Death In Droves

How future generations fare from global warming will be determined by a group of key, industrialized nations, one of them China.

In its rush toward economic ascendancy, China has sustained air and water pollution levels we in Canada can't imagine. Air and water pollution in China are now estimated to account for a staggering 760,000 premature deaths each year.

The figures were initially included in a World Bank report entitled "The Cost of Pollution in China." They were subsequently deleted, apparently in response to pressure from the Chinese government.

The Financial Times reports one advisor on the report claiming, "The World Bank was told that it could not publish this information. It was too sensitive and could cause social unrest."

The latest reports indicate that China continues to add two coal-fueled power plants to its grid each and every week.