Protests continue at solar panel plant
Beginning last Thursday protesters began to demonstrate outside a solar panel manufacturing plant arguing that the plant is polluting the environment. What is interesting is that the plant, owned by the Zhejiang Jinko Solar Company, is in the city of Haining in the Zhejiang province of China.
The factory’s waste disposal has been failing pollution tests since April and despite being warned by authorities, the plant has not effectively controlled the pollution, the official Xinhua News Agency cited Chen Hongming, deputy head of Haining’s environmental protection bureau, as saying.
The issue appears to be two-fold.
A 64-year-old Hongxiao villager surnamed Shi said not only does the factory discharge waste water into a river, it also spews dense smoke out of a dozen chimneys.
No wonder the United States has difficulty competing with Chinese solar panel manufacturers. And, as long as “the rules are different” in China, I wonder whether it is a wise “investment” decision to spend taxpayer money subsidizing US solar panel manufacturers.
Multiply this scenario by every single product that is imported from China into the U.S. and it explains why nothing is made here.? They have no constraints.? We, as an industrialized nation, our governments, federal and state, and our non-profit organizations all work in conjunction to improve & protect our environment.? Yet, China, and similar countries of manufacturing, spew whatever they wish into our environment.? I am no “treehugger” but a level playing/competing field must be established.? Thus, they should be held to the same environmental, human rights, and quality standards.
We must hold ALL imports to standards such as what occurred with Gibson Guitar.
Or, is our government to pick the winners and losers according to campaign support and to hell with the earth.
If we’re fortunate enough to get a real Administration and a Conservative Congress in next year’s election we’ll then have the leadership needed to push through the kind of legislation that would put a halt to these cheap imports, holding international manufacturers to the same standards that our manufacturers have to work under. ?Increasing the number of work-free states will also help to reduce unnecessary labor costs and actually allow our domestic economy to grow again. There are so many things that a Conservative Administration could do to greatly improve the outlook for small business in this country, in addition to getting government out of the way of the ?private sector. ?I can’t believe how ignorant this present Administration is when it comes to our domestic economy. ?Education hasn’t helped these clowns one bit! ?I’m pretty sure they have grounds for suit against the diploma mills where they applied for their diplomas! ??
I’ll buy nothing to eat or wear next to my body-even Walmart shoes are out,from China. And certainly nothing made by a PLA company.
Ricbee, I believe you will be walking down the street in your birthday suit because that is the only suit still made here.
Do you think Michael Moore can make this into a movie? There must be a Chinese Erin Brockavich, although she’s probably wearing Mao pants and NOT a mini skirt..