the Beijinger

Global Times China Publicly burns 5.2 million pirated DVD's and Books.

China's anti-piracy authorities organized public burnings of 5.2 million pirated books and compact discs Monday in several localities across China. The items were incinerated in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as Shanxi, Jiangsu, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces. As of December 31, 650,000 law enforcement personnel had been dispatched to examine producers and sellers of books, software and video products. Buy up, buy up fast!

Global Times 1 billion-euro 7 star hotel in Burj Dubai style for Beijing

Unless you’ve been living in a bubble, you know the air’s not that great here. But all of us who’ve been in Beijing a while also know that whining about said air quality is the worst of the expat clichés: we have willingly traded a bit of pulmonary discomfort for the privilege of living in this city of opportunity and excitement.

And so it's always with slight trepidation that I pick up any book about China's environment. It's bad. We get it. But Jonathan Watts, a longtime Guardian reporter and veteran of the China beat, gets it, too, which is why his book about the environment, When a Billion Chinese People Jump: How China Will Save Mankind - Or Destroy It, will soon be a must-have for everyone seeking to understand the shades and layers of China’s environmental challenges and our incredible potential for change.

Living in Beijing, we often feel out of touch with nature. High-rise buildings, pollution and concrete roads hardly call to mind dewy grass, fresh water streams and chirping songbirds.

Now, the Green Earth Volunteers – one of the oldest local environmental NGOs in China – is offering expats an opportunity to reconnect with the great outdoors. They have been organizing a “River Watch” activity (乐水行) every Saturday for the past two years, but starting in July, they’ve arranged for monthly English-language translations as well. And their second one ever is taking place tomorrow morning (see details below).

Upon first arriving in Beijing, we are warned not to drink from the tap. And so we commit to bottled water – and get lulled into thinking that we’re safe. But are we?

As the sky looms gray and depressing over Beijing and even the shortest bike rides result in sore throats and suspicious coughs, rest assured that there’s a reason for it all: those peasants are at it again! The Beijing Environmental Protection Agency issued a statement last week that seasonal straw burning in rural areas was in part responsible for the visible recent increase in pollution in the capital. Burning excess straw, a low-cost alternative to tilling it into the soil, is done in preparation for a second planting. Although burning straw was prohibited in Beijing in 2000, the practice continues in neighboring provinces, and occurs annually at this time of year.

As loyal Beijingers we understand our fair city is superior to Shanghai in almost every respect, but sadly the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) has concluded Shanghai has it over us in one respect - air quality.

I’m not what you’d call an environmental role model. I have no idea how big my carbon footprint is, but I doubt I’ve shed the wasteful habits learned in 30 years of life in America, so we’re probably talking Sasquatch proportions. Air conditioning, beef consumption, incandescent lighting – my sins against Gaia are numerous.

The world’s largest voluntary action takes place this Saturday, March 26, 2011. Organized by the World Wildlife Fund, Earth Hour 2011 intends to be bigger than ever.

This year’s theme has expanded to not only promote awareness of climate change, but also environmental sustainability. The WWF asks that individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights from 8.30pm-9.30pm, as well as pledge to make one change for the planet.

Back in September 2007 when I made my first investigation into recycling in China, my motive was pure fascination.

Never before had I seen such meticulously gung-ho nannies collecting discarded reusables, willing to risk life and limb to get that empty bottle across the street. Never before had I seen three-wheeled bikes like these: overflowing with cardboard, scrap metal, and yesterday’s Wahaha bottles, all tied together with flimsy twine. Not to mention Lao Wang, the wiry man who somehow pedals these small mountains on to their mysterious destination. I quickly found out their motive was pure economics.