Editor's Note

Nantong government in Jiangsu Province declared Saturday to cancel a pollution-causing project of a Japanese paper factory for its possible environment pollution, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Some 10,000 residents of the city of Qidong, Jiangsu Province hit the streets in protest Saturday hoping to stop the Japanese paper factory, which locals say will discharge 150,000 tons of dirty water every day, from going into full operation.

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	A 25-year-old worker of Oji, who referred herself as Wang, told the Global Times that she found the factory closed Saturday when going to work as usual, and was told that she’s expected to go back to work on Tuesday.
	Order restored to Qidong after protest Order was basically restored Sunday on the streets near the government office of Qidong, where thousands of residents gathered and stormed the compound the previous day in protest at a planned pipeline that will channel waste water into the sea for a Japanese paper factory. Japanese paper factory center of protest Some 10,000 residents of the city of Qidong, Jiangsu Province hit the streets in protest Saturday hoping to stop the Japanese paper factory, which locals say will discharge 150,000 tons of dirty water every day, from going into full operation.	The Japan-based Oji Paper Group that was at the heart of mass protests in Qidong. Photo: Cai Xianmin/GT

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Nantong government:

Nantong government in Jiangsu Province declared Saturday to cancel a pollution-causing project of a Japanese paper factory for its possible environment pollution, the Xinhua News Agency reported Saturday.

Previously, Zhang Jianxin, the vice mayor of Qidong, said on local television that the water emitted from the pipeline meets national standards. Zhang also said the city is considering closing the plant.

Local residents:

"We have applied for a protest permit but the local government has refused to approve it. We will still walk the streets to express our opinion," Gu  Bin, a local resident who has researched and protested against the project since 2009, said, adding that the government has also refused repeated request to make public the environmental assessment report.

"We have been demanding an answer for three years but every effort ended in vain. We won't believe the government until they make clear what measures they will take to stop pollution from harming our health," Gu said in an interview on Thursday.

Worker at the company's Nantong factory

An office worker surnamed Huang at the company's Nantong factory told the Global Times that the company is aware of the pending protest. He also defended the company's use of the pipeline saying the local government built it and is responsible for handling it.

The company, which has other projects in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Qingdao in Shandong Province and Shanghai, said it uses green technologies in its processing.

Internet voices

Hu Xijin, Editor-in-chief of the Global Times

The situation in Qidong demonstrates once again that China’s society fears pollution, a sentiment which once stirred will create a desperate and destructive power. This has already become a serious political problem. The government should communicate with the public before making decisions on such sensitive environmental issues. Otherwise, the government should be held accountable for not fulfilling its duty. People who violated the law should also be punished in accordance with the law. I condemn everyone who applauded the violence that took place.

@汉朝青: Illegal actions and violence are steps backward, and should always be kept under control. However, why are there so many cases of violence in society today? In my opinion, especially the last decade, our judicial system has disappointed the public, leaving people without any effective channel to appeal injustices. Therefore, once they get the chance, they are likely to use illegal and violent behavior to release their anger and frustration.

@随事理: Just like in the Shifang event, most people only learn about Qidong through gossip and rumor. The question is when will people have the right to know the whole truth and when will mainstream media provide the public with timely information?

Incident Review

Source: Global Times-people.com.cn

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