Chinese Farmer Studies The Law To Take On State-Run Chemical Company

"You can do anything you set your mind to." These wise words, spoken by Benjamin Franklin, were certainly true for Wang Enlin, a Chinese farmer with only three years of formal education.  He spent the last 16 years learning the law on his own so he could sue the state-owned chemical company, Qihua Group, who he believed polluted his land.

And for now it appears his efforts have paid off.  He has won his legal battle against Qihua Group in the lower district court, but the chemical company is appealing the decision.

Wang's troubles began back in 2001 when Qihua Group allegedly dumped toxic wastewater from its nearby factory onto his farmland in Heilongjiang Province.  Wang was not the only farmer to suffer.  The wastewater also flooded the farmland of many others in his village.