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November 26, 2005
China, the Toxic Spill and Us
I read several news stories, including this one, in the past couple of days about a large toxic spill in a major river in China. Part of the story described how the Chinese government had kept the spill secret for more than a few days.
The 80 kilometer (50-mile) toxic spill flowed downstream, reaching Harbin this week. Officials were forced to cut off the city's water service for four days, and the spill has sparked widespread unease among residents, who were not notified of the potential health threat for days after the blast.
One Chinese newspaper reported that environmental protection officials discharged water from a reservoir into the river to dilute the spill and failed to warm the public, although the government disputes those allegations.
My immediate reaction was that it seemed typical that the Chinese Communist government would try to cover something like that up. They seemed to act in a manner reminiscent of the old Soviet Union. Think of Chernobyl as a good example. "We are so much better," I immediate said to myself, until I started to think. With the deception about the war, torture, stonewalling about Cheney's Energy Task Force, and the outing of Valerie Plame among others I can't say we are better with any conviction. Without an open and honest government of our own it is difficult, if not impossible, to be taken seriously when we condemn others. We stand as hypocrits to the world. How far we have fallen in such a short time. I think many foreignors could accept Bill Clinton covering up his sexual escapades, though that is a value judgment on my part, however I don't think they accept what the White House has done since 9/11.
Posted by Chip Spear at November 26, 2005 1:55 PM
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