CHENGDU, China -- The possibility of far worse damage from Monday's earthquake loomed Wednesday after a Chinese government report said that nearly 400 dams suffered damage. State media reported that 2,000 soldiers were sent to try to plug "very dangerous" cracks in one, upriver from the hard-hit Sichuan city of Dujiangyan, official media said. Meanwhile, hundreds of Chinese soldiers marching through mud and debris reached mountain towns at the epicenter of the earthquake on Wednesday, while army helicopters began airdrops of food and medicine in the same area. Officials raised their estimate of the number of people killed to nearly 15,000, with thousands more trapped and missing in remote areas. The report on the damaged dams was by the National Development and Reform Commission. Most, it said, were small dams. The most seriously harmed appeared to be to the Zipingpu Dam, near Dujiangyan. The irrigation system in that area dates to the 3rd century B.C. That city is the site of some of the most horrific scenes in the last few days. A school collapse in a southern suburb killed hundreds of children, perhaps as many as 900. Parents have begun setting up memorials and bodies are still being pulled from the rubble.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Chinese soldiers marching through mud and debris reached mountain towns at the epicenter of the earthquake on Wednesday, while army helicopters began airdrops of food and medicine in the same area. Officials raised their estimate of the number of people killed to nearly 15,000, with thousands more trapped and missing in remote areas.
The report on the damaged dams was by the National Development and Reform Commission. Most, it said, were small dams. The most seriously harmed appeared to be to the Zipingpu Dam, near Dujiangyan. The irrigation system in that area dates to the 3rd century B.C.
That city is the site of some of the most horrific scenes in the last few days. A school collapse in a southern suburb killed hundreds of children, perhaps as many as 900. Parents have begun setting up memorials and bodies are still being pulled from the rubble.
Two thousand soldiers have been sent to plug cracks in a dam upriver from the earthquake-stricken town of Dujiangyan. The Ministry of Water Resources called for the urgent protection of the Zipingpu reservoir, saying that Dujiangyan, which has about 600,000 residents, would be swamped if the dam failed. The Zipingpu dam is among the most modern in China but was built despite warnings it lay close to a major earthquake fault line. Planning for the dam was in its early stages in 2000 when seismologists from China's Earthquake Bureau warned that it could be at risk. Earthquake protection would have been built into the design of the dam, which was constructed in an area where 9,000 people died in 1933 amid landslides caused by an earthquake.
Two thousand soldiers have been sent to plug cracks in a dam upriver from the earthquake-stricken town of Dujiangyan.
The Ministry of Water Resources called for the urgent protection of the Zipingpu reservoir, saying that Dujiangyan, which has about 600,000 residents, would be swamped if the dam failed.
The Zipingpu dam is among the most modern in China but was built despite warnings it lay close to a major earthquake fault line. Planning for the dam was in its early stages in 2000 when seismologists from China's Earthquake Bureau warned that it could be at risk.
Earthquake protection would have been built into the design of the dam, which was constructed in an area where 9,000 people died in 1933 amid landslides caused by an earthquake.
What can Western companies do when China's factory workers start demanding better wages and conditions? Easy -- just transfer production to a cheaper country. China's loss is Vietnam's gain. The world's manufacturing powerhouse needs new low-wage workers, which is why the man in the dark suit is talking himself hoarse. "Do not delay," he calls out to the people gathered around him, pressing his mouth to the microphone. "We will handle everything in minutes, and you'll have work right away." The man, whose name is Zhou Liang, works for a private employment agency, which has its office in a bus terminal in Shenzhen, the southern Chinese industrial center. Buses are constantly arriving at the terminal from all across China, bringing in fresh supplies of young migrant workers. But Zhou, the employment agent, sounds desperate, like someone trying to hawk a product no one wants. Posters on the wall advertise some of the lowest-paid jobs in the world. A wide range of factories are seeking workers, but they pay only the minimum monthly wage of 750 yuan, or about €70 ($45), and that for an eight-hour day, five days a week. But by working overtime and on weekends, Zhou calls out, hoping for takers, workers can easily earn twice as much.
