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Current AffairsMore and more Czechs gasping for air
In spite of all its beauty, the Czech Republic seems to be turning into a
rather unpleasant place to live - at least in some respects. Two-thirds of
Czechs are currently gasping for air as it gets more and more polluted.
This and many other alarming facts have been highlighted in an annual
report on the Czech environment, published recently by the Environment
Ministry.
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Current AffairsGovernment and carmakers welcome EU plan on greenhouse-gas emissions
Almost one fifth of the Czech Republic's air pollution is caused by
transport and yet efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in cars have
borne little fruit. But this week, EU industry ministers said they have
drawn up a plan that is expected to win the approval of the two main
players in the debate - environmentalists and carmakers.
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MagazineMagazine
A first in Czech medical history - a dog gets kidney dialysis treatment! A
fan at a boxing match gets a left hook from the referee for foul language.
Is the sun out? Start making babies! And, President Klaus gets his finger
sprained by an overly enthusiastic fan. Find out more in Magazine with
Daniela Lazarova.
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Current AffairsNew figures show dramatic rise in air pollution with dust particles main culprit
It improved dramatically after the fall of Communism, so why is the quality
of the air suddenly getting worse? A new study carried out by the
Environment Ministry's department of air protection suggests that in 2005
around two thirds of the Czech population lived in areas with serious air
pollution, opposed to just a third in the previous year.
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Talking PointWhy were Czechs gasping for fresh air?
Imagine waking up to a day when the city's covered with smog, there is no
sunlight and you cannot breathe, the air is heavy and there's nowhere to
escape to. A day goes by, and then another and another...In the 1980s,
many residents of the north Bohemian and Moravian industrial zones were
used to such conditions. Doctors advised them to take in large amounts of
Vitamin C, stay indoors, keep all windows closed, and avoid any strenuous
sport. Then, the Communist regime fell, numerous factories and mines
closed down, power plants were cleaned up, and residents were able to
breathe cleaner air. Until last week when it appeared that it was back to
the old days...
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Current AffairsInversion and smog have Czechs gasping for fresh air
Unusually high levels of smog forced many residents in industrial regions
and bigger towns and cities to stay indoors for several days last week. In
the Moravian town of Karvina, for example, dust levels were ten times
higher than usual. The elderly, children, and people with asthma or other
health problems had breathing difficulties. Many who could, escaped to the
country.
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Talking PointA Black Triangle gradually turns green
North Bohemia was once the member of a most unlucky club. Together with
neighboring areas of Germany and Poland, the region was considered part of
the "Black Triangle," so named for its unenviable position as one
of Europe's most polluted areas. But since the fall of Communism, the Czech
region has been dealing with the consequences of unrestrained industrial
growth that poisoned its skies and depleted its once-thick forests. In
this week's Talking Point, Eric Martin visits the region to find out if it
can lose its "Black Triangle" nickname.
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