China's need for Metal and Copper affecting us all

by Orenrosenfeld | July 21, 2008 at 05:16 am | 695 views | 13 comments | 19 recommendations

As China finishes up the new Olympic stadium made of metal the world can start licking it`s wounds.

Chinas growing economy is finishing up the worlds reserves of metal and copper bringing the world into a metal stealing frenzy.

In Belgium trains are running late after thieves steal the copper electric lines the whole world is feeling the effect of Chinas new rise into an economic empire.

Speaking to American police chiefs that are in Israel for a convention i was told that the u.s is feeling the great demand for metal and copper , road signs and railings stolen every night throughout America.

Here in Israel Historic bronze monuments are stolen, road signs and protective railings are vanishing daily.

Only a few days ago an 18 year old beduin stole an old detachable f-16 fuel tank from an airforce training ground, took it home and while he was welding it exploded killing him and injuring another.

The metal thieves go into cemeterys and steal metal name plates, they go into army training grounds and steal old target tanks and shells risking their lives for some metal.

I know that when i watch the Beijing 2008 opening ceremony next month and see the new metal stadium i will be thinking of all the stories i`ve been hearing about the metal thieves.

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Rob Walker

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 06:44 on July 21st, 2008

Orenrosenfeld, interesting story, thanks for posting it!

jessica.lam

at 08:02 on July 21st, 2008

I definitely know that in Vancouver - a copper art piece was stolen and sold for the copper.

Matt G (not verified)

at 08:13 on July 21st, 2008

Here in Tennessee, we have a problem with copper being stolen from A/C units, both commercial and residential. The crooks get a few dollars for the copper and leave the owners with $1000's in repair costs.

There will always be thieves. The only way to stop it is to monitor the salvage yards where they sell their stolen goods.

There is legislation pending in TN to track salvage yard sales.

Gh0s7

at 08:42 on July 21st, 2008

We have the same problem here in Boone, right on the eastern border of Tennessee. A many of the local university's air conditioning units have been pillaged for the copper that they may offer. Most of the units are smaller, but there are some very large ones that have been pillaged as well. Pretty ridiculous I think. No offense, if this is something you enjoy doing, however most of the people around here that do it are meth addicts or crack addicts.

heiyu

at 10:05 on July 21st, 2008

China is the world biggest producer of metal and the high prices of copper makes it valuable.

heiyu has contributed a photo to this story.

Barbara McPherson

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:37 on July 21st, 2008

Orenrosenfeld, I like this story. It's good stuff. In BC we are also losing catalytic converters off cars and someone in Surrey(lower mainland)lost the aluminum siding off their house when they were away. I agree that there needs to be better documentation at the salvage yards. Those Olympic buildings are certainly impressive.

DrWTWilner

at 12:45 on July 21st, 2008

In mid-2006, we saw that China had most of their Olympic venues nearing completion, leaving two years for finishing touches. (Compare to Greece.) One way to side-step fluctuations in metal prices is to buy early.

DrWTWilner has contributed a photo to this story.

Caoimhin1

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:16 on July 21st, 2008

Orenrosenfeld, I like this story. It's good stuff.

E-BAD

at 16:27 on July 21st, 2008

Read day by day comments about life in Beijing as the Olympics draws closer and closer: www.popomoho.blogspot.com

Thanks for using my photo.

E-BAD has contributed a photo to this story.

ACE PRESTON

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:10 on July 21st, 2008

Orenrosenfeld, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Stevechua

at 07:51 on July 22nd, 2008

TO GO WITH AFP STORY OLY-2008-CHN-CONSTRUCTION
A hand out photo made available 30 August 2004 shows an artist's rendition of the plans for the Olympic Green in Beijing, including the 17,000-seat National Swimming Center (L) and the 80,000-seat 360-million-dollar National Stadium (R) for the 2008 Olympic Games. Nicknamed "bird's nest" due to its giant lattice-work of angled metal girders, the stadium and the swim center, resembling a cube of water miraculously suspended in thin air, are part of some of the most ambitious urban planning ever seen in China, if not the world, resulting in architecture that is both massive in its scale and bold in its conception, designed to astonish thousands of visitors who see China for the first time. AFP PHOTOHO

Stevechua has contributed a photo to this story.

kwikrick

at 12:27 on July 23rd, 2008

This is a huge issue. And its not just China's growing demand for steel; the demand for steel has been rising faster and faster since it was invented. And there's the looming oil crisis too. These ever scarcer natural natural resources can potentially limit or cap off economic growth world wide.

(to jay.el) thanks for picking my photo. Be sure to also check out my Shanghai set, there lots of pics of China's industry.

kwikrick has contributed a photo to this story.

erinkilby

at 16:02 on August 7th, 2008

These ancient walls contrasted with children coming home from school in 2007 caught my fascination. The Hutongs of Beijing housed the eunuchs of the Forbidden City--now they house the poor of China. While I am saddened for the conditions many live in, I am impressed with China's ability to preserve antiquities and make them an integral part of everyday living. This gives recycling a new meaning.

erinkilby has contributed a photo to this story.