CHINA
Lost children of coal
SCRIPT FOR NARRATOR’S VOICEOVER
PROGRAM IN : 00 : 00 : 00 : 00
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:01:09:11
These children all have near-identical histories: they have all been born with deformities, and abandoned by their parents. And Kong Zhenlan has given shelter to each and every one.
Here everybody just calls her Mama Kong. A tiny, hunched figure, this remarkable 63-year-old has adopted around thirty children over the years, and with the help of her husband and daughter, she looks after them on a daily basis.
And the family keeps on growing. In Shanxi, one of the world’s most polluted regions, birth defects are becoming increasingly common. But Mama Kong is on a mission to save these lost children.
Deliang is only 9 years old. Because of his mouth defect, he was abandoned by his biological parents just a couple of days after birth.
TC OUT : 00:02:02:08
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:02:31:02
Deliang’s story is far from unique. In China, a child is born with deformities every 30 seconds, adding up to over a million per year.
Deep in the countryside poverty condemns these children to be seen as a burden for their families.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:03:29:19
Last winter, Mama Kong discovered a new baby at her front door. Tianliang was born with a severely cleft lip and palate.
For his adoptive mother, the first priority is to put a smile on his face.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:04:08:01
Two months later, little Tianliang has his upper lip fixed at a nearby hospital. It’s a relatively simple operation, and most importantly - thanks to aid from NGOs and the state - it’s free.
[FADE TO BLACK]
The result was astounding. After a few weeks of medical care, the only reminder of Tianliang’s cleft palate was a barely visible scar.
But today, Mama Kong has to bring him back to the hospital for a second operation.
The other children watch her leave, followed by her eldest son. It’s a routine they know well, having been through it themselves.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:06:39:24
The situation here is desperate, with more and more babies being born with deformities like these.
In the mineral fields of Shanxi, the level of birth defects is six times the Chinese average, and among the highest in the world.
The family’s eldest son, Changliang, is well aware of the causes of this phenomenon.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:07:45:01
Shanxi province is suffering from a coal pollution problem on a massive scale. Almost 800 million tons of coal is mined here each year - more than 40% of the country’s total output.
The miners of Shanxi are struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing targets imposed by China, where the race is on to produce more and more.
China relies on coal for fuel, and more than 70% of its electricity. And in the thermal power stations of Shanxi, it is being burned in vast quantities – resulting in a huge impact on the environment.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:09:05:05
500 metres away from the mound of ash, the village of Shuimotou is suffering the devastating effects of pollution.
It is a ghost town: everyone at liberty to do so has left it behind.
But Wenshan is forced to stay, to look after his mother.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:10:25:03
Although it’s 30 metres deep, the dump of Shuimotou has almost reached the limit of its capacity: a ton of ash is generated for every four tons of coal burned.
As the toxic ash spreads across the region, the most vulnerable inhabitants become its first victims…
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:11:45:22
But just taking in and treating these foundlings is not enough.
On her way home from the police station, Mama Kong is tense. Each adoption presents her with the same problem: how to obtain identity papers for children who don’t officially exist?
Mama Kong is already a mother of 29 - with the latest 2 the total comes to 31.
In the country of the one-child policy, it’s not surprising that she is unpopular with the authorities.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:12:32:13
Yet, just a few hours later, police and government officials arrive in the village.
Mama Kong’s unusual measures have shaken up the local bureaucracy. Now she faces a barrage of questions and phone calls, from delegates from the Communist party and the family planning service, as well as various other government departments, from public security to propaganda.
But the family is used to this pressure. Mama Kong may be small in stature, but time and time again, her remarkable determination has forced the diehard instigators of China’s one-child policy to yield to her will.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:13:53:24
Mama Kong has spent her life fighting, to give these lost children the illusion of a normal upbringing. This said, sharing a tiny house with 30 others isn’t always easy...
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:14:48:17
Family life at the Kongs’ does not really conform to the official line.
In the middle of the village stands a sign explaining the ethos of the Chinese family planning service, and setting out the rules for the benefit of the villagers. To prevent a population explosion, each couple is only allowed one child.
Naturally, Kong’s family situation attracts jealousy, and the authorities are anxious that word should not spread. The woman with 30 children must remain an exception to the rule.
After a ten-day process, identity papers for the two babies are finally handed over – discreetly - to Mama Kong.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:16:05:22
From now on, Tianliang and her brother have a future. They will be able to go to the village school, like their elder siblings.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:16:34:20
Every morning, Mama Kong’s little tribe descends on the school playground. Despite their broken beginnings, she is adamant that they should get an education, and be treated like normal kids.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:17:50:16
Despite successful surgery, and the kindness of their adoptive mother, life is still hard for these children.
Some, like Jinliang, are already unable to follow the regular curriculum. But Mama Kong won’t give up, and has just enrolled him in a special class.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:19:10:09
There are some children who never leave Mama Kong’s house, prevented by severe disabilities.
Pingyan suffers from cerebral palsy, a condition that begins in the womb and hinders brain development. She’s 26 years old but has spent her entire life in this courtyard.
Confronted with such adversity, Mama Kong often feels helpless.
NARRATOR
TC IN : 00:20:25:01
Rural China needs better access to healthcare. There’s also a desperate need to change mentalities, so that children with deformities don’t fall victim to prejudice and poverty. Mama Kong has rescued 30 of them, and her humble family bears its burden with great stoicism. But consider the rest of the country, and Mama Kong’s work appears as a mere drop in the ocean.
NARRATOR
TC IN 00:21:51:19
In the meantime, Mama Kong is still as dynamic as ever.
It’s been six months since she took in a new foundling. But if a lost child appears on her doorstep tomorrow, she’ll be sure to come to the rescue.
PROGRAM OUT : 00:22:20:05 (FIN)