China’s Pollution
China’s pollution is our pollution too.
With their thick fogs, it is no wonder their policemen’s life expectancy rate is at 40 years old.
It is in China where one can find 16 most polluted cities in the world. Out of 20.
Click here to read about the effects of these pollution.
Click here to read a lot of articles documenting about how its growth is probably choking the country.
Cars are even asked to get off the road to ease pollution or clear the skies for the forthcoming Olympics. There was even a suggestion that the cars go out on odd-even days, reminiscent of the traffic days we used to have, and still have here in Mega Manila. No, I am not kidding, click here and here.
I don’t want to think about what the dirty air would do to the athletes’ healthy lungs. Just thinking about it makes me feel that my nose is itching and my throat tightening.
China is also one of the countries where electronic wastes or e-waste is being dumped. People there, including children, melt the components as they try to look for something metallic to use or sell, inhaling poisonous fumes. Those that can’t be used are thrown into the rivers. Click here to read.
There is also this yucky green algae that has invaded the shorelines of Qingdao. Thousands of recruits from the People’s Liberation Army remove these algae by hand while standing knee-deep in it. Click here to read about its effect in the coming Olympics.
I have never been to China. I don’t have anything against the Chinese and their business and environmental practices. Maybe I do but I would rather keep these private.
My fervent wish if for them to curb these practices, not only for their sake but for the sake of other countries near them, for the sake of Mother Earth herself.
greenbucks | Current Events, Environment, World Watch, social consciousness
this is an interesting post!
But u know, years back, Beijing has already been treated for a clean air campaign but for nearby cities or most cities, it’s not yet. I guess all over china especially the urban set-up air pollution is so much but residents never realized it because they are used to it. But for us or visitors, in just a day or two, you find your throught infected and lungs congested. My tonsils just get inflamed anytime without eating anything sweet or cold - thanks to the air pollution. when i moved to a rural area things got better for me but when i take some days to visit the other city, i usually have that irrtable throat coz of the polluted air. It’s not car fumes or chemical fumes that dirty the air all over china, but it’s coal.
That is one thing i observed too - self protection is an alien word for them except when it calls for death right at the minute. Cleaning up that algae along Qingdao coast does not matter for them because they won’t die in a day or two but i can remember during th SARS epidemic…wow everyone was taking precaution, they even don’t want to be near to someone who just cough coz of an itchy throat. LOL!
I guess Pinoys are really tough because one of my co teachrs who came from UK, he only lasted a month, he has to leave because pollution made him real sick. He was not sick of his cigerettes but it’s china air, he said. hehehehe
Wow, Arlene,I didn’t know its that bad pala.
Have you written a post about your experiences na? Could you share your link if you did?
[...] before the Olympics, I had doubts, like what I have written here and here not because I doubt China’s ability to host the event but because of pollution [...]