Pollution

Robin Robinson

Essay 1

January 17, 2014

In “China’s environment: An economic death sentence”’ an article by Minxin Pei, Pei writes how China’s air, water, and soil pollution affects the citizens lifestyle in such a negative way. The air pollution has made it hazardous for Northern China and Beijing residents to breath. The water along China‘s coast has extremely poor quality because of this reason most rural residents do not have clean water for drinking. Based on scientific studies the soil has been polluted by the use of heavy metals. When you factor in the air, soil, and water pollution you end up with a large health problem. China has lost billions of dollars in lost labor and health cost because of the pollution dilemma. According to Pei, “In 2010, airborne microscopic pollution caused an estimated 8,600 premature deaths in four major Chinese cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xian.” The government has played the biggest role in terms of not being honest to its citizens. In 2006, the Chinese government decided to take a survey on the soil pollution. It is believed that this information has not been released to the citizens due to the shame of the alarming numbers regarding the pollution in China.

I think the Chinese government has established a trend of avoiding the pollution problem at hand. By avoiding these issues children may develop asthma, cancer will began to surface and spread more rapidly, and a shortage of food will cause people to die of starvation in many rural areas. Of course, there are things that the Chinese government can do to get the pollution under control. I agree with the following statement Pei wrote, “ By adopting tougher environmental standards, changing their economic policy, increasing investment in the environment, and mobilizing the press and civil society to take part in these efforts.” I believe as human beings we are our brother keepers and I have found two ways we can help the people of China. I have even...