What Can We Learn from the What Can We Learn from the Milk ScandalMilk Scandal

Group OneGroup One(Li Wei, Luo BingXin, Lu Tingting, (Li Wei, Luo BingXin, Lu Tingting,

Liu Aiping, Du Yuxiang)Liu Aiping, Du Yuxiang)

November 11, 2008November 11, 2008

The structure of the The structure of the compositioncomposition

• Milk scandalMilk scandal broke outbroke out

• Moral regeneration is the need of the hourMoral regeneration is the need of the hour

• Both the government and the enterprises Both the government and the enterprises should be responsible for the scandalshould be responsible for the scandal

• The measures has been taken and lessons The measures has been taken and lessons should be learned from the scandalshould be learned from the scandal

• The scandal is worth thinking over for all of usThe scandal is worth thinking over for all of us

Milk scandalMilk scandal broke outbroke out The tainted-milk scandal is by far the most The tainted-milk scandal is by far the most

widespread food safety problem that has hit widespread food safety problem that has hit china. It affected babies throughout the china. It affected babies throughout the country, leading to several deaths and more country, leading to several deaths and more than 53,000 children diagnosed with kidney than 53,000 children diagnosed with kidney stones. The results of the probe have shocked stones. The results of the probe have shocked Chinese. Chinese.

The children are suffering. The children are suffering.

Out of 109 dairy producers checked, 22 hOut of 109 dairy producers checked, 22 had been found to have produced batches oad been found to have produced batches of milk contaminated with melamine, incluf milk contaminated with melamine, including major Olympic Games sponsor Yili, ding major Olympic Games sponsor Yili, and Mengniu. and Mengniu.

The social impact is vile. It seems that the The social impact is vile. It seems that the whole country is in a profound silence. whole country is in a profound silence.

Isn’t the tragedy inevitable? Who shoIsn’t the tragedy inevitable? Who should be responsible for the affected chiuld be responsible for the affected children who are the future generation, tldren who are the future generation, the hope of the nation and the agonizehe hope of the nation and the agonized parents? The most important is we d parents? The most important is we should keep a reflective turn of mind should keep a reflective turn of mind to absorb the lessons of the disaster. to absorb the lessons of the disaster.

MoralMoral regeneration is the need of the hour regeneration is the need of the hour

The root of the tragedy is greed. For the The root of the tragedy is greed. For the past 30years, making money and gettipast 30years, making money and getting rich has been a dominant theme for ng rich has been a dominant theme for china. The nation has been making so china. The nation has been making so many sacrifices so that the economy inmany sacrifices so that the economy increases rapidly. This is far away from tcreases rapidly. This is far away from the traditional culture and human nature.he traditional culture and human nature.

If we are not careful, and continue to If we are not careful, and continue to let greed grow practically unchecked, let greed grow practically unchecked, this is going to destroy our socialist this is going to destroy our socialist system before we know it. Having system before we know it. Having said this, the next logical question is: said this, the next logical question is: how can we rein in greed? how can we rein in greed?

To some extent, moral ethics is more To some extent, moral ethics is more effective than legal system. There is effective than legal system. There is simply no way that we can practice simply no way that we can practice check on all people at all times.check on all people at all times.

Each of us should be trained to Each of us should be trained to reflectively exercise self-checking and reflectively exercise self-checking and to automatically refrain from doing to automatically refrain from doing anything improper through moral anything improper through moral education. Therefore the revival of education. Therefore the revival of Confucianism is essential. Confucianism is essential.

The core focus of Confucianism is The core focus of Confucianism is humaneness or benevolence. In fact, humaneness or benevolence. In fact, humaneness is the summation of humaneness is the summation of other virtues. a person with other virtues. a person with humaneness will always do what is humaneness will always do what is fit for his social role. fit for his social role.

What’s more, a person with What’s more, a person with humaneness does what is helpful and humaneness does what is helpful and kind to others. kind to others.

The great philosopher and The great philosopher and educator: Confuciuseducator: Confucius

Both the government and the enterprises Both the government and the enterprises should be responsible for the scandalshould be responsible for the scandal

Not only relevant companies were Not only relevant companies were responsible for the scandal, but the responsible for the scandal, but the government should also be responsible government should also be responsible for lax supervision. Some commentators for lax supervision. Some commentators have suggested that nothing was done to have suggested that nothing was done to investigate the claims as the company and investigate the claims as the company and local officials did not want any bad local officials did not want any bad publicity during the Olympic Games, publicity during the Olympic Games, when the world's eyes were on China. when the world's eyes were on China.

