The first half of your write-up will be a summary of the article and will includ

Question

The first half of your write-up will be a summary of the article and will include your geography terms, region of focus, and how it relates to geography (physical or cultural approach). The 4 second half will include your personal thoughts on the article. Any interesting facts or surprising information or questions you have regarding the research that was done or how the topic was presented in the article may be included.

THE ARTICLE:

Mongolians Demonstrate in Capital Demanding Action on Smog

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSJAN. 28, 2017

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia — Thousands of Mongolians stood in frigid weather on Saturday for the second time this winter to demand that the government strengthen its response to the smog that routinely blankets Ulan Bator, the capital.

About 7,000 people, many in air masks and gas masks under thick winter hats, braved temperatures below minus 4 Fahrenheit. Standing in the city’s central Sukhbataar Square, they held black balloons and protest signs.

Ulan Bator is one of the world’s coldest capitals, and more than half of the city’s 1.3 million residents rely on burning raw coal, plastic, rubber tires and other materials to stay warm and cook meals in their homes. In poor neighborhoods that ring the city, known as ger districts, herders and others live in traditional round tents without heating, leaving them to burn polluting fuels.

Unicef, said last year that Ulan Bator was one of the world’s 10 most polluted cities and that the lungs of children in the most polluted areas did not function as well as those of children in rural areas, putting them at risk of chronic respiratory illnesses.

Pollution readings in one ger district on Friday were nearly 30 times as high as levels considered safe by the World Health Organization.

Sanchir Jargalsaikhan, a political scientist in Ulan Bator, said climate change had intensified summer droughts and winter cold spells, making it harder to maintain livestock and forcing more herders into overcrowded ger districts. He described the government’s policies to address the problem as “pretty piecemeal.”

Mongolia’s environment and tourism minister said last month that the government had spent more than $37 million and international donors had spent $47 million from 2011 to 2015 on measures to reduce air pollution.

Many protesters on Saturday said they could not afford to do more on their own. Dorjin Dolgor, a retiree, said she lived on an annual pension of $112 and burned coal in her stove to stay warm.

“To get heaters for my three-room house would cost me one year of my pension, and maybe not even be enough,” she said.

Explanation / Answer

INTRODUCTION:

Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital of MONGOLIA. Coming to its geographical terms Ulan Bator is located between China and Russia. The average elevation ranges about 1350 meters above sea level and it is termed as coldest capital in world. Mongolia have three mountain ranges(khangai,khentii, altai) and also many lakes, rivers, GOBI desert also covers vast area. In economical point of view Mongolia is very poor and steps have been taken to overcome poverty by establishing few companies like building materials,coal mining, copper mining. There is also railways extended between China and ulan Bator which changed trading rapidly over the recent decades..

PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

China capital BEIJING is known as polluted city with harmful particles ranging about 70 micrograms(where the standard acceptable range is 20 micrograms). But in ULAN BATOR the range is approximately 1000 micrograms. This clearly explains how polluted the city is... This pollution is mainly formed due to people burning coal,waste particles,trash in their chimneys to overcome cold weather. The poor people really don't have any alternative method to stay warmth. Government should take some serious action to control this pollution as it is killing thousands of people. They are suffering from some serious chronic respiratory diseases, new born kids are also dying due to the air. I support the protest that happened in the capital demanding action on smog, as they are fighting with their own lives.

The good thing is that... I've recently seen an article explaining how the government of Ulan Bator is trying to overcome this scenario. They are working along with world bank and many international organisations are participating actively. The government is installing low budget new models boilers, stoves for the poor people to reduce burning of coal and trash. Instead using this boilers for heating their houses is eco-friendly practice.

I've few questions regarding this article:

Government are providing latest new model boilers for people who have home, I really appreciate that effort. But what is the case about the people who don't even own a home and living in slum areas??? Who will provide houses for them?

And also my suggestion would be to find out ways for non-coal solutions and provide alternate method in those slum areas.

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