China’s pollution problem is something that the rest of the world needs to be aware of. I have passed by stories in the media not thinking too much about them. I think it might be that I am too far removed from the situation. After seeing these pictures I can say that it is something that will be on my mind for a long time to come. It really puts the comparison of how good some of us have it into perspective.

 A dead fish sits atop a heavily polluted lake. 

All of these fish have died due to pollution. This fisherman is left to collect them. The frustration is pretty evident just by looking at his face.  

Scientists are saying that the pollution is so severe that it could cause the equivalent of a nuclear winter across all of China.

 It’s not just fish that suffer. All water life is effected.  

 Two thirds of the cities in China do not meet the country’s air emission standards. 

Chemical plants illegally dump untreated waste into the Jianhe River turning it red. This is a journalist taking a sample of it.

Residents in Zhugao look with disgust at the polluted river that cuts through their city. 

 Rural areas have no where to put their trash, so it all goes into the river. 

 Seems like a horrible place for a child to play. But they don’t have a lot of options.

 The world discards all of their used electronics in China. This is a scrapping ground. 

 Only 1% of China’s 560 million urban residents breath air that is deemed to be safe by European Union standards. 

Oil spills are becoming more and more common because of the energy demands. Devastating. 

 Often times there are work and school closures because the air is too dangerous to go out in.