Beijing Pollution: Back to the Past?

The official API for 6/18 was 104 - slightly polluted - though this only covers noon to noon 6/17-6/18. The real impact of today's major pollution event won't be reflected in the API until tomorrow.

In the meantime, the BeijingAir twitter feed tweets hourly readings, and it's been pretty much maxed out (500 - hazardous) since noon.

Beijing has seen dramatically improved air this year as compared with last year, but today is certainly a major and depressing exception.

More info at my blog here: http://live-from-beijing.blogspot.com/2009/06/air-in-beijing-hazardous.html

This is how China is demonized.

No, this is Back to the Future - A future of denial, and demonizing anyone who dare to reveal the facts.

http://tinyurl.com/nkdok6

This Fong guy is really not following the program. It is too long ago, much over twenty years. One should look forward and not remember those tragic moments of history. Especially when you look at the difference the country has made since the 1886, the country has became modernized, industrialized, created the computer (which was invented in China, of course), the internet (invented in China, again), and become the financial center of the world (soon to be replaced by Shanghai). People should have a balanced view of history and look at the progress a nation has made, not just the mistakes. These victims should have backed down in their request and not force the then government to use draconian measures to ensure stability in the society. If these people got what they wanted at the time, the country would have been overrun by these people, and the country would not be able to enjoy the progress and development it has achieved in the last century.

If telling about smog in Beijing is "how China is demonized", what is this: http://tinyurl.com/nrwbol
A shameless display of the glorious Chinese culture in its essence ?

Xinhua, is, of course, a CIA infiltrated corporation, and a solely owned subsidiary of the CCP.

Looking at the news from Iran, the Chinese leaders must be really happy. China can now justify suppressing any dissent with even more brutal and lethal forces quoting Iran as an example. It is not as good as an US example, but good enough, because Iran has elections, and is, therefore, a nominal democracy. The Iran example is also a good reason for not having democracy, because some people just can't handle it, and will lead to a mess, like Iran.

And this is how Iran is demonized by the world's most important news agency:
http://tinyurl.com/mukrdq

johnsmith9876.

Did you have any research about why suddently the haze come back, it's suddently come back. just wait a few day. look and see.

if you don't know what happened. Just keep you big mouth shut.

Here we are talking about the Beijing Pollution, you are talking about other things.

If you like democracy so much, i hope that the democracy can save you. and die with democracy. But you are still a hopelesy stupid
in your favor democracy country. i don't think so you are better.

bocn, I don't usually leave message here, but your attitude is of lower level. If you don't favor democracy, you are not any better either. Isn't that the Communist government pushing for harmony? You as a Chiese citizen why don't you be a good example to accept people having rent POV?

Don't get mad at me, I am just having a POV different from yours.

bocn: Did I mention the "d" word at all ? You must mistook me for some one else. I am against democracy for Chinese. Only people who want democracy enough to fight for it should have democracy. Chinese don't qualify. And I certainly don't want China to have democracy. You can take your speech somewhere the sun don't shine - like Beijing.

BTW, I am quite sure China will die soon with Communism. And Communism has already saved China with the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, Let a hundred flowers bloom, Anti-Three, Anti-Five, the communes. All great programs that served Chinese right.

johnsmith9876 : "because Iran has elections, and is, therefore, a nominal democracy."

you are blind, you want to lead.

even you did not mention the "d", between the lines mentioned the "d" from your heart. did i mistake you.

you are blind, you full uself. if China is not lead by Communism. we are also not support democracy which is a squalid or filthy system.

You can continue take your speech in the democracy system which squalid or filthy - like you

sososogood:

how to harmony, having some one like you alwayse want to disturbe us, only you are good. like you name, sososogood.

we are so bad. let's why you guys want to wipe out us. how to harmony.

tell me, how to walk together two person if POV is fifferent.

have you got married. how to harmony if you and your other part having differnet POV. sure divoice la. end to sorry.

bocn must be a typical Chinese college graduate with an English major. The literacy is showing vividly.

