The Devastating Effects of Pollution in China (Part 2/2)

VICE

16 Dec 201213:31

Summary

TLDRThe video script narrates the environmental and social challenges in a Chinese valley, where traditional farming coexists with the harsh reality of illegal coal mining and pollution. It documents the government's efforts to regulate coal production and the impact on locals, who face economic hardships and health issues. The script also touches on China's broader environmental concerns, including its role as a global polluter and the short-term measures taken for the Beijing Olympics. It highlights the need for sustainable development and long-term solutions, as well as the global implications of China's industrial growth.

Takeaways

🏞️ The valley's landscape and traditional farming practices have remained largely unchanged over time, symbolizing a heritage of continuity.
🚫 The Chinese government has shut down private coal mines as they are illegal, but the demand for coal leads to the persistence of black market operations.
🏭 Large state-owned coal factories are identifiable and avoided by the narrator to evade security, indicating the clandestine nature of their investigation.
😷 The pollution from unregulated illegal coal mines contributes significantly to the area's environmental degradation, affecting the health of the local population.
🗣️ Locals are generally friendly but become wary when realizing that the questions asked by the narrator could lead to trouble.
🌾 Economic prosperity from the region's development has bypassed many residents, forcing farmers to turn to coal harvesting instead of traditional farming.
🔍 People in Linfen are seen scavenging for materials like bricks and metal to sell, highlighting the economic struggles faced by the community.
👮‍♂️ The police presence and the serving of registration forms to the narrator's group suggest a level of surveillance and control over foreign visitors.
🌍 The narrator discusses the broader implications of China's development, emphasizing the need for a shift in focus from mere economic growth to sustainable practices.
🏅 Efforts by the Chinese government to address pollution in Linfen, such as closing factories and rerouting traffic, were initiated following its designation as the most polluted city by the World Bank.
🌆 Despite claims of improved conditions in Linfen, the presence of smog and its impact on daily life, like the early sunset, indicates ongoing environmental challenges.

Q & A

What has been the historical continuity in the valley described in the script?
-The historical continuity in the valley is the enduring heritage of farming, with the farmer tilling his fields today as his ancestors did in ages past, and the friendly earth still yielding its produce.
What is the situation with coal mining in China as depicted in the script?
-According to the script, all coal in China is intended to go through national coal factories, and private mining is illegal. However, due to high demand, many people attempt to start their own mines for profit, often resulting in fines or jail time.
How are the government coal factories characterized in the script?
-The government coal factories are enormous and easy to spot, but the script's narrators avoid lingering around them to prevent being noticed by security guards.
What impact do illegal coal mines have on the environment according to the script?
-Illegal coal mines contribute significantly to the pollution problem. They are not regulated by the government and are operated using old methods, leading to environmental degradation.
How did the residents of Linfen react to the interview requests in the script?
-Initially, most of the people were very friendly, but they soon realized that the questions could get them in trouble, indicating a level of fear or concern regarding the legality and safety of discussing certain topics.
What economic shift has occurred in Linfen as mentioned in the script?
-The economic shift in Linfen involves farmers being forced to try to make a living from harvesting coal instead of crops, which has led to economic exclusion for many residents from the region's prosperity.
What health effects did the narrator experience after spending a week in Linfen?
-The narrator experienced burning eyes, an itchy throat, and found that his nasal mucus had turned black, indicating severe air pollution in Linfen.
What actions did the police take after the narrators stayed in Linfen for almost a week?
-The police did not directly confront the narrators but had hotel staff bring them registration forms, which may have been an attempt to monitor or control their activities, given their concerns about filming illegally.
What is the Chinese government's response to Linfen being named the most polluted city on Earth?
-The Chinese government took steps to improve the situation by closing down factories, rerouting truck traffic, and placing signs around the city to call attention to the problem.
How does the script's narrator view the efforts to clean up air for the Beijing Olympics?
-The narrator suggests that many of the measures taken to clean up the air for the Beijing Olympics were short-term, such as shutting down factories and implementing strict transport restrictions, rather than focusing on long-term structural solutions.
What is the narrator's perspective on the role of multinational companies in China's pollution problem?
-The narrator believes that Americans and other multinational companies are among the biggest winners from China's economic rise, as they use cheap labor and materials to produce goods for global distribution, contributing to the pollution problem.
What is the final observation about Linfen's environment mentioned in the script?
-Despite the claim that the blue skies have opened over Linfen, the narrator notes that this is false, as evidenced by the early sunset behind a curtain of smog. However, the narrator also mentions that once the sun goes down, the stars are visible, suggesting some level of environmental resilience.

Outlines

00:00

🏞️ Enduring Heritage and Illegal Coal Mining

The script opens with a narrator reflecting on the unchanged agricultural practices in a valley, despite the passage of time. It contrasts the timeless cycle of life with the modern issue of illegal coal mining in China, which is driven by high demand and results in pollution and legal consequences for those involved. David Feinberg discusses the visibility of government coal factories and the risks of operating outside of legal frameworks, leading to environmental degradation.

05:01

😷 The Human Cost of Pollution in Linfen

This paragraph delves into the personal experiences of David Feinberg in Linfen, a city notorious for its pollution. The narrative describes the physical symptoms Feinberg suffered due to the polluted environment and the desperate measures locals take to make a living, such as scavenging for materials. It also touches on the tension between the crew and local authorities, culminating in a police visit and the crew's decision to leave the city. The paragraph concludes with a broader discussion on China's development, emphasizing the need for a shift in priorities from mere economic growth to sustainable practices that consider environmental impacts.