Isn’t it reasonable that Chinese Isn’t it reasonable that Chinese people’s health is the price of the people’s health is the price of the Olympic Games? Olympic Games?

This is the betrayal of the spirit of This is the betrayal of the spirit of Olympic. There is still a long way to Olympic. There is still a long way to realize the proclamation that the CPC realize the proclamation that the CPC is “governing for the people, and its is “governing for the people, and its policies are “people-centered”.policies are “people-centered”.

The competition can get really dirty. One The competition can get really dirty. One way to get more raw milk is to lower way to get more raw milk is to lower standards, the other is to raise prices. standards, the other is to raise prices. Large enterprises can get it by raising Large enterprises can get it by raising prices. But some small enterprises have no prices. But some small enterprises have no choice but to lower standards for choice but to lower standards for purchasing raw milk to make some money.purchasing raw milk to make some money.

The measures has been taken and lessons The measures has been taken and lessons should be learned from the scandal.should be learned from the scandal.

Fortunately, the government’s performance is not tFortunately, the government’s performance is not too bad after the crisis broke out. Tainted milk was oo bad after the crisis broke out. Tainted milk was destroyed. Every batch of milk product is checked destroyed. Every batch of milk product is checked strictly. Both those who were directly involved in tstrictly. Both those who were directly involved in the case and leaders who were responsible are punishe case and leaders who were responsible are punished . The chairwoman of Sanlu has been detained. hed . The chairwoman of Sanlu has been detained. Four milk dealers have been arrested and 22 others Four milk dealers have been arrested and 22 others held for questioning. held for questioning.

The mayor of the city where Sanlu is baseThe mayor of the city where Sanlu is based has resigned, along with the local Comd has resigned, along with the local Communist Party leader and the head of Chinmunist Party leader and the head of China's national department of quality supervia's national department of quality supervision. All the affected children are given tsion. All the affected children are given the best possible medical treatment in hoshe best possible medical treatment in hospitals free of any charge. pitals free of any charge.

The lawbreakers are The lawbreakers are punished.punished.

The quality watchdogs are The quality watchdogs are testing the milk.testing the milk.

A baby diagnosed with kidney stones after being A baby diagnosed with kidney stones after being fed Sanlu milk food gets treatment at a hospital.fed Sanlu milk food gets treatment at a hospital.

Premier Wen Jiabao visited an infant who suffered from Premier Wen Jiabao visited an infant who suffered from kidney stones after drinking formula, which comforted tkidney stones after drinking formula, which comforted the victims more or lesshe victims more or less

The Chinese government and enterprises The Chinese government and enterprises should earnestly draw lessons from the should earnestly draw lessons from the scandal. The agencies of the central scandal. The agencies of the central government should share clear government should share clear responsibilities and cooperate closely. responsibilities and cooperate closely. Thorough food check system urged. Thorough food check system urged. Effective and forceful supervision on the Effective and forceful supervision on the production, transportation and processing of production, transportation and processing of food are needed. So a food safety food are needed. So a food safety commission should be set up at various commission should be set up at various levels of government.levels of government.

Milk enterprises need own their own raw Milk enterprises need own their own raw milk source. No price fluctuations would milk source. No price fluctuations would be allowed. A milk producer has to raise be allowed. A milk producer has to raise cows in order to guarantee a stable milk cows in order to guarantee a stable milk supply. The milk sector is a typical supply. The milk sector is a typical agricultural business with a lot of links, it agricultural business with a lot of links, it is a complicated project. If there's a is a complicated project. If there's a problem with any of the links, the quality problem with any of the links, the quality of the milk product cannot be guaranteed. of the milk product cannot be guaranteed. So it is a matter for all of society, all So it is a matter for all of society, all departments and all enterprises.departments and all enterprises.

We are living in a so-called “Vanity Fair”: not We are living in a so-called “Vanity Fair”: not a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, though very noisy. There is a great quantity of though very noisy. There is a great quantity of laughing and the contrary, cheating, fighting, laughing and the contrary, cheating, fighting, killing, love-making for the sentimental. When killing, love-making for the sentimental. When we step in and look at the performance, to be we step in and look at the performance, to be oppressed or not, this is aoppressed or not, this is a question! question!

Thanks for your Thanks for your listening !listening !