. • The dam will act as a barrier causing the flow of sediments to slow and downstream fisheries and agriculture will be deprived of much need nutrients. • The reservoir would also submerge numerous factories that would otherwise continue to take part in China’s economic growth.

13. Ethical Issues • Relocation of residents • Environmental concerns • Local culture • Political corruption

14. Relocation of Residents • The dam will require a 375 mile long reservoir which forces people currently living in the area to move out. • Chinese government estimates 1.2 million people will have to move, but experts predict the real number to be between 1.6 and 1.9 million people.

15. What Happens? • Some of the people are given financial compensation and moving expenses. • Others are given either new farm land or new factory jobs. • Much of the new farm land is barely usable and is located on steep inclines requiring excess precipitation. • Critique of the resettlement plans is prohibited in the media.

16. Environmental Concerns • The coastline will be eroded. • The altered ecosystem will further endanger many species. • The river, no longer free flowing, will become very polluted once the toxins and pollutants are slowly released from the cities.

17. Local Culture • Will destroy 1300 archeological sites. • Will flood many historical sites. • Reduce tourism.

18. Political Corruption • Widely believed that contractors won bids through bribery. • Many of the materials used in construction are below standards to lower overall costs. • Head of the Three Gorges Dam Economic Corp. sold jobs in the company, took out loans for the project and disappeared with the money in May 2000. • Resettlement officials were caught embezzling funds from the Resettlement Program in January 2000. $$$

19. Defense to Ethical Issues • Relocation of residents. • 15 million people downstream will be better off due to electricity and flood control. • Compensation is being offered to those relocated. • Environmental concerns. • Hydroelectric power is cleaner than coal burning and safer than nuclear power.

20. Defense to Ethical Issues • Local culture • Many historical sites are being moved to higher ground. • Political corruption ?

21. Application of Moral Theories • Utilitarianism • Kant • Cultural Relativism

22. Utilitarianism • Relocation of residents • Happiness of 15 million people downstream outweighs possible unhappiness of about 1.2 million upstream. • Environmental concerns • It depends. • Water pollution vs. electricity. • Fish and other animals could decrease in population.

23. Utilitarianism • Local culture • Happiness would decrease because the Chinese government will not be able to save all of the historical and archeological sites. • Political corruption • Happiness decreases because they are losing funds.

24. Kant • Relocation of residents • Human rights of relocated people violated. • Are not treated as autonomous beings. • Environmental concerns • Personal rights could be violated by increased water pollution. • Political corruption • Apply categorical imperative – would not want everyone to be corrupt.

25. Cultural Relativism • Relocation of residents • Since the Chinese government is different than ours, it may be okay to move people without their consent. • Political corruption • Bribery and selling jobs may be the way the government operates, however embezzlement has a negative effect on the culture.

26. Should Project Be Completed? • Utilitarianism • Yes, overall happiness of people with flood control and electricity will outweigh the unhappiness of those affected negatively. • Kant • No, because people’s rights are violated without adequate compensation. • Cultural Relativism • Yes, would improve economy and prestige for China.

27. The End Thanks for listening. Any Questions?