Introduction
Under the Dome was presented on February 28, 2015, and sheds light on the ecological problems of China. It is an analytical investigation of the country’s environmental issues. Chai Jing, a television reporter, utilizes her journalistic talents to weave her personal narrative as a mother into subjects like biomedical sciences, industrialization, the national economy, and China’s progress since 1980. Jing tells her experience through hospital visits, labor sites, energy plants, heavy industry, petrol pumps, and administrative buildings all around China. Below, ideas of Jing regarding China’s ecological state and the necessity of implementing environmentally-friendly policies will be discussed through the lens of the documentary’s content.
Under the Dome – Investigating China’s Smog
Initially, it would be reasonable to note that many physicians, citizens, employees, factory executives, and political figures are questioned on camera. Jing’s travels also brought her to other nations, where she spoke about global ecology. Environmental concerns are explored with scientific rigor, and the tale of being a parent is told with lovely storytelling and quiet passion. Jing began the film by talking about environmental concerns in China in 2013. However, it becomes more personal when she says that she had a newborn daughter who was affected by health issues as a result of air pollution. As a TV reporter, Jing was curious about what had occurred to her baby and what was happening in the country. Thus she discovered the problem of neighborhood smog – or contaminated air – as well as national problems, including cancer, polluted waterways, and coal mining difficulties. She talks about having children and the days when the pollution level is too severe to walk outside. The viewer is witnessing a mother’s dissatisfaction with contemporary China.
Still, Jing is a professional who conducted a study using data from NASA, Peking University, as well as Chinese sources. Her lecture is conducted in the form of a TED conference, with a single presenter on a platform with archive footage and visuals incorporated. The video’s production qualities seem exceptional; to find a solution, a mother’s love is mixed with empirical proof.
Jing discovered that coal-fired power stations are a major cause of smog in China. Such an issue can be considered a well-documented reality and a pressing global challenge (Shapiro 5). The reporter went to England to demonstrate that, while gas was a severe problem for decades, England took action to address this. It was found that there are many opportunities to deal with coal pollution. It should also be noted that the travel to England shows that Jing received substantial funding for the documentary. Images of pollution in London demonstrate to audiences that coal can be cleaned, and coal use in England has been considerably decreased (He 01:23:26-01:23:38). The message here is quite simple – if England can attain such results, then there may be no considerable obstacles for China to do the same.
Jing’s next issue is pollution caused by autos and vehicles. She is arguing that while the country’s industries and bureaucracy are massive, the Chinese Environmental Protection Bureau’s approach of slowing economic growth in favor of environmental preservation has not been implemented. Factory executives and ecological regulators were questioned about why they could not halt economic development. China has research and environmental legislation, yet it prioritizes earning money.
To offer a remedy, Jing transfers the viewers to the US to recount the tale of how Los Angeles significantly decreased the infamous pollution created by gasoline engines. Here, there is another point that reveals the film’s financial backing since Jing could take a helicopter ride over the area to display to viewers a large number of automobiles. She shows pristine skies over California and discusses how emissions restrictions have considerably decreased pollution from gas engines. Moreover, in the US, there is a noticeable shift towards electric cars (National Committee on U.S.-China Relations 00:30:01-00:30:25). The Chinese idea of “false automobiles and trucks” does not align with this strategy (He 00:43:48-00:44:00) – fake documents are used to mask the reality that pollution controls were not installed on the motors.
Jing demonstrates to the viewer how the US automotive sector and the Environmental Protection Agency worked together to minimize pollution and enhance public safety. The strategy of reducing the number of automobiles in the enormous Tokyo region was also mentioned. The independent journalist makes the argument that ecological issues can be solved. She did not specifically propose electric cars as an option, but she did indicate that natural gas is to be used to a greater extent in China. In order to address concerns about the economy stagnating, Jing points out that power generation is tied to national defense and that the US car sector illustrates that free-market alternatives benefit the economy. Jing discusses how the Chinese authorities should implement sensible legislation and how individuals could get more involved. She encourages people to take public transit, telephone “12369” to report smog, and use all kinds of social communication (He 01:33:47-01:33:55). The idea here is that both the administration and the general public must work together to enhance health.
Conclusion
Thus, investigative journalism, academic research, visits overseas, and interviews were utilized to inform about health concerns in this film. Jing comes to the topic of a mother’s love in the presentation’s final moments, showing the planet’s visuals. She narrates how her baby should exist in a clean and attractive environment in the years ahead. Hence, this video can be considered a significant mixture of art and science. The film contains many vital points regarding Chinese ecology that should be considered at all levels.
Works Cited
“Chai Jing’s Review: Under the Dome – Investigating China’s Smog.”YouTube, uploaded by Christopher He, 2015.
“U.S.-China Climate Cooperation: The Path Forward | Angel Hsu, Joanna Lewis, Jonas Nahm, Alex Wang.”YouTube, uploaded by National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, 2021.
Shapiro, Judith. China’s Environmental Challenges. John Wiley & Sons, 2013.