The most recent case of lead poisoning in China has once again stirred up old cans of worms, undoing all of the public relations work that the Chinese government has done.
Indeed, one of the factors attributed was, and still is, the stunning economic growth of China. Although many environmental activists have been critical of China’s high pollution index – the highest in the world – there is still no stopping this thriving machinery that is bamboozling whatever that lays in her path.
Thorough Review
Lead poisoning is not unheard of, but too many cases have already happened in provinces that are turned into industrial towns. A thorough review of the country’s industrial assets will need to be conducted, however, in order to assess the potential damage and harm that may be inflicted on the Chinese citizens. For people to realise and understand the impact of globalisation as a two-edged sword, problems resulting from within must first be addressed – and lead poisoning is more than a health problem, it is a social one too.
There is however a distinct lackadaisical attitude shown by the provincial governments towards the well-being of their villagers. Building factories near homes and rivers are a pretty common phenomenon, although there are actual laws which forbid the aforementioned.
Lure of Money
Perhaps monetary gains are an intrinsic temptation for all humans, it just depends on how one can develop a strategy to cope and contain this temptation. So far, some provincial governments have complied to build factories far away, while some have obviously been too nonchalant.
The recent case of lead poisoning in Zhejiang province was in fact a déjà vu replication of various other lead poisoning cases. In 2006, approximately 700 children were tested positive for lead poisoning in the poverty stricken province of Gansu, while the year 2009 saw more than 1000 children victimised by an illegally operated manganese factory.
In all of the cases, children formed the majority of the victims, with smelters that were situated nearby rivers and living spaces the sole perpetrator of such unfortunate scenarios.
Birth Pains
Lead poisoning, unfortunately, is one of the many birth pains experienced by China’s heightened industrial activity, caused by its sudden status as a global player with more power in her hands than ever before. The Chinese central government however, have been doing its bid to curb such cases from happening ever again.
Crackdowns have been massively employed nationwide, with hundreds of factories already shut down and scores of people suspected of misconduct detained.
There is no doubt that the Chinese economy will continue to purr like a well oiled machine, although for the country to truly prosper, the welfare of the people has to be put into a proper context as well.
Sources
- Associated Press, msnbc.com, "Hundreds suffer lead poisoning in China." September 6, 2006.
- Jonathan Watts, guardian.co.uk, "1,300 children get lead poisoning." August 20, 2009.
- AFP, www.dawn.com, "China detains 74 in latest lead poisoning scandal." May 31, 2011.
Mcken Wong - Writing has been one of Mcken's greatest passions, enhanced only by the prospect of being a professional, of the possible opportunities ...
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