baocair be aware of chinese air jiachen yang, monica tarantino, madison wheeler, nikoleta koleva
DESCRIPTION
Opening Air pollution is the number one environmental problem in China right now. It has been substantially affecting people’s life quality negatively and causing people to suffer from illnesses like rhinitis, asthma, and many others.TRANSCRIPT
BAOCAirBe Aware of Chinese Air
Jiachen Yang, Monica Tarantino, Madison Wheeler, Nikoleta Koleva
Opening StoryYang is a high school student who loves to jog at night. One day, he wanted to jog as usual and had geared up and was ready to go. However, he realized that he could not make it because of the poor air quality outside.
OpeningAir pollution is the number one environmental problem in China right now. It has been substantially affecting people’s life quality negatively and causing people to suffer from illnesses like rhinitis, asthma, and many others.
Health risks caused by air pollution
Effects on people’s life qualityBecause of the unbreathable air, people are not able to do activities involving breathing air in the same way they did. For example, joggers can not jog because one cannot run and wear a respirator at the same time. It is negatively affecting people’s health.
Aims● Create an easily-
comprehensible website, accessible to anyone, providing health information and how to protect oneself from the air pollution.
Aims● Show people living in
Shanghai what they are breathing and how they can protect themselves from the harmful air.
Aims● Educate people living in
Shanghai why they are being exposed to harmful air and getting diseases from dangerous particles they are inhaling.
Aims● Get more and more people involved, spread
the word, acquire as much knowledge as possible and make a difference.
Rationale● Air quality in Shanghai is one of the worst on
the world
Rationale● People don't know how to properly protect
themselves from the health dangers of air pollution
Rationale● People don't know
what they can do as individuals to fight air pollution
Need for Environmentalism in China● There are no large
environmental organizations exclusively dedicated to air pollution in china right now
● Many people in China don't care much for the environment and are only concerned with their personal success
Benefits of Environmental Awareness● Research shows that education in
environmentalism develops critical thinking skills.
Why a website?● Websites have been found to
be effective at providing information on both health and environmental issues.
● Websites foster communication online and the sharing of ideas which contribute to problem solving.
Logistics
How will you carry out the project?● We will carry out the project through
a website (BAOCAir.com).● This website will contain information
about the health impacts of air pollution in China
Expertise● One Web developer
● Three researchers
● Three politics & social science writers
● One social Media expert
Funding● The Chinese
government● The UN Climate
Summit● International
environmental organizations against air pollution (like the Clean Air Task Force)
Tasks● Gain funding for the project
● Research and data need to be collected by researchers
● Research information on how citizens can take initiative to help stop air pollution
● Material for the website needs to be written
● Create a website
● Put our research and material on to the website
● Website needs to be shared on social media
● Advertise website (like buying ads on other websites)
● Introduce our website to universities (starting in Shanghai and eventually across China) so that they can educate their students
Location: Shanghai, China
Major Stakeholders● Shanghai residents● Chinese citizens● Chinese health providers● Chinese government● All Social Media Users● International Environmental Organizations
(possible social alliances)
Trends● Social:
o Air pollution in China is affecting the lives of Chinese citizens, especially their health
● Cultural: o The Chinese mentality is to avoid environmental
problems
Trends● Economic:
o Most Chinese people do not have money to spend on helping reduce air pollution
o The Chinese government has not been spending money on reducing air pollution
● Political:
o The Chinese government has not made efforts to reduce overall air pollution in China and it doesn't seem like they will anytime soon.
o Past records have shown that the government is not funding projects encouraging the reduction of air pollution.
o Pressure from the United Nations
o President Obama has been pushing for China to reduce air pollution (transport air pollution)
Most Significant Barrier● The Chinese
Government
Effective Response● Apply the same concept to air pollution in a different
country (ex: a website for air pollution in India)
ClosingWhat if the awareness is raised and actions taken by people become effective ameliorating the air pollution?
Environmentalbenefits
The sky will become cleaner (hopefully not APEC Blue) and air quality to return to a healthy level.
Social benefitsPeople will be willing to face the problems and take actions rather than avoiding them. The change of awareness is not only solving the problem of air pollution, but also changing Chinese people’s mentality to be responsible and active which is beneficial to the whole environment of society.
Benefits on people’s life qualityPeople in Shanghai will enjoy anything involving breathing the air better.