分类： society

Hundreds of Delhi residents took to the streets on Sunday to protest the worsening air quality in India’s capital and its surrounding areas. The demonstration, which saw participants of all ages, including children, was marked by banners and slogans urging the government to declare a health emergency and implement effective measures to curb pollution. The protest, held near the iconic India Gate, resulted in the brief detention of around 80 individuals by the police, who cited the lack of permission for the gathering. This was the first major protest on air pollution in Delhi in recent times, highlighting the severity of the issue. Air quality in Delhi has been consistently poor, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovering between 300 and 400 over the past three weeks, nearly 20-30 times the acceptable limit set by the World Health Organization. The situation is exacerbated in winter due to crop stubble burning in neighboring states and low wind speeds that trap pollutants close to the ground. Protesters, including environmental activists, opposition leaders, and university students, criticized the government’s inadequate response, particularly the delayed implementation of the third level of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which would impose stricter measures to combat pollution. Delhi’s environment minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, defended the government’s efforts, citing measures such as the installation of anti-smog guns, dust mitigation through water sprinklers, and the increase in electric vehicles in the public bus fleet. However, protesters remain unconvinced, calling for more serious and immediate action to address the crisis.

New Delhi, India’s capital, was shrouded in a dense layer of smog on Monday, with air pollution levels reaching hazardous heights and exacerbating an ongoing public health crisis. The air quality index (AQI) soared to 344, a level classified as ‘severe’ by the World Health Organization (WHO), posing significant risks to residents’ health. The acrid smell of pollution permeated the city, prompting widespread concern and frustration among its inhabitants. On Sunday evening, hundreds of protesters, including parents and environmental activists, gathered at India Gate in a rare demonstration, demanding immediate government action. Many participants wore masks and carried placards, with one reading, ‘I miss breathing.’ Meghna, a protester who only provided her first name, expressed her distress, stating, ‘I am here just as a citizen who cares and who is worried about the state of situation that we are in with respect to the lack of clean air to breathe.’ However, police intervened, confiscating banners and placards and dispersing the crowd, citing a lack of permission for the protest. The worsening air quality has led to a surge in health complaints, including headaches and persistent coughs, fueling public anger toward politicians accused of inaction and blame-shifting. New Delhi, home to over 30 million people, consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities, with India hosting six of the top 10 globally. The city’s air quality deteriorates further during winter due to crop residue burning in neighboring states, combined with vehicle and industrial emissions. Cool, dry, and windless conditions trap toxic particles, sometimes pushing pollution levels to 20 times the WHO’s safe limit. While authorities have implemented temporary measures such as construction bans, diesel generator restrictions, and cloud-seeding experiments, critics argue that only long-term emission reduction strategies can provide lasting relief.

Shanghai’s Changning district became a focal point for global talent and innovation as it hosted the 6th International 3E (Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Enterprise) Fair at the Gubei Civic Center on November 8. The event, co-organized by the Changning District Talent Work Leading Group Office, the Changning District Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and Hongqiao Neighborhood, brought together international professionals, industry leaders, and experts to explore strategies for fostering talent development and community integration in Shanghai. Since its launch in 2020, the 3E Fair has grown into a cornerstone of Shanghai’s talent recruitment efforts, hosting over 60 events, attracting 5,500 participants, and engaging nearly 300 multinational and local enterprises. This year’s edition introduced several innovative initiatives, including the Hongqiao CoLab, a collaborative platform connecting top universities like Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and Tongji University with industry leaders in artificial intelligence and frontier technologies. Additionally, the Hongqiao Top HR Association was established to enhance recruitment coordination among 28 leading enterprises, while the Hongqiao Link project was unveiled to support international families through social networks and community-building efforts. The fair also featured updates on visa facilitation and one-stop services, presented by the Changning Public Security Bureau and the Shanghai Hongqiao Overseas Talent Service Center. Chen Feng, director of Hongqiao Sub-district Office, highlighted the event’s role in driving synergy between talent development and regional growth, solidifying its status as a flagship initiative for Hongqiao and Changning.

In a desperate plea for clean air, dozens of protesters gathered in New Delhi on Sunday, demanding urgent government action to combat the city’s toxic pollution. The Indian capital, home to 30 million people, is frequently ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. A thick haze of hazardous microparticles, known as PM2.5, blanketed the skyline, with levels soaring up to 60 times the United Nations’ daily health limits. These cancer-causing particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream, posing severe health risks. Protesters, including parents with masked children, carried placards with messages like ‘I miss breathing’ and ‘I just want to breathe.’ The demonstration took place near India Gate, where PM2.5 levels were over 13 times the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum. ‘I am here because I don’t want to become a climate refugee,’ said Namrata Yadav, a mother who joined the rally. Tanvi Kusum, a lawyer, expressed frustration, stating, ‘Year after year, it is the same story, but there is no solution.’ Despite government measures such as partial transport restrictions and water trucks spraying mist to clear particulate matter, the pollution crisis persists. A recent study in The Lancet Planetary Health linked 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 to air pollution. The United Nations children’s agency warns that polluted air increases children’s risk of acute respiratory infections. As the protest grew, police detained several activists, confiscating their banners and placards, citing a lack of protest permits. The event underscored the growing public outcry for meaningful action to address Delhi’s deadly air quality crisis.