Blog 4- China Admits Pollution

China Admits Pollution Has Caused 'Cancer Villages'

China’s central government is becoming more open and is recognizing the immense environmental problems that the country is faced with. In the past, China’s government would deny, play down or cover up air, water, soil and groundwater pollution disasters. Environmentalists and public outcry have campaigned for the government to recognize and help the hundreds of “cancer villages” throughout the country. “Cancer is now China’s biggest killer, and cancer rates have surged since the beginning of China’s economic miracle.” The central government however may be taking its first steps and has now proposed a 5 year plan to tackle the pollution. The plan outlines a stricter stance on the use and production of 58 types of toxic chemicals. Xinhua’ state news reported:

 The document warns that China faces a grave situation in terms of chemical pollution control, inadequate pollution risk control by enterprises, a lack of systemic policies to restrain the making and use of highly toxic and dangerous chemicals and authorities.*

The country will be tackling many issues of pollution. On the top of the political agenda will be the toxic smog over Beijing and other big cities. It is predicted that lung cancer rates will continue to skyrocket (even if the dependency of cigarette habits decreases) if some action is not taken. “One in 4 Chinese die from cancer and there has been an 80pc rise in the mortality rate from cancer over the past 30 years”.

Another issue that must be dealt with is the polluted ground water. Underground, factories have poured huge amounts of toxic waste into the groundwater supplies. So much so, that the government has had to shut down water supplies.  An on-line campaign has been launched by a Mr. Deng, inviting the public to send in photographs of polluted rivers near where they live. Mr. Deng said he was ‘petrified’ by the state of China’s waterways. If things continue like this, we will be doomed,” he said. “If the issue of ground water pollution is not properly solved, not only will it kill people but it will also drag down the entire healthcare system because of the number of cancer patients it causes.”

Ma Jun, who runs the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs talks about how China’s pollution will now be brought to the forefront of government action. In the past, they have claimed that there was no scientific evidence or research linked to all of the health issues in China. The government is now acknowledging the disastrous widespread pollution and the environmental damage that has been created.

Tom Phillips, The Telegraph, February 22, 2013

*Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/china-admits-pollution-has-caused-cancer-villages-2013-2#ixzz2LeyVu6cH