On 2010-11-20, Ignoramus16986 wrote:

Much of the Chinese industrial success is based on two factors, one is
that their workforce agrees to work for little pay in appalling
conditions, and another, that they are willing to trash their
environment in order to keep that workforce employed.

I personally expect that degradation of their environment will be a
strong limiting factor in their future growth as a nation.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=131440157


``US Embassy: Beijing Air Quality Is 'Crazy Bad'''

Pollution in Beijing was so bad Friday the U.S. Embassy, which has
been independently monitoring air quality, ran out of conventional
adjectives to describe it, at one point saying it was "crazy bad."

The embassy later deleted the phrase, saying it was an "incorrect"
description and it would revise the language to use when the air
quality index goes above 500, its highest point and a level considered
hazardous for all people by U.S. standards.

The hazardous haze has forced schools to stop outdoor exercises, and
health experts asked residents, especially those with respiratory
problems, the elderly and children, to stay indoors.

"We've canceled 10 days worth of games since August," said David
Niven, chief operating officer of China ClubFootball, which runs
extensive youth and adult football leagues in Beijing. "If the air is
above 240, some of the schools will ask us to move football games
indoors or cancel them altogether. Because of the bad air this year,
we've had to cancel more games than ever before."

Health experts say breathing polluted air can affect respiratory
functions and worsen problems for those with asthma or allergies.

China's official air quality rating was 312 on Friday. Environmental
groups and city residents have complained the government's measurement
system consistently underreports the severity of the problem.

Beijing's official air monitors only measure relatively coarse
particulate matter, whereas the U.S. system monitors smaller, deadlier
dust particles.

Experts say Beijing's frequently bad air has been even dirtier
recently because a growing number of factories and villages on the
outskirts of the city are burning coal for the winter, and more than
1,200 new cars hit the roads each day.

The capital underwent a massive cleanup in 2008 for the Olympic Games,
such as planting thousands of acres (hectares) of trees in and around
the city, but has since allowed some factories to reopen and lifted
some traffic restrictions, bringing pollution levels back up.

"If the city's planning was better, people from the outskirts wouldn't
have to commute for hours each day," said Ma Jun, director of the
Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing. "Beijing
needs to place more of a priority on the environment. The health of
Beijing residents is no less important than the health of those
athletes who were here for a few weeks."

"We can't just expect wind, snow or rain to wipe out the pollution
when it gets bad," Ma added. "The city must take pollution more
seriously and implement preventive measures."

One Beijing resident said he was suffering breathing difficulties.

"I feel like I'm having some problems with breathing and distress in
my chest," said a high school teacher who only gave his surname, Qiao.