Article 6: CNn
This is a link to an article focusing on water pollution in China and the effects the pollution is having on neighboring villages.
Summary:
China normally operates through subsistence farming but has more recently moved towards operating through industries. In the small village of Wuli, villagers were "promised riches" and soon textile companies and numerous other factories moved to the area. The women of the area agree that the movement of those factories into their villages caused an increase in cancer. Feng Xiaofeng lost her husband and her son to cancer within 10 years. Her story is similar to many others living in the "cancer village" of Wuli. Another explanation for this increase in the spread of cancer throughout these small Chinese villages is because the factories and companies dump toxic chemicals into the water. A study was conducted to test the amount of chemicals in the water, and revealed that over twelve different toxic chemicals were hidden beneath the water. Water pollution and exposure to other toxic chemicals from these factories is a problem that is sadly only worsening for these villages and will continue to spread to other areas in China. The government does not acknowledge the problem, and therefore is taking no initiative to address the issue. A man working in one of the industries at night stated, "It's a dilemma that they have to learn to live with".
Opinion:
This article shockingly reveals the truth about many Chinese factories and industries and the sad reality they are creating for their residents of these cancer villages. It is even more surprising that after the issue has been discovered by the villagers and brought to the attention of the government (especially by women who have lost more than one family member to cancer), the government continues to ignore the problem that is only spreading. The government continues to focus on the industries and factories and fails to realize the immense problem their developments are creating for the workers in these factories. Chinese leaders should establish policies for disposing of toxic waste materials, instead of mixing the sanitary water with the toxic chemicals, so that villlagers are not exposed to this polluted water. If China could decrease the amount of exposure of toxic chemicals on the villagers, then the cancer levels should begin to decline and workers would no longer be faced with such a harsh reality of being diagnosed with cancer. As stated in the article and the previous paragraph refering to lack of concern from the government about the cancer spreading in the villages, "It's a dilemma that they have to learn to live with". This is a statement that is difficult for me to accept. It is alarming to know their own government is aware of the problem and chooses to do nothing. If the villagers continue to petition for new regulations and continue to complain about the conditions in which they live, then hopefully the government will eventually acknowledge the need for improvement.
Unearthed: to find something in the ground by digging
Surreptitious: to keep secret especially because it would not be approved of
Pillar: a person or thing regarded as reliably providing essential support for something
Transparency: the state of being trasparent or to be in a condition where light is allowed to pass through so objects behind can be distinctly seen
Greenpeace: an international organization that campaigns actively but non-violently for conservation of the environment and the preservation of endangered species
Surreptitious: to keep secret especially because it would not be approved of
Pillar: a person or thing regarded as reliably providing essential support for something
Transparency: the state of being trasparent or to be in a condition where light is allowed to pass through so objects behind can be distinctly seen
Greenpeace: an international organization that campaigns actively but non-violently for conservation of the environment and the preservation of endangered species