Smog crisis tries the limits of people's patience
Updated: 2013-12-14 07:58
By Bai Ping (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
Chinese people have traditionally cherished the virtue of eating bitter, or the ability to endure hardships without complaint. As a befitting sign of their tenacity to achieve a worthy goal despite extreme difficulties, the Chinese character for perseverance is a knife suspended over a heart.
But breathing smoggy air has unnerved even the toughest of the tough among them as it is becoming part of their daily life and they see no bright spot at the end of the proverbial tunnel. The nation that has seen unprecedented economic prosperity was shrouded by a collective concern over the smothering smog, which has wreaked havoc in Beijing and its neighboring provinces in northern China in recent years, swept across more than 100 central and eastern cities early this month.
The smog and filthy air forced the closure of schools and a ban on private cars. Hapless residents anxiously waited for strong winds to blow away the particulate matter, aware as they were of doctors' warnings that the suffocating, apocalyptic smog could cause respiratory diseases.
Even in the current lull of blue skies, people fear smog will strike any time again and are despaired of the nation's lack of a coherent and viable strategy to deter its invasion.
After Beijing recorded record levels of air pollution in January during last winter and jittery that heavy pollution would strike the capital again this winter, the government has ordered the city and its surrounding areas to halt production and reduce outputs to curb emissions in severe situations.
However, as smog continues to shroud large parts of the country with even greater ferocity, people have begun to wonder whether such emergency measures may be too little, too late.
The latest onslaught of smog appeared to have caught offguard even environmental officials, who acknowledged that the measures scrambled by cities could alleviate smog, but only with very limited effect. Experts have become more pessimistic about the prospects of the battle for clear blue skies as they foresee chronic air pollution for another 10-20 years as China's urbanization accelerates and clusters of cities continue to mushroom.
Related Stories
Xiamen ranks 2nd among top 10 spots in China for evading the smog 2013-12-13 16:39
Smog self-defense kung fu sparks debate 2013-12-13 14:30
Heavy smog shrouds Guangzhou 2013-12-11 15:43
8 Liaoning cities fined for excessive smog 2013-12-10 19:18
China environmentalists slam inaction over smog 2013-12-09 19:33
Cities hit hard by smog 2013-12-09 08:29
Today's Top News
Top leaders vow to steer steady path
Execution may hit joint projects
ASEAN cautious on air zone debate
Local govt debts get attention
South Africa admits error over "schizophrenic" signer
Gift ban applies to festivals: official
China responds to EU's resolution on organ harvesting
Foreigners stay cool to insurance
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Logging out of an Internet addiction |
Prepare prisoners for life after release |
'Can we survive after surviving?' |
Cities hit hard by smog |
Against a sea of troubles |
David Cameron's China visit |