In late August, the people of Beijing saw a rare sight: a clear blue, smog less sky. But this beautiful sky just didn't stick for one day-it stayed for almost 2 weeks! Beijing, with it's thousands of factories and large population, is known world-wide for being drowned in smog and air pollution. This unusual sight was a result of the preparation for China's massive military parade, the largest parade Beijing has ever seen, that would mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in WWII. To battle Beijing's usually poor air quality, hundred's of factories were shut down before the parade and half of the 5 million cars registered in this city were banned from the streets. These efforts worked because on the day of the parade the air quality index measured at 17 (the healthiest air Beijing had seen in a long time) and there was no smog to be seen. But these remarkable results didn't last long, because only 24 hours after the parade ended Beijing was once again greeted with their usual horrible air pollution and gloomy, hazy skies.
Questions:
How would you feel living in Beijing where most of the time you wouldn't be able to see the actual sky, only white smog?
What do you think Beijing should do to minimize their air pollution problem year-round, instead of just a couple weeks?
It would be hard for me to imagine living in a place where most of the time you can't even see the actual, blue, sky, but I'd be thrilled to finally see something other than dense fog like many other people in Beijing were since it's so rare. To battle it's air pollution, I think Beijing should invest in more environmentally safe practices for factories instead of just shutting them down completely for a couple weeks to only get temporary results.
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Replies
Good topic choice and well done!!
The feeling of just seeing smog all the time would just make me just be lazy.Stop the factories once a month at least . And also who would want to live there?
I would hate to live there because there is no way that could be healthy for you. Also you never get to see the world the way it is meant to be seen. I don't think they can change the air because they have so many factories that even if they started to move some it wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference in the sky.
The Chinese economy has boomed because the factories can produce products under lenient rules. As soon as Beijing increases the environmental codes and laws, the factories will have to spend a lot more money, to produce the same amount of product, cutting into companies profits. It's a lot easier to keep the laws much more lenient, and allow the companies to make more money, especially if you are a Chinese politician.
That's very interesting, I hadn't thought about it like that! I agree, if Beijing does provide more laws and regulations towards factories it will become more costly and it will affect how much companies make over in 'Beijing and China. I think it's plausible that there are some politicians who see factory pollution in that aspect and don't want to invest that much money to making the environment healthier, but I do hope that'll change.
I would never like to live in a city like Beijing where always is smog. I would feel really unhappy because I can't see anymore the clear blue sky, clouds or only at night the stars. To minimize their air pollution I think they should shutting the factories down for some weeks until the people can see the sky. And from that moment they should invest in more environmentally safe practices. That the air is better and the people feel better.
I agree with you, I don't think I could live in a place like Beijing either! As for shutting down the factories, I do think that works for a short time but I don't think it's the best solution (since it's only temporary) to this problem, since factories are a major part of Beijing's economy, so if they keep shutting them down for weeks at a time I think it will affect that. They definitely, though, should invest in safer environmentally practices and make it more of a priority so Beijing can have a cleaner air quality for more than a couple weeks!
I do not think I would ever want to live where there is always smog in the skies. It does not sound like a pleasant way to live. I think Beijing could possible rotate the days each factory was open. This way, there would be fewer factories polluting the air at a time. I agree that they could also use more environmental friendly practices.
I totally agree with you! I'd want to live in a place with air that's clean and not surrounded by smoke and pollutants from factories. That's an interesting idea! It might somewhat affect Beijing's production routines, but I think it actually would help Beijing reach a healthier air quality and environment.
I would be so upset if I couldn't see the actual sky. I love to watch the clouds lazily drift around and love looking at stars! This would make me very unhappy. I think the Beijing government should limit air pollution to create a cleaner environment and not endanger others health. Limiting air pollution would be so much better for the environment. I believe seeing the blue sky would make it even more beautiful, but I would want to see it everyday. Think of the future and set guidelines now. Maybe one day you just might see the clouds every day in Beijing
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