Deadly smog: “Blue Sky now,” Greenpeace tells China

Published October 16, 2014
Two journalists standing on the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction) look at the smog covered skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
Two journalists standing on the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction) look at the smog covered skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower. Photo-by-AFP
A worker installs wires on the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction) in front of the smog covered skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A worker installs wires on the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction) in front of the smog covered skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the Shanghai World Financial Center and the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the Shanghai World Financial Center and the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A worker installs wires on the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction) in front of the smog covered skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A worker installs wires on the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction) in front of the smog covered skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the Luijiazui Ring road in Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the Luijiazui Ring road in Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the Shanghai World Financial Center and the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP
A general view shows the Shanghai World Financial Center and the skyline of the Lujiazui Financial District in Pudong, seen from the 109th floor of the Shanghai Tower (still under construction), covered in smog in Shanghai. Photo-by-AFP

The World Health Organization’s recommended exposure 25 micrograms per cubic meter while the levels in China's capital, Beijing, have reached 300 micrograms per cubic meter. PM2.5 particles lodge deep inside the lungs and are considered the most dangerous kind of air pollution to human health. China has for years been hit by heavy air pollution, caused by enormous use of coal to generate electricity to power a booming economy, and more vehicles on the roads. Environmental groups are also increasing the pressure on the authorities in Beijing. Greenpeace Asia projected a huge message reading “Blue Sky now!” on to the front of Drum Tower, a historic building to the north of the historic center of Beijing, the Forbidden City.

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