DR. SAWRAJ SINGH
INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS / EDITORIAL
China is making development of renewableenergy sources as one of its majorpriorities. To this effect, it is boosting itswind power. China realizes that fossilfuels are limited and are going todecrease. Fossil fuels also contributegreatly to air pollution and rapid climatechange. Many Chinese cities have problemswith air quality and air pollution.Moreover, China feels that the decreasingsupply of fossil fuels will lead to anincrease in their price. China also feelsthat it can reduce the price of technologyinvolved in renewable energy, therebymaking it economically more attractive,particularly to the third world countriesof Asia, Africa, and Latin America.China has embarked in a big wayto increase its wind power. In the next 6years, China is going to double its numberof wind turbines. China is already theworld’s largest producer of wind power.At present it produces 75 gigawatts(GW).By 2020, China wants to increaseits wind power production to 200 GWs.The combined production of theEuropean Union countries is about 90GW. The western province of Xinjiang isone of seven major areas of developmentbecause this area has strong wind interms of amount and velocity.Along with price, China is also decreasingthe time required to install a new windturbine. 7 years ago, it took 2 days toinstall a wind turbine. Now, two wind turbinescan be installed in just one day.Even at present, China leads the world ininstalled wind power capacity. The followingdata is the percentage of installedwind power capacity in the world:China 26.7%U.S. 21.2%Germany 11.1%Spain 8.1%India 6.5%U.K. 3%Canada 2.2%Rest of World 14%Source: GWECStill, at present, wind power generatesonly 2% of China’s electricity whereascoal contributes 75%. However, the contributionof wind power is increasing. Italready has become the third largestsource, beating nuclear energy, andbehind coal and hydropower.The renewable energy sources such aswind, sun, and water, are much betterthan fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Usingrenewable energy sources leads to moreharmony with nature and reduces air pollution.At present, oil is one of the majorair pollutants. With a constantly increasingnumber of vehicles, air pollutionfrom diesel and petrol (gasoline) hasbecome the largest source of air pollutionin many cities of the world. Thecities in the third world countries are farmore adversely affected. These cities arevery congested and, in many cases, measuresto control air pollution are very marginalthere.The western capitalist countries havedeliberately suppressed the developmentof renewable energy sources. The multinationalcorporations have monopolizedoil and gas production as well as their distribution.They are reaping huge profits.The western capitalists are primarily concernedabout maximizing their profits.They are not very concerned about theenvironmental and social consequencesof their quest for profit.The third world countries are doubly hitby western greed and arrogance. On onehand, western countries exploit their naturalresources at a much lower price thanshould be paid by the principle of fairexchange. On the other hand, the westerncountries show no concern for theirenvironment, social stability, or health.Renewable energy sources support analternate model of development. Thewestern capitalist model of developmentis miserably failing in the third worldcountries. Some are paying a huge environmentaland health price. Others arepaying a heavy price in social stability.These developments have lead to chaosbordering on anarchy. Air pollution,water pollution, and land pollution arecommon in many third world countries.There are some gated communities forthe elite. However, for the vast majorityof people, congestion, pollution, andfilth are the rewards which the westerncapitalist model of development hasbrought them. The gap between the eliteand the masses is constantly widening.There are numerous studies which showthat as this gap widens, the health of thepeople suffers.Developing renewable sources of energyis a part of an alternate model of development.In the final analysis, developmentof renewable sources of energyand alternative health care are basedupon Eastern concepts. These conceptsare based upon principles such as universalconcern, universal welfare, dedicationand moderation, as opposed to westernindividualism, arrogance, selfishness,greed, and extravagance.I feel Sri Guru Granth Sahib representsthe continuous evolution and zenith ofsound eastern concepts and wisdom.Therefore, Sri Guru Granth Sahib canprovide us with an alternate model ofdevelopment. Concern for environmentis one of the principles emphasized in SriGuru Granth Sahib.The other third world countries shouldlearn from the Chinese experience anddevelop their renewable sources of energy,depending upon their particular conditions.For example, India receives a vastamount of sunlight due to its geography,and therefore should develop solar energy.Some countries which have strongwinds can benefit more from the Chineseexperience in the development of windpower. Still, other countries, such asthose with coastal areas, can harvestenergy from ocean waves.No matter which renewable source ofenergy we develop, it will prove very beneficialin the long run. China is setting upa good example for the rest of the thirdworld to follow.Dr. Sawraj Singh, MD F.I.C.S. is theChairman of the Washington State Networkfor Human Rights and Chairman of theCentral Washington Coalition for Social Justice.He can be reached [email protected].
