Chinese people losing patience with pollution

by charvaka Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:41 pm

The pollution problem in Beijing seems to be getting worse. This is not your ordinary smog that causes severe discomfort breathing; this is a level of pollution that prevents people from driving on the freeway because there not enough visibility. One marker for the pollution's enormous cost: 600,000 lung cancer deaths a year. As China gets richer and its people put more value to their own lives, the government will need to implement western-style pollution control mechanisms. As of now, though, the government's instincts seem to be to deny the problem and label the current level of pollution "moderate."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8938159/Chinese-lose-patience-with-pollution.html
Pollution readings in Beijing, collected by a monitor on the roof of the United States embassy, have hovered around "hazardous" since the beginning of November.

But in the past few days the crisis has intensified, grounding hundreds of flights at Beijing's Capital airport and halting traffic on major motorways. As 30 mile-long tailbacks formed in some areas, long-distance lorry drivers were given emergency handouts of instant noodles and water as they waited for visibility to return.

Public anger appears to have reached a tipping point, with millions expressing their fear and anger online and even state-run newspapers running critical editorials.

In the past two years, Beijing officials have announced good or excellent air quality nearly 80 per cent of the time. But the US embassy monitor, a source of some diplomatic tension, has flatly contradicted the official line. From January 2010 to last October, Beijing has only had 13 days a year of "good" air, and 297 days a year of unhealthy to hazardous air.

by chameli Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:43 pm

i am surprised

but dont worry they will take care of it

to me Chinese people have become invincible

by indophile Tue Dec 06, 2011 1:38 pm

In India too pollution awareness appears to be catching up. I see a lot of public service commercials on Indian TV channels that warn people about spitting/pissing etc., in the streets, problem with plastic shopping bags, etc. Delhi and Bangalore were really nice at one time, and now they look pretty bad. Hope this pollution awareness is sustained and not just a flash in the pan.

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Chinese people losing patience with pollution

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