Concern about Beijng's Air Conditions

“World record marathon runner Haile Gebresalassie has said he will not compete in the event at the Beijing Olympics later this year, citing the city's high levels of pollution.” (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1C927251-7198-4D45-92F2-CD196B517F0E.htm). This runner’s words seem to be unbelievable, but it really reflects the international concerns and criticism towards Beijing’s air conditions. For a long time, we paid more attention to the economic development, however ignored the critical compensation that we must pay.

The Beijing Olympic is around the corner. To hold it successfully, China has invested billions of dollars in new venues, transport links and other facilities for the games in recent years, and while these have been praised as world-class the issue of pollution stands out as the number one worry. As we all know, air pollution can cause harm or discomfort to human or other living things, or damage environments[1]. Hence, we are very eager to seek the way out to control it.

Firstly, urban planning strategies are available to reduce air pollution[2]. Efforts to reduce pollution from mobile sources includes primary regulation, expanding regulation to new sources (such as cruise and transport ships, farm equipment, and small gas-powered equipment such as lawn trimmers, chainsaws, and snowmobiles), increased fuel efficiency, and conversion to cleaner fuels[3]. By trying out these new ways of enhancing the efficiency of machines and seeking for new clear energies, China has improved a lot on its air qualities in the recent years. Even though these ways are the most direct, however they are long-run efforts and take a lot of time to improve the air conditions a little bit.

The second way of reducing the air pollution is to arrange the factories properly. In the 1960’s, China arranged its factories in the cities. These factories are usually very big and difficult to move outside the city. Because of these factories, the air pollutions are getting more and more serious. China now has legalized policy that newly built factories cannot be built inside the city and old factories within the city are to move outside bit by bit. This policy would definitely effective to improve the air quality.

Just doing these twos above is not enough. Government should publicize among the citizens and that can make them have an idea that protecting the air conditions is everyone’s responsibility. By doing this, people will concern about the environment around him as well as his own health.

Beijing Olympics is approaching and more and more people are paying attention to Beijing’s air conditions. China government is trying its best to supply a health environment to all the tourists and athletes from the world. We have the confidence that under such an efforts, the air condition in Beijing will get better and better.

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References:
1. Chen, X. N. (2006). New-energy and reduction of air pollution. Beijing: Chinese Publicity.
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution#Reduction_efforts
3. Yang, M. J. (2007, March 3). Air pollution and what we can do. China Daily, 22(3). Retrieved March 11,2008, from http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1C927251-7198-4D45-92F2-CD196B517F0E.htm
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution#Reduction_efforts
[2] Yang, M. J. (2007, March 3). Air pollution and what we can do. China Daily, 22(3). Retrieved March 11,2008, from http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/1C927251-7198-4D45-92F2-CD196B517F0E.htm
[3] Chen, X. N.(2006). New-energy and reduction of air pollution. Beijing: Chinese Publicity.