Public objection of paraxylene projects should be a warning to government

The government should reflect on the reason why the public has lost their trust in paraxylene projects, the products of which can be found everywhere in daily life, said an article in the Southern Metropolis Daily (excerpts below).

The explosion of the paraxylene factory in Zhangzhou, Fujian province, on July 30 deepened the public's suspicion of the potential dangers of facilities that produce paraxylene, a chemical used for the manufacture of polyester.

Ironically, some media tried to convince the public that the paraxylene plants were safe before the accident.

Environmental scientists and protection agencies in China mostly have a governmental background. Assessments of environmental impact, which should provide the public with authoritative research results, are not always reliable because local government pays more attention to economic growth than environmental protection, and environmental watchdogs don't want to trouble local governments.

Another reason is China's environmental law courts, which are expected to bring justice to polluters and protect the public's health, are mostly left unused because it is difficult for victims of pollution to collect evidence without support from the authorities.

When environmental crises ensue and the scientific and technological authorities lose their standing with the governments, the public will lose their confidence with the paraxylene projects completely.