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While the government is cautious about placing blame, experts say much of the rise in pollution is coming from China, where air quality is a focus ahead of the Beijing Olympics next year.

The type of smog — called "photochemical smog" because it is created when sunlight reacts with exhaust from cars and factories — is made up of photochemical oxidant particles such as ozone. These particles can cause breathing difficulties and headaches.

"In terms of average levels of photochemical oxidants measured annually across Japan, there has been quite a rise since the 1990s," said Toshimasa Ohara, head of the National Institute of Environmental Studies’ regional atmospheric modeling section. "We believe a substantial part of that rise has come from increasing emissions in China. We’re looking into what percentage this factor has accounted for."

Smog adds to a string of environmental concerns that experts say originate in China, including acid rain and sandstorms that gain toxicity as they pass over its industrial regions.

But academics say Japan may find it hard to put pressure on China to cut emissions, with studies yet to show a precise figure on how much of Japan’s smog is caused by cross-border pollution.

"If we are going to take action against other countries, we can’t be vague," said Atsuko Mori, senior researcher at the Institute for Environmental Research and Public Health in Nagasaki, southern Japan. "There needs to be a thorough, scientific study into the causes."

RESEARCH COMPLICATED

Mori and other experts say research is complicated because domestic factors are also to blame for the recent rise in smog across Japan, which has taken pride in its efforts to cut emissions since its days of rapid economic growth in the 1970s.

For example, while emissions from cars have been restricted, those from paint and gasoline vapours, which also contribute to smog, have been harder to control. Smog can also be exacerbated by strong sunlight.

The Environment Ministry asked a group of academics and local health officials last month to carry out a study on pollution trends, but detailed research into the causes could take years.

"Research to base environmental policies on requires a lot of time and money," said Hajime Akimoto, programme director at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, noting that the United States spent a decade on research before it took steps against cross-border pollution.

"Research like that in Japan could take another five years."

As a first step, government officials say Japan is working together with China to measure its pollution, although the country still lacks high-tech equipment to analyse some pollutants such as ozone.

Ohara at the National Institute of Environmental Studies said the region could in future look to the example of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, an agreement to cut pollution under the UN Economic Commission for Europe signed by countries such as the United States and Canada.

"If it becomes clear that the effects of cross-border pollution are big, then it will be imperative to create international regulatory rules within East Asia, similar to Europe," he said.

IOC warning

Speaking at a press conference to announce the results of the car ban, environmental official Du Shaozhong declared himself satisfied.

"I am sure we will be able to ensure good air quality during the Olympic Games," he said, although he admitted four days was not long enough to make a big difference to pollution levels.

Four types of pollutants, including carbon monoxide and small particles, were tested over the four-day period, which ended on Monday.

Mr Du, who bicycled to work during the car ban, could not say whether the improved air quality would have made the atmosphere good enough to run a marathon.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge recently said endurance events could be cancelled if the air quality is not up to scratch.

Mr Du would only say that if air quality met national standards it would be good enough for "all kinds of outdoor exercises".

Fewer private cars on the road meant more people used public transport. Passenger numbers were up by 15%, it was revealed.

This meant buses – there were 800 more of them on the roads – could travel at 20 km/h (12mph) instead of the usual 14 km/h (9mph).

Chinese officials also had a kind word for the 6,500 police officers on duty during the four days, many of whom had "overcome fatigue" to ensure the test went off smoothly.

During the test period, odd-numbered cars were banned on Saturday and Monday, while cars with even-numbered registrations had to stay off the roads on Friday and Sunday.

“Storages are now back to their January 2003 levels. Maintaining the same water restrictions and consumer behaviour of the last two years would see Sydney remain well above the 30% trigger for emergency measures like desalination until at least January 2012 and probably much longer.

“With better community education and accelerated programs for installing rainwater tanks, Sydney could avoid the need for emergency measures until the end of the next decade or longer, even with population growth.

“Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra consumers are being told they have to pay $1.76 billion for a water supply option that they do not need and that will damage the marine environment.

“Premier Iemma and his Water Utilities Minster Nathan Rees have dropped Sydney into this mess.

“It is time they had the courage to admit their mistake and put the desalination plant on ice.

“If the Premier allows this disaster to happen, it will be triumph of political hubris over common sense, good economics and environmental management,” Dr Kaye said.

"Now are we going to continue to have just a woodchip industry and small amounts of value adding through saw logs and finishing timber products or are we going to have substantial value adding?

"I’ve always felt and always thought that substantial value adding was part of the equation."

Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull rang the ABC while Mr Garrett was on air to say he was "aghast" at his counterpart’s hypocrisy.

He said Mr Garrett had been silent when Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon terminated an initial environmental inquiry into the pulp mill.

"Not one word of criticism from Peter Garrett or (Opposition Leader) Kevin Rudd," Mr Turnbull said.
"They were completely complicit in Lennon’s conduct. Not one word of criticism. They never picked up the phone and said `hang on Paul, you’ve got to let this thing go through to its conclusion’."

He accused Mr Garrett of being "like a mute, a silent figure lurking in the shadows" on the pulp mill issue until the last few days.

To quote David Marr:

No price is too high to pay to protect the Aussie woolgrower. With marked contempt for the effect it would have on freewheeling public debate, Peter Costello has introduced a little bill to clobber campaigners against the bloody business of mulesing sheep. But not only them: his strategy will snare anyone calling for customer boycotts.

So if you’re asking Australians not to buy lipstick tested on caged rabbits, rugs woven by Pakistani slaves or suits made with mulesed wool, then pray your boycott calls don’t succeed, for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is about to be given the power to sue you out of the water if they do.

I am sure the vegetarians amongst us here would find this situation unacceptable.

What are some less problematical alternatives to protect legitimate industry interests but also protect the rights of those who wish to speak up on behalf on animals when unnecessary suffering is taking place for the sake of profits?

Source: Ethics forum ; Photograph: Steve Ferrier

The Government of Iceland wants to suspend commercial whaling, Fisheries Minister Einar Gudfinsson confirmed. He told radio RUV in Reykjavik that, as of the close of the current whaling season on September 1, Iceland would for the time being provide no new catch quotas in light of the absence of interest from clients of whale meat.

In 2006, against the backdrop of strong international protest, Iceland approved for the first time after a break of more than 20 years the killing of 39 minke whales and nine fin whales for commercial purposes.

But just seven of each of the species were hunted by Icelandic whalers, mostly because of the surprisingly low prospects for sales in Japan.

Gudfinsson added that he would release catch quotas if there was a clear interest in whale meat from customers.

"We always said that whale catching has to function according to the rules of the market," he said on Saturday.

Commercial whale hunts have taken place in the North Atlantic island despite a worldwide ban on whaling by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in the 1980s.

In Hamburg, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) welcomed the suspension as "the only correct decision."

Now Iceland should take a second step and terminate the 2003 measure that provides for whaling "for scientific purposes", the IFAW said.

Source: SMH

Recent related article of interest: Bloody whate hunt off Japan shocks tourists

Photo: Right – the Baird’s beaked whale is pictured at Abashiri Port being processed.

The Faeroese proudly boast of how much they enjoy the pleasure of making the whales bleed, poking out their eyeballs and ripping the fetuses from the pregnant females. Whether or not the mercury contributes to this barbarism, we can’t say, but it does show that these people have a depraved indifference to the suffering of others.