Ninetytwo miners have died and another 16 are missing in an explosion in state run Xinxing coal mine in Hegang city in China. We are told that China adds one power station every week to generate enough electricity to maintain its scorching growth of over 10% which is required to keep its population contented. Most power is generated from coal hence the insatiable hunger for mining coal at any cost, never mind how many people die. The murderous regime maintains its hold on power by a combination of spectacular growth, brutal suppression of dissent even from parents of children killed by melamine and by whipping up nationalism whether xenophobic or jingoistic. Thus we see outbursts of foul aggressive language against the west or Japan or India and an expenditure of over $ 40 billion on the Beijing olympics. For all their talk of civilisation it seems that the chinese are basically a barbaric people incapable of producing a Gorbachev who can bring glasnost to the country. As the country grows economically and defensively stronger India and all its neighbours will be in danger. The only hope is a severe recession which will produce unrest and may bring about the downfall of the thugs. Miracles may still happen.