WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - An online documentary by a Chinese journalist providing insight into the alarming level of smog in her country has attracted millions of views and led to wide-ranging debates among netizens.
The near two-hour documentary, 'Under the Dome', by Chai Jing delves into the causes of smog in China, blaming industries such as coal and oil, and the lack of environmental oversight by the authorities.
The documentary, posted online Saturday, has attracted over 100 million views across various sites.
In the documentary, Chai provides data on pollution, and interviews with experts, industry representatives and policy makers.
The documentary shows how particulate matter infiltrates the lungs, and has ghastly images of affected lungs. Chai also brings in an emotional angle as she links smog to her baby daughter's tumor.
Chai says inefficient energy exploration and use are one of the main sources of tiny and harmful pollutants in China. She lays the blame squarely at the doors of the coal and oil industries as well as environmental protection authorities and state-run banks that provide subsidies to inefficient and polluting industries.
According to Chai, in 2013, China burnt 3.6 billion tons of coal, believed to be more than the rest of the world combined. Chai notes that coal consumption has increased and the quality of coal has worsened, with meager oversight over coal disposal.
Chai also states about the problems of oil consumption and emissions from vehicles, especially heavy-duty trucks, and the poor quality of oil used in commercial vehicles. She also asks the public to be less reliant on cars. Citing studies, Chai says air pollution causes over 500,000 premature deaths in China every year.
Meanwhile Chai's critics say the documentary and its massive online presence was a PR move by the Chinese government, which under President Xi Jinping has vowed to tackle pollution on a war footing. The government is under pressure as it is perceived to be nonchalant about the problem.
Pollution is said to be the heaviest in China's industrial north, and extreme pollution episodes in Beijing recently led the mayor to declare the city 'unlivable.'
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX