Excellent analysis and no doubt in part relevant. Also relevant are the minerals and the strategic geographic position of Tibet to China.

However it is analysed, justified or whatever, Tibet remains an INVADED country. It is sad that the world unlike say Kosovo, can turn a blind eye to the fact that it an invaded sovereign nation.
Obviously the Olympic Games as a profile stage comes to mind and the world could make a powerful statement to China.

Get out!

Very illuminating. I’ve always known that China’s claims to Tibet are purely strategic, and have nothing to do with cultural or historical affinities. This essay goes a long way in addressing why.

The sad truth about international treaties is that the worst perpetrators refuse to sign them. As with the US and its refusal to sign international agreements to ban further development of nuclear weapons, it’s hard to know how China’s intended theft of the Brahmaputra can be monitored, minimised or stopped. The other big worry is that both China and India are nuclear powers

LOOKING THROUGH THE KEYHOLE of our future.

Anyone trying to understand the following:

a) International relations.
b) Causes of war.
c) Arrogance of humans
d) Relative Morality....

...MUST.. repeat MUST... do the background reading of the history of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indo/Pakistan war, the roles of (and alliance status of) the USA, USSR, China, France, UK in relations to those wars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_War_of_1971

Some surprises. Pakistan was a brutal, inhuman, sadistic state, which perpetrated unspeakable cruelties against both Muslim Bengali's and Hindu intellectuals in Bangladesh.

<<The war ignited after the 1970 Pakistani election, in which the East Pakistani Awami League won 167 of 169 seats in East Pakistan, thus securing a simple majority in the 313-seat lower house of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament of Pakistan)>>

Strategically, Bangladesh represented a 2nd arm of a natural pincer movement against India, so it was in Indian interests to split the governments of East and West Pakistan.

WATER WARS? u betcha... After reading the above (background) we can then assess what China might do re the Brahma Putera.

THEN...IT GETS COMPLICATED. Looking at how the USA and USSR were postured during the Indo Pakistan war, it becomes abundantly clear that the ONLY thing guiding the behavior of them, is..'national interest' not justice or morality.

How this pans out when (not if) China begins to exploit Tibetan resources at India's and Bangladesh's expense and in it's own national interest.

If we think we will escape the impact/outcome, it would be naivity in the extreme, and, how we posture ourselves re China, will be... most interesting.

Words like "Tolerance, Mutual Respect, Peace" are utterly devoid or meaning or relevance in all this.

I see it as already too late to stop a conflict over such events as "someone pinching our water".
Revelation 9:16 and 16:12 speaks about a huge asian confederacy army moving across asia and killing 1/3 of mankind. This army is destined to cross the Euphrates River and move on to Armageddon. Sooner or later something is going to stir up the far east asian armies and then they move outwards. It could be the coming European antichrist (the Beast) or maybe a clash with India and China over water. Its inevitable that war will come to that region. All three nations of India, Pakistan and China hate each other. Their differing spirit worship will always make it so. The spirit worship each has will always see that each will never get above being third world.
Where the Holy Bible settled we see the rich nations...the blessed nations...where the other religious beliefs were founded (by the dark side) they remain third world today.
You never noticed?

Ever noticed how the "blessed nations" are rich because they exploit the "spirit worshiping third world nations?" Not very Christian behaviour. Or is it?

Gibo people in third world countries don't deserve the raw deal that christains have meted out.

Thousands of years after coming in contact with Africa, Europeans only got a toehold in Africa in the 1880s. In South Africa the Boers armed with their bibles and their Lee-Enfield and Springfield rifles overcame the blacks. Rifle technology improved dramatically in the US civil war in the 1860s

The English forced China into a disastrous opium trade.

Europeans "started arriving as traders and later took advantage of the fractious nature of relations between the kingdoms to establish colonies in the country"

One could argue that Christians took opportunistic advantage of the people they met.

Naomi Klein argues that the United States through the agency of the CIA, IMF and Worldbank continue to systematically oppress all those who ask for american aid.

Theres always been bad eggs Wildwood (is that the wildwood out of the Wind in the Willows? Great novel).
If we have a close look at it all The New Testament, once up and running (thanks to the testimony of the Apostles and the believers... much by mouth in those early days), travelled far and wide and where it did settle and became part of the culture, many became born again christians and got the opportunities for prosperity (which isnt all about money) and "quieter civilisation".
Where The Word got resisted those nations didnt prosper as well, especially when they went over to killing the christian missionaries and refused to let go of their witchcraft practices.
The dark continent remains mostly the dark continent because of the spirit activity and suffers accordingly. Massacres all over the places, disease, poverty.
Along with the Bible and its journey also came, sadly so, the scoundrels bent on wealth through cutting corners.
Raping the land and the indigenous women.
We see it out here with the early station hands not able to keep their hands of the aborigine women and subsequently a series of mass killings of aborigines all over the early colony...the Myall River massacre the grossest event.
Billie.
Theres was always been scoundrels who got into government and intelligence services who brought bad events. They got in and manipulated situations and simpler peoples in other lands, for this reason or for that, for fame and greed.
Wheeling and dealing behind closed doors...its the other story of mankind.
Kindness on the one hand, people loving other people...greed and murder on the other.
The bad comes with the good. The Cain with the Abel.
Christians dont call it a fallen world for nothing.
The original "spearhead" was to get the Good News out. Not all who travelling on that paved road wanted the Good News though.
Christianity, for the committed, is really about faith in what Christ did on the Cross for each of us.
Jesus Saves if we trust in Him.
Money isnt really it...though many will chase it to their ill health.

Billie is exactly right---it was the MAXIM GUNS that made the difference and enabled us whiteys to conquer everyone else.

Dear Billy and WildOne...

you blokes would benefit greatly in familiarizing yourselves with the Biblical concept which resulted in followers of the Lord Jesus Christ being termed "Christians"....

Then, you may be in a better position to discuss meaningfully the ebb and flow of history, without confusing 'Person' with 'Christian'.. as there is a heck of a difference.

A Person, can have no faith or faith in anything..

A Christian, is one who has repented of all known sin, and embraced Christ Jesus as their Lord, Savior and Master.

Given that Jesus said

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

He has some choice words for those who did not do kindness to the needy, and I would not want to be in their shoes at Judgement day.
Please read Matthew 25.. the whole chapter, and you will know why I labor this point about the difference between "person" and "Christian"

If China cannot get what it wants by stealth it will take it by force.

Another bunkum article to fool simple minds. Lots of claims, if not deliberately misleading, lack of research.

First, There is no program on diverting the Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra River currently, there are always some proposal on diverting some water from Yarlung, but it is "unnecessary, uneconomically and lack of research" at present.

Second, Yarlung river is over 2 thousand Km long and covers 240 thousand Km2 in China, its outflow from China is 1400B m3. Making good use of and diverting some water is quite reasonable, it is not violate international law, of course, full consultation with China’s downstream neighbors is necessary.

Third, China did serious research and consultation with related parties before construction of any big project. China spent near a century on research before building Three Gorge's dam. As trans-national Lancang/Mekong river, there are full consultation with each other between regional countries and almost every regional country bulit dams on Mekong river. Of course, as usual, west criticise China’s construction of dams on Lancang river. But, regional countries are enjoying quite good relationship, although sometimes there are conflict interest.

War, what war? China has weak defence force in boundary with India, it demonstrates that China is confident on not only its defence but also its relationship with India, although everyone knows some powers use India to contain China.

As in every country, the most easiest task on any complex project is to report complaint/criticism, while overall assessment needs professional knowledge and diligent research.

“The reason for China's intransigence on Tibet is simple”: Tibet is historically as part of China as “Hutt River Principality ” Australian is.

Arthur

An excellent article highlighting yet another side of China.

Your articles and comment provided me with some direction in searching the net for answers but I almost overlooked your reference to cancer villagers in your "Does China deserve a fair go." I first assumed that these were recuperation centres for cancer sufferers.

How wrong was that!

My students and I were horrified and disgusted when searching the net for cancer villages in China. Entire village communities are not only suffering and/or dying of cancer from lethal air pollution and their only water source contaminated by toxic industrial waste and sewage, but they also know that they cannot afford to move.

That this is occurring at all is outrageous, but when seeking legal recourse against those responsible, the courts refuse to hear, or reject the claims out of hand. Those speaking out suffer at the hands of the police or jailed by the courts meant to protect them. As for the "responsible" local government? Difficult; since the factories "provide employment". Health care? What is that!

Because of the increasing impact of China on our economy and future, we are now forming study groups to research many of the points that you, AgScientist, Expat China Journo and David DuByne have raised to obtain a broader understanding of China and rights abuse that now appears to go well beyond Tibet.

We would be totally ignorant of China's "other side" without articles and comment from your four. David DuByne's explanation of the meaning of "face" and implications in its use was excellent and explained many things. Virtual translation? Half truths, lies and damned lies.

Thank you all for your input and keep the articles and comment coming.

Cyclops

Romany

You ridiculed Arthur by stating his input could be found in the public domain. That is as obvious as you also using the net. With such vastness, however where does one start without knowing what problems exist?

Reading Dialectic Blue, Graeme and Kaixin and then Arthur, David, AgScientist and Expat China Journo, two different China's emerge. Difficult to research the former, but with the leads provided by the latter, easy to establish the credibility or not for ourselves. No bias or opinion, just direction.

Associates and I are only now discovering that we know very little about China other than its highly promoted tourism, economic boom and Olympics, and intend to rectify that for ourselves and our students.

Only now are we starting to realise that the problem of Tibet may only be one of what appears to be many serious credibility problems for China. We hear of religious persecution in general throughout China. Now we know about the North Korean refugees forcibly returned to face brutal measures and the Shaanxi brick kiln child slavery. . A new picture of China is emerging, one that not only has zero regard for the basic rights of ethnic and religious minorities under its care, but now the health, safety and basic rights for its own citizens and disregard for the rights and international responsibilities for the future of its neighbours.

The wider reasons for international support for the Tibet uprising are now becoming clearer.

We found many obvious bias sites that would include China state media, Falun Gong, Free Tibet and likely CIA and treat content accordingly after further research.

For any government to spend the billions on the 2008 Games when such abuse and shortages exist is criminal, irresponsible and definitely unforgivable.

Cyclops

Cyclops,

I am appalled that you are influencing students and others due to the input you received from certain posters because you consider that information easier to find.(Especially as one of them researched the "fact" that I was male, Chinese and part of the CCP’s covert propaganda machine!)

I sincerely hope you are balancing this with information such as that in the Economist of May 5th which explains that the Chinese Centre for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims - which was established in 1998 - records 60,000 citizen organised (i.e. independent of Government), protests against pollution last year alone? And that multi-National Companies were responsible for 260 reported incidents of water pollution infringements and 50 incidents of air pollution last year.

As the top 7 companies involved were Pepsi, KFC, Carlsburg, Nestle, GM, Dupont and 3M (Eye on the Earth Feb.6) perhaps you should be directing students away from these products?

Have you told them that the world's largest cow-dung methane power plant which is the sole source of energy for 30,000 households is also in China? http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5599

Have you got them to research the Green Loans Initiative launched in July '07 (using market tools, not Government initiatives)? They would then know that the China Banking Regulatory Commission, in November last year had blacklisted 12 of the most notoriously heavy polluters whose loans were cancelled, suspended or rejected? And that since '06 a total of 16.7 million RMB had been withdrawn from companies which infringed regulations and four times that amount was distributed to companies which adopted Green initiatives? http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5604

Did you go back and read my last posts on the other China thread in which I provided links to another country whose human rights, pollution, totalitarian government and surveillance record is every bit as bad as China? Have you also given this information to your students to provide them with a balanced worldview? To balance the China polemic try:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/25/3410/
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/11/07/156211&mode=thread&tid=25
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewarticle&code=CHI20070521&articleId=5720
http://ipsnorthamerica.net/print.php?idnews=1008

ps As an educator your use of language is careless:. Nowhere did I "ridicule" Arthur. You obviously misunderstood my point.

Centra

Some components of the original concept were quite correctly rejected as totally impractical. The project itself however is continuing and we will come to realize in the near future.

In the meantime, spend some time doing open DETAILED research on the problems being experienced by Three Gorges. Go back and check why advice by some of China's own eminent engineers and experts (especially the late Prof Huang Manli) was rejected. In the 1992 NPC session, 33% of the members abstained from voting for the dam. Check why Hu Jintao has distanced himself from the project. All photos of Hu were removed from the dam's exhibition hall. Notice none of the leadership turned up for the Hallmark Dam Completion Ceremony May 2006? Unlike all previous dam events it was not even shown live on China Central TV. Very unusual to miss such publicity opportunity for such an icon project.

Landslides, mortalities and continuing community relocations have been caused by the rising waters as the reservoir fills. Other problems include methane, massive algal blooms, contaminated water supplies (check on Chongqing), reservoir pollution, landslides, floating debris endangering shipping, and downstream siltation just to name a few. Don’t bother blaming drought either. As for humanitarian suffering, the original relocation estimate of 1.13 million citizens to make way for the dam has rocketed by an additional 4 million to 5.15 million, directly attributable to landslides, poor soils and even worse planning. Many of theses poor souls are in their third evacuation and lacking adequate compensation.

Great planning record indeed. By the way did you know that China is hiring a major US environmental consultancy firm to overcome Three Gorges Dam management problems? Another bit of information for you - the Three Gorges cannot meet one of its major objectives, flood control.

Continued

Continuing

Centra, get another source with up to date and more reliable information. Why not enter the world of reality by also checking out the increasing number of problems on the downstream Mekong in Laos and Thailand; especially the extensive river erosion caused by the blasting of the bars and rapids in Laos that once controlled the flow. Traders are experiencing increasing problems with the continual groundings of the larger river vessels introduced by China to monopolize river traffic trade. As the energy of the river declines, the salt tide will penetrate further up through the Mekong delta. I am sure that the Vietnamese will be overjoyed and I am sure that the neighbours are happy since Xinhua says it is so.

Try reading the many independent reports available, many are free while you may have to pay for some of them, but they do make interesting and realistic reading for those who genuinely want to understand the problems and know the truth. There is also some imagery available to support the foregoing, also at a cost.

Better still, go and take a boat trip down the Mekong from Yunnan between January and April and see it on the ground for yourself and talk to the natives, especially between Chiang Saen and Xihounbanna. Especially talk to the shipping agents and try and get confirmed schedules into China.

I assume that you do have open internet satellite access.

Ag Scientist.

Ag Scientist,

>>spend some time doing open DETAILED research on the problems being experienced by Three Gorges ...<<

I am working in aeronautic and space industry right now. No matter how much time I spend, I can not figure out even the part of the problems in the Three Gorges dam project, and quite sure there will be continuous new problem come out in the future, as my project experience in other area told me. But I still try to understand the project according to non-China media (most based on pure scientific international periodicals): over a trillion ton water runs off from hundreds to thousands of metres high in west China to sea level in east China can generate great power and possibly cause big damage. The dam creates a reservoir to store maxim 39 billion m3 water, it does improve the flood control. The downstream is China's most prosperous aera for over a thousand years. Considering, hundreds of people lost their lives and billions of dollars property damaged by severe flood almost annually. Also power generated by the project equivalents to 40-50 million tons of raw coal annually, this is clean renewable energy.

Frankly, overall assessment of this project is out of ability of any single individual. I do not think this is a perfect project, but at least this is not an evil project. That's why we need balanced information.

As trans-national Lancang/Mekong river, compare the regional countries, basically, they did the same thing on the river.
There are interest conflict which I did mentioned, but I also noticed they cooperate well. On Yarlung /Brahmaputra River, did you notice what project planed in India? Half of the river is in China and outflow from China is over a trillion ton annually, making good use of and diverting some water is nothing wrong.

Hi Centra

FYI summary Three Gorges.

Originally proposed for flood control.

1958. Chinese and Soviet experts advised Mao that flood control alone could not justify construction. Redesigned for hydropower generation and shipping navigation.

Domestic and foreign experts warned flood control capability was exaggerated and that cheaper and more effective options were available. This advice was ignored.

Canada alone initiated the project by funding the US$14M feasibility study, restricting dam height to 160m and forecast seismic and other activities that would trigger landslides in over 150 areas. China wanted 180m to meet SNWDP demand.

Landslides occurred in 1500 areas when reservoir water level reached only 135m, 10 times predictions. That increased to more than 4,700 by 2007 with more than 1,000 villages forced to relocate. Slips and relocations continue.

Another critical problem being experienced is that new residential buildings constructed in the 3GD area were not designed to withstand tremors. Moderate to severe seismic events could prove catastrophic for residents.

Existing dam design cannot meet current demand plus the additional South North Water Diversion Project requirement to meet Beijing's increasing demand.

Three Gorges has an operating storage capacity of 22.15Bm3 from which 16.50B m3 (75%) is allocated for Power generation and Yangtze navigation, whilst only 5.65B m3 (25%) is allocated for flood-control. The Yangtze one month flood peak can be up to 100Bm3.

3GD cannot control downstream flooding caused by inflow from Yangtze's 6 major middle/lower reaches. Check on non drought reasons for downstream sedimentation resulting from dam discharge.

Construction of upstream dams is to minimize 3GD sedimentation rather than hydro generation. Because of the nature of the particles in the sediment, turbine damage could be severe.

There are many verifiable technical data sources on 3GD worldwide.

If I can help just ask, dynamics is the key to both rivers.

AgScientist

Romany

I am afraid I can no longer take you seriously and concur with Expat China Journo's response to your last comment in "Does China Deserve a Fair Go etc". Your choice of some website references did not help.

My associates and students formed dedicated teams to focus on identifying specific problems and biased sites on the internet. Without first determining the capability or tertiary level of the students, you consider them incapable of reason and hold yourself out as the only one capable of sorting through the mire of China web reporting, while at the same time appear to rely solely on the web for your comment.

The students have received a comprehensive and detailed presentation by a respected foreign journalist on media protocols for those operating in China. He also provided an invaluable and detailed insight into what can and does happen. True there are many brave souls trying desperately to make a difference, but look at the personal price they pay. Change in China will come, and it will come from Beijing's ongoing mistakes,abuse and those who protest.

Today, another presentation by a consulting engineer with experience in China took us through energy in China and also reviewed David DuByne's excellent article on biogas, explaining the problems, failures, limitations and successes of alternative energies in China.

Because of David's ecxcellent explanation of "face" and the intense role that it plays in Chinese culture, business, government and media, do you consider that biased or that he is ill informed?

Selective quoting is useless without seeking all relevant and balancing arguments.

Yet as Expat China Journo pointed out, you admit a lack of extensive experience in China yet you try to impose your ideas on others. When you criticize, apply your own rules before commenting.

Cyclops

cyclops "True there are many brave souls trying desperately to make a difference...Change in China will come, and it will come from Beijing's ongoing mistakes,abuse and those who protest..."

But, survey shows that support to Chinese central government or CCP is soaring recently, not only in mainland, but also in HongKong etc.

Most TianAnMing protestors who embraced west 20 years ago, now turn to embracing Chinese government, although they are not satisfied with CCP.

Falun Gong, Free Tibet, pro democracy dissidents etc, all get a lot of supports from west governments, including media and financial support; but they all share poor reputation, if not notorious, in Chinese societies who know both sides stories. Even CCP found the catholicon: let the dissidents go to west democratic countries. Then all the influence of these dissidents will die out, at the same time, CCP avoided dispute with west in human rights etc. In past 30 years, no dissident was successful in getting support from Chinese societies.

Cyclops,

If you would rather not take me seriously and prefer to believe that I am a Chinese bloke who works for the CPP and has to get special government clearance to post here, then that is your prerogative.

However, I repeat the offer I made to Expat Journalist: I will readily give permission to either Grahame Young or Susan Prior to confirm that I am exactly who I say I am: Western, female, journo now into her third year of living and working in China where I teach at a University.

Thus my experience is not "extensive" but does have the advantage of having been gained through living and working here. It will also clear your mind of the idea that: "[You] appear to rely solely on the web for your comment".

I am at a loss as to how you arrive at the conclusions that I "hold [myself] out as the only one capable of sorting through the mire of China web reporting". I read back over my posts and consider I made it abundantly clear that I was merely illustrating how web sources can be manipulated to back up differing points of view.

My objections to lack of balance hold true in regard to any subject, not just China as I also made perfectly clear.

I remain at a lost to know why I am continually being accused of railing at, deriding or in any other way insulting Arthur. I don't even know the man. He put an article out into the public domain. I commented on it.

It was a valid comment regarding provenance and anyone who has ever written for the public domain would recognise this.

Co-incidentally those who have been so shrill in their denunciations have a) never before posted on OLO, b) posted only on Arthur's threads.

If I WAS into conspiracy theories I would probably assume that these posters have some personal agenda which drives their rather over-heated and highly imaginative responses to my posts.

Centra Three Gorges Data

Your claim that "most based on pure scientific international periodicals" is incorrect.

China began seeking funding from the world's financial markets in the 1990s. World Bank, Asian Development Bank, aid and loan facilities from many countries plus international commercial banks were but a few. Many seminars were held in China and major global commercial centres.

Construction of a dam this size is not just an exercise in civil and mechanical engineering. It is a highly complex undertaking requiring detailed multi disciplinary input beyond dam design and construction.

Potential lenders and investors subjected the concept to detailed investigation that included expert opinion in geology, hydrology, seismology, soil and water sciences, environmental sciences, meteorology, demographics, logistics, town planning and infrastructure development, economics to name but a few.

3GD is the world's most scrutinized dam project with information stored in databases spread across the world (not just international periodicals). These include confidential corporate, consultancy and individual professional's databases not available on the net. Assessment of any project of this magnitude does not rely on the data, calculations or assumption provided by the client. Extensive independent assessments range from on ground inspections, analysis of logs and methodologies used, to remote sensing and imagery plus research through available current and historical data. This is not only relative to the Yangtze itself, but also includes the contributing seismic and catchment factors of the Three Parallel Rivers region and the Qinghai Tibet plateau as well as the projected economic planning and returns from the dam itself. Much of the projections have been proven correct, even underestimated. Seismic activity, other than that from the reservoir water itself, has yet to be experienced. The monitoring is ongoing and data is continually updated from reliable technical sources, networking and regular site visits.

Arthur Thomas

Centra on Yarlung Tsangpo Data

Included in the 7th and 8th 5-Year Plans, it is part of the budget and planning for the Western Route of the SNWDP and expenditure is incorporated in the latest 11th 5-Year Plan.

Since first announced there has been considerable interest in this project and China has sought foreign advice on several related matters.

Your conclusions unfortunately are over simplistic and do not address the multiple inputs that contribute to the highly complex dynamics of a river from headwaters to delta. The flow of course is not constant year round. There are also substantial problems to be addressed in the transfer of the flow to the Yellow and possibly the option of the Yangtze headwaters.

China is already experiencing severe problems on many of its major rivers by failing to address many problems. Sanmenxia is only just one prime example while downstream from 3GD the Gezhouba reservoir and the Yangtze itself are experiencing the problems of reduced velocities and sedimentation.

Arthur Thomas

Arthur on China water project and pollution etc

What China did was trying his best effort to build a sustainable water system, although there are mismanagement and controversy. I have to admit that assessment on any water project is well beyond my knowledge. But the point is that should China give up his effort to cope with the nature, because it is impossible to fully understand the whole nature?

Some knowledge on nature such as seismic activity is well above human ability, even in predictable future. Is there any special meaning anyone want to imply from 3GD.

Whether 3GD is positive or negative on seismic activity in the region is beyond anyone's knowledge currently. 75 years ago, a horrendous earthquake in Wenchuan, Sicuan, China, almost extinguished local residents. Yesterday a similar earthquake jolted Wenchuan minority autonomous region again, where most residents are ethnic Qiang, Tibetan, Han, Hui etc. (China is taking all-out efforts to help those affected by the earthquake. Tens of thousands of armed forces from east China are advancing towards the disaster-hit regions.)

Looking at history, how much civilization vanished in the nature due to their inability to cope with the nature, while today, China still benefits from some huge water project built thousands of years ago. China probably is the most experienced in dealing with water system in thousands of years.

When Australian people breathe fresh air and drink clear water in Australia, they should understand that it is not mainly because Australia is a democratic/freedom/responsible country, whose people against "nuclear waste" or "paper pulp factory", it is because Australia shift pollution/waste to other part of the earth.

The big picture is that west comsume too much resource and shift most of pollution to other countries.