By Chip Byteley
In a move that perfectly encapsulates modern priorities, China has announced the construction of a new mega-dam on the Yangtze River. But this isn’t just any ordinary dam. This one is designed to power the world’s largest LED billboard, stretching over 100 miles. This dazzling display will light up the sky with advertisements that can be seen from space.
The Chinese government insists that this project, dubbed the “Great Wall of Light,” will not only be an engineering marvel but also a beacon of economic progress. “This billboard will attract international brands, boost tourism, and provide jobs,” said a spokesperson for the project. “Imagine the world’s biggest ad for Nike or Coca-Cola shining brightly across our great river.”
Environmentalists, however, are less enthused. “We’re sacrificing natural beauty and crucial ecosystems for what amounts to the world’s largest TV commercial,” said Li Wei, a representative from Green Earth Alliance. “It’s like destroying the Mona Lisa to make space for a McDonald’s ad.”
Critics also point out the absurdity of using renewable energy to power such a frivolous endeavor. “It’s an ironic twist on green energy,” said Professor Zhang Xiaoli of the Beijing Institute of Technology. “We’re diverting one of the world’s most powerful rivers not to sustain life or industry, but to illuminate consumerism on a grand scale.”
The Chinese public remains divided. Some see it as a symbol of progress and ingenuity, while others view it as yet another example of misplaced priorities. As construction begins, the world watches with bated breath to see if this will be a shining beacon of modernity or a glaring testament to human folly.
The dam is expected to be completed by 2028, with the first ads rolling out shortly thereafter. Until then, one can only imagine the surreal sight of the Yangtze River glowing with the words “Just Do It” or “Taste the Feeling.”
Liv N. Large