16,000 and Counting: Chinese Continue To Pull Out Dead Pigs From River Used By Shanghai Residents

We previously discussed how the number of dead pigs in Chinese rivers leading to Shanghai has increased from a few hundred to just under 1000. The number is now 16,000 and counting. Yet, Chinese officials insist they have no idea who dumped over 16,000 pigs into the water but that the rivers, used for drinking water, is completely safe.

Officials have now pulled 10,570 carcasses from the Huangpu river and 5,528 pigs from upstream tributaries in the Jiaxing area of Zhejiang province.

Many of the pigs were found to be diseased and Chinese officials have been trying to stop Chinese farmers from selling diseased animals for food — a widespread problem in China where food controls are spotty at best. Just last november, three men were sentenced for slaughtering 77,000 diseased pigs that were then sold for food in China.

It seems pretty hard for dump over 16,000 pigs into rivers without someone, particularly the large Chinese government apparatus, from noticing. Yet, it remains a mystery.

Years ago, I spoke in China to argue for the use of private attorneys general to combat environmental problems as the only way to deal with the rapidly diminishing environmental condition in the country. While the paper was published in China, it clearly is not something that the Chinese government is willing to allow at this time. To the contrary, environmentalists continue to be beaten and imprisoned in the country.

Source: Guardian