Rain, river diversion plans ease China drought

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

BEIJING, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Rain fell in drought-stricken north central China after the government brought in rain-making scientists, and officials have promised to divert two major rivers to help farmers, state media said on Sunday.

Over the weekend Premier Wen Jiabao visited drought-stricken areas, where the government has declared a state of emergency. He called the relief work "top priority", and a key part of efforts to revive the economy amid the global financial woes.

"It is of vital significance to the overall economy to boost steady growth of grain production and farmers' income" as China is in a key stage to cope with the global financial crisis," the official Xinhua agency quoted him saying.

The government has already taken a small step towards protecting rural cash flow, raising the minimum price paid for a tonne of wheat purchased by the state reserves system by 200 yuan a tonne, Xinhua said. It did not report the new floor price.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSPEK147400

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I don't like the idea of diverting two major rivers...

[Xipe Totec]

1. I have a bad feeling about this... n/t

[Odin2005]

2. In Chinese historical thinking famine and peasant riots are signs of a dynasty about to fall.

And such thinking can easily lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy as the average Chinese person starts thinking the regime has lost the "Mandate of Heaven".

The Chinese government will fall within 10 years, bet on it.