What can Western companies do when China's factory workers start demanding better wages and conditions? Easy -- just transfer production to a cheaper country. China's loss is Vietnam's gain.
The world's manufacturing powerhouse needs new low-wage workers, which is why the man in the dark suit is talking himself hoarse. "Do not delay," he calls out to the people gathered around him, pressing his mouth to the microphone. "We will handle everything in minutes, and you'll have work right away."
The man, whose name is Zhou Liang, works for a private employment agency, which has its office in a bus terminal in Shenzhen, the southern Chinese industrial center. Buses are constantly arriving at the terminal from all across China, bringing in fresh supplies of young migrant workers.
But Zhou, the employment agent, sounds desperate, like someone trying to hawk a product no one wants. Posters on the wall advertise some of the lowest-paid jobs in the world. A wide range of factories are seeking workers, but they pay only the minimum monthly wage of 750 yuan, or about €70 ($45), and that for an eight-hour day, five days a week. But by working overtime and on weekends, Zhou calls out, hoping for takers, workers can easily earn twice as much.
Brazil has been accused of turning its back on its duty to protect the Amazon after the resignation of its award-winning Environment Minister fuelled fresh fears over the fate of the forest. The departure of Marina Silva, who admitted she was losing the battle to get green voices heard amidst the rush for economic development, has been greeted with dismay by conservationists. "She was the environment's guardian angel," said Frank Guggenheim, executive director for Greenpeace in Brazil. "Now Brazil's environment is orphaned."In a letter to President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Ms Silva said that her efforts to protect the rainforest acknowledged as the "lungs of the planet" were being thwarted by powerful business lobbies. "Your Excellency was a witness to the growing resistance found by our team in important sectors of the government and society," she wrote.
Brazil has been accused of turning its back on its duty to protect the Amazon after the resignation of its award-winning Environment Minister fuelled fresh fears over the fate of the forest. The departure of Marina Silva, who admitted she was losing the battle to get green voices heard amidst the rush for economic development, has been greeted with dismay by conservationists.
"She was the environment's guardian angel," said Frank Guggenheim, executive director for Greenpeace in Brazil. "Now Brazil's environment is orphaned."
In a letter to President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, Ms Silva said that her efforts to protect the rainforest acknowledged as the "lungs of the planet" were being thwarted by powerful business lobbies. "Your Excellency was a witness to the growing resistance found by our team in important sectors of the government and society," she wrote.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for rainforest protection in Brazil as well as cooperation with the country on biofuels during the first day of her first Latin America tour. "Biofuels are a way to replace classic fossil-based energy sources, but only when they are grown sustainably," Merkel said Wednesday at the beginning of her week-long trip through Latin America. Merkel held a press conference in Brazil's capital of Brasilia and emphasized the need to ensure rain forests are protected during the production of biofuel. An agreement for cooperation on renewable energy is at the center of Merkel's trip to Brazil, but the Roman Catholic Church and some environmental organizations have criticized the deal because they say it lacks enough emphasis on sugar cane plantation workers and the protection of the rainforest.
"Biofuels are a way to replace classic fossil-based energy sources, but only when they are grown sustainably," Merkel said Wednesday at the beginning of her week-long trip through Latin America.
Merkel held a press conference in Brazil's capital of Brasilia and emphasized the need to ensure rain forests are protected during the production of biofuel.
An agreement for cooperation on renewable energy is at the center of Merkel's trip to Brazil, but the Roman Catholic Church and some environmental organizations have criticized the deal because they say it lacks enough emphasis on sugar cane plantation workers and the protection of the rainforest.
"You really must think of being sustainable, you know... Now, where do I sign?"
To that, Lewis retorted: "The role of the president of the United States is to support the decisions that are made by the people of Israel. It is not up to us to pick and choose from among the political parties." The audience members applauded.
