In 2013, China has experienced some of the worst air pollution on record. The poor and often abysmal quality of air in many of China’s cities has caused anger as the government’s failure to grapple with the problem, and has also prompted some soul searching about the long-term effects of rapid growth. In the above cartoon, posted to Sina Weibo by artist Lao Xiao (老肖漫画), a cloud of smog covers the eyes of a pedestrian with its grey hands. The pedestrian says in response: “I don’t know what your name is, but I know it’s that bastard called GDP that sent you.”


David Bandurski

CMP Director

Latest Articles