Pissed-off Farmers Attack Four Filthy Factories In Fujian Province, PRC

[hatrack]

MORE than 100 furious villagers in Quanzhou, Fujian Province broke into and trashed four factories on Sunday, destroying property and killing two dogs, the Strait City Daily reported today. The local government and police are investigating the case. Armed with iron rods, the villagers first rushed a nearby tannery at 8pm, breaking the facilities into pieces along their way, including three gates, tables in a canteen, computers in offices and almost every window.

Two guard dogs at a gate were killed and a witness claimed that a police officer trying to stop the violence was also injured. The villagers then proceed to the other three factories in the same tannery zone, including a resin plant and a sewage disposal plant. They continued their devastation for about three hours.

A worker from one of the factories claimed that the villagers had been irritated by the fact they failed to receive the promised compensations for enduring the heavy pollution from the factories.

"About 50,000 villagers are affected by gas and water waste from these factories," said Zhong, an elderly man from a nearby village. "The sewage plant seeps black waste water that severely damages the crops. We cannot find a clean river or well for irrigation or even for drinking. "Terrible smells from the factories make fellow villagers feel sick and prone to vomiting. We can't bear it any more," Zhong said. "We would rather refuse the compensation. Money and health, which is more important?"


EDIT

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/04/11/260718/Fujian_villagers_riot_polluting_factories.htm

[acmejack]

1. I understand there is substantial unrest in PRC?

Barely contained largescale?

[phantom power]

2. They are tired of eating pollution to provide the US with $20 DVD players?

[ReaderSushi]

3. Ironic.

The PRC promotes this rapid industrialization without thought to consequences in order to ensure national stability. Unless they make some truly major changes they will implode.