60 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
60 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
The Haining Anti-Pollution Campaign was a grassroots campen
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Since April 2011 the JinkoSolar plant near the industrial city of
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Haining failed local Environmental Protection Bureau pollution tests.
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Throughout late August and early September 2011, local residents found a
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large quantity of dead fish in streams and rivers near the plant. On
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Thursday September 15, 2011, approximately 500 local farmers and
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residents gathered at the JinkoSolar plant to demand an end to the
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pollution. Due to lack of information, it is unclear which individuals
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or groups organized and orchestrated this demonstration.
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The JinkoSolar plant in Haining is a subsidiary of the Chinese
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JinkoSolar Holding Company, which is listed on the New York Stock
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Exchange. The plant manufactured solar panels for sale overseas.
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Protesters gathered at the gates of the Haining Plant, chanting and
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demonstrating peacefully for most of Thursday September 15. On Friday
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September 16 a group of police officers reportedly attempted to disperse
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the protesters with force. Though the chronology of events is somewhat
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unclear, it is known that some protesters proceeded into the offices of
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the plant and destroyed some company property. Some protesters also
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destroyed 8 company vehicles and 4 police cars following the September
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16th police action.
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The Chinese Government ordered JinkoSolar to close the plant on
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September 19 to investigate the source of pollution and the cause for
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the fish deaths. As of September 20, most of the protesters had
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dispersed, though it is again unclear as to which groups or individuals
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made these decisions on the ground.
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JinkoSolar recently made a public statement that a large chemical
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discharge did in fact escape the plant during heavy rain last August.
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Ensuing water sample tests showed high levels of fluoride in waters near
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the plant. Fluoride can be toxic in high amounts. The company made a
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public apology, and was fined the equivalent of $74,000 by the Chinese
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Government. It is unclear when and if the plant will reopen (as of
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November 2011).
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By the end of the 3-4 day protest 20 of the 500 protesters had been
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arrested on charges of disturbing public order, destruction of property,
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and larceny. At least one case has been reported in which a blogger,
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commenting on the health effects of JinkoSolar pollution in the Haining
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community, was seized by police and charged with “spreading false
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rumors” by the Chinese government. The blogger had been charging
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JinkoSolar pollution as the cause of increased cancer rates near the
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plant.
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Chinese government officials went to Haining following the closure of
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the plant to hear local residents’ grievances. Haining’s city government
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released a statement indicating that they intended to “seriously deal
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with those suspected of violating laws in the incident.” It is unclear
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if this statement was intended for the company or the protesters.
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Haining residents were likely inspired by a recent series of successful
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grassroots environmental protests throughout China. In August 2011 some
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12,000 residents marched and demonstrated against a chemical plant
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charged with pollution in the city of Dalian, in north-eastern China.
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This protest effectively closed the plant (which has since moved
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location), and since then a series of resident communities throughout
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China have initiated protest against pollution. |