@sososogood: you have to understand that poor old bocn is only doing his better to regurgitate what his Grandpa Hu has been telling him about the evil Westerners and their ill-intentions. This is what Grandpa Hu said recently:
"在综合国力竞争日趋激烈的今天，西方敌对势力不愿意看到我国的发展壮大，从来没有停止过对我国进行“西化”、“分化”的图谋，我们与其进行渗透与反渗透、颠覆与反颠覆的斗争将是长期的、复杂的，有时甚至是很激烈的。在严峻的国际形势下，如果我们放弃马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，搞指导思想的多元化，就是自陷困境、自毁长城。"
Here is an English translation of Grandpa Hu's enunciation (via David Bandurski of China Media Project):
"In these times, the struggle and competition for overall national strength grows fiercer by the day, hostile forces in the West refuse to stomach our nation's development and strengthening, and as they have never ceased to carry out a strategy of “Westernization” toward us, and a conspiracy of “separatism” . . . In these serious international circumstances, if we were to give up the guiding role of Marxism in the sphere of ideology and pursue a path of pluralistic guiding ideologies, this would mean ensnaring ourselves and tearing down our own defenses [lit: “tear down the Great Wall on our own”]."

P.S. I particularly like the warning about tearing down the Great Wall with one's own hands. It makes perfect sense to me why the CCP propaganda department has just put up another recruitment ad. for an extra 10,000 "internet volunteers", just so that they can help protect the Great Fire Wall.
http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1uol

Wow,
With regard to volunteers on the net, looks like the whole professional f*ck LG crew shows up again ...

C.A.Yeung,

President Hu is absolutely right in what he said. Look at it, Several bad pollution days in Beijing turned into a west media campaign, first on time china blog then AP then more and more...
WOW I am amazed

No of these so called "independent study" came out until now, because the pollution had been low until these couple of days. The west media is very good at timing and concerting their effort.

If this is not hatred and afraid toward China, what is it?

What is the air quality in Bagdad and Gaza strip????????

The more I read these reports and comments and blogs, the more I believe what president Hu said.

The West has different interests, therefore hopes for a week and torn-apart China; That is understandable and reasonable. What I don't understand is there are some Chinese joined the west's campaign to destory the hardly-won propersity in China simply because they were screwed in one way or another. Do you feel shameful?????????

Don't tell me you love China but hate Chinese communists. Almost every Chinese family has a member in the communisit party and the party is leading China toward to right direction.

@bylooker: The problem with Grandpa Hu and his propaganda machine is that they are highly inconsistent with their views on the West. If, like you, he truly believes in his assessment of a Western conspiracy against China, why then didn't he say it directly to the face of Barrack Obama when Hu met him in April this year. Let me tell you what Hu said instead. According to Xinhua:
"'Good relations with the US is not only in the interests of the two peoples, but also beneficial to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, and the world at large,' Hu said at the beginning of the meeting.
'I hope I can establish good working and private relations with you,' Hu added."
If my Prime Minister did the same, he'll be impinged by the parliament. When Hu did it, no one in China will bat an eyelid. Chinese people are so used to their politicians lying to them that they choose to ignore such discrepancy.
So bylooker you asked me: "What I don't understand is there are some Chinese joined the west's campaign to destory[sic] the hardly-won[sic] propersity[sic] in China simply because they were screwed in one way or another." Yes, I often wonder why as well. Have you asked those Chinese people? My guess is: many of them have "hardly won" any prosperity and have been badly screwed by the system. I'd be very angry too, if I were them.
Your question about whether I feel shameful makes absolutely no sense to me? Should I? What for? Hu is your President, not mine.
My political views are an open book. Everyone can read about them from my blog. We can't say the same about you though, bylooker.
It's open knowledge that I am a patriot. But the target of my patriotism is not China. So your statement about CCP members in the family makes absolutely no sense to me. My family comes from a strong trade union background. Both my Grandpa and my parents are members of the ACTU. But my political affiliation is with the Australia Green Party. So have I answered your questions?

The sunshine here.

Here is
the sunshine,
with delicate
rays and the
sound of a
light breeze:
and this is
my care, when
everything
shines and the
night fades
away.

Francesco Sinibaldi

http://www.cahiersducinema.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4940

C.A. Yueng,

I believe in mutual understanding and mutual trust. I believe only when people respect the differences, can we live together. that is why I said time and time again, the media should help people to understand each other. What the West media is doing is simply disgusting and cannot win the trust from me. The West media is now doing what Chinese media was doing in the 1960s. Nowadays, Chinese media present a much balanced view of the West, in fact, often I found Chinese media are far too pro-west. If people in the West believe their system is better, please keep it to yourself, not force onto some who doesn't like it.

