China is an ecological disaster because of rampant corruption

[DetlefK]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/31/1417071/-Much-of-China-Is-Now-An-Unrepairable-Ecological-Disaster

We are using too many raw materials to sustain [our] growth ... Our raw materials are scarce, we don't have enough land, and our population is constantly growing. Currently there [are] 1.3 billion people living in China, that's twice as many as 50 years ago. In 2020 there will be 1.5 billion ... but desert areas are expanding at the same time; habitable and usable land has been halved over the past 50 years ... Acid rain is falling on one third of Chinese territory, half of the water in our seven largest rivers is completely useless, while one fourth of our citizens do not have access to clean drinking water. One third of the urban population is breathing polluted air, and less than 20 percent of the trash in cities is treated and processed in an environmentally sustainable manner ... Because air and water are polluted, we are losing between 8 and 15 percent of our gross domestic product. And that doesn't include the costs for health ... In Beijing alone, 70 to 80 percent of all deadly cancer cases are related to the environment.

...

Not only are some of China's largest rivers irreparably damaged, but Chinese industry is doing the same to the groundwater, as well.

...

Life in the Communist Party is not so different from life in the mafia: It's a constant, treacherous and highly dangerous nonstop factional struggle between crime family-based groupings in struggle with one another over top offices and treasure. The key to safety is building unshakable vertical and horizontal networks of support and protection - of guanxi. And the key to solidifying those networks is sharing the loot from corruption.

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Also as a result, with respect at least to the environment, China has no functioning regulatory state, legislature, or judiciary. The ruling class essentially is a mass of completely unregulated capitalist enterprises, a legion of polluters with absolutely no brakes. And yet, the ruling class, the Communist Party members, live very well compared to the people they exploit.

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When conservatives in this country (the US) say they want "smaller government", this is what they are aiming for.

[pscot]

1. A billion humans are bound to make a mess

[logosoco]

2. k&r

I know I am not the only one who saw this coming. We are not so evolved that we can throw out regulations. There are still way too many people who put profits above people and the planet.
From the way I see "republican types", they don't seem to be aware of the whole "one planet" thing. Polluting on the other side of the globe still affects everyone.
I hope these kinds of people/corporations are stopped before it is too late. It is the epitome of ignorance when "we" do things even after we know they are bad, and even dumber to ignore the better alternatives.