Drought in the northeast, specifically in Shanxi province.
See: Shanxi map
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/07/content_10619496.htm
Prolonged drought hits parts of north, east China
www.chinaview.cn 2009-01-07 19:13:13 Print
TAIYUAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Six provinces in north and east China are battling a prolonged drought that has affected water supplies for people, livestock and agriculture.
Nearly 1 million people and 160,000 head of livestock in Shanxi have faced difficulties getting drinking water due to the prolonged drought since October, the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said on Wednesday.
The province has had no rain since late November, it said, and the drought has affected 520,000 hectare of wheat land, 140,000 ha severely.
Irrigation facilities were fully commissioned and new wells were dug. Staff are being organized to transport drinking water to people who have difficulties getting it.
The drought has also hit other provinces such as Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Anhui and Gansu, all major wheat producers.
Anhui water resource authorities said the affected areas had mobilized more than 600,000 people and commissioned 30,000 wells to combat drought, with subsidies for farmers in certain areas.
The Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday the six provinces had had 5.42 million ha of drought-hit cropland, almost five times the area last year.
The ministry said it had dispatched working teams to the provinces to help with the drought relief work.
A full calculation of the number of people short of drinking water is not available.
Editor: Yang Lina
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Sunday, December 7, 2008
China Water Blog: December 7, 2008: Shanghai meets lower water and air pollution measurement goals.
This story talks about a reducation in "chemical oxygen demand" in Shanghai as a measure of water pollution levels.
According to http://www.water-technology.net/glossary/chemical-oxygen-demand.html "Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is the measurement of the amount of oxygen in water consumed for chemical oxidation of pollutants."
According to http://www.water-technology.net/glossary/chemical-oxygen-demand.html "Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is the measurement of the amount of oxygen in water consumed for chemical oxidation of pollutants."
Wikipedia, naturally, has an essay on the subject: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_oxygen_demand
They cynic in me wonders if the reduction is real or paper-only and even if it is real, how much of the pollution has just been shifted elsewhere, perhaps to somewhere not too far from Shanghai?
Nevertheless, see . . .
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/print.asp?id=383422
Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=383422&type=Metro
Pollution targets may be reached early
Created: 2008-12-6
Author:Cai Wenjun
SHANGHAI is expected to meet a target to reduce water and air pollution half a year ahead of schedule, officials from Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau said yesterday.
The city has pledged to cut sulfur dioxide levels 26 percent from 2005-levels and reduce its chemical oxygen demand, or COD, discharge to 259,000 tons by 2010, a 15 percent decrease from 2005. COD is a measure of water pollution. Sulfur dioxide is a serious air pollutant.
The city government said yesterday that it would pour more money into the green schemes, investing 80 billion yuan (US$11.63 billion) on more than 180 projects.
The projects are part of the fourth Three-Year Environmental Protection Action Plan.
The city has invested 180 billion yuan since the first three-year plan in 2000.
"There is a huge increase of budget for the fourth three-year action plan, almost doubling that in the third round," said Fan Xianbiao, vice director of the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau. "A lot of money will be used on infrastructure construction and on equipment for monitoring emissions."
"We are confident that there will be a significant reduction of sulfur dioxide and COD discharge next year, and we'll hit our 2010 goals half a year early," he said.
The bureau will hold a forum on Friday for experts from China and abroad to evaluate the performances of the previous three environmental action plans and gather suggestions for the fourth.
"We will also take in local residents' suggestions," Fan said. "We plan to distribute pamphlets to local residents, give out awards to green schools and green communities, and set up an environmental protection exhibition at Shanghai Children's Museum next year."
Copyright © 2001-2008 Shanghai Daily Publishing House
December 7, 2008: Vietnam Water: Flooding preparations
http://www.travbuddy.com/Water-water-every-where-Nor-any-drop-to-drink-v293763
From the blog www.travbuddy.com we have some interesting tips on surviving and preparing for a flood. Worth reading.
From the blog www.travbuddy.com we have some interesting tips on surviving and preparing for a flood. Worth reading.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
China Water: November 04, 2008: Xinjiang water --Tarim river
This story is a little bit confusing, probably due to confusion by the writer or else translator or perhaps both. It appears that sections of the Tarim river have dried up and therefore the government has taken to "injecting" water somewhere, probably into the ground to raise the level of the underground aquifer. I will try to do an update on the situation if my time allows.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200011/03/eng20001103_54317.html
China Injects Water Into Dry River Course
China began discharging water into the dry lower reaches of the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China, at 1 pm Friday.
The operation, the second launched this year, is expected to play a very important role in maintaining sound ecology along the section of the Tarim River, experts said.
A total of 220 million cubic meters of water will be injected into the 180-kilometer section of the dry river course from Friday until February 15, 2001. The first operation between April 30 and July 20 sent 100 million cubic meters of water into the dry river section.
The 1,321-kilometer-long Tarim River runs from west to east along the northern verge of the Taklimakan Desert, the biggest moving desert in the country, and flows into the Taitema Lake in Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
The 320-kilometer-long section of the lower reaches of the river and the Taitema Lake dried up in 1972 following the construction of a reservoir on the river which blocked water from flowing into the lower reaches.
Sources from the local water resources department said that the water was diverted from the Bosten Lake, 530 kilometers away, into the Daxihaizi Reservoir, the current terminal of the Tarim River, and then discharged into the dry lower reaches.
Monitoring data of the Ministry of Water Resources show that the first water-injecting operation raised the underground water level of the river course by 3.15 meters, and remarkable increases were also recorded in areas along both banks of the river.
Zhang Fawang, director of the bureau for management of Tarim River valley, said that the current operation will help raise the underground water level by more than 3 meters on the current level.
Before the first water-injecting operation, the underground water level was seven to nine meters under the earth surface.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200011/03/eng20001103_54317.html
China Injects Water Into Dry River Course
China began discharging water into the dry lower reaches of the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China, at 1 pm Friday.
The operation, the second launched this year, is expected to play a very important role in maintaining sound ecology along the section of the Tarim River, experts said.
A total of 220 million cubic meters of water will be injected into the 180-kilometer section of the dry river course from Friday until February 15, 2001. The first operation between April 30 and July 20 sent 100 million cubic meters of water into the dry river section.
The 1,321-kilometer-long Tarim River runs from west to east along the northern verge of the Taklimakan Desert, the biggest moving desert in the country, and flows into the Taitema Lake in Xinjiang Autonomous Region.
The 320-kilometer-long section of the lower reaches of the river and the Taitema Lake dried up in 1972 following the construction of a reservoir on the river which blocked water from flowing into the lower reaches.
Sources from the local water resources department said that the water was diverted from the Bosten Lake, 530 kilometers away, into the Daxihaizi Reservoir, the current terminal of the Tarim River, and then discharged into the dry lower reaches.
Monitoring data of the Ministry of Water Resources show that the first water-injecting operation raised the underground water level of the river course by 3.15 meters, and remarkable increases were also recorded in areas along both banks of the river.
Zhang Fawang, director of the bureau for management of Tarim River valley, said that the current operation will help raise the underground water level by more than 3 meters on the current level.
Before the first water-injecting operation, the underground water level was seven to nine meters under the earth surface.
China Water: November 17, 2008: Xinjiang water plant on Tarim river
Xinjiang Builds Water-Efficiency Project
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is building a water-efficiency project at the headwater of the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China.
The total investment for the project is estimated at 2.5 billion yuan, of which, US$150 million (about 18 million yuan) will be provided by the World Bank.
The project is aimed to save water for agricultural use to irrigate a large track of diversiform-leaved poplar, which is withering as a result of a lack of water.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200011/17/eng20001117_55433.html
At present, farmers in Wensu county, which lies on the river's upper reaches, are repairing a 40-km-long canal to prevent seepage.
Neighboring Awat County has invested 58 million yuan to renovate a leaking 33-km-long irrigation canal. Upon completion, 60 million cubic meters of water will be saved annually.
The 1,321-kilometer Tarim River runs west to east along the northern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, the biggest moving desert in the country, and flows into the Taitema Lake in Xinjiang.
Due to the sharp increase in water use on the upper and middle reaches, the river has become shorter and shorter. At present, 320 kilometers of the river below the Daxihaizi Reservoir, the current end of the river, have dried up.
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is building a water-efficiency project at the headwater of the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China.
The total investment for the project is estimated at 2.5 billion yuan, of which, US$150 million (about 18 million yuan) will be provided by the World Bank.
The project is aimed to save water for agricultural use to irrigate a large track of diversiform-leaved poplar, which is withering as a result of a lack of water.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200011/17/eng20001117_55433.html
At present, farmers in Wensu county, which lies on the river's upper reaches, are repairing a 40-km-long canal to prevent seepage.
