Giant TV screens set-up in China to televise sunset due to intense smog
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Smog or fog mixed with smoke or vice versa is a ‘not so new’ problem in the main cities of China. As most of us know, China is known to be the home of industrial establishments due to their booming economy. With the increase of these establishments, more pollution is produced harming not only the environment but also the health of the people living in the area.
Instead of having a normal working Thursday, Beijing was invaded by thick smog. Well, smog is already common to the locals but during that time, this gray haze with caustic odor was severe which reduced the visibility to several hundred meters and may continue until the next day. As a result, air pollution monitors issued air warning and advised the elderly and children to stay indoors until the quality of air improved while, the working ones wore industrial strength face mask as they head to work. Also, the futuristic screens in the capital that is usually used only for advertisement was turned to everyone’s television for the sake of witnessing the rising and setting of the sun. According to a traffic coordinator, the smog gotten worse in the last two years and buildings across the tall street were far visible on Thursday morning.
Often, the city’s air quality is poor during winter since, coal-burning is increased to cater the rising demand for electricity which in turn, worsens pollution in air. PM 2.5 marked above 671 micrograms per liter 4 am on Thursday, 350 to 500 micrograms in midmorning then, the air started to clear in the afternoon. The recorded amount of PM 2.5 during the early hours in Beijing is 26 times as high as the 25 micrograms that is considered safe by the World Health Organization and is considered hazardous, surpassing the 300 micrograms critical level mark.
The serious air pollution alarmed the authorities in Beijing especially, Wang Anshun, the city mayor. Wang Ashun pledged on Thursday to cut coal use by 2.6 million tones and set aside 15 billion ($2.4 billion) to improve air quality in 2014. In addition, the city also aims to ban all heavy polluting vehicles, cut new car registration and promote new energy vehicles. In the entire country, authorities will block new projects and penalize the officials in regions where pollution is severe.
As the year 2014 goes, we hope that more countries will be much more aware with regards to caring for our environment. The severe smog in China must open not only the minds of their locals, we must also change our way of living for the better since, our lives depends entirely on our nature and environment.
Instead of having a normal working Thursday, Beijing was invaded by thick smog. Well, smog is already common to the locals but during that time, this gray haze with caustic odor was severe which reduced the visibility to several hundred meters and may continue until the next day. As a result, air pollution monitors issued air warning and advised the elderly and children to stay indoors until the quality of air improved while, the working ones wore industrial strength face mask as they head to work. Also, the futuristic screens in the capital that is usually used only for advertisement was turned to everyone’s television for the sake of witnessing the rising and setting of the sun. According to a traffic coordinator, the smog gotten worse in the last two years and buildings across the tall street were far visible on Thursday morning.
Often, the city’s air quality is poor during winter since, coal-burning is increased to cater the rising demand for electricity which in turn, worsens pollution in air. PM 2.5 marked above 671 micrograms per liter 4 am on Thursday, 350 to 500 micrograms in midmorning then, the air started to clear in the afternoon. The recorded amount of PM 2.5 during the early hours in Beijing is 26 times as high as the 25 micrograms that is considered safe by the World Health Organization and is considered hazardous, surpassing the 300 micrograms critical level mark.
The serious air pollution alarmed the authorities in Beijing especially, Wang Anshun, the city mayor. Wang Ashun pledged on Thursday to cut coal use by 2.6 million tones and set aside 15 billion ($2.4 billion) to improve air quality in 2014. In addition, the city also aims to ban all heavy polluting vehicles, cut new car registration and promote new energy vehicles. In the entire country, authorities will block new projects and penalize the officials in regions where pollution is severe.
As the year 2014 goes, we hope that more countries will be much more aware with regards to caring for our environment. The severe smog in China must open not only the minds of their locals, we must also change our way of living for the better since, our lives depends entirely on our nature and environment.
