ENVIRONMENT REPORT - China's Plan for Dams Called Threat to

ENVIRONMENT REPORT - October 11, 2002: China's Plan for Dams Called Threat to Mekong River

By Cynthia Kirk

This is the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

Several southeast Asian countries are concerned about China’s plans to build dams along
the Mekong River. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam share the lower area of the
Mekong. Environmental experts say Chinese dams threaten people, wildlife and water
systems on the river.

The Mekong River is the twelfth longest river in the world. It is four-thousand-eight-hundred
kilometers long. It flows through China, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

More than sixty-million people depend on the Mekong for food, water and transportation. The
yearly¹ periods of floods and dry conditions are important for the production of rice and
vegetables. The Mekong also supports many different kinds of fish.

But environmental activists² say this system is threatened. During the past ten years, more than one-hundred large
dams have been proposed³ for the Mekong. Groups such as the Asian Development Bank have proposed these
dams. Some of these projects have already been built.

Environmental experts say one of the greatest threats is China’s plan to build eight dams along the upper
Mekong River. Two of these dams already have been completed. China began building the third dam in January.

China says these dams can produce power on the Mekong without harming the flow of the river system. It says
the dams will reduce flooding and water shortages⁴ in the countries in the lower part of the Mekong.

But environmental experts say the dams could increase flooding, harm the fishing industry, damage the
environment and block transportation links. Flooding on the Mekong has killed hundreds of people in the past
two years. That number is expected to rise as the water flow changes. Experts say the worst effects could happen
in Cambodia and Laos. These poor countries have become dependent⁵ on Chinese investment⁶ and aid.

Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam are part of the Mekong River Commission⁷, based in Phnom Penh. The
group manages development projects and protection of the Mekong River. China has refused to join the group.
The governments of the commission are said to be too fearful⁸ of China to make any public protest⁹ about its
development plans.

This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version

1 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 proposed   

被提议的

参考例句：

• There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
• an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议

4 shortages   

n.不足( shortage的名词复数 )；缺少；缺少量；不足额

参考例句：

• Food shortages often occur in time of war. 在战争期间常常发生粮食短缺的情形。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• At the same time, worldwide food and fuel shortages eased. 同时，世界性粮食和石油短缺的现象终止了。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

5 dependent   

adj.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者

参考例句：

• He has a mother completely dependent on him.他有一个完全靠他赡养的母亲。
• The country is dependent on foreign aid.这个国家靠外援生存。

6 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。

7 commission   

n.委托，授权，委员会，拥金，回扣，委任状

参考例句：

• The salesman can get commission on everything he sells.这个售货员能得到所售每件货物的佣金。
• The commission is made up of five people,including two women.委员会由五人组成，其中包括两名妇女。

8 fearful   

adj.惧怕的，担心的；可怕的，吓人的

参考例句：

• What a fearful waste of time!简直太浪费时间了！
• They are fearful of another business depression.他们担心会再次发生商业萧条。

9 protest   

v.反对，抗议；宣称；n.抗议；宣称

参考例句：

• I can't pass the matter by without a protest.我不能对此事视而不见，我要提出抗议。
• We translated his silence as a protest.我们把他的沉默解释为抗议。