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Car owners sign commitments not to use their cars on the day of the campaign |
In mid-May 2006, in Beijing, 200,000 members from 112 car owner clubs launched the “Car-Free Day” movement to reduce pollution in the city.
According to the members, on this day they will refrain from using their cars, hoping that Beijing can enjoy at least one day of “clear blue skies.”
Mr. Du Shaozhong, Deputy Director of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau, decided to support this movement with practical action: despite the 6 km distance from his home to his workplace, he chose to walk to work and back.
The “Car-Free Day” movement was initiated by the citizens to improve air quality in Beijing and further raise environmental awareness among the population.
Mr. Du believes that it is not possible to impose a “Car-Free Day” on the entire population, but through this movement, raising public awareness about urban environmental pollution will be more effective.
In China, Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, was the first city to implement the “Car-Free Day” initiative. It is anticipated that the Chinese government will officially launch “Car-Free Day” when conditions permit.
DUC TRUONG