Neighboring Awat County has invested 58 million yuan to renovate a leaking 33-km-long irrigation canal. Upon completion, 60 million cubic meters of water will be saved annually.
The 1,321-kilometer Tarim River runs west to east along the northern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, the biggest moving desert in the country, and flows into the Taitema Lake in Xinjiang.
Due to the sharp increase in water use on the upper and middle reaches, the river has become shorter and shorter. At present, 320 kilometers of the river below the Daxihaizi Reservoir, the current end of the river, have dried up.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
off topic: Chinese fishermen kill Korean Coast Guard officer.
Clearly, it's been too long since I've done this as everything I find seems to be exciting to me. Completely off-topic but interesting nevertheless, particularly in lieu of misbehaviors in the past by the Chinese navy, the problems of clashes between Taiwanese and Chinese fishermen and their respective authorities, and the numbers used in the article which hint at an on-going problem larger than I'd ever suspected.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2008092727878
Coast Guard Found Dead After Fishing Boat Scuffle
Listen
SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 01:08
A Korean Coast Guard officer who tried to board a Chinese boat illegally fishing in Korea’s exclusive economic zone was thrown into the ocean and drowned yesterday after the Chinese crew resisted.
The Mokpo Coast Guard around 1:10 p.m. Friday found the body of Park Gyeong-jo, 48, a sergeant who had gone missing the previous day near Gageo Island off the coast of Shinan, South Jeolla Province.
In Korea, seizing illegally operating Chinese ships is like waging war. The Coast Guard often has to chase Chinese vessels in high waves or engage in a life-or-death battle against fishermen brandishing deadly weapons.
The following account is from the Mokpo Coast Guard’s investigation report.
▽ Pushed into the water by resisting fishermen
At 7 p.m. Thursday, a patrol vessel of the Mokpo Coast Guard detected two unidentified 50-ton Chinese fishing ships on its radar 70 kilometers west of Gageo Island within Korea’s exclusive economic zone.
Captain Kim Do-su looked through a telescope at the two Chinese ships, which hid their vessels’ names. He dispatched 17 officers to capture the vessels.
The Mokpo Coast Guard then ordered the Chinese ships to turn off their engines, as both vessels were only 300 meters away from the patrol ship. One of the fishing ships fled back toward China, but Korean officers in speedboats blocked the other ship’s way.
As three officers including Park tried to get onboard the captured fishing ship, some 10 Chinese fishermen resisted with iron pipes and shovels and also threw empty bottles and fishing gear.
The three officers used gas guns and clubs against the fishermen, but were all pushed by them. Park fell in the sea while the other two officers fell on the boat.
While maritime police searched for Park, the Chinese ship escaped. At 1:10 p.m. Friday, or 18 hours after he went missing, Park was found dead in a lifejacket six kilometers south from the scene of the scuffle.
Park began his law enforcement career in 1990 and had worked on patrol ships and for Mokpo police. He had served as the patrol ship’s weapons manager since March this year.
Around 10 p.m. Thursday, the Coast Guard captured the second Chinese vessel that fled to China with 11 sailors on board 200 kilometers west from the island of Hongdo.
“Though no external problem was found in the initial autopsy, we cannot rule out that his death was caused by a weapon. So we will conduct a full autopsy Saturday,” said a Coast Guard official.
▽ Deadly battles with Chinese fishermen
Three years ago, four Korean Coast Guard officers were seriously wounded after being beaten with iron pipes by Chinese sailors whose ship was about to be seized for illegal operations within Korean waters.
On May 24, the Incheon Coast Guard attempted to seize two Chinese ships that crossed into Korean waters to illegally fish 43 kilometers west of Baekryeong Island.
Twelve Korean officers approached the Chinese ships in two speedboats. Six of them boarded one of the ships and subdued the crew, but the remaining six faced strong resistance from 18 Chinese fishermen wielding iron pipes.
During the clash, a Korean sergeant was hit by an iron pipe and collapsed. Chinese fishermen threw him into the ocean and the rest of the Korean officers jumped in the water to rescue him. The two Chinese vessels fled but were later captured.
Members of the Korean Coast Guard risk their lives in cracking down on Chinese boats illegally fishing in Korean waters. Though Chinese ships no longer “sweep” fish, some unlicensed ships still illegally catch fish secretly at night, when supervision is more difficult.
