Protestors in Ningbo, China
Riots broke out on
Saturday when police beat, dragged and tear gassed protestors. Thousands of
middle-class residents and students wore painted masks and carried signs.
Marchers retaliated against the police by throwing bricks and bottles, which
resulted 100 detainments.
The expansion of
the Sinopec’s refinery cost $88 billion but residents oppose it because paraxylene,
a product of the petrochemical
plant is toxic. Paraxylene is an
ingredient in polyester, paint and plastic bottles. Residents said the increase
in pollution by the refinery results in cancer.
The protests at paraxylene plants are common in China and cause controversy within the
government. In 2007, the city of Xiamen relocated the PX plant that was ten miles from
downtown. Last year, in northeast china in Dailan officials told marchers a PX
refinery would be shut down yet it remains open.
Ma Jun, director of Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs said,
“Ignoring public concerns leads to confrontation.”
After the government censored protestors they simply used social media
as an outlet. Smartphones and tablets helped photos and videos go viral.
Government officials announced on Sunday that they canceled the PX
plant after talking with investors and they will now conduct “scientific
verifications.”
Yu Xiaoming, an opposer of the chemical plant, negotiated with authorities to shut
down the plant said, “The announcement is just a way to ease tensions.”
LaRae Donnellan, Florida A&M University journalism professor and FAMU's Chair of the Green Coalition said, "We need to make a fundamental change in the way we live." Donnellan said the public is sometimes very unaware of the affects of the things they throw away. "They[plastics] may be cheap to make but expensive for the health impact on people and detrimental to the communities in which people live and work."
LaRae Donnellan, Florida A&M University journalism professor and FAMU's Chair of the Green Coalition said, "We need to make a fundamental change in the way we live." Donnellan said the public is sometimes very unaware of the affects of the things they throw away. "They[plastics] may be cheap to make but expensive for the health impact on people and detrimental to the communities in which people live and work."
Protestors’ responded to the announcement by demanding demonstrators be released and that the town's mayor should resign.
By Precious Dorch-Robinson
With contributions from The New York Times
Photo, World.time.com
Video, VienTham1
EDUKATE YOSELF
No comments:
Post a Comment