Shifang Anti-Factory Campaign (2012)

The Shifang Anti-Factory Campaign of 2012 was a grassroots environmentalist movement led by high school students in 2012 in the city of Shifang, Sichuan, China.

Background

On the 29th of June, 2012, the government of the city of Shifang announced the construction of a molybdenum-copper alloy factory. High school students in the area who were concerned about the factory’s environmental impacts sent the government a petition calling for it to cancel the construction. Reports estimated that the factory would pollute a radius of 60 km, encompassing Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province. The students also distributed pamphlets and posters over the entire city to raise awareness and rally the residents to take action against the refinery’s construction. High schools threatened to expel the student activists if they continued their protests.

Events

Later that day, thousands gathered in the Shifang public square and in front of government buildings in protest. On the 2nd of July hundreds of protestors began a sit-in at the gate of the Shifang Municipal Government Compound and signed names on a banner. The government sent in riot police who used tear gas, stun grenades, batons and live ammunition at the protesters. Many protestors and witnesses posted personal accounts, videos, and pictures on Weibo, a Chinese social networking site. One user said that the government had bribed people living near the plant with 20,000 yuan (equivalent to US $2,800 in 2012) in hush money. Another Weibo user posted about a restaurant owner who had refused to serve a police officer in protest against the police violence. On the 3rd of July police attacked protesters with tear gas and grenades and arrested 28 people, a number of them students.

Results

By the end of the night, the government had given in to the protesters’ demands and announced that they would terminate the project. The police released 22 detainees later that night. However, they formally arrested three people on criminal charges and another three on administrative charges.

References

Global Nonviolent Action Database - Shifang students prevent copper plant construction, China, 2012