Daily Lesson from Life 22 September 2008

"Mon, Sep 22, 2008 AFP China quality chief quits

BEIJING - THE head of China's product-quality agency, Li Changjiang, stepped down on Monday, state media said, amid a scandal over toxic milk that has killed four children and sickened nearly 53,000.

Mr Li tendered his resignation to the cabinet and it was accepted, Xinhua news agency said, making him the highest-profile political casualty yet in the mounting food safety crisis.

His resignation came as the health ministry released new figures showing that 52,857 children had fallen sick after drinking milk powder contaminated by the chemical melamine, a dramatic increase in earlier numbers.

Four children have died, previous government statements have said. The ministry said 12,892 children remain hospitalised with kidney problems.


Mr Li has been replaced by Wang Yong, who will leave his post as deputy secretary-general of the State Council, or Cabinet.

Mr Li's tenure coincided with a wave of scandals that have tarnished China's manufacturing reputation. Last year, the agency last year embarked on a wide-ranging effort to improve quality supervision throughout the country after a series of international safety scandals ranging from toys to pet food.

The latest scandal came despite a July 2007 pledge by Mr Li to 'address the fundamental problems behind issues relating to food product safety.'


It has revived worldwide fears over Chinese products, with several countries recalling Chinese dairy goods
and blocking further imports.

Melamine, normally used in making plastics, was first found in infant milk formula in Chinese markets, but has since been detected in a range of dairy products both in China and abroad."

A dramatic increase in the number of cases reported from the initial total silence, though not denial! This type of disclosure is one of the worst forms possible. With bad news, normally you like to have them OUT ALL at once! After that we can concentrate on fixing the root causes of the problems.

China obviously has some folks who are really interested in making good money and totally ignored their responsibilities and duties to the consumers for safe-to-consumer foods!!

Lessons for me are:

1. bad habit is hard to get rid of! The initial denial and cover up. The reluctance admission. The collapse of any justification and sense of guilt developed. The ultimate climb down when 'the paper cannot no longer hide the fire/flame!';

2. you can only fool someone some time but you cannot fool everyone all the time! So, if you don't want to be caught out doing something you or your next generation will feel ashamed of. So, insist on do the right things right always. Look ahead instead of just the immediate benefits!;

3. taking responsibility to resign is acceptable practice in China, and Japan, and one or two other Asian countries. In Singapore the precedence has been set that high level leaders NEED NOT resign if their policies are correct and just and that they did not profit from any failed transaction personally! So, there is relativism!

Again I wish all the affected babies get help and recover well.

Peace and power to the earth!!