Major environmental events in 2009 in China
- Source: Global Times
- [16:44 December 22 2009]
- Comments
The environment was a hot topic in China in 2009. Here is a roundup of major events that happened.
1. Corruption in water pollution treatment project
Seven provinces embezzled 403 million yuan ($59 million) from the funds for water pollution treatment project involving 13 provinces, according to a report released by the National Audit Office on November 28. Nine provinces, including municipalities and autonomous regions failed to pay 2.14 billion yuan ($313.32 million) for sewage disposal.
The project was originally launched to deal with the pollution in the Liaohe River, Haihe River, Huaihe River, Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake and Dianchi Lake. But in the past six years with over 8,000 programs, there as been no improvement seen in the water quality of these water bodies.
2. Photographer of "Pollution in China" unveils the reality of environmental pollution
This photo was taken in Cihu Chemical Industry District, Anhui Province on June 18, 2009. An underground pipe was built to discharge wastewater into the Yangtze River. The wastewater was black, gray, dark red, or yellow.
Lu Guang, a Chinese freelance photographer won the prestigious W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography with his collection of pictures entitled "Pollution in China" on November 14. His work reveals the serious problem of pollution in China and the health hazards they cause on local residents.
