|
My first comment would be that this web site is designed to do exactly what has happened here - create a reaction.
These pictures are true enough, but how old are they???
Is the text explaining each photo correct??
Is the noted date correct??
Personally I'd have concerns about Photo 11, showing "sewage" supposedly spewing into the yangtse River. It notes the pipe was extended 1500m. I know for a fact that ChangShu is several klm to the south of the Yangtse.
If you look at water in a creek that is lined with Tea trees, it is the exact same colour as what's coming out of that pipe, due to discolouration from the tree sap. But it's not polluted. I agree that this scenario is not what's happening here, but it is an alternative reason to water discolouration.
Photo 15 says Haimen CITY. Haimen was just down the rd from my place when I lived in China. I can tell you that it's lucky to be a country town, let alone a CITY.
It is called a city on this web site, I expect, to create a "larger" mental image of the issue in the mind of the reader.
I'd have reservations about the accuracy of some of the comments made.
Also,
The biggest problem in China is not Greed, Corruption or Exploitation. It's worker education. If the workers were educated about WH&S or Environmental issues they would do something about it.
The wages are horrendously low when compared to ours, BUT, so is the cost of living. Last August I was in Shanghai (an expensive city), I took 6 friends to a reasonably expensive restaurant. We ate & drank considerable amounts. The total bill was equivilent to AU$65. So when "do gooders" scream about exploited workers, maybe they should compare the income to the cost of living, not campare the income to Australian incomes.
Same for corruption. It is rife within China, BUT, most people have absolutely no idea that the actions they are taking are considered 'Corruption".
China society operates on "Guanxi" (connections). If you want something done you contact a 'friend' in the business. In many countries this system is considered Corruption, but in China its common everyday buisness.
The only thing that will change that is education.
Talk of boycotting Chinese procucts in general I think is not the solution. If you feel a boycott is called for, then I suggest that investigation is done into a specific company that is perceived as doing the wrong thing & boycott that specific companyif the investigation calls for it.
I'm not saying that the issues noted on this web site don't happen. I just think that they are being sensationalised to create a reaction within groups of people who can only rely on supplied information rather than first hand knowledge.
|