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41 children have been
killed whilst assembling fireworks at a Primary
School, in Jiangxi Province on Tuesday 6 March.
The school made fireworks for companies, to
supplement their income.
The explosion in Fanglin Wanzi County happened
the day after the Prime Minister Zhu Ronghi, said
that China suffered "frequent
occurrences of grave accidents".
TV stations showed a scene of complete
devastation. Part of the schools 2nd
floor was reduced to rubble. Soldiers searched
through bricks and mortar some using their bare
hands. Last year more than 50 people were killed
assembling fireworks. Most of the people
not working in the land are engaged in the
firework business either at home or at factories.
The majority of firework imports to the UK are
from China or Taiwan. Importers might in
future be careful which factories they are
purchasing from, as it is impossible to test
every firework that comes into the country.
They might also take the trouble to visit the
factories they are purchasing from so that they
can check on the quality control of those
factories.
It follows our call last year that more stringent
controls should be put on imports from wherever.
If fireworks do not come direct from the Far East
they can come in via the back door through
another EC country. This highlights the
importance of the European Standard on Fireworks.
Nine out of ten letters now comes from a Pet
owner and the letters are still coming in about
animals who have been injured or traumatised by
the noise of fireworks from September to New
Year's Eve last year. We are asking for a
meeting with the Consumer Affairs Minister Dr Kim
Howells through MPs and hope to bring up all
these matters at the DTI. We want to get
this out of the way before the General Election,
which is indicated to be on or around May 3.
Meanwhile the DTI are holding on to the firework
injury statistics for last year in keeping with
the ridiculous tradition down there of not
releasing figures until just before Easter.
We want to break this for once and for all, and
have the figures released as soon as possible in
the New Year each year. We will be asking
our friends in our supporting organisations to
assist us with this, and bring some pressure to
the DTI on behalf of the millions whom suffer
each year, and who are just ignored.
I am glad that the "Countryside Alliance"
have called off their huge march in London this
year, as this has become nothing more than pro-hunting
demo, despite the many campaigning issues that
people face in the countryside on rural issues
including, transport, and poverty. However
this is no longer the intent of the organisers of
the demo, who are doing very nicely, thank you.
The Government have rightly put the Bill to ban
hunting through on behalf of a majority of MPs,
who represent the majority who live not just in
the Towns and Cities but also the countryside.
The only people dissatisfied are the pro-hunting
vociferous minority and their friends in high
places. On this occasion they will have to
accept the majority view.
Best wishes as always,
Noel
11 March 2001
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