10:02

🌏 Global Implications of China's Pollution

The final paragraph explores the global impact of China's rapid industrialization and pollution. It discusses the short-term measures taken by China to improve air quality for the Beijing Olympics and the need for long-term structural solutions. The narrative points out the role of multinational companies in exacerbating the situation by exploiting cheap labor and materials. It also addresses the responsibility of countries like the United States, which has the highest per-capita pollution rate. The paragraph ends with a poignant observation about the false claim of clear skies over Linfen and the irony of the city's polluted sunsets, yet acknowledges the beauty of the night sky that emerges after dark.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Heritage

Heritage refers to the cultural or historical traditions that are passed down from previous generations. In the context of the video, it is used to describe how the farmer continues to work the land in the same way his ancestors did, symbolizing a continuity and respect for the past. This is important as it sets a contrast to the rapid changes happening in other parts of the valley due to industrialization.

💡Pollution

Pollution is the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects. The script mentions the dense pollution in the hills outside of Linfen, which is a direct result of unregulated illegal coal mining. It is a central theme of the video, illustrating the negative environmental impact of the coal industry and the disregard for sustainable practices.

💡Black Market

The black market is an illegal trade where goods or services are exchanged without government sanction. The video discusses the black market for coal in China, where private mining is illegal but still occurs due to high demand. This concept is key to understanding the desperation and risks some people take to profit from the coal industry, despite the legal and environmental consequences.

💡Economic Prosperity

Economic prosperity refers to a state of economic growth and wealth within a region or country. The script highlights that many residents of Linfen have been excluded from the economic prosperity that has come to the region due to the coal industry. This term is crucial in understanding the disparity between the wealth generated by industrial growth and the actual living conditions of the local population.

💡Illegal Mining

Illegal mining is the extraction of minerals or other geological materials from the earth without the necessary permits or rights. In the script, it is mentioned that illegal coal mines contribute significantly to pollution because they are not regulated by the government and use outdated methods. This term is essential for understanding the environmental and social issues arising from uncontrolled coal extraction.

💡Economic Growth

Economic growth is the increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period of time. The video script criticizes the obsession of local-level officials with economic growth at the expense of the environment. It is a central theme in the video, showing the conflict between development and environmental sustainability.

💡World Bank

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the countries of the world for the purpose of pursuing balanced economic development and to reduce poverty. The script mentions the World Bank's role in naming Linfen the most polluted city on earth, which led to the Chinese government taking action to improve the situation. This term is important as it shows the global recognition of the environmental crisis and the subsequent response from the Chinese government.

💡Beijing Olympics

The Beijing Olympics refers to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games held in Beijing, China. The script discusses the measures taken by China to clean up the air for the Olympics, which were mostly short-term solutions. This term is significant as it highlights the temporary nature of environmental improvements made for international events and the need for long-term structural changes.

💡Per-Capita Polluter

Per-capita polluter refers to the amount of pollution produced by each person in a country, averaged out. The script states that the United States is the largest per-capita polluter in the world, despite China's significant overall pollution due to its large population. This term is important for understanding the global perspective on pollution and the relative impact of different countries on the environment.

💡Industrial Revolution

The industrial revolution is a period of rapid industrialization that took place during the 18th and 19th centuries in certain countries. The script compares China's rapid economic growth and industrialization to an industrial revolution, but emphasizes that the problems China faces are not just national but global. This term is used to draw parallels between historical economic transformations and the current situation in China, suggesting the scale and impact of China's development.

💡Smog

Smog is a type of air pollution that results from large amounts of smoke and chemical fumes present in the atmosphere. The script describes how the sunset in Linfen ends early due to an artificial curtain of smog, illustrating the severe air pollution in the area. This term is crucial for understanding the extent of environmental degradation and its visual impact on daily life.

Highlights

The valley's heritage endures with unchanged farming practices despite time.

The people of the valley continue the cycle of life and death, with the land and mountain streams as constant companions.

China's coal is regulated by national factories, with private mining being illegal and often resulting in fines or imprisonment.

Government coal factories are easily identifiable and avoided to prevent security issues.

Illegal coal mining contributes significantly to pollution due to lack of regulation and outdated methods.

Interview subjects in Linfen were initially friendly but became cautious due to the potential risk of the questions asked.

Residents of Linfen are often excluded from the region's economic prosperity, leading to a shift from farming to coal harvesting.

People in Linfen scavenge for materials like bricks and metal to make a living, indicating economic hardship.

The narrator experienced physical discomfort from pollution after a week in Linfen.

Police interaction at the hotel raised concerns about the confiscation of tapes due to illegal filming.

China's development is necessary for poverty alleviation, but the approach to development needs reconsideration.

Local officials are primarily focused on economic growth, which may overlook environmental concerns.

The Chinese government took steps to improve Linfen's pollution after being labeled by the World Bank, but challenges remain.

Traffic congestion and truck emissions were overwhelming during the return trip to Beijing.

China's transformation from bicycles to cars and trucks, along with coal burning, has made it the world's leading polluter.

China's efforts for a good Olympic impression included short-term air cleaning measures, highlighting the need for long-term solutions.

Beijing citizens question the disparity between temporary Olympic clean air and their usual air quality.

China's industrial revolution is a global issue, with multinational companies benefiting from cheap labor and contributing to pollution.

Despite claims of improved conditions, Linfen's smog is evident, especially during sunset.

The contrast of pollution with the beauty of the night sky in Linfen underscores the complexity of environmental issues.