China's Cancer Villages

[DucatiMonster696]

this is only a symptom of the greedy capitalist ideals. enjoy your 4 dollar cup of coffee, while playing with your shiney new gadget that has its batteries made in one of these villages. calling our materialist ventures and modes of consumerism a cancer would be more accurate. God help us all. sigh.

Comrade "The Party" bares no blame at all correct? Then again comrade prior to "The Party" opening up China's markets and removing their control of the economy the Chinese people faced other issues like government created famines along with having a lowered standard of living then they do now that they have allow the capitalist Yankee pig dog ideals into their country.

 

[trenchfoot]

Our regulatory agencies that protect us from such abuses are already infested with proponents of the industries they are meant to watch over.

A classic example is the Dept. of Agriculture and how it was neutered by the multitude of insiders who are former employees of the big companies invloved with developing genetically modified foods for fun and profit.

Every time I open a box of cereal or tear into a nice juicy rib-eye the suspiciously alert little fella in the back of my brain reminds me that there are vested interests involved with its production whose singular purpose is to mitigate any regulation that interferes with maximizing the profit they can get out of the product they put on the store shelves.

 

[Macamus Prime]

Is this the "opportunity and freedom" American companies are missing from operating on US soil?

There is a reason it's so "expensive" for companies to make something in the US; we want to ensure shit like this does not happen.

 

[elitejp]

Im hoping try to bring a little balance into this topic since I have lived in China for the last 10 years. To be fair many laws are more lax than western countries, but never is just a blatant disregard to environmental protection or human rights violation allowed. Over here a couple years ago they had a problem with contaminated milk powder blah blah blah. The result was a huge govt crackdown along with some upper people getting the death penalty (if I remember correctly). This is just one example where China will take very quick and severe actions to correct a problem. You also need to remember that in any developing country there will be more waste than a developed country. America has gone through its phases of major pollution as well. China is currently on a very large scale nation wide campaign promoting "green'. this is a good thing and something i see every day. they have made very good progress. Every country will have its problems and slip ups and I dont see this as the norm but the exception. Not to mention that foreign companies that have manufacturing plants oversees are a whole lot more enjoyable and cleanly to work for than its native counterparts. These slave labor jobs that Americans like to use to discredit another country are the same jobs that locals would kill for to work at.
Just something to think about

 

[CLite]

Every year, an estimated 460,000 people die prematurely in China due to exposure to air and water pollution, according to a 2007 World Bank study.

Wow....... almost half a million people a year?

These guys really are racking up some enormous long-term expenses by destroying their environment and quality of life. Companies driven by quarterly profits really don't care about these kind of expenses inflicted on society. This story really is a testament to how smart regulations are desperately needed to control these long-term expenses and mitigate human suffering.

 

[her209]

Wow....... almost half a million people a year?

These guys really are racking up some enormous long-term expenses by destroying their environment and quality of life. Companies driven by quarterly profits really don't care about these kind of expenses inflicted on society. This story really is a testament to how smart regulations are desperately needed to control these long-term expenses and mitigate human suffering.

Doesn't affect their bottom line. Why should they care? They get to make the profit and society is left to clean up their shit.

 

[Atreus21]

Doesn't affect their bottom line. Why should they care? They get to make the profit and society is left to clean up their shit.

Yes, they get to make the profit...for as long as people buy their product.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: Jiggz
Shopped at Walmart lately?

nope

Have a look at your clothing labels or kids toys^_^

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Pray? What good is that gonna do? Absofuckinglutly NOTHING.

Fall so far????? WTF??? are you talking about? If it wasn't for American companies going over there for cheap labor or lax laws so that fat americans can buy them.... Then this would not be happening.

If anything China should place a tax on all the electronic items it sells for future clean up. It's not just china but Korea and others make mother boards, video cards, etc...etc... and are in the same boat.

Maybe you can pray for them too?

Wait what? This is more typical Hate America speech. You do realize that China doesn't sell to just America right? What about the Europeans? They imported almost $300 million in Chinese goods? Or where all of those made in a clean, eco friendly plant in China and the American detined stuff the only thing made in sweat shops?

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Im hoping try to bring a little balance into this topic since I have lived in China for the last 10 years. To be fair many laws are more lax than western countries, but never is just a blatant disregard to environmental protection or human rights violation allowed. Over here a couple years ago they had a problem with contaminated milk powder blah blah blah. The result was a huge govt crackdown along with some upper people getting the death penalty (if I remember correctly). This is just one example where China will take very quick and severe actions to correct a problem. You also need to remember that in any developing country there will be more waste than a developed country. America has gone through its phases of major pollution as well. China is currently on a very large scale nation wide campaign promoting "green'. this is a good thing and something i see every day. they have made very good progress. Every country will have its problems and slip ups and I dont see this as the norm but the exception. Not to mention that foreign companies that have manufacturing plants oversees are a whole lot more enjoyable and cleanly to work for than its native counterparts. These slave labor jobs that Americans like to use to discredit another country are the same jobs that locals would kill for to work at.
Just something to think about

How dare you bring insight and an actual view from the inside into this. We dumb Americans are making shit up as we go to favor our specific political point of view.

Though to be honest, the Chinese government only cracks down, and very harshly, when something major has been done that thye feel "tarnishes" the image of China. They don't do it out of love or compassion for their people. They do it to protect the "image " of China.

 

[trenchfoot]

Im hoping try to bring a little balance into this topic since I have lived in China for the last 10 years. To be fair many laws are more lax than western countries, but never is just a blatant disregard to environmental protection or human rights violation allowed. Over here a couple years ago they had a problem with contaminated milk powder blah blah blah. The result was a huge govt crackdown along with some upper people getting the death penalty (if I remember correctly). This is just one example where China will take very quick and severe actions to correct a problem. You also need to remember that in any developing country there will be more waste than a developed country. America has gone through its phases of major pollution as well. China is currently on a very large scale nation wide campaign promoting "green'. this is a good thing and something i see every day. they have made very good progress. Every country will have its problems and slip ups and I dont see this as the norm but the exception. Not to mention that foreign companies that have manufacturing plants oversees are a whole lot more enjoyable and cleanly to work for than its native counterparts. These slave labor jobs that Americans like to use to discredit another country are the same jobs that locals would kill for to work at.
Just something to think about

Thanks, good to know.:thumbsup:

Although I have to agree with some of what JeffreyLebowski posted, the push and pull between producing a product that the public will prefer over the competition and manufacturing it at the highest profit possible at the time of production will somewhat balance things out quality-wise.

There are unscrupulous profiteers the world over that are more than willing to cut any corner to maximize profits, including selling a product that jeporadizes the health of the user. The USA and China are no exceptions in this regard.

 

[piasabird]

How many farmers pay their pickers health care?

Environmantal regulations can run amok!

I dont think making citizens have environmental checks on their cars makes the air any cleaner. In fact due to selectively targeting people because they live in a zone of higher polution is discrimiatory and flawed both scientifically and also unequal application under the law.

First of all Air does not stay in the same place. Pollution drifts on the air both into and out of these supposed zones. Also people who live outside of the zone that dont need an environmental inspection, who may have over-polluting vehicles drive into the zone to work. Also there is an exemption that says after a person spends a certain amount of money, that they can still get a pass for the test or a waiver.

This whole process is flawed and unconstitutional.

 

[JTsyo]

China will need to use all its profits to repair the damage they are doing now.