Sand And Smog Hit Beijing With Worst Air Pollution In Years - Reuters

[hatrack]

BEIJING - A sand storm struck the Chinese capital on Monday, covering homes, streets and cars in brown dust and leaving the skies a murky yellow as it suffers its worst pollution in years ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Desertification of the country's west and Mongolian steppes has made the spring sand storms worse in recent years, reaching as far away as South Korea and Japan. Cold, windy weather, a glut of construction sites and poor plant cover around Beijing have also contributed.

So far in 2006, Beijing has notched up 13 days of the worst measure of pollution, more than last year's total and the highest in six years, state media said.

EDIT

Hospitals have also dealt with a sharp increase in patients with respiratory diseases, and on Monday local newspapers warned residents to wear masks outdoors.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36007/story.htm

[Taxloss]

1. The Chinese state has apparently imposed a massive clampdown on

construction in the run-up to 2008 - specifically in order to combat dust, whih is apparently a perennial problem the Beijing. Halting all major non-state construction projects is a pretty big thing to do for the rapidly growing capital of an emerging economic giant, but that does appear to be what they are doing.

I think the CCP's interest in "sustainable development" may have emerged too little, too late.

[HereSince1628]

2. They have also planted a "green wall" of millions of trees around

the entire city in an attempt to make something of a wind-break.

Last year it didn't seem to be working when I was there. Sounds like it's worse this year.

[phantom power]

3. there's a metaphor in there somewhere...

[HereSince1628]

4. The tour guides refer to it as the great Green Wall

It is an impressive project in its scale. You can travel out into the country side and see acres of little tree farms that sprung into existance with the project.

The trees also aid the drive in from the airport by hiding areas of industry and poverty.