I don't see any inconsistence in Hu's words. He is absolutely right, in fact. Today's world is a global village, countries are tied so closely by economy and trade. It is important that China and US have good relationship and Hu and Obama have a good personal relationship. and Chinese people and American people have good relationship too. What should the West media do? to build a bridge or to dig a gulf?

The US has its two sided-policy toward China, on one hand, it engages China economically and politically, for example in handling global economic crises, North Korea and Iran and Iraq issues. On the other hand, the US release Chinese terrorists to third countries, because they blew up buses in China and killed Chinese not Americans; the US sell weapons to Taiwan, one of China's provinces, even though the US agreed to reduce the arms sale gradually in the 1970s, but it continues to today and increases significantly. The West on one hand realize that Tibet is part of China but continue to support Dailai Lama's separate activities. As I said, this is in fact consistence; that is consistently for the West's interest. Hu's apparent inconsistence to you is consistence to me, as for China's interest. Since US and eventually any major players in the world use this carrot and stick policy, I don't see anything wrong with Hu's welcome language to Obama, a guest, and warning language toward his own comrades.

By the way, you are far too naive, POLITICIANS LIE!! If you believe your primary ministers or politicians never get away from lying or doing things in an “inconsistent” way. Where in the world do you live? Ah… Australia...Sorry, I did not pay much attention to it... I don't care which party you belong to, seriously, whatever you pay your patriotism is not even a major player on this chessboard. Do you have a stick? Maybe that is why you still trust your politicians, they only have carrots to hand out anyway...

In addition, since you are not a Chinese, sorry, I apologize, I did not even mean to say that and ask those questions to you. Your answers are excellent and brilliant but irrelevant to me. You don't need to answer those questions basically. You knew that, I think,

For those who were "screwed", I have to tell you my opinion. I am on their side, as long as they don't jump on to the boat of the enemy. As simple as that. For example, some people were “screwed” because they refuse to move for new construction. Sorry, they get big compensations, and the land even does not belong to them as the first place. They forget, and the West pretend not knowing, that the land was given to them in the communist land reform in the 1950s and the State remains the owner of the land. If they did not get enough compensation, I am on their side. If they want to use west media and forces to gain more, I am not on their side.

bylooker: Are you sure the country where I live and come from is not a major player on the chessboard? I hope the Chinese leaders, as well as those who represent steel makers in the next round of price negotiations will agree with you. I also hope that the Guangdong provincial government will agree with you. I hate to see them missing out to the Japanese in the next round of oil and gas negotiation.

In my country, it is up to the opposition parties and public opinion to keep the government clean. And no, our PM will not be able to get away with spreading fear-mongering comments against the PRC in front of the Australian general public and then acting in a conciliatory way towards Grandpa Hu or Grandpa Wen. He'll be crucified if he does that.

I'm no big fan of our current PM. But his policy on China is sound. In a speech he made when he visited China last year, Rudd elaborated on the concept of "zhengyou" or a true friend who dares to disagree. "A true friend," according to Rudd, "is one who can be a zhengyou, that is a partner who sees beyond immediate benefit to the broader and firm basis for continuing, profound and sincere friendship."

As ANU's Geremie Barme has correctly put it: "To be a friend of China, the Chinese people, the party-state or, in the reform period, even a mainland business partner, the foreigner is often expected to stomach unpalatable situations, and keep silent in the face of egregious behaviour. A friend of China might enjoy the privilege of offering the occasional word of caution in private; in the public arena he or she is expected to have the good sense and courtesy to be 'objective', that is to toe the line, whatever that happens to be. The concept of 'friendship' thus degenerates into little more than an effective tool for emotional blackmail and enforced complicity.

Rudd's tactic was to deftly sidestep the vice-like embrace of that model of friendship by substituting another. Rudd said,'A strong relationship, and a true friendship, are built on the ability to engage in a direct, frank and ongoing dialogue about our fundamental interests and future vision.'"

There are examples from Chinese history where a zhengyou has played a key role in bringing about good governance and prosperity. Ultimately it is up to people in China to decide whether you want to consider me and my PM as friends or enemies of China.

I think China has already decided what to consider the outside world, and the world better realize it. Whether we recognize openly is something else. We can always play the game they play. But let us keep in mind that China believes in power play, and power play only. That's the game they have been playing among CCP members since 1920's. Just look at the number of second in command that died in confinement, or worse.

C.A. Yeung,

Now you are talking some sensible stuff...

