Summary: Choking smog in China was extremely close to causing a shutdown of one of China's largest cities. The city, which is located in northeastern China is home to 11 million people. The smog forced schools to cancel classes, caused the airports to shut down, and caused horrendous traffic. The emergency is assumed to be caused by the heat being turned on for the first day of winter. The smog reduced visibility to 10 meters. The dangerous smog is expected to be present and continue circulating for the next 24 hours. Not including this recent event, China is infamous for their pollution problem. Many citizens are outrageous complaining that while high ranked city officials have expensive air purifiers in their homes, they can't even take a step outside for a breath of fresh air. " China has even go so far as to temporarily cancel construction, factory production, outside barbecues, and the setting off of fireworks."
Analysis: Although I think it is great that China is taking many precautions to try and reduce their air pollution by as much as they can, it seems as though they have bigger problems to worry about over family barbecues. Even though I am an earth junky and tree hugger, I do disapprove of taking away basic aspects of a person's life to try and solve a problem that should have been dressed years ago. Also, I am both glad and sad that the people of China had to experience this smog, because it was an awakening call for China, but on the other hand it was probably very frightening for the people of China.
http://news.yahoo.com/latest-china-smog-emergency-shuts-city-11-million-055104682.html
It's amazing that pollution can affect such big cities like this. What confuses me though is that if China is such a high-tech country, why haven't they come up with a way to reduce the smog and pollution issues in the large cities?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the name of the city? I didn't see it. My dad traveled to China last year on business, and he said while in Bejing you could stand on the street and not be able to see to the end of the block due to all the smog. I definitely think China needs a wake up call for how damaging they are being to the environment.
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