Chinese fishermen fiercely resist arrest to avoid tens of millions of won in fines if caught fishing without permission.
“We go on patrol with gas guns, clubs and electric shock devices, but it’s very difficult to subdue them in the ocean,” said a Mokpo Coast Guard officer. “It’s frightening when they put up a life-or-death fight. I felt my life threatened many times.”
This year alone, 159 Chinese ships have been captured for illegal operations. Though a record-high 584 Chinese ships were captured in 2005, the number has since fallen, dropping to 494 last year.
http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2008092727878
Coast Guard Found Dead After Fishing Boat Scuffle
Listen
SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 01:08
A Korean Coast Guard officer who tried to board a Chinese boat illegally fishing in Korea’s exclusive economic zone was thrown into the ocean and drowned yesterday after the Chinese crew resisted.
The Mokpo Coast Guard around 1:10 p.m. Friday found the body of Park Gyeong-jo, 48, a sergeant who had gone missing the previous day near Gageo Island off the coast of Shinan, South Jeolla Province.
In Korea, seizing illegally operating Chinese ships is like waging war. The Coast Guard often has to chase Chinese vessels in high waves or engage in a life-or-death battle against fishermen brandishing deadly weapons.
The following account is from the Mokpo Coast Guard’s investigation report.
▽ Pushed into the water by resisting fishermen
At 7 p.m. Thursday, a patrol vessel of the Mokpo Coast Guard detected two unidentified 50-ton Chinese fishing ships on its radar 70 kilometers west of Gageo Island within Korea’s exclusive economic zone.
Captain Kim Do-su looked through a telescope at the two Chinese ships, which hid their vessels’ names. He dispatched 17 officers to capture the vessels.
The Mokpo Coast Guard then ordered the Chinese ships to turn off their engines, as both vessels were only 300 meters away from the patrol ship. One of the fishing ships fled back toward China, but Korean officers in speedboats blocked the other ship’s way.
As three officers including Park tried to get onboard the captured fishing ship, some 10 Chinese fishermen resisted with iron pipes and shovels and also threw empty bottles and fishing gear.
The three officers used gas guns and clubs against the fishermen, but were all pushed by them. Park fell in the sea while the other two officers fell on the boat.
While maritime police searched for Park, the Chinese ship escaped. At 1:10 p.m. Friday, or 18 hours after he went missing, Park was found dead in a lifejacket six kilometers south from the scene of the scuffle.
Park began his law enforcement career in 1990 and had worked on patrol ships and for Mokpo police. He had served as the patrol ship’s weapons manager since March this year.
Around 10 p.m. Thursday, the Coast Guard captured the second Chinese vessel that fled to China with 11 sailors on board 200 kilometers west from the island of Hongdo.
“Though no external problem was found in the initial autopsy, we cannot rule out that his death was caused by a weapon. So we will conduct a full autopsy Saturday,” said a Coast Guard official.
▽ Deadly battles with Chinese fishermen
Three years ago, four Korean Coast Guard officers were seriously wounded after being beaten with iron pipes by Chinese sailors whose ship was about to be seized for illegal operations within Korean waters.
On May 24, the Incheon Coast Guard attempted to seize two Chinese ships that crossed into Korean waters to illegally fish 43 kilometers west of Baekryeong Island.
Twelve Korean officers approached the Chinese ships in two speedboats. Six of them boarded one of the ships and subdued the crew, but the remaining six faced strong resistance from 18 Chinese fishermen wielding iron pipes.
During the clash, a Korean sergeant was hit by an iron pipe and collapsed. Chinese fishermen threw him into the ocean and the rest of the Korean officers jumped in the water to rescue him. The two Chinese vessels fled but were later captured.
Members of the Korean Coast Guard risk their lives in cracking down on Chinese boats illegally fishing in Korean waters. Though Chinese ships no longer “sweep” fish, some unlicensed ships still illegally catch fish secretly at night, when supervision is more difficult.
Chinese fishermen fiercely resist arrest to avoid tens of millions of won in fines if caught fishing without permission.
“We go on patrol with gas guns, clubs and electric shock devices, but it’s very difficult to subdue them in the ocean,” said a Mokpo Coast Guard officer. “It’s frightening when they put up a life-or-death fight. I felt my life threatened many times.”
This year alone, 159 Chinese ships have been captured for illegal operations. Though a record-high 584 Chinese ships were captured in 2005, the number has since fallen, dropping to 494 last year.
