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China, Peru and Brazil mull Amazon railway

Anomalism

Anomalism

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Leave the Amazon alone.

China, Peru and Brazil mull Amazon railway - BBC News

A Chinese scheme to build an east-west railway across South America, cutting across parts of the Amazon rain forest, has moved a step closer after Peru agreed to study the proposal. The scheme would link Peru's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic shores. The decision came after talks between the Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and Peruvian President Ollanta Humala. If completed, the railway would stretch 5,300km (3,300 miles) but campaigners fear the impact on indigenous people. Brazil, China and Peru will now begin feasibility studies into the railway. Mr Li secured Brazil's consent earlier this week, as part of his tour of Latin America. The railway would "consolidate Peru's geopolitical position as a natural gateway to South America", President Humala said.

For China, it would reduce the cost of shipping raw materials and farm products. But campaigners are concerned it might destroy untouched parts of the Amazon rainforest, affecting hundreds of indigenous communities. Mr Li sought to ease fears, saying "to create the infrastructure, it is necessary to protect the environment" in a declaration with Mr Humala, AFP reported. It is likely to cost more than $10 billion (£6.5 billion). The route is still being examined, but would begin in the gigantic Brazilian port of Acu and ending at a Peruvian port. The Chinese President, Xi Jinping, pledged earlier this year to invest $250 billion (£161 billion) in Latin America over the next decade.
 
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The Chinese don't care about the environment. All they care about is strengthening their hold on Africa.
 
Build it. I suspect if anti-progress leftists were around in the 1800's we wouldn't have built the Transcontinental Railroad here in the US for the same reasons the Amazon railway is being opposed.
 
Fletch said:
Build it. I suspect if anti-progress leftists were around in the 1800's we wouldn't have built the Transcontinental Railroad here in the US for the same reasons the Amazon railway is being opposed.
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It starts with roads and railways. How long until the Amazon is completely destroyed?
 
Roadvirus said:
The Chinese don't care about the environment. All they care about is strengthening their hold on Africa.
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Africa???? How is a conservative criticizing anybody for lack of environmental concerns?
 
Fletch said:
I haven't heard any animals complain. Have you?
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Human selfishness truly has no limits. We'll probably lose, but people like me will fight to limit people like you until the bitter end.
 
Anomalism said:
Human selfishness truly has no limits. We'll probably lose, but people like me will fight to limit people like you until the bitter end.
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The "bitter end" of what? The third world?

(...and they call us "regressives" :doh)
 
P.S. the "you" to whom you're referring is neither Chinese, Peruvian, or Brazilian. If you want to bitch about that railroad, bitch to the Chinese, Peruvians, and Brazilians and quit trying to ascribe it to anyone else. It's their idea, not "you's."

P.P.S. ...and fwiw, the Amazon belongs to the Brazilians, not the "you" to whom you're referring above, nor even for that matter to you.
 
EdwinWillers said:
P.S. the "you" to whom you're referring is neither Chinese, Peruvian, or Brazilian. If you want to bitch about that railroad, bitch to the Chinese, Peruvians, and Brazilians and quit trying to ascribe it to anyone else. It's their idea, not "you's."

P.P.S. ...and fwiw, the Amazon belongs to the Brazilians, not the "you" to whom you're referring above, nor even for that matter to you.
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The "you" was referring to anybody that doesn't care about the natural world. That includes him and anybody else that supports tearing down the Amazon.
 
Anomalism said:
The "you" was referring to anybody that doesn't care about the natural world. That includes him and anybody else that supports tearing down the Amazon.
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Building a railroad - anywhere - does not equate to not caring about the natural world. Nor does China, Peru, and/or Brazil need to "tear down the Amazon" to build a railroad through it - as if post-railroad the Amazon would somehow cease to exist or be "completely destroyed."

Further, there is no logic whatsoever in the notion that building a railroad through the Amazon is somehow the beginning of the end for the Amazon - any more than building railroads across the United States is somehow proof that the United States has been destroyed thereby, as Fletch properly pointed out - this being a nation of some 650 railroads, with over 150,000 miles of track across it.
 
I find it frankly amazing how it is always the left that stands in the way of progress - ostensibly "concerned" about this or that, excuses really for stopping progress wherever it threatens.

And yet, the left loves to call itself "progressive."

I find that ironically curious.
 
EdwinWillers said:
I find it frankly amazing how it is always the left that stands in the way of progress - ostensibly "concerned" about this or that, excuses really for stopping progress wherever it threatens.

And yet, the left loves to call itself "progressive."

I find that ironically curious.
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Progress, to the left, is anything that moves the universe toward that point where mankind has no more relevance or environmental impact than Bigfoot.
 
Fletch said:
Progress, to the left, is anything that moves the universe toward that point where mankind has no more relevance or environmental impact than Bigfoot.
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Anytime you decide what "the left" thinks, you can rest assured you're full of ****.
 
Anomalism said:
Human selfishness truly has no limits. We'll probably lose, but people like me will fight to limit people like you until the bitter end.
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You mean the 'selfishness' of telling others what to do with their own property? Or is it the selfishness of preventing the development of a third world people so that you can feel good about the fact that you have saved a worthless jungle that you have never seen nor will ever visit? You are right, though. That sort of 'selfishness' is a problem and should be fought by those rational minds that haven't been poisoned by anti-man, anti-progress leftists.
 
Kobie said:
Anytime you decide what "the left" thinks, you can rest assured you're full of ****.
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Opposition to things like this come exclusively from the left. Are you saying that is not the case?
 
While I'm not keen on heightened Chinese influence in SA, it would likely be an economic boon to the region in the form of tourism, employment and lower consumer prices.
 
Fletch said:
Opposition to things like this come exclusively from the left. Are you saying that is not the case?
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No, I'm saying your strawman argument should be set on fire.
 
EdwinWillers said:
Building a railroad - anywhere - does not equate to not caring about the natural world. Nor does China, Peru, and/or Brazil need to "tear down the Amazon" to build a railroad through it - as if post-railroad the Amazon would somehow cease to exist or be "completely destroyed."

Further, there is no logic whatsoever in the notion that building a railroad through the Amazon is somehow the beginning of the end for the Amazon - any more than building railroads across the United States is somehow proof that the United States has been destroyed thereby, as Fletch properly pointed out - this being a nation of some 650 railroads, with over 150,000 miles of track across it.
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Building roads and railroads through wilderness always signifies the beginning of more destruction of that wilderness.
 
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Fletch said:
a worthless jungle that you have never seen nor will ever visit?
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You have no idea what I have done or where I have been. People like you are a scourge to this planet.
 
Anomalism said:
Building roads and railroads through wilderness always signifies the beginning of more destruction of that wilderness. It won't happen immediately, but allowing them to get their foot in the door will lead to more.
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You've made your point already. Roads and railroads are not "progress," but wilderness is.

Anomalism said:
People like you are a scourge to this planet.
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According to those who think wilderness, not civilization is "progress."

Do you fully grasp the implications of your stance against civilization, coupled with the belief that whoever opposes you is "a scourge to this planet?"
 
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