Road To Mt. Everest

I read a little about this on the web last week but not enough. Going through some blogs today I found this written on Phil's Stock World, "Speaking of silly, those Greenpeace guys are at it again. This time they’re protesting the Chinese plan to build a road up Mount Everest, which is being done more as a way for China to mark their territory in Tibet than under the guise of preparing for the Olympics. Aside from the obvious environmental impact that a 67 mile road would have in one of the most remote regions of the earth, imagine how you would feel heading up the mountain, loaded with supplies, led by your trusty sherpa - only to be passed by a bunch of drunken frat boys who toss beer cans at you as they cruise along to base camp in their SUV, where they will go to the gift shop and get one of those t-shirts that says "My brother climbed Mount Everest and all I got was this lousy t-shirt." Ah, progress!"

Can't thank greenpeace enough for the wonderful work they do and for fighting for the environment of Mt. Everest.

Phil's blog references to a Wall Street Journal article that I don't have access to here. Well here's the first two paragraphs available for viewing to nonsubscribers of the journal:



"BEIJING -- The environmental group Greenpeace expressed concern about a Chinese government plan to put a blacktop highway on the world's highest mountain, adding to controversy over China's practices ahead of next year's Summer Olympics here.

Last month, China announced plans to pave a 67-mile stretch of rough gravel road in Tibet from the foot of Mount Everest to a base camp for climbers at about 17,160 feet. The highway is to be completed in time for an Olympic torch relay to the top of the mountain." By Shai Oster

Since I haven't read the whole WSJ article, I can't really comment on it. It's hard to believe China is building a road to the Mt. Everest just for the Olympics torch relay. Why? Having control over the world's highest mountain from the ground up is a military strategy. Having hold over Tibet puts them in an advantageous point in case of war with any South Asain country... Not only that, building a road is not like laying down a red carpet for the Oscars that can be wrapped and stored away once the show is over. A road is built to last and that means the Olympics could only be an excuse to execute a larger military project. Using the Everest does show China is badly seeking to win legitimacy for their illegal occupation of Tibet with hopes that the world will forget about Tibet after Beijing Olympics 2008. But there's more, who know's what China is planning on doing after the Olympics. Can you name some possibilities??