Beijing has off the charts pollution

[Trina]

They say the pollution is so bad that you can see it from space. No one can go out without their masks, and they are seeing record numbers of cancer. Humans have destroyed the entire world.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/16/3171681/dangerous-beijing-smog-2014/

[trottigy]

It is very sad the amount of pollution there. This is a big part of why their economy is slowing as well. They gave away their clean air and clean water to make a few dollars in a short time - now what??

 

It is always interesting when I hear about regulations in the US - "they are job killing." YES! they are - killing the jobs that would also destroy the ecology here. Thank goodness there is an EPA, but even with it - look how polluted things are getting anyway. Perhaps there needs to be more regulations and stricter enforcement!     or BETTER - God's Kingdom - which will have VERY STRICT regulations. 

Edited January 29, 2015 by trottigy

[Mei]

Jerry - I do not know if this subject has been covered here before, but looks as though humans are not the only major contributors to environmental pollution.  There have been various research studies conducted by numerous scientists around the world (Brazil, Canada, U.S., etc.) asserting cows are major contributors to greenhouse gases and a major problem towards global warming - since methane is a natural byproduct of a cow's digestive process.  You got it!  Cow flatulence is a major concern for environmentalists.  A while back, some scientists, backed by the EPA, conducted a study to determine a way kangaroos would be able to cohabitate with cows so that cows could learn from kangaroos how to eat and not emit as much methane.  Later and to the dismay of scientists, some studies had to end when scientists discovered even kangaroos emit a high level of methane. 

In essence and according to scientists, the agriculture industry is also responsible for high levels of methane.  The aim, seemingly, was to tax farmers based on the amount of cows they owned.  While the EPA has not been able to justify such tax and currently does not have the authority to impose such a tax, I don't think that is going to stop the EPA from trying.  It might also be fair to state that the EPA is being used as a tool for over-taxation.  Just some thoughts.   

[Mei]

Good thing Beijing (or China in general) has agreed to curtail its pollution.  Recently, China was given $millions worth in grants for pollution research to work on curtailing the country's severe pollution problem - a little too late though.  Sad.  

Edited January 29, 2015 by Mei

[trottigy]

Jerry - I do not know if this subject has been covered here before, but looks as though humans are not the only major contributors to environmental pollution. There have been various research studies conducted by numerous scientists around the world (Brazil, Canada, U.S., etc.) asserting cows are major contributors to greenhouse gases and a major problem towards global warming - since methane is a natural byproduct of a cow's digestive process. You got it! Cow flatulence is a major concern for environmentalists. A while back, some scientists, backed by the EPA, conducted a study to determine a way kangaroos would be able to cohabitate with cows so that cows could learn from kangaroos how to eat and not emit as much methane. Later and to the dismay of scientists, some studies had to end when scientists discovered even kangaroos emit a high level of methane.

In essence and according to scientists, the agriculture industry is also responsible for high levels of methane. The aim, seemingly, was to tax farmers based on the amount of cows they owned. While the EPA has not been able to justify such tax and currently does not have the authority to impose such a tax, I don't think that is going to stop the EPA from trying. It might also be fair to state that the EPA is being used as a tool for over-taxation. Just some thoughts.

I have heard this reasoning used before, but I think if you look at the ACTUAL studies (one recently done by the EPA as an example) you'll see they put the greenhouse gasses from animals in the under 10% of the overall greenhouses gasses produced each year. And man-made forms in the 90%+ category.

Imagine what the USA would be like today without regulations and oversight. Actually one doesn't have to imagine - this article about China gives us a glimpse. And they have been "industrialized" for FAR less time than the US.

Edited January 29, 2015 by trottigy

[trottigy]

I wanted to add - I cant wait for God's Kingdom where environmental rules will be WAY STRICTER and the enforcement WAY MORE STRINGENT. This planet needs better and stronger oversight. Its sad to see the ruination allowed under the current governments!

[Shawnster]

Imagine what the USA would be like today without regulations and oversight. Actually one doesn't have to imagine - this article about China gives us a glimpse. And they have been "industrialized" for FAR less time than the US.

 

 

http://www.citylab.com/design/2012/06/what-pittsburgh-looked-when-it-decided-it-had-pollution-problem/2185/

[Mei]

Oh, I am oh so sure (and having not read the EPA article for which you refer) that the man-made pollution outweighs the percentage contributed by natural means by far, Jerry, but in reading some of these scientific articles/reports on cow flatulence they lead one to believe there is an urgency to curtail natural methane pollution - a bit sensationalized.  At some point, it's all about money . . .  Sadly enough and on another note, China isn't the only country that is a product of severe pollution so is India.  My friends and family who live in China tell me they are used to it by now, but I certainly can't image ever getting used to that.   Yes indeed, Jehovah's Kingdom cannot come soon enough.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Mei

[trottigy]

I have seen some extremist that dislike ANY government control - skew info from scientific reports to make things sound ridiculous. Those ones REALLY won't like the New System.

[Shawnster]

I have seen some extremist that dislike ANY government control - skew info from scientific reports to make things sound ridiculous. Those ones REALLY won't like the New System.

As a class, probably not. As individuals.... Shrug

[Mei]

I have seen some extremist that dislike ANY government control - skew info from scientific reports to make things sound ridiculous. Those ones REALLY won't like the New System.

Hello again, Jerry.  Good thing I don't know some of those extremists. . .  No, no please do not misunderstand. This discussin isn't about disliking the government for some of its necessary regulations. This is about the ridiculous nature of those scientific cow flatulent reports (which had me cracking up at first) and the attempt for govt. entities to tax based on those silly reports. ScienceDaily, among various other science magazines, published one of those reports.   Nothing skewed about the discussions; they are factual. Time magazine also reported that based on those scientific reports even the UN proposed a global levy on livestock’s methane emissions in 2010.  I'm pretty sure most of us understand that government regulations are necessary, but not when it’s making and finding extraordinary efforts to tax but I know you know that.  But setting aside all that and back to the original post, one of the things we (my family and some members of our Kingdom Hall) do is send some family members and Brothers in Canton some pollution masks.  We typically send them (especially to those less financially fortunate) a box or two from time-to-time containing industrial strength masks (the ones with the metal nose-bridge/with a value) which are more hardcore than the typical surgical masks.  3M makes some of the best masks.  The better quality masks can be more costly there because of the demand, so they are always very appreciative when they receive them from us.    

  

Edited January 30, 2015 by Mei