Documentary Exposes China Smog, Blocked by Chinese Govt.
A documentary exposing China’s growing air pollution problem was blocked from major Chinese websites a week after being released and going viral, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Created by popular former news anchor Chai Jing, Under the Dome was originally launched on March 1 online through official Chinese media, according to USA Today.
The self-funded, 104-minute film took $160,000 and one year to make, and details “China’s dependency on burning coal for most of its energy and criticizes regulators for weak enforcement of anti-pollution rules,” reports USA Today.
“City in Pollution” by leniners is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Environmental activists and lobbyists praised the Chinese government for permitting such widespread viewing.
Greenpeace climate campaigner Li Yan, had hoped the documentary would build “momentum to push environmental governance and create a larger political space for environmental protection,” and “real implementation” of pollution regulations.
A week and 200 million views later the Chinese government, in an apparent change of heart, banned and blocked the film across major Chinese websites.
Read the full story here and here.
Watch the full Under the Dome documentary:
