Dear Editor:
Almost 70 per cent of China's energy needs is produced by burning coal. Coal is cheaper than other fuels, but it comes with a huge downside: air pollution.
Smog is so bad in cities near China's industrial areas that some days visibility can be reduced to a dozen or so metres. Many people don't venture outside without a mask covering their mouth and nose. The elderly and those with lung problems remain inside. Children stay home from school.
Understandably, China is moving to cut back its dependence on coal. It is regulating its use, and it is exploring alternate energy sources. But the objective of burning less coal won't be easily achieved.
Why should this be of interest to us? Because it explains in part the current push to build and expand B.C.'s coal terminals.
Quite simply, North American coal merchants want to sell as much coal as possible in the shortest time possible while the Chinese market is "hot."
Or, more to the point, while there still is a market.
So far our concern about exporting more coal has centred on the health impacts of coal dust as trainloads move through our communities to port facilities.
But perhaps we should also publicly question the morality of those who, for all intents and purposes, are rushing to a fire with a box of matches.
Bill Brassington, Burnaby
