Date: Wednesday, 07 August 2024
https://ericzuesse.substack.com/p/the-perspective-from-china
https://theduran.com/the-perspective-from-china/
The Perspective From China
Eric Zuesse (blogs at https://theduran.com/author/eric-zuesse/)
Following here are two news-reports from China reflecting what the residents there see in their news-media, regarding, first, their own Government; and, then, America’s Government. My only involvement in this will be my selection of these two news-reports from today to show what they are reading, and also (in the second article) my adding one link to background information in case a person who will be reading here might want such background information. So, the purpose here is for people outside China to get to see the sort of news the Chinese people read in their mainstream news-media:
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https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202408/06/WS66b17cb5a3104e74fddb8a13.html
https://archive.is/wzxtz
Polluters held liable to restore environment
Restorative justice approach adopted to enhance ecological governance
By Yang Zekun | China Daily | Updated: 2024-08-06 09:30
China has adopted a restorative justice approach to handling environmental pollution cases as part of efforts to enhance its ecological governance system, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said on Monday.
In the first half of this year, 1,597 individuals were prosecuted in 668 cases for environmental pollution offenses, according to the top procuratorate. It said that environmental pollution crimes present a mix of old and new challenges, requiring comprehensive strategies and intensified governance efforts.
In February, the top procuratorate launched a special nationwide operation focused on addressing livelihood issues, including the protection of the environment and natural resources, which will run until December.
The rapid pace of industrialization and urbanization has led to an increase in solid waste production, particularly hazardous waste, in certain areas. Some enterprises, facing insufficient disposal capacity and high costs, resort to illegally transferring hazardous waste to other regions or provinces, causing soil, water and air pollution, the top procuratorate said.
In a recent case, a man surnamed Zhang, lacking the required waste disposal qualifications, accepted construction and untreated domestic waste in a rented forest area in Beijing's Fangshan district from 2020 to July 2021. Furthermore, he hired individuals to work at the site and collected dumping fees.
The Beijing Municipal People's Procuratorate said the total weight of the illegally dumped waste reached nearly 449,000 metric tons, severely damaging the land's original functions and vegetation. The costs for cleaning, disposal and environmental restoration, along with the loss of ecological services, amounted to over 138 million yuan ($19.3 million).
The Fangshan District People's Procuratorate filed public interest litigation against Zhang and four others involved in environmental pollution crimes, in addition to investigating their criminal acts. The Fangshan District People's Court sentenced Zhang and his accomplices to prison terms ranging from one year and eight months to six years and 10 months for environmental pollution, along with fines ranging from 20,000 to 70,000 yuan.
Zhang was also ordered to bear the costs of ecological restoration, loss of ecological services, punitive damages and appraisal fees totaling about 140 million yuan. The other defendants were held jointly liable with Zhang for 2 percent to 15 percent of the costs.
Two defendants appealed the verdict, but the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court recently upheld the original judgment.
The top procuratorate said that industries such as electroplating, printing, chemical engineering and metal processing remain key areas for environmental pollution crimes. Some privately operated workshops deliberately evade supervision and unlawfully discharge pollutants.
Falsification of monitoring data is another significant concern. While China's laws require key polluting units to install monitoring equipment and connect it to ecological authorities, some entities manipulate data to avoid regulatory oversight, which has a negative impact on environmental compliance.
Certain third-party testing and monitoring institutions, motivated by self-interest, aid waste producers in concealing pollution through the falsification of data, the top procuratorate said.
In June, it released three typical cases of prosecuting third-party environmental protection agencies for data falsification, providing guidance to procuratorates at all levels in handling such violations. The cases, supervised by the top procuratorate and the ministries of ecology and environment and public security, covered environmental impact assessments, testing and vehicle emissions.
From 2022 to 2023, multiple central departments, including the top procuratorate and court, collaborated on a special campaign to address data falsification by third-party environmental protection agencies.
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https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202408/1317486.shtml
https://archive.is/Jk1hU
By Global Times
Published: Aug 06, 2024 08:48 PM
According to Niger's officials on Monday, the US military has completed its withdrawal from air base 201 stationed in the West African country, more than one month ahead of the September 15 deadline the government of Niger has given the US. In March, Niger's authorities declared the US military presence "illegal," while criticizing Washington's efforts to undermine Niger's right to self-determination.
The new government of Niger, which came to power after the military coup in 2023, took a firm stance against the Western military presence and intervention in the country, demanding the withdrawal of US and French troops. Under pressure from the authorities, the French military completely withdrew from the African country by the end of 2023.
Experts told the Global Times that the early withdrawal of US troops from Niger is actually motivated by Washington's own security concerns. Due to local sentiment, the safety of US troops cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, from the point of view of the US military, since it has to withdraw from the country, is that it might as well do so sooner rather than later to avoid possible unfavorable scenarios.
Judging from many dimensions, the decision of the US troops is actually a reluctant step. As Washington pays more attention to the Asia-Pacific region to counter China, it has had to focus its limited strategic resources more on the Asia-Pacific and gradually reduce its military presence in other regions, including the Middle East and Africa. Also, although Niger has been an important base for Washington's counterterrorism efforts in the Sahel, the long-term US military presence and counterterrorism operations in Niger have become increasingly costly and ineffective in recent years.
For Niger, the complete withdrawal of the US troops means that the African country is continuing on the path of getting rid of Western military intervention. It is also a move toward complete independence from Western countries.
Niger's demand for the withdrawal of Western troops demonstrates a strong will to preserve sovereignty and independent decision-making. Since the end of Western colonial rule in the mid-20th century, post-independence African countries like Niger have gradually developed a strong anti-colonial sentiment. This sentiment is skeptical of external interference, especially when it is seen as perpetuating the unequal relations of the colonial period.
Apart from Niger, in recent years the authorities in many African countries, from Mali to Burkina Faso to Chad, have continued to show Western troops the door. For many countries on the continent, this is a clear demonstration of sovereignty and a strong desire to manage their political and security affairs independently, without Western interference.
The withdrawal of Western troops from Niger could inspire more African countries to take similar measures to reduce their dependence on foreign military forces and strengthen their autonomous defense capabilities. This upsurge in the quest for independence and autonomy against Western colonial influence will further promote the continent's right to self-determination and collective self-confidence in the international arena.
As US troops are kicked out of regional countries like Niger, we should keep in mind that this doesn't mean that the US military is leaving Africa. Driven by its own interests, the US may extend its long arm to other African countries in the future, and even back to Niger if necessary. It may reevaluate its strategy if terrorist activities in the Sahel intensify or if the influence of other great powers in Africa increases. In addition, the country may be motivated by its economic interests to reassert its influence in Africa.
Amid the adjustment of its military layout on the continent, what is clear is the US' hegemonic way of dealing with regional countries, as well as its pursuit of political influence and its military expansion, are not welcomed by the people of the African region. It is obvious that the US won't change its course of hegemony and expansionism in Africa.
Africa does not want to become a chessboard for Washington's hegemony, especially given the US' record of fomenting and promoting proxy wars around the world.
All US actions are bound to arouse a high degree of vigilance on the part of African countries and strong opposition from the people of the continent.
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Investigative historian Eric Zuesse’s latest book, AMERICA’S EMPIRE OF EVIL: Hitler’s Posthumous Victory, and Why the Social Sciences Need to Change, is about how America took over the world after World War II in order to enslave it to U.S.-and-allied billionaires. Their cartels extract the world’s wealth by control of not only their ‘news’ media but the social ‘sciences’ — duping the public.