China Water: September 27, 2008: China corn situation.
A bit off-topic, but seemingly important nevertheless. USGC stands for the US Grain Council, an organization that works to develop increased opportunites for the export of US grains.
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=255786
9/26/2008 10:54:00 AM
USGC: Feed Demand Growing In China, Acreage Maxed
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 26, 2008 � Higher corn yields are expected in China for 2008 compared to 2007 resulting in 153.54 million metric tons (6 billion bushels), said Cary Sifferath, U.S. Grains Council senior director in China. Sifferath and Charles Ring of the Texas Corn Producers Board toured corn fields in the Northeastern provinces of Heilonjiang and Jilin, China to assess the corn crop and formulate an estimate of this year�s harvest. The tour consisted of four groups of agriculturists evaluating nearly 300 cornfields.
�Our number this year shows a 1.13 percent increase over the government�s number last year which was 151.86 million tons (6 billion bushels),� Sifferath said. �It seems there will be better yield numbers this year although there were spots of drought, wind and hail damage in some areas.� Sifferath said the national average yield for all provinces is 5.28 tons per hectare (84 bushels per acre) with Jilin province showing the highest yield the tour saw in terms of production at 111 bushels per acre. �Production acreage has been capped as the government is trying to set up regulations to contain the loss of farm land. Any increases in corn acreage are done so at the expense of another crop,� he said.
Despite the improved yield numbers in 2008, there seems to be little sign that China will begin exporting corn anytime soon as the government has been trying to control food inflation. �The government has virtually shut down exports of corn, wheat and rice. Other than a few sales trying to go through, there are no real exports going on at all, Sifferath said.� He also said feed demand in China is increasing with more corn going into the country�s swine industry, among others.
In terms of annual stock numbers in China, there are no official numbers but according to JCI, an economic analysis company which joined the tour, the estimated number for 2008 is 32 million tons (126 million bushels) compared to last year�s number of 43 million tons (1.6 billion bushels), said Sam Niu, USGC assistant director in China.
�The farmers in China are very efficient with what they have,� observed Ring. �They don�t waste anything and family is the central point of their work.� The U.S. Grains Council�s China Corn Tour is conducted every year in the absence of reliable corn crop estimates from the Chinese government authorities.
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Content.asp?ContentID=255786
9/26/2008 10:54:00 AM
USGC: Feed Demand Growing In China, Acreage Maxed
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 26, 2008 � Higher corn yields are expected in China for 2008 compared to 2007 resulting in 153.54 million metric tons (6 billion bushels), said Cary Sifferath, U.S. Grains Council senior director in China. Sifferath and Charles Ring of the Texas Corn Producers Board toured corn fields in the Northeastern provinces of Heilonjiang and Jilin, China to assess the corn crop and formulate an estimate of this year�s harvest. The tour consisted of four groups of agriculturists evaluating nearly 300 cornfields.
�Our number this year shows a 1.13 percent increase over the government�s number last year which was 151.86 million tons (6 billion bushels),� Sifferath said. �It seems there will be better yield numbers this year although there were spots of drought, wind and hail damage in some areas.� Sifferath said the national average yield for all provinces is 5.28 tons per hectare (84 bushels per acre) with Jilin province showing the highest yield the tour saw in terms of production at 111 bushels per acre. �Production acreage has been capped as the government is trying to set up regulations to contain the loss of farm land. Any increases in corn acreage are done so at the expense of another crop,� he said.
Despite the improved yield numbers in 2008, there seems to be little sign that China will begin exporting corn anytime soon as the government has been trying to control food inflation. �The government has virtually shut down exports of corn, wheat and rice. Other than a few sales trying to go through, there are no real exports going on at all, Sifferath said.� He also said feed demand in China is increasing with more corn going into the country�s swine industry, among others.
In terms of annual stock numbers in China, there are no official numbers but according to JCI, an economic analysis company which joined the tour, the estimated number for 2008 is 32 million tons (126 million bushels) compared to last year�s number of 43 million tons (1.6 billion bushels), said Sam Niu, USGC assistant director in China.
�The farmers in China are very efficient with what they have,� observed Ring. �They don�t waste anything and family is the central point of their work.� The U.S. Grains Council�s China Corn Tour is conducted every year in the absence of reliable corn crop estimates from the Chinese government authorities.
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