Pollution Levels in China Down Slightly As Beijing approaches the start of the Olympic games in August, pollution levels in the city, especially pertaining to air quality and the algae bloom, have been a serious concern over the past few months. The official newspaper of China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection reported that the key indicators for pollution levels have decreased slightly, stating that sulphur dioxide emissions and COD (chemical oxygen demand) – a measure of water contamination, have dropped by 4.7 and 3.2 percent respectively in 2007 as compared to 2006.
As 2010 draws closer, China faces tremendous pressure to meet its target in reducing these two key indicators by ten percent as pledged in its five-year plan. In Beijing, more than 120 billion yuan has been spent on pre-Olympic clean-up efforts, resulting in a reduction of the city’s sulphur dioxide levels by 13.8 percent, making it the best performer among the other provinces, regions and cities. At the same time, thousands of troops and volunteers are working round the clock in an effort to remove algae from Olympic sailing competition areas in Qingdao. Beijing has also ordered factories in surrounding provinces to stop work or cut production in a bid to ensure clean air in the city.
South China Tigers on Brink of Extinction
Historically regarded as an archetypal Chinese cultural symbol, the South China tiger is now one of the world’s rarest mammals with less than 20 individuals remaining in the wild and 70 in captivity from wild-caught founders. This decline in China’s tiger population is a result of years of poaching, which began since the 1950’s where the hunting of tigers was encouraged by the Communist Party to rid the countryside of this cattle-raiding predator. Tigers have also been hunted in China for their medicinal properties, while deforestation due to rapid modernisation have driven this keystone Chinese species closer to extinction.
In 2003, the captive Chinese tigers were introduced into a South African game reserve where the tigers were rehabilitated to survive in a wild habitat. This move generated five cubs, out of which three survived, giving hope to the continuation of the species. Plans have been set to relocate the tigers back to China in Zixi county, Jiangxi province where they will be under the full protection of the Chinese government.
Singapore Sun Festival 2008 The second annual Singapore Sun Festival, happening from 17–26 October, will bring in more than 250 world-renowned celebrities consisting of musicians, artists, authors, chefs and wellness gurus to present an array of exciting activities. The lifestyle festival celebrates the ‘Art of Living Well’ through seven disciplines: Music, Visual Arts, Cuisine, Wine, Literature, Film and Wellness.
Featured artistes at this year’s festival include:
- Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen
- Soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, one of the best-loved figures in leading opera houses around the world
- Distinguished classical pianist Murray Perahia, who has more than 30 years of performing experience under his belt
- Restaurateur and chef Charlie Trotter, who is an author of 14 cookbook, host of a TV cooking series, as well as
a philanthropist
- Abstract artist Sibylle Szaggars, who will be showcasing her work “The Shape of Colour”, which focuses on intense optical sensations.
For more information, visit www.singaporesunfestival.com.
China Dive Exhibition 2008 In its fourth year, China’s only dive show returns to Shanghai on 19–21 September at the Shanghai East Asia Exhibition Hall, with an in-show art festival, industry dialogue, diving club congress, as well as seminars and presentations on a wide array of topics. Visit www.chinadiveexpo.com.
ASIAN Geographic Passport Silk Road Expedition To celebrate the launch of our new Passport travel magazine, ASIAN Geographic will be organising an exciting expedition to the illustrious Silk Road starting in April 2009. The expedition is divided into four parts to provide participants with a full and enriching experience.
Part I: “Source of Silk”, Kashgar to Xi’an (China)
Part II: “Heart of the Silk Road”, Osh to Bukhara (Kyrgystan & Uzbekistan)
Part III: “The Persian Empire”, Mashhad to Esfahan (Iran)
Part IV: “Bridge to Europe”, Palmyra to Constantinople (Syria & Turkey)
The inaugural “Source of Silk” trip, happening from 9–19 April 2009, will commence at the beginning of the Silk Road, starting from the breathtaking Taklamakan Desert near Kashgar all the way down south to the home of the terracotta warriors in Xi’an.
Experience the unique sights and sounds along this historical and monumental route in this ten-day once-in-a-lifetime expedition. For more information and the detailed itinerary, visit www.asiangeopassport.com.
Wild Elephant Kills Four in Bangladesh Four members of a family in southeastern Bangladesh were trampled to death by a wild elephant when it strayed into their village in Bandarban hill district’s Lama area, 350 kilometres from the capital Dhaka. The elephant was reported attacking the villagers on 10 July, destroying several shops and three houses, as well as injuring one other villager before fleeing to a nearby forest. In recent years, Bangladesh has seen similar reports of human deaths due to wild elephants, as diminishing forestlands due to rapid development have caused the elephants to wander out of their habitats into neighbouring villages causing damage to crops, houses and lives.
