Earth Equity News

China's Silver Lining. By James Fallows, Atlantic Monthly, June, 2008. "Here is what I learned by visiting [a coal-cement complex in Zibo, a modest city of 4 or 5 million people in Shandong province, 230 miles southeast of Beijing], and by seeing and asking about many similar 'green' projects in China: China's environmental situation is disastrous. And it is improving. Everyone knows about the first part. The second part is important too. Outside recognition of where and why China has made progress increases the prospects that it will make further advances. Recognition also clarifies the most important obstacles, political and economic, to such progress. And it is simply fair to the many people within China, including within the Chinese Communist Party, who are trying their best to make a difference -- and who are having more success than most Westerners who rely on media accounts would suspect."