Pollution in China

In 2008, Beijing held the summer Olympics, the air was cleaner due to factories and power plants closing and restricted traffic. As we all know, China has struggled with polluted air problems for years, and has noted babies during pregnancy are affected as well. Studies have shown during the 8th or 9th month of pregnancy during the summer Olympics, babies were born 28 grams heavier than the average baby in the earlier and later years. Since the summer Olympics made way for changes to benefit this pollution problem, it showed a positive impact on the health of these babies. During this time, air pollutants were cut from 18-59%. Although it's said in the article that low birth weight doesn't necessarily mean serious complications, but it can lead to diseases later down the road.

"A landmark study released in 2013 found that air pollution cuts life expectancy in China by five and a half years.

Multinational companies find it harder to recruit executives and offer pollution bonuses and expensive air purifiers to convince them to stay."

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/29/asia/china-pollution-effect-on-babies-weight-study/index.html

Who's to thank for cherry blossom trees?

We all are familiar with the cherry blossom trees in Washington along the Tidal Basin and in the Cherry Blossom festival. Japan is so famous for their blooming cherry blossoms in the spring, and gave 3,000 of them to the U.S. in 1912. Although we all associate Japan with these beautiful trees, China claims they should receive all credit for them. Apparently there are tons of them in China, but nothing as flourishing as those in Japan. Some say it was China and some say Japan; the thought of them being originally from South Korea is just out of the question. He Zongru, the head of the China Cherry Industry Association, is so set on historical proof that they originates in China. Although He feels so strongly that China is responsible for them, his arguments don't really weight out....

"The Japan Weather Association, for example, annually publishes maps forecasting the height of the cherry blossom season in different parts of the country...Tokyo gave another 2,000 of the trees to China in happier times, to celebrate the restoration of diplomatic ties in 1972. They still stand in a Beijing park, and attract thousands of visitors every spring."

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2015/0405/Japan-has-China-to-thank-for-its-cherry-blossoms-says-China-video

China enforcing environmental rules

Chen Jining, China's new minister for environmental protection, has posed many new rules and laws that protect nature reserves, filled with endangered species and even affecting pollution. Many environmentalists in China are in full support of these new decisions, and will hopefully improve China's environment. They're canceling previous plans to build $5.1 billion dollar dams that would cause more harm than anything As well as these new laws, there are now stricter monitoring on false data on air quality made by local officials. With all of these false data sets in regards to air quality, that has an affect on economic growth as well. This will be beneficial to China's atmosphere, but also for the people who live there. This is a positive improvement for China and their communities to raise attention to the environment and how it affects them.

"These misaligned incentives mean that the monitoring and enforcement of standards by central-government officials will be essential if China’s environmental mess is to improve." 


http://www.economist.com/news/china/21648687-new-environment-minister-displays-his-appetite-taking-polluters-saving-fish-and-baring

Feminists in Jail

This article talks about 5 feminists in China that were detained the day before International Women's Day. Their plan was to pass out pamphlets and stickers raising knowledge and awareness about sexual harassment, an issue that comes up quite often in the social media. This charge is placed as "making a disturbance." One of the women, Wu, needs medical care, but has not been given any since being in jail. In another case, someone has had the opportunity for medical care while in jail if necessary. The government is so against their voice being heard about sexual harassment that occurs; “It shows how allergic the government is to any kind of activity, outreach or encouragement of advocacy by any independent voices.” says Sophie Richardson,  China director at Human Rights Watch. There has been calls to China from outside sources- UK ambassador, Britain and the U.S. requesting that the women be released. China's response was no other countries should be trying to call the shots for what they decide to do in China. This is really interesting because I feel as though they have all rights to express their feelings and voices, especially in a non violent way they were planning on taking. It also shows how different it is from here, and that the freedom of speech and ability to protest something here is a lot easier than there. 


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/25/china-rejects-release-five-detained-feminist-activists-international-womens-day