Three Gorges Dam
David Homsher & George Lyons
Yangtze River
• Over 3,900 miles long (6,300 km). Third
longest in the world.
• The land area of Yangtze river valley is
19% of the total land in China.
• The total population of Yangtze River
valley is 358 million, nearly 35% of the
national population (1983).
Three Gorges Dam Project
• Located on the Sandouping, Yichang and
Hubei provinces.
• Height: 590 feet (181 m).
• Expected investment: 203.9 billion
renminbi (US$24.65 billion).
More Facts
• Number of migrants: 1.13 million.
• Installed power generation capacity: 18.2
million kilowatts.
• Produce 84 billion kilowatt-hours annually.
• Functions: Flood control, power generation,
improved navigation.
Recent History
• March 1989 construction is suspended
• After Tiananmen Square
– Public debate over dam forbidden by government
– Foreign critics accused of ignorance
– Famous critics imprisoned
• Resettlement and physical preparations begin in
1994
– Government solicits technology, services, hardware and
financing from abroad
Construction Site
Construction Timetable
• November 1997 Yangtze River was
diverted.
• The first batch of generators will begin to
generate power in 2003.
• The entire project is to be completed by
2009 when all 26 generators will be able
to generate power.
Benefits of Dam
• Energy:
– Its 26 700-megawatt turbine generators have a
productions capacity equal to the energy
produced by 18 nuclear plants or the burning of
40 million tons of coal.
– Will provide energy to 60 million residents
currently without power.
• Economic Growth and Development:
– Provide power for economic growth.
– Allows improved shipping on the Yangtze.
Benefits of Dam
• Flood Control:
– Lessen the frequency of large
floods from once in 10 years to
once in 100 years.
• Environmental:
– Hydroelectric is cleaner than
coal burning and nuclear
waste.
– Ozone protected from
greenhouse gas emissions.
Problems With Dam
• Energy:
– Combined cycle plants are predicted to make
hydroelectric dams obsolete. They promise
comparable energy production without many of
the problems associated with dams.
• Economic Impact:
– Relocated residents could become unemployed.
– Possible the project does not have enough
funding to be completed.
Problems With Dam
• Flooding:
– Critics claim The Yangtze will add 530 million tons of
silt into the reservoir on average per year and it will
soon be useless in preventing floods.
– Dam will not prevent floods on downstream tributaries.
• Environmental Problems.
– 14,500 hectares of agricultural land will be lost.
– The dam will act as a barrier causing the flow of
sediments to slow and downstream fisheries and
agriculture will be deprived of much need nutrients.
– The reservoir would also submerge numerous factories
that would otherwise continue to take part in China’s
economic growth.
Ethical Issues
• Relocation of residents
• Environmental concerns
• Local culture
• Political corruption
Relocation of Residents
• The dam will require a 375 mile long
reservoir which forces people currently
living in the area to move out.
• Chinese government estimates 1.2 million
people will have to move, but experts
predict the real number to be between 1.6
and 1.9 million people.
What Happens?
• Some of the people are given financial
compensation and moving expenses.
• Others are given either new farm land or new
factory jobs.
• Much of the new farm land is barely usable and is
located on steep inclines requiring excess
precipitation.
• Critique of the resettlement plans is prohibited in
the media.
Environmental Concerns
• The coastline will be eroded.
• The altered ecosystem will further endanger
many species.
• The river, no longer free flowing, will
become very polluted once the toxins and
pollutants are slowly released from the
cities.
Local Culture
• Will destroy 1300 archeological sites.
• Will flood many historical sites.
• Reduce tourism.
Political Corruption
• Widely believed that contractors won bids through
bribery.
• Many of the materials used in construction are below
standards to lower overall costs.
• Head of the Three Gorges Dam Economic Corp. sold
jobs in the company, took out loans for the project and
disappeared with the money in May 2000.
• Resettlement officials were caught embezzling funds
from the Resettlement Program in January 2000.
$$$
Defense to Ethical Issues
• Relocation of residents.
– 15 million people downstream will be better off
due to electricity and flood control.
– Compensation is being offered to those
relocated.
• Environmental concerns.
– Hydroelectric power is cleaner than coal
burning and safer than nuclear power.
Defense to Ethical Issues
• Local culture
– Many historical sites are
being moved to higher
ground.
• Political corruption
?
Application of Moral Theories
• Utilitarianism
• Kant
• Cultural Relativism
Utilitarianism
• Relocation of residents
– Happiness of 15 million people downstream
outweighs possible unhappiness of about 1.2
million upstream.
• Environmental concerns
– It depends.
• Water pollution vs. electricity.
– Fish and other animals could decrease in
population.
Utilitarianism
• Local culture
– Happiness would decrease
because the Chinese government
will not be able to save all of the
historical and archeological sites.
•Political corruption
–Happiness decreases
because they are losing
funds.
Kant
• Relocation of residents
– Human rights of relocated people violated.
– Are not treated as autonomous beings.
• Environmental concerns
– Personal rights could be violated by
increased water pollution.
• Political corruption
– Apply categorical imperative – would not
want everyone to be corrupt.
Cultural Relativism
• Relocation of residents
– Since the Chinese government is different than
ours, it may be okay to move people without
their consent.
• Political corruption
– Bribery and selling jobs may be the way the
government operates, however embezzlement
has a negative effect on the culture.
Should Project Be Completed?
• Utilitarianism
– Yes, overall happiness of people with flood
control and electricity will outweigh the
unhappiness of those affected negatively.
• Kant
– No, because people’s rights are violated without
adequate compensation.
• Cultural Relativism
– Yes, would improve economy and prestige for
China.
The End
Thanks for listening.
Any Questions?