gordongekko
2007-07-06, 07:01
Skriver detta pa Engelska sa slipper ni mina aao problem.
This Reuters article (below) was in Canada's largest national paper today, the Globe & Mail. It is a 'breather' when I read the forum about us trying to squezze that last 1% out of our training / Avoiding a drink cause its not benefitting the muscles (which by the way I put no value or pointing fingers at but realize how extremly lucky we are) but more that we are facing a big, big problem over the coming decades. As a citizen of Hong Kong articles like these is a little worrying. A lot of the mass (and of course us westerners in particular) are voicing concerns over the current pollution especially since the rate of astma among children has quadrupled over the past ten years problem. For me its just a simple decision that I can go home if I so decide/choose. But for a mainland chineese.. Even if you wanted to leave, you could not.
On top of the recent news about deadly medicine, toys, car and airplane parts and food, the Chinese people have been suffering a heavy toll from the neglect of their environment. It is now to the point where the authorities are forced to react.
One statement in the article I found unsettling but consistent is where the Chinese government asked the investigating World Bank to not publish the research results, stating the same old social stability excuse.
This will effect us all, as with the tainted products. Please share any comments/thoughts/reactions/insight.
______________________________________
Pollution kills 460,000 a year in China, World Bank says
Reuters
July 3, 2007 at 6:30 AM EDT
BEIJING — About 460,000 Chinese die prematurely each year from breathing polluted air and drinking dirty water, according to a World Bank study.
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the Chinese government, the bank's partner in the research project, had asked the lender not to publish the estimates for fear they could trigger social unrest.
The conference version of the study, available at the bank's website, says some estimates of the physical and economic cost of pollution have been omitted because of uncertainties about calculation methods and their application.
However, the report goes on to estimate the health costs from premature deaths associated with outdoor air pollution at 394 billion yuan ($51.8-billion U.S.). With each life valued at 1 million yuan, that works out at a death toll of 394,000.
The study puts the cost of deaths from diarrhea and cancer caused by drinking polluted water at 66 billion yuan, pointing to 66,000 premature deaths a year.
China-watchers said it was standard practice in research projects conducted with the government for both sides to have a veto over the conclusions.
The World Bank said the final report would be out soon.
“Consistent with the World Bank's approach to this type of joint research project, the findings of the report are being discussed with the government. The conference version of the report did not include some of the issues that are still under discussion,” the bank's Beijing office said in a statement.
An economist in Beijing said the study's estimate of premature deaths from airborne pollution, although shocking, was broadly in line with earlier published World Bank research and with recent findings by Chinese academics.
The World Bank is also concerned by indoor air pollution, principally breathing in fumes from coal-burning stoves and cooking oil. Its experts estimate that as many as 300,000 Chinese a year die prematurely in this way.
China, home to some of the world's 20 most polluted cities, is redoubling its efforts to clean up the environment.
The authorities are closing down dirty industrial plants, raising car fuel-efficiency standards and tweaking taxes to discourage energy-intensive production. China on Sunday also introduced higher drinking water standards.
FYI: If you go to the link, there's also an audio slide show with info on China's most polluted city.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070703.wchinaenvir0703/BNStory/International/home
This Reuters article (below) was in Canada's largest national paper today, the Globe & Mail. It is a 'breather' when I read the forum about us trying to squezze that last 1% out of our training / Avoiding a drink cause its not benefitting the muscles (which by the way I put no value or pointing fingers at but realize how extremly lucky we are) but more that we are facing a big, big problem over the coming decades. As a citizen of Hong Kong articles like these is a little worrying. A lot of the mass (and of course us westerners in particular) are voicing concerns over the current pollution especially since the rate of astma among children has quadrupled over the past ten years problem. For me its just a simple decision that I can go home if I so decide/choose. But for a mainland chineese.. Even if you wanted to leave, you could not.
On top of the recent news about deadly medicine, toys, car and airplane parts and food, the Chinese people have been suffering a heavy toll from the neglect of their environment. It is now to the point where the authorities are forced to react.
One statement in the article I found unsettling but consistent is where the Chinese government asked the investigating World Bank to not publish the research results, stating the same old social stability excuse.
This will effect us all, as with the tainted products. Please share any comments/thoughts/reactions/insight.
______________________________________
Pollution kills 460,000 a year in China, World Bank says
Reuters
July 3, 2007 at 6:30 AM EDT
BEIJING — About 460,000 Chinese die prematurely each year from breathing polluted air and drinking dirty water, according to a World Bank study.
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the Chinese government, the bank's partner in the research project, had asked the lender not to publish the estimates for fear they could trigger social unrest.
The conference version of the study, available at the bank's website, says some estimates of the physical and economic cost of pollution have been omitted because of uncertainties about calculation methods and their application.
However, the report goes on to estimate the health costs from premature deaths associated with outdoor air pollution at 394 billion yuan ($51.8-billion U.S.). With each life valued at 1 million yuan, that works out at a death toll of 394,000.
The study puts the cost of deaths from diarrhea and cancer caused by drinking polluted water at 66 billion yuan, pointing to 66,000 premature deaths a year.
China-watchers said it was standard practice in research projects conducted with the government for both sides to have a veto over the conclusions.
The World Bank said the final report would be out soon.
“Consistent with the World Bank's approach to this type of joint research project, the findings of the report are being discussed with the government. The conference version of the report did not include some of the issues that are still under discussion,” the bank's Beijing office said in a statement.
An economist in Beijing said the study's estimate of premature deaths from airborne pollution, although shocking, was broadly in line with earlier published World Bank research and with recent findings by Chinese academics.
The World Bank is also concerned by indoor air pollution, principally breathing in fumes from coal-burning stoves and cooking oil. Its experts estimate that as many as 300,000 Chinese a year die prematurely in this way.
China, home to some of the world's 20 most polluted cities, is redoubling its efforts to clean up the environment.
The authorities are closing down dirty industrial plants, raising car fuel-efficiency standards and tweaking taxes to discourage energy-intensive production. China on Sunday also introduced higher drinking water standards.
FYI: If you go to the link, there's also an audio slide show with info on China's most polluted city.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070703.wchinaenvir0703/BNStory/International/home