One Other News Item

I don't normally post so frequently, but the ease of internet access in Hong Kong allows it, and I feel that this is interesting to share. As I've mentioned in some posts, there is a lot of optimism that if the government wants to move, they can do so swiftly and decisively. To support this, one needs look no further than more recent news. As I've heard time and again, residents here in China care a lot about their family's health and safety, and if you don't believe my anecdotal evidence, the milk scandal in 2008 is the perfect example of this. For those who don't recall or didn't hear about it in the news, in 2008 baby milk from several producers was found to contain a toxic chemical called melamine. Though six were arrested as a result, "'serious loopholes' in supervision and poor management by local authorities" were blamed for allowing the toxic chemicals to find their way into the milk, according to Xinhua News Agency. As a result, sales of imported baby milk rose and confidence in the Chinese dairy industry suffered.

It may have taken 2 years, but Beijing has responded decisively. A report from September 19 states that Beijing has approved the use of the death penalty for serious violators of food safety laws. Talk about decisive action--the death penalty is not something that could be used in these conditions in the US or in most other countries. I think of all countries in the world, only China can easily enact policies so strict and sweeping in scope without question or public backlash. Were similar (though maybe not as harsh) policies enacted for polluters, then there is hope for real change on efficiency and carbon mitigation in China. Many practitioners hope for such action, and coupled with Premier Wen Jiabao's admission I detailed in my previous post, I think there is the possibility for such laws to be seen following the new Five Year Plan. The precedent set by this new food safety law also demonstrates that when the public demands action through either economic power or outcry, the government here acts swiftly and strongly. It is evidence to back up the anecdotes and hopes of the optimists in the green building community. But before we all get too happy, remember that there must be either strong public support or documented risk to health for Beijing to act, at least if this precedent holds true.