Please don't have illusion to your system. I don't know much about the politics in Australia, so I cannot comment. I used to be a big fan of western "democracy", when I was in China. Only after I lived in the West for enough time, did I find the West politics is as dirty as anything in China. Successful countries like the US, China, and UK are ruled by elites. If there is a channel by which elites can get to the top, the society will be successful. I was sickened by the 2000 Bush-Kerry election, all those dirty techniques used by both sides, besides the fact that both of them were billionaires.

If there were no West interferences, I would like to give general election a chance/go/try in China. But with the possibility of any general election turning into something in Iran now, I definitely say no to the western system.

You view about friendship “zheng you” is great. I never hate anybody who points out problems in China. We Chinese all know we have problems and challenges. However, there are these people out there who see China as a threat and hope it will collapse, only when China is divided into pieces and turned into chaos, can they sleep well.

If a friend comes to your house and tells you that you have some dirty spots in your house; he is a good friend. But, if somebody comes to your house, which has a different style and might become a better than his, all he tries to do is to tear down your house, is this man a “good friend”??

Look at the behavior of the West media: when the current financial crisis started, it was all over the place that China's migrant workers who lose their job might rise up and tear down the communist system. Now…nothing happens…what a pity!! Now they are contemplating why…what went wrong? Why there has not been “widespread riot” yet? Is this the attitude of “zheng you”, a good friend????

In May, 50 years anniversary of Dailai's running-away…1 year anniversary of last years riot, Every major west media were waiting for/geared up for something really big… but, nothing…how sad! How could the Tibetans in China not do anything to satisfy the West's sensual needs! Early this month, TianAnMen crackdown was all over the place in the West Media. 20 years anniversary! There must be something interesting happen…Nothing….how disappointed! Is this the true heart of a “Zheng You”?

I suppose in order to understand "zhengyou", a Chinese term that has been used for hundreds of years in China, one should refer to Chinese literature or at least a Chinese dictionary, for intepretation, not the words of the "PM" of another country whose official language is not Chinese, although I do appreciate the PM of Australia's Chinese language capability. I say, good for him! and perhaps also good the people of Australia.
On the other hand it does sound quite pathetic for a person who appears to be of Chinese decency yet has to look to the PM of Austria for intepretation of "zhengyou", a Chinese terminology.
Regardless, to become a "zhengyou", one has to be a "you" first. That is, to act with good faith.
Now, a "you" with good faith is not supposed to use words such as "wu jiao" or "wu mao", a term I curiously learnt only quite recently form Time's China Blog, which apparently is invented and used by the China-bashing clan (comprised of everything from the refugee to be members of FLG, to Tibet seperatists), to describe a person who are in disagreement with them on matters about China.
With regard to "zhengyou", one has to understand that even though a "zhengyou" is often characterized by his/her courageous of offering straight forward criticism with good "faith", it is hard to believe that anybody who criticizes is in fact a "zhengyou". The China-bashing clan is certainly not qualified to be a "zhengyou" of the Chinese people since they do not criticize with good faith.

So, here comes an "objective" observation:
Mr.Elegant's post is on the topic of pollution. The self-claimed "zhengyou" of China, talked about how great a sense it would be to tear town the great wall.
And a further "objective" analysis:
The self-claimed "zhengyou" of China was granted citizenship by another country (say after being on the waiting list for years as a refugee). Since then he/she has developed the sense of privilege for being a foreign citizen thereby the possibility of being a "you" of the Chinese people as opposed to being a member of the Chinese people whom he/she is probably quite shame of.
Because of this new citizenship he/she thinks he/she can now offer lessons to his/her Chinese friends about democracy ... the kind of thing the ordinary Chinese citizens can't enjoy as of today.
The unfortunate reality is that he/she faces challenges from other similar "you of the Chinese people", but who happen to have a very different perspective many things including democracy and pursuing democracy in China.
That has made the self-claimed "zhengyou of China" nervous (for being challenged as having the privilege of being the "you of China" and the "qualification" to teach the Chinese people about things such as democracy). So, what he/she did was to describe other "you of China" as being "wujiao" or "wumao" as in his/her dictionary "you of China" should ridiculously behave the same way believe the same thing.

2morrow2,

They regard anybody who has a different point of view as "Wu Mao" or "fifty cents" or employed by the Chinese government. To be honest, if they were in power in China, I can imagin that they would be more repressive than anybody toward those who have a different point of view than theirs.
They can accuse you without any evidence as posting for money, what else they won't do?