Three Gorges Dam

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Three Gorges Dam

• David Homsher George Lyons

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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).

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Three Gorges Dam Project

• Located on the Sandouping, Yichang and Hubei
  provinces.
• Height 590 feet (181 m).
• Expected investment 203.9 billion renminbi
  (US24.65 billion).

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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.

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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

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Construction Site
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Chinas economic growth.

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Ethical Issues

• Relocation of residents
• Environmental concerns
• Local culture
• Political corruption

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Local Culture

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

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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.

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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.

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Defense to Ethical Issues

• Local culture
• Many historical sites are being moved to higher
  ground.

• Political corruption

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Application of Moral Theories

• Utilitarianism
• Kant
• Cultural Relativism

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 peoples rights are violated without
  adequate compensation.
• Cultural Relativism
• Yes, would improve economy and prestige for China.

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The End

• Thanks for listening.

Any Questions?