China's leaders once described the work of the ruling Communist Party as "going to war with Nature." Yet today's citizens have different demand. Some of the most pressing are making sure they have clean air and safe drinking water.
That's why the latest air quality crisis in Beijing is drawing attention from both environmental and political analysts. Pollution is 30-45 times above recommended safety levels, literally going "off the charts" of measuring devices. Authorities are advising people to stay indoors, but that's hardly a solution residents are happy with.
[Xu Tingting, Beijing Resident]:
"There are so many cars that discharge so much exhaust. Industrial pollution is bad too. The air quality would be better if the government could take measures to control"
The official state pollution monitoring center (www.bjmemc.com.cn) showed air particulate matter under 2.5 micrometers reaching as high as 900 micrograms per square meter on Saturday evening. The World Health Organization recommends a level of 25 to be safe level.
PM 2.5 matters are tiny pollutants that can enter the lungs, causing respiratory problems.
The severe air pollution has also prompted authorities to take notice. State-run media have been on a coordinated critique of the country's pollution problems. Chinese authorities were slow to publish pollution data, and initially criticized the United State Embassy for releasing PM2.5 readings.
Beijing authorities have also been forced to act. They're taking temporary measures aimed at easing pollutant outputs. These include asking the city's 54 high-emission producers to cut back discharge by 30%. 28 constructions sites are also suspending work.
Chinese officials have blamed the serious smog in the capital partly on weather conditions. The city remains shrouded in smog on Monday, and conditions is not expected to ease until Wednesday.