Asia Insight S03E06 · The Foggy Skies of Beijing

Overview

PM2.5 - tiny particulate matter - is the main cause of the air pollution currently plaguing China. The air quality in Beijing is reaching critical levels and it seems that China is paying the price for its voracious economic development. With the health of Beijing's residents at risk, in this episode we take a look at how authorities, scientists, the business sectors and locals are dealing with this issue.

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Episodes

1. 1 1. Ulan Bator's Battle for Clear Skies2014-01-10 · 28mAir pollution in Mongolia's capital, Ulan Bator, is among the world's worst. A thick haze often envelops the city, reducing visibility to just 20 meters. The main problem is smoke
2. 2 2. Cambodia's Factories Face Labor Rifts2014-01-17 · 28mCambodia's economy is booming thanks in part to a burgeoning garment industry. Business people from other countries have opened factories in areas surrounding the capital, Phnom Pe
3. 3 3. Education for $1 a Month: Nepal2014-01-24 · 28mA look at the amount of families in Nepal who cannot afford to send their children into school.
4. 4 4. Celebration Amid Disaster in The Philippines2014-01-31 · 28mFollowing the lives of those who lived through the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines in November 2013.
5. 5 5. The Street Children of Ulan Bator2014-02-07 · 28mIn spite of rapid economic growth in Mongolia's capital, Ulan Bator, the gap between rich and poor is widening with insufficient employment for former nomads flocking to the city.
6. 6 6. The Foggy Skies of Beijing2014-02-14 · 28mPM2.5 - tiny particulate matter - is the main cause of the air pollution currently plaguing China. The air quality in Beijing is reaching critical levels and it seems that China is
7. 7 7. White Gold: The Cambodian Rice Market2014-02-21 · 28mAlthough strong economic growth is taking place in Cambodia's capital city, rural Cambodia - home to 80% of the country's population - remains impoverished. In order to raise the s
8. 8 8. I'm Not Going Home: Social Changes Reshape Chinese New Year2014-02-28 · 28mChinese New Year is traditionally a time for people in China to spend time with their families. Migrants living and working in major cities typically return en masse to their homet
9. 9 9. Fashion: Cambodian Style2014-03-07 · 28mThe Cambodian fashion industry could be about to bloom. Until recently, overseas brands and trends have been all the rage but some youngsters are beginning to develop their own sty
10. 10 10. Lonely Providers: South Korea's Goose Fathers2014-03-21 · 28mSouth Korea is home to a growing legion of lonely men. They are fathers whose wives and kids have gone overseas so the children can receive an international education. Goose father
11. 11 11. Overcoming the Odds: Laos Young Filmmakers2014-03-28 · 28mFor 20 years, not a single commercial film was made in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Now, a group of young filmmakers is turning things around. They are short on funds and
12. 12 12. The Pushcart Schools of the Philippines2014-04-04 · 28mIn deprived Filipino districts, it's common for children to record poor attendances after starting school and some drop out altogether. Even though children have the right for free
13. 13 13. North Korean Defectors Struggles in South Korea2014-04-11 · 28mOver 26,000 North Koreans have now defected to South Korea. Seoul has many measures in place to resettle these defectors, as it considers their acceptance into South Korean society
14. 14 14. Restoring Vietnam's Forests2014-04-25 · 28mDuring the Vietnam War, vast amounts of defoliant were released by the US military in order to destroy the tropical forests that concealed guerilla fighters. The dioxins contained
15. 15 15. Singapore's Immigration Discord2014-05-02 · 28mSingapore had actively encouraged immigration and foreign investment over the past few decades in a bid to trigger economic growth. On the assumption that the nation's only resourc
16. 16 16. Spreading Light with Plastic Bottles2014-05-09 · 28mIn impoverished areas of the Philippines, many households cannot afford electricity and don't use their lights. As the homes are so densely packed, they block sunlight and remain i
17. 17 17. Saving China's Abandoned Children2014-05-16 · 28mIn China, roughly 100,000 children are abandoned by their parents each year. Many suffer from illness or disability. Shanghai is one of the first Chinese cities to address the issu
18. 18 18. TV Drama Abu Dhabi-style2014-05-23 · 28mAbu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates and with its rich oil resources, it is also the most affluent emirate. TV dramas produced here are already popular throughout t
19. 19 19. NGO Revives Chinese Villages2014-06-06 · 28mRural farming villages in China are faced with a multitude of problems including poverty, environmental destruction and depopulation caused by villagers migrating to cities. A loca
20. 20 20. An Emerging Sporting Nation: Qatar2014-06-13 · 28mQatar is a small country in the Middle East with a population of 2 million people. Although it is blessed with natural resources such as oil and natural gas, the government realize
