Chinese Draft Rule Could Prohibit Citizens and NGOs From Monitoring Air

Even as the Weibo account of the U.S. consulate in Shanghai was shut down, the fight for blue skies has continued to gain momentum. There’s the China Air Daily website, which posts pictures and air quality data in cities across the country. But lest we speak too soon, enter Rule 81 of the Chinese environmental protection agency’s April 2009 innocuously-named draft document, “Environmental Monitoring Management and Regulations: Consultative Report (For Public Comment).”