High hopes for China's 'eco-city'

March 31, 2008 5:07 PM PDT – Posted by Tito Estrada

Shanghai developers plan to begin construction next year on what they say will be the world's first sustainable "eco-city" on a plot almost the size of Manhattan. The Dongtan, or East Beach, project is to be built on Chongming Island and is slated to eventually support half a million residents.

Among other things, the city is envisioned to recycle almost all of its waste, produce its electricity, and ferry people around in hydrogen fuel-cell buses and solar-powered water taxis, according to The Seattle Times

But amid high hopes, there is fear that the environmental project will end up as "another grand idea that failed in practice."

Read the story at The Seattle Times: "Can a bold new "eco-city" clear the air in China?"

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by fokwp April 1, 2008 9:05 AM PDT
Watch for huge "sweeping it under the rug" style "green" measures - wherein the hydrogen and electricity for the cars and buses is produced with great release of carbon - er - somewhere else, the solar cells are produced at huge environmental cost - er - somewhere, etc., and the press is invited to see how green the future is in the mist of a few pollution-free blocks full of happy residents. This will help China and the rest of the world that buys into this, distract themselves and the public from the real need for reducing consumerism. There is a growing "green" industry for such distraction. Meanwhile of course the illegal coal mines will continue to spring up like mushrooms throughout China.
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