21. 21 21. Farewell to Cambodia's Norry2014-06-20 · 28mThe Cambodian norry is an improvised rail vehicle, which carries passengers and cargo from rural to urban areas using unused railroad tracks. They have long been a vital way for Ca
22. 22 22. South Korea's Unwed Mothers2014-07-04 · 28mIn South Korea, approximately 10,000 children are born to single mothers who never married every year, and in the 50 years between 1956 and 2006 around 100,000 infants were adopted
23. 23 23. One China Two Systems: Hong Kong 17 Years On2014-07-25 · 28mAs Hong Kong's economy steadily merges with mainland China following its handover from British colonial rule 17 years ago, Beijing's influence over the city continues to strengthen
24. 24 24. Finding a Partner in South Korea2014-08-01 · 28mMore and more South Koreans who want to get married are finding it increasingly difficult to find a partner. The issue is particularly serious among men, where the average age of m
25. 25 25. China through the Lens of Youth2014-08-08 · 28mSome young Chinese photographers are starting to gain worldwide attention for their distinctive and edgy portrayals of modern China. Their work depicts the anxieties and struggles
26. 26 26. Promoting Organic Farming in Laos2014-08-15 · 28mLaos is a landlocked country on the Indochina Peninsula and one of the poorest countries within ASEAN. However, its economy has been expanding at roughly 8% annually over the last
27. 27 27. Working Nights in Manila2014-08-22 · 28mNights in Manila, the Philippine capital, have been undergoing a lot of change recently with dozens of factories located in the suburbs now running 24 hours a day. The round-the-cl
28. 28 28. Sex Trafficking Survivors in Nepal2014-08-29 · 28mSex trafficking in Nepal is a serious concern with thousands of females from rural parts being regularly forced into prostitution. An estimated 10,000 women and girls are smuggled
29. 29 29. 24 Hours in Beijings Gourmet Town2014-09-05 · 28mRapid economic expansion in China has brought about changes in the lifestyles of its citizens. More people work later and dine later, resulting in increased numbers of diners. Guij
30. 30 30. The New Puppet Theater of Laos2014-09-19 · 28mPuppetry is a vital part of Laotian theatrical tradition, and for many years, it was a very popular form of entertainment. As time past, however, fewer people have learned the craf
31. 31 31. South Korea Seeks Skilled Foreigners2014-09-26 · 28mThe Republic of Korea has long been known as a homogenous country, but due to struggles with a labor shortage and an aging society, the nation has been actively allowing foreigners
32. 32 32. The Aftermath of Strikes in Cambodia2014-10-10 · 28mIn Cambodia, many garment factories have been forced to shut down temporarily and some have even gone under altogether. This was triggered by strikes for higher wages that escalate
33. 33 33. Female Entrepreneurs in East Timor2014-10-17 · 28mWith a population of 1.2 million, East Timor is one of the poorest countries in Asia. In a male dominated society, women find it difficult to have their voices heard. However, due
34. 34 34. Hong Kong's Fight for Democracy2014-10-24 · 28mJuly 1, 2014 heralded the 17th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China after British rule. A mass pro-democracy protest involving 500,000 people was held. 10 days earlier reside
35. 35 35. Innovative Farming in Singapore2014-11-07 · 28mThe small, yet affluent city-state of Singapore, on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Occupying an area of just 710 square kilometers, the population already exceeds 5.4 mil
36. 36 36. Tibet's Changing Landscape: Lhasa2014-11-14 · 28mTibet was once among the world's most isolated places. Its main city, Lhasa, was a center of traditional culture and Tibetan Buddhism. But in recent years, development by the Chine
37. 37 37. Weaving a Brighter Future: Cambodia2014-11-21 · 28mFine Cambodian silk has a proud tradition dating back over a thousand years and historically women have been entrusted with the task of weaving it. However, ever since the Cambodia
38. 38 38. Mediating Doctor-Patient Disputes in Shanghai2014-11-28 · 28mDisputes over poor medical treatment between doctors and patients, stemming from chronic overcrowding, the high cost of healthcare, and a lack of doctor-to-patient communication, h
39. 39 39. Typhoon Haiyan: One Year On2014-12-05 · 28mIn November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan devastated the central Philippines with the city of Tacloban and nearby areas suffering the worst damage. The disaster left more than 2,700 of Tacl
40. 40 40. The Dolphin Village: Cambodia2014-12-12 · 28mThe Irrawaddy dolphins, which inhabit the Mekong River in Cambodia, are an endangered species that are bringing economic benefits to local people through eco-tourism. In this episo
41. 41 41. China's Young Entrepreneurs2014-12-19 · 28mNow that China is wealthier, an increasing number of university graduates dream of starting their own businesses. The Chinese government is also forging ahead with a scheme it hope