In case you haven't noticed, air quality in HK has gotten significantly worse recently. So bad that even I've gone out of my way to figure out how to add this little HK Clean Air Network ("CAN") Air Pollution Index widget on the right hand side over there.
According to these CAN guys:
- Hong Kong air pollution causes three (avoidable) deaths a day, more than 1,100 per year.
- Hong Kong’s air is three times more polluted than New York’s and more than twice as polluted as London’s.
- By WHO standards, Hong Kong’s air is only healthy 41 days a year (according to data in 2006).
- 53% of the time, the majority of Hong Kong air pollution is attributable to local sources.
- Although overall emissions tonnage has fallen in the past 15 years, roadside pollution has not improved. Because of its high concentration in close proximity to us, roadside pollution poses the biggest threat to human health.
And if that wasn't enough to stuff up your nostrils, take a sniff at this chilling video (the sound effects and animation perhaps a little bit too OTT in my opinion, but does make a point)
Time to get serious about cleaning our air?? I should think so.
What CAN we do?
- raise awareness and promote the www.cleanairnetwork.org/eng website
- join their Facebook group or Twitter site (OK I DO realize Facebook and Twitter won't solve the world's problem so read on)
- donate to and/or volunteer at CAN
- write to LegCo members and/or your District Council members
- read this CAN KIT to find out more
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