Headline October 31, 2016/ ''' STUDENTS *MASS* ILLNESS '''

''' STUDENTS *MASS* ILLNESS '''

*IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD*  - *Students Mass Illness* is one horrid tragedy, just waiting to unfold and happen. 

With human life of very little value and concern, and  supervision, accountability, and punishment lax and even ''non'-existent''. 

And this observation is very much applicable to the entire Asian region, the African cluster and many countries of  South America. All Students, Parents, Teachers  are best advised to take this serious matter  up with the school authorities.

THE PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL in Eastern China that became the focus of national outrage last spring after nearly 500 students fell ill-

Has been tested and classified as environmentally safe, the city government of Changzhou has said.

*But parents and many others are voicing doubts, and anger, at these rushed findings*.

The illness at Changzhou  Foreign  Languages  School caused an uproar across China after a report in the state news media said that more than 20 percent of students at the school had gotten sick-

A few cases as severe as  *leukemia and lymphoma*   -possible because a nearby field was polluted.

In an brief announcement later in the week, Changzhou city government said the investigators had concluded that the air, soil and water at school were safe after conducting tests from April 19 to May 20.

Some people called on the government to offer more details.

Cheng Qian a campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia, said the report was an attempt to  dissociate the children's illnesses with nearby field, the site of several former pesticide plants.

Ms. Cheng said that although the city's announcement acknowledged that the site    -called Changlong land after  Jiangsu Changlong Chemicals Company. one of the manufacturers that moved away in 2010-

Had problems and that the government had punished  10-low-level officials by disciplining or dismissing them, it failed to detail the extent of the pollution at the site and how the government planned to deal with the environmental risks. 

''We only roughly know that the Changlong land isn't safe.''

She added that the report also failed to disclose details of how the school's environment was tested. ''This is not a thorough report, so this conclusion seems light,'' Mr. Chang said on telephone some days later.

After the school, which has  2,400 students, opened a 153 acre campus near the field last fall, dozens of students complained of having rashes and nosebleeds and of a foul odor in the air.

The announcement from the Changzhou government said that the air around the school  ''has no major differences'' from the air in a city park, identified as a  ''clean spot''.

It added that the soil and underground water tested did not contain any of the crucial contaminants found in the nearby field. 

The announcement also said that examinations had shown that the physical condition of the school's junior high graduates of 2016 did not have ''significant differences''  from the physical condition of students of other schools.

Li Jixiang, a government employee at the Changzhou city news department said that the local government did not know further details because the investigation had been overseen by central government agencies.  

On Sina Weibo, a Chinese social network, many people voiced their anger after the announcement, asking why so many children had fallen ill if the school's environment was safe. Some have called for the government to publish its original report on the investigation and testing.

In April, the state broadcaster,  China Central Television  aired a scathing report about the Changzhou school, prompting heated discussions across the country about school safety.

The report said that out of  641 students  examined by doctors, or   27 percent of the student body,  493 were found to be ill.

At the time, the government's report had been seen by some as a promising step to deal with the chemical industry.

!WOW!  -the World Students Society wishes the students well, and will continue to exercise vigilance on all the updates. Student Toby/China, will lead the feedback.       

With respectful dedication to the Leaders of the Developing world, Parents, Students, Professors and Teachers. See Ya all on the !WOW!  -the World Students Society and Twitter-!E-WOW!  -the Ecosystem 2011:

''' Tentative Watch '''

Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - the Voice of the Voiceless