KAOHSIUNG CHILDREN WANT RIGHT TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR|文府國小師生上街 抗議水泥粉塵汙染

The Wenfu Elementary School faculty and students took to the streets to fight for their right to clean air. For a long period of time, teachers, students, and local residents have suffered from unpleasant odors and air pollution caused by a local company, Southeast Cement. They organized a demonstration to call attention to the issue. The day before the demonstration, the Environmental Protection Bureau of Kaohsiung City promised that it will not allow Southeast Cement to resume operations until the company is able to fully resolve the problems. To fight for the right to breathe clean air, Wenfu Elementary School launched a demonstration. Many local residents also volunteered to participate. ==STUDENT Wenfu Elementary School == We are here to protest against Southeast Cement. ==Wenfu Junior High School student== We cannot focus on the development of industry and the prosperity of society only and allow our environment and air to be polluted. ==PARENT== Officials have to conduct more inspections. Southeast Cement has to grow a conscience. Southeast Cement has created problems of odors and air pollution. After over two years of petitioning from the Wenfu Elementary School, the company was finally forced to halt operations in May. In October they applied for the resumption of operations on a trial basis. However, over 10 incidents of malfunction occurred again. The Environmental Protection Bureau of Kaohsiung City thus announced that it will not grant any permissions before Southeast Cement completes the system overhaul. ==KO HUI-CHUAN, demonstration organizer== Our protest today is a message to Southeast Cement. We are rational citizens who want to protect children's health. We want kids to grow in a healthy environment. Meanwhile, the Kaohsiung City government has responded by passing more stringent regulations for the cement industry known as the "Southeast Cement clause". == LEE KEN-CHENG Sec-Gen., Citizen of the Earth Taiwan== Environmental authorities have to do a good job in conducting inspections and management on a daily basis. If you don't do a good job, people will never have trust in businesses. Whenever the factory resumes operations, people would question if they are secretly polluting the environment. As evidenced by the results, Wenfu Elementary School is able to raise awareness for air pollution among local residents and make a positive influence on the community. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU 世界人權日捍衛呼吸權，高雄市這場遊行很不一樣，發起人是文府國小師生們，因為長期受到東南水泥異味、粉塵汙染，上街遊行呼籲各界重視空汙問題，而就在遊行舉辦前一天，高雄市環保局作出承諾，東南水泥未徹底改善前，不會通過復工。 為好空氣而走，捍衛呼吸權，世界人權日這場遊行很特別，是由文府國小師生發起，關切空汙問題的民眾自發參與，"爭氣"遊行要爭一口好空氣。 ==文府國小學生== 為了抗議東南水泥 所以才來的 ==文府國中學生== 不要因為工業的關係 不要因為我們社會發展了起來 而變成說我們自己 沒有好的環境 沒有好的空氣 ==學生家長== 有關單位能夠去多加檢查他們 那東南水泥要拿出良心 力抗東南水泥異味、粉塵汙染，文府國小歷經2年多陳情，終於在5月迫使東南水泥停工，不過，10月開始東南水泥申請復工試車，又發生10多起當機、堵料和故障事故，因此高雄環保局在遊行前一天明確表示，東南水泥未徹底改善前，不會通過復工。 =遊行總指揮 柯慧娟== 借助今天的遊行告訴東南 我們是很理性 我們要維護的是小孩子的健康 我們都希望小孩子 可以在健康的環境當中成長 同時，高雄市府也回應訴求，通過被外界視為"東南水泥條款的"水泥業加嚴標準"。 ==地球公民基金會執行長 李根政== 這牽涉到環保機關 到底有沒有認真的 進行平常稽查跟管理 如果你沒有做好稽查跟管理 說實在人民永遠 對於廠商沒有信賴感 他一旦運轉 大家就會擔心偷排 又是惡性的汙染 充分展現公民自覺能力，文府國小擴及影響力到社區居民，甚至到高雄市民，讓大家正視空氣汙染問題，更要勇於站出來，關注自身環境。 記者 李淑蘭 孟昭權 高雄報導