Initial reports said that 31 people had contracted cancer as a result of the companies actions, and that thousands of fish had been dying off. Obviously, this type of practice is highly damaging not only to ecosystems, but to individuals as well. The number had been reduced to 6, but conflicting reports say that is only the number of people who specifically have leukemia. Once again, Jinko Solar (JKS) is a NYSE listed firm, whose parent is an Hong Kong based company: Hong Kong High Power Technology Co Ltd. There is, yet again, another foreign firm doing whatever it pleases with regard to waste management practices. Police and local officials are accused of attempting to cover up the company's failed environmental standards tests dating back to April. Chen Hongming, who is the head of Haining's environmental protection bureau seems to have told the company to halt its practices, but has been wholly ineffective in actually imposing them to do so, yet again highlighting the crippled nature of such watchdogs in China. While it is promising that the Chinese, and subsequently international, media outlets were able to pick up on such an event which in part illuminates Beijing's desire to stymy such practices -- as well as their inability to prevent such issues. This protest is on the heels of a protest in Dalian which forced the closure of a chemical production plant. Encouragement can be found in citizens ability to effectively mobilize, but again we're seeing reactionary, rather than preventative practices. China needs to give their protection agencies the teeth to take on such companies, rather than be subverted to their economic prowess.
Council on Foreign Relations CV Starr Scholar Elizabeth Economy in her 2004 book The River Runs Black, in great detail outlines the death and destruction that followed the pollution of the Huai River in Anhui and Shandong. China's current environmental protection policy has been labeled 'command and control' which again, is in response to, as opposed to in the prevention of such disturbances. The laws take effect after the pollution has already occurred, and fall short. Beijing, despite being perhaps the first major government to mandate cleaner production, has been unable to contain the highly profitable corporations from continuing such practices as local municipal governments seek to line their pockets regardless of human cost. It is discouraging, despite the deep cultural tradition of closeness to the environment (see: Daoism, Confucianism, literature, art) that the Chinese continue to primarily be driven in practice by economic concerns, rather than cultural consideration. As Ms. Economy astutely points out:
“Through the centuries, the relentless drive of China’s leaders to amass power, consolidate territory, develop the economy, and support a burgeoning population led to the plundering of forests and mineral resources, poorly conceived river diversions and water management projects, and intensive farming that degraded the land…this exploitation of natural resources, in turn, contributed significantly to the wars, famines, and natural disasters…the result was a continuous cycle of economic development, environmental degradation, social dislocation, turmoil, and often violent political change.” Economy, River Runs Black. 17.
In the past, mobilization was not nearly so effective, but as technology continues to shift power into the hands of the people, perhaps Beijing will start to crack down on its local municipalities, rather than its citizens, and save them all of this headache in the first place.
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