Economy/Resources - 198. page
Cancer Village in Shaoyang: Over 30 Died of Cancer in 10 Years
Yuxi is a small village from She-tian-qiao Town of Shaodong County. It used to be famous for the high quality of its chestnuts and radishes. Now no one wants the chestnuts and radishes from Yuxi. Since 2003 more than 30 people from Yuxi have died from cancer. Previously, cancer was very rare in the village. The villagers believe that this change started when the Xinlong glassworks factory moved to the village.
A reporter observed that the factory was near the village’s farmland. Almost everything within eyesight was contaminated by the pollution from waste water having a dark-black color. Villagers told reporters that, after Xinlong built the factories, highly polluted sewage water was discharged into the river almost every day.
Since 2007, the villagers have been collecting a lot of evidence that Xinlong glassworks illegally discharged sewage. They reported the discharge to the environmental protection department, but never got a reply.
Villagers went to the Shaodong EPA to appeal. Wang Xiran, head of Shaodong EPA, told them, “Xinlong glass factory does have pollution, but with the tens of millions they produce each year, it is not something we can close just because we want to."
Source: Xinhua, June 28, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-06/28/c_123342343.htm
China Academy of Science Found Misusing Rearch Funds
In 2011, the Institute of the state owned China Academy of Science (CAS) distributed morale and welfare benefits to employees using program funds in an amount totaling almost 100 million yuan. Liu Jiayi, Auditor General of the National Audit Office of China, indicated that, in 2011, nine CAS institutes were found to have engaged in such practices, including the following institutes:
The Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research: 25.68 million yuan
The Institute of Zoology: 20.06 million yuan
The National Space Science Center: 17.07 million yuan
The Institute of Biophysics: 12.78 million yuan (from 2009 to 2011)
The Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science: 8.4 million yuan
The Institute of Electronics: 7.3 million yuan
The Institute of Psychology: 1.8 million yuan
Source: China Business, June 28, 2012
http://www.cb.com.cn/1634427/20120628/390263.html
CRN: State Owned Companies’ Profits Are Declining
Outlook Weekly: How to Reform China’s Financial Safety System
CRN: China’s Manufacturing Industry Is Actually Weak
People’s Daily: China’s Social Security Consumes 40% of Wages
Next Year, the Shortage in China’s Pension Account Will Reach 18 Trillion Yuan
A recently released research report "to resolve the mid to long-term risk to the nation’s account for asset liabilities” predicted that the gap between the amount in the Chinese pension account and the amount due to be paid out will reach 18.3 trillion yuan [~US$3 trillion] in 2013. The report notes that, due to the impact of China’s aging population, the co-ordinated pension account will be a huge burden for the nation’s finances. Actions have been recommended to relieve the pressure, including delaying the retirement age; allocating state-owned shares; and reforming (the retirement policies) of government departments and institutions.
The study was a joint effort between the Bank of China research team, led by Cao Yuanzheng, the chief economist for the Bank of China, and the Fudan university research group, led by Ma Jun, the chief economist for the Greater China area of Deutsche Bank.
Source:Xinhua,June 14,2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2012-06/14/c_112210997.htm