Greenpeace campaigns against global brands for water pollution

BEIJING, July 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Greenpeace activists are trying to bring awareness to pollution caused by global brand names. A group of dancers gathered in Beijing and in other cities across the globe, for a flash mob event to draw public attention to water pollution. Last week, Greenpeace released a report saying some global and Chinese clothing brands discharge toxins into rivers during their production in China. Today, Greenpeace's environmental volunteers are joined by consumers here in Beijing in appealing to these manufacturers to stop polluting China's rivers in a novel way. A group of more than 30 dancers staged a surprise performance in the busy shopping center of Scitech Premium Outlet Mall in Beijing. Their objective -- to appeal to major sportswear brands to eliminate hazardous chemicals from their supply chain and products. Environmental volunteer said "We hope to draw the attention of brand names like Nike, Adidas and Li Ning to the pollution caused by their suppliers, and push them to work out a timetable to correct the problems. We are not repelling these brands. We hope they can do a better job." Zhang Kai, Greenpeace Campaigner said "The flash mob dances, involve more than two thousand volunteers worldwide, and are staged simultaneously in 36 cities in 14 countries around the globe. Our purpose is to compel these three sportswear giants to respond to Greenpeace's call for a toxic-free future and to take the lead in a "detox" change." Greenpeace's report shows suppliers of 14 global and Chinese clothing brands discharge hazardous chemicals into Chinese rivers. The NGO says their findings provide a snapshot of the pollution caused by the textile industry in China. China's waterways rank among the world's most polluted. It's estimated 70 percent of the country's rivers and lakes are affected.