Pollution in China

This is not acceptable:

"Beijing engineered the removal of nearly a third of a World Bank report on pollution in China because of concerns that findings on premature deaths could provoke 'social unrest'."

Estimates are that approximately 700,000 people die in China every year from some form of air pollution. That isn't something Live Earth is going to fix. Having 2000 people switch from regular light bulbs to florescents or planting a few trees isn't going to clean China up. Very few Chinese have dryers - they are already hanging their clothes in the filthy air to dry. Barbara and Al would be happy.

Pressure has to come from Western and Chinese companies doing business in China and from governments around the world (at least those with legitimacy). If businesses start to jump ship because it is too dangerous to live here, China will start to pay attention. If there is social unrest (which there is already some) because of the condition of the air and water, the government will start to pay attention.

That the World Bank allowed itself to be strong-armed by the Chinese government is criminal. By censoring this information, they are preventing the type of activity that might prod the government to make changes. Social unrest of this nature is something that the government can prevent, or at least manage if it occurs widely, by taking swift action. I don't think China will immediately implement massive changes that would greatly discourage investment. But there are plenty of actions it could take and there are plenty of countries and organizations willing to share knowledge of low to mid-cost directives that would greatly improve living conditions here.

China has laws in place to help it manage some pollution problems, but the laws aren't enforced. Little regional fiefdoms around the country ignore environmental requirements that would discourage investment and revenue.

There was a lot of talk in the 11th 5 year plan about environmental remediation and preventing further damage, but it has largely been talk. The government either fails allocate money promised toward programs or the money disappears at the local level. That needs to stop.