Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 06:11:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Benjamin Sandler" <ibenibeni@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Water is Rising
To: Everyone

Hello everyone,

And sorry that I haven't yet sent an update on my travels in the Three Gorges. All of the cybercafe's
are closed due to SARS, so it's been rather difficult to find a computer to use. Rather convenient I say, the the free flow of information is to a degree restricted right now...

Please excuse any typos, as I only have a few minutes to finish this email.

I'm in Yunyang right now... Most people that I've talked to here are not happy with how the immigration scheme is working... not enough money, no new promised home, local government corruption, etc... I had the misfortune of meeting a coule of journalists
from Chonqing today. After a few minutes with them, not even long enough to exchange names, the police descended upon us. It was suspected that we were travelling together, and that they were helping me get information to broadcast abroad. After a couple hours of questioning, and I was allowed to go. I feel lucky that my film was not developed and video not looked at. The two journalists had to stay longer, but I feel they will be OK, since it was just a matter of determining if we were traveling together as a group.

As of June 1st the water in the Three Gorges has begun to rise. My eyes play tricks on me. Sometimes I mistake the natural ebb and flow for the water actually rising. Though you cant see it moment by moment, you can notice the difference day by day, and I can most certainly feel it.

Last minute preparations are taking place everywhere. Trash is burning by the waterfront, bridges used to the eleventh hour are being dismantled, and the scavenging for what ever might be of use continues. As the water rises, you can see the shoreline expanding, shrubs and trees, being enveloped, and a putrid looking funk laps stagnantly along the shoreline.

I must go now, for fear of losing this connection... I will try to write some more soon...

Be well,
-Ben