Curious Mouse Clicks Can Conserve China

February 12th might have been a memorable day because the Martha Graham dancers visited our school, but on the same day our school received another valuable guest, Michael Zhao. Unfortunately, only a select few advisories of science teachers were granted the opportunity to hear about his work and discover the impacts of climate change in Asia.

Thanks to our partnership with the Asia Society, our school often welcomes their members to share presentations, speeches, experiences, and more. A long known member of the New York branch of the Asia Society, Mr. Zhao is a multimedia expert and contributes to the Asia Society’s Center for U.S. – China Relations. But more importantly, he has created and edits www.AsiaSociety.org/ChinaGreen. This site is mainly a tool that allows the average web surfers to comprehend the dynamics of climate change through the convenience of short documentary-like films, photography, and other web components.

As the title of the website and of the society suggests, www.AsiaSociety.org/ChinaGreen documents and showcases the changes occurring in China and several surrounding regions, including the Himalayan Glaciers, which have lost about an average vertical height equal to the height of the Statue of Liberty, according to Mr.Zhao.

These might seem like insignificant losses, but the glaciers are a substantial source of usable water that are disappearing as a result of man-made climate change.

Along with the Himalayas, Michael Zhao also addresses the energy crisis and development present in China by illustrating the shocking air quality in Beijing that varies from clear to blindingly smoggy on a day-to-day basis. Principal Ms. Aimee Horowitz confirmed this fact based on her visits to Shanghai and Beijing during the Olympic season.

Mr. Zhao claims that China’s rapid industrialization is responsible for the poor quality of air and China seems to be making long term plans to address the issue.

“It’s sad to hear that China has run out of options and is stuck choosing nuclear energy that might lower carbon in the air, but can still create waste and maybe even hurt their animals,” said sophomore Nadia Zaki, after hearing Mr. Zhao’s predictions about China’s future.

China Green and the multimedia it exhibits attempts to spread awareness evoking the human senses, documenting and sharing the changes occurring in the climate within photos and videos.

“These days, people, especially young ones, are tech-savvy and like YouTube and things like that, so that’s what I am using for China Green,” said Mr.Zhao.