Chinese Man Suing Municipal Government Over Presence of Smog

A Factory in China at Yangtze River.

Shijiazhuang, China – Li Guixin lives in this Northern Chinese metropolis of 10.1 million inhabitants and cannot stand the lingering smog that has blanketed his city for much of this winter. In fact, the smog has affected much of Northern China. It is a byproduct of the nation’s rapid industrial rise amid lackadaisical environmental regulations.

However, Guixin happens to know the law is on his side and is suing the Shijiazhuang Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau in district court to both compel them to enforce existing environmental laws which mandate the bureau manage the smog and to exact monetary compensation on behalf of those people such as himself who have suffered as a result of the smog.

Thus far, the attorney representing Guixin has submitted the request to sue, but it has not been granted. The importance of this action is a growing sign that the rule of law is evolving in this nation to slowly make the government accountable to the people. Ever since the death of Mao Zedong, the country has undergone economic reforms that have transformed the standard of living for China. However, as one Chinese man said of the government, “You can earn as much money as you want, but you cannot express your beliefs freely.”

Mr Li’s lawyer declined to make any comment when contacted by the BBC.

But Mr Li told the state-run Yanzhao Metropolis Daily: “The reason that I’m proposing administrative compensation is to let every citizen see that amid this haze, we’re the real victims.”

“Besides the threat to our health, we’ve also suffered economic losses, and these losses should be borne by the government and the environmental departments because the government is the recipient of corporate taxes: it is a beneficiary,” he was quoted as saying.

Smog levels regularly top levels considered hazardous by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Beijing air on a 2005 day after rain (left) and a sunny but smoggy day (right)

Source:
Chinese man becomes first to sue government over smog
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/25/us-china-pollution-idUSBREA1J18E20140225

China smog: Shijiazhuang man attempts to sue government
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-26336580