It all started when I received an email with a link to a post in Tienya, the largest Internet forum in China.The local Putien resident “Applewangking” published an article titled “Sateri Chemical Pollution in Putien, No More Bloody GDP” in Tienya, describing how the air, water and environment has been contaminated by pollution from the Sateri plant. As I research into the topic more, I found the problem is deeper than I initially thought. Many angry local Putien’s residents complained on the Internet forums, published articles and filed complaints on government websites about the pollution Sateri has caused and hoping to have the Sateri plant shut down. Until date, their concerns have been poorly addressed by the government and Sateri.
Sateri Oy
Sateri Oy is a subsidiary of Royal Golden Eagle (RGE), owned by Indonesian businessman, Sukanto Tanoto. The company is listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK: 1768). The company changed its corporate name from Sateri to Bracell on 26th Feb 2015 due to unknown reasons. Bracell’s current main operations are located in China, namely two operating viscose staple fiber production facilities located in Putian, Fujian and Jiangxi. The names of their Chinese operations remained as “Sateri”.
The “Bloody GDP”
“Applewangking” said that there has been no peace since Sateri set up their factory in his town, Putien, China in 2009. (Note: Sukanto Tanoto said that he is from Putien, China.) “Applewangking” first described his hometown, Putien was a place blessed with rich natural assets- green mountains, clear water and fresh air. It was also the hometown of Mazu, the widely worshiped goddess of the sea that protects sailors and fishermen. However, everything has changed since Sateri set up their factory in Putien in 2009. The local residents complained about the loud noises coming out from the factory’s machines 24 hours everyday. The sky was never blue and clear again due to the black smoke coming out of the factory. Horrible chemical smells coming out from the factory that made him disgusted and wanted to throw up. The sewage and waste water Sateri produced were untreated before pumping into the sea.
He mentioned that the Chinese regulations state it clear that all waste water pump from a factory into river or sea needed to be treated. So he questioned why the government let Sateri crossed the law without any punishment.
As the water continued being polluted, it became impossible for local farmers to grow the rice they used to grow. The smell of the natural water stinks. Once famous for its fresh and sweet seafood, now Putien’s seafood became inedible because of the contamination.
Agriculture and fishing used to be the main business activities in Putien, and now local fishermen and farmers suffered huge losses due to the water contamination and other pollutions.
“Applewangking” said the local government enjoyed huge tax income from Sateri Oy, along with the rising tax incomes from the local hospitals due to growing numbers of patients who got cancers and diseases due to the pollutions Sateri caused. “Applewangking” called this pretty GDP number the “bloody GDP”, an excellent economic growth based on the loss of the local environment and residents.
Showing a map of how close the Sateri plant and the Dongpu Middle School are, a local resident worried that the pollution is affecting the health of the young children.
Government Responses
Sateri (Fuijien) Fibre was listed in the monitor list on the website of Environmental Department of Putien for releasing excessive noise emission and discharging unprocessed wastewater directly into the river due to the factory’s wastewater treatment plant wasn’t functioning properly. But according to the local residents, nothing has changed.
Several people commented that the officials would visit Sateri’s plant after they filed a complaint, but no other serious actions has been taken other than a visit.
According to the reports released by the Environmental Department of Putien, they have been monitoring the environmental issues of Sateri since 2013 and everything was under control.
In responses, Putien’s residents continue posting photos and videos of fishes and plants around the Sateri Plant to show the reports are all lies. (The photos may contain some disturbing images. Viewer discretion advised.)
Donations
Commenters also mentioned that companies causing pollutions in China would often donate money to the government. Hence the companies would not only escaped the punishments of the pollutions they committed, but often being praised and awarded as “Honourable Companies” by the Chinese government.
The Voice of Local Residents
“The waste water went straight from the factory into the sea. The owner is said to be a fellow from Putien. Other fellows came back to our village to do good. We don’t need him back if he is back for causing damages.”
“I am a local Putien resident. I can prove it. I’m also willing to take full legal responsibility for what I said here. I don’t know how much money Sateri Oy invested in the environment but the pollution Sateri has caused is serious, especially in the air and the sea. The pollution is real.
I don’t know how the environmental council “rigorously” monitor the factory because the disgusting factory’s smoke and contaminated sea products are happening right in front of my eyes…… No journalist in Putien is willing to report the news. I hope there are reporters who are willing to speak for the people and care for the environment. I beg you. Thank you! I stand behind for every word I said here.”
“I can only rest in peace on the day I die if Sateri left my hometown”
– A Poem written by BenJuanJiang
As a global citizen, I share the pain and grieve to see our planets suffer this kind of damages. I don’t know if the Chinese government has seen these but I can”t ignore them after I saw it.
Please spread the words out and stop Sukanto Tanoto for harming our planet.
Shocking Video Evidences
The local Putien residents uploaded some shocking videos that are very hard to watch and ignored.
A disaster to the planet.
Sorry to say that but we would never let this kind of business survive in America.
My suggestion to Sukanto: Stay in developing countries where bribery is normal. People out there are not that friendly.