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State Media Deletes Editorials Espousing the Benefits of Air Pollution
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These screenshots were taken on December 9, 2013, and show that, during
the preceding two days, levels of PM 2.5 pollutants in both Shanghai and
Beijing had exceeded 400. Anything above 300 is considered “Hazardous.”
The Shanghai environmental authority announced on Thursday that it has adjusted its air pollution standards to reduce the number of alerts, adding that they will still be frequent in winter.
Experts say the move was a reluctant tacit acknowledgment of the city's poor air quality.
The municipality's Environmental Protection Bureau will now lift air pollution alerts when the concentration of PM2.5 — particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter that can penetrate deep into human lungs — falls below 115 micrograms per cubic meter.
Previously, the bureau lifted alerts after the concentration of PM2.5 dropped below 75 micrograms per cubic meter.
Smog these days has covered most of China with visibility in some regions lower than 50 meters, and its the hot topic at home and abroad.
Shanghai mayor Yang Xiong told a two-day forum called International Dialogue on the Chinese Dream on Saturday that Shanghai had the worst air pollution, "but it will be fine in the following days."
The Air Quality Index (AQI) topped 500 in certain areas of Shanghai on Friday.
On December 8, China’s state run television network published an editorial on its web site by one of its editors, Wang Lei (王磊), entitled “The Five Unexpected Benefits That Smog Brings” (雾霾带来的五大意外收获).
Wang's Article as it Originally Appeared on CCTV's Website
According Wang, the five benefits are:
The smog makes Chinese people more united. (雾霾让中国人更团结)
The smog makes Chinese people more equal. (雾霾让中国人更平等)
The smog makes Chinese people more aware. (雾霾让中国人更清醒)
The smog makes Chinese people more humorous. (雾霾让中国人更幽默)
The smog makes Chinese people more knowledgeable. (雾霾让中国人长知识)
The article, originally available here - http://opinion.cntv.cn/2013/12/08/ARTI1386507346057774.shtml
- was removed from the CCTV web site on December 9. These screenshots
show that Xinhua published, and deleted, the article on the same day.
On December 9, the state sponsored Global Times published an article entitled “Smog Has a Major Impact on Weapons, Surveillance Becomes Unclear, and Guided Missles Lose Accuracy” (雾霾对武器影响多大:侦察看不清导弹打不准). Some excerpts:
Recently, the smog in most regions in China has grabbed everyone’s attention. Smog not only impacts physical health and normal travel, it also has an influence on military activities: it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of surveillance equipment, and can also cause guided missiles to become inaccurate. Smog is major enemy of those who make their living off the air force. However, on the battlefield, smog can also benefit the military activities of defense forces.
On September 17, 2012, the state-sponsored Caixin Magazine published a report entitled " Closer Look: How a Protest in Beijing Stuck to the Script. " An excerpt: A nearby street was filled with police, most of them relaxed. When I photographed the protest, he smiled and said: "You can join the protest." "Can I? Won't I be pulled out?" I asked. "Since it is me who let you in, who dares pull you out!" he said. "But I haven't applied for permission," I said. "It is OK. The organizer has applied," he said. A middle-aged policeman also encouraged me to join the parade. "Can I shout 'Punish corruptions'?" I inquired. "No, you can't!" the middle-aged officer said, suddenly seriously. "Only slogans concerned with Diaoyu Islands are allowed," a young policeman chimed in. 我们用手机拍照,一位年纪大约二十七八的警察笑眯眯地动员我:到队伍里面去拍吧,跟着他们走一圈。我问:我能进去吗?不会撵我出来?他继续动员:我让你进的还有谁会撵你?我说:我没有申请啊。不用,带头的人申请就行了
Translator's Notes: I have translated the crime that Wang Aizhong was convicted of (寻衅滋事罪) as "disturbing the peace." Other translators use "picking quarrels and provoking trouble." The court did not specify what Wang Aizhong shared on social media that disturbed the peace. Here are his last three tweets that he posted prior to his detention on May 28: On May 26, Wang retweeted a post by the New York Times linking to the Chinese language version of an article titled " Biden Orders Intelligence Inquiry Into Origins of Virus ." On May 26, Wang posted "Someone logged into my telegram account. Their attacks on private communication software and surveillance is getting more and more insane. On May 24, Wang quote tweeted a post by the Wall Street Journal to the Chinese language version of an article titled "Belarus Faces EU Flight Ban for Grounding Ryanair Plane With Dissident." Wang added "Some folks really have guts. Certain other co
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