Cadmium (Cd), is a silvery white coloured heavy metal. Resistant to corrosion and abrasion, it is a common carcinogenic chemical with a soft texture that is extremely elastic. It is non-degradable and therefore poses an environmental hazard when discarded as industrial waste. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies cadmium and its compounds as Group 1 of carcinogen for humans.[1] When inhaled, cadmium is eliminated from the human body via urine. However, the amount of cadmium excreted daily in this manner is very small. It represents only about 0.005 – 0.01% of the total body burden which corresponds to a biological half-life for cadmium of about 20-40 years.[2] Consequently cadmium causes long-term damage to many organs and tissues, especially the kidneys and skeletal structure. In Japan cadmium related diseases were called Itai-itai disease, with ‘itai’ means ‘painful’. The severe bone pains induced by cadmium poisoning caused such distress that victims would cry out “Pain! Pain!” read more…
Xiagang
The Sacrifice in the Transformation of Labour Policy in China
From State to Market
Asia Monitor Resource Centre
It is a collection of essays on the exploration of the issue of layoff in state-run enterprises in China. Most articles are related to the studies commissioned by Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) in late 1990’s. It reveals the fact of
Xiangang workers that has been veiled in the mainstream media. Certainly, it is a book indispensable for anyone who is interested in labour issue or shows concern for the livelihood of Xiagang workers in China.
*Some articles are written in Chinese
Edition : Dec 2009 / Paper Back
Price : HKD 100
Contact : admin@amrc.org.hk
Gold Peak Group Must Reinstate Wang Fengping And Support Calls for the Release of the Three Detained Workers in Huizhou
Open Letter to Mr. Victor Lo, CEO of GP
To Mr.Victor Lo
Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Co., Ltd.
Kwai Wing Road, Kwai Chung,
New Territories,
Hong Kong,
Mr Victor Lo,
Today, 30 December 2009, your Huizhou-based subsidiary Huizhou Power Pack Co. Ltd dismissed Wang Fengping for her alleged leading role in a street meeting on 9 December. Wang Fengping’s dismissal follows the earlier detention of four of your employees, including Ms. Wang, by the local authorities for their alleged inciting of fellow workers to block a main road in protest at conditions at your factory. read more…
Globalization Monitor is continuing to monitor the situation at the Gold peak production sites.
In April 2009, Gold Peak made public its decision to move the JetPower plant in Shenzhen to Huizhou. This move will be effectuated by the end of 2009. Clearly, Gold Peak is making use of a loophole in the law that stipulates that a company is not obliged to pay compensation for its ex-workers.
read more…
December 10th, 2009
Mr. Victor Lo Chung Wing,
Chairman & CEO
Gold Peak Industries (Holdings) Limited
From December 8 to 10, 2009, one thousand workers from Power Pack, your company in Huizhou, took strike action.
On December 9, frustration at the lack of response from management led to an escalation and hundreds of angry workers first blocked the gate of the factory, and then blocked the main road in front of the factory. Local police were called in to restore order, and the striking workers were forced to return to the factory, although the strike continued until the next day.
read more…
(c)The Sun (HK)
December 8, 2009
In the morning, workers were dissatisfied with their company’s long-standing practice of differential treatment–older employees’ base pay is only 33 yuan / day, while the new internship students recruited from a Vocational College are given 40 yuan / day. read more…
Source: China Briefing News. 12 November 2009.
Hong Kong authorities have offered to cut down on the territory’s water supply from Guangdong Province to alleviate the worst drought in 60 years.
Water levels in Guangdong from August to September are only half of last year’s but the province has continued to supply 2 million cubic meters of water to Hong Kong and 230,000 cubic meters to Macau.
read more…
At least 121 children living around a battery factory in eastern China are suffering from lead poisoning, according to officials.
By Malcolm Moore in Shanghai
Source: The Telegraph (UK), 27 Sep 2009
The scandal is the latest in a string of heavy metal poisoning cases caused by lax regulation at Chinese factories.
Increasing public anger over the nation’s blighted countryside has forced China’s leaders to tighten environmental standards and may yet pressure Beijing into a more proactive stance at the United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen at the end of the year. read more…
By Li Xinran
Source: Shanghai Daily. 2009-9-18
HUNDREDS of residents in a township in east China’s Fujian Province gathered in front of the local government offices yesterday afternoon to protest a factory they believe caused lead poisoning in several children.
The demonstration took place in Jiaoyang Township, Shanghang County, after at least four children were found to have excessive lead levels in their blood, Xinhua news agency reported. Villagers charged that the pollution came from the nearby Huaqiang Battery Factory. read more…
Source: La Via Campesina. 9 September 2009
Today we celebrate September 10, International Day of peasant struggles against the WTO. Every year when this day comes, we remember September 10, 2003, and our mobilization against the WTO in Cancun.
For farmers and peasants around the world the fight against the WTO is a struggle for life. Trade liberalization is like a steamroller. Each time it moves forward, more farmers disappear. In 2003, Korean farmers were among those who neoliberal policies struck hardest. Due to strong competition from cheap imports, many producers could no longer sell their own harvests. Mr Lee Kyung Hae was one of those farmers whose right to live in dignity from farming was denied by international trade. In Cancun, he climbed the fence of the WTO ministerial meeting, with a sign over his body saying: WTO Kills Farmers! Then, a few moments later, blood poured from his chest. He had sacrificed himself to remind the key decision makers of their responsibility for the disappearance of peasant economies around the world. read more…
