Urbanisation: Those who live along the Yangtze have long seen the river as "nature's waste disposal system", one that would flush their sewage, garbage, and industrial waste into the ocean. The government launched intensive public education campaigns to change this mindset when the Three Gorges Dam began storing water in 2003. Signs are that the campaigns are working, but the longer term question is whether the cities along the reservoir can cope with the pressures of rising urbanisation and the changing lifestyles. Recycling plants, such as the one pictured here, remain an unregulated backyard operation. Nearly 50 new sewage plants have been built in the region as part of a 40-billion yuan clean-up programme, but environmentalists are doubtful about the actual numbers that are in operation or being used properly. [Wushan Oct 05 2006.]
