Chinese millionaire sells cans of fresh air to offer smog relief
If you haven't been following this China smog story -- and really, guys, let's try to keep up with the Asian urban pollution beat, shall we? -- things have gotten pretty bad in eastern parts of the country.
So thick is the smog, in fact, that airlines have had to cancel flights, prompting China to temporarily shut some of its factories and keep government cars off the road.
Beijing may be worst. According to the Associated Press, the Chinese capital yesterday was a "colourless scene. Street lamps and the outlines of buildings receded into a white haze as pedestrians donned face masks to guard against the caustic air."
Bad as it's gotten, one Chinese entrepreneur thinks he's found the solution: canned air.
Chen Guangbiao is a Chinese millionaire, a guy whose wealth sits at some $740 million, according to the latest reports.
*Bing: Who is China's richest man?
Guangbiao is a bombastic fellow, a PR-hungry businessman who might be likened to Sir Richard Branson, Virgin's headline-chasing founder.
So what's Guangbiao done with a national crisis like crippling smog? He' spotted an opportunity.
The outspoken millionaire has begun selling "fresh air" in soft drink cans, replete with flavours bound to enliven even the most smog-bogged Chinese.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Guangbiao's fresh air flavours include "pristine Tibet" and "post-industrial Taiwan." Delicious.
"If we don't start caring for the environment after 20 or 30 years our children and grandchildren might be wearing gas masks and carry oxygen tanks," he said.
Call Guangbiao what you will, and certainly selling canned fresh air for about a dollar a pop is quite a stunt.
But then, China's in a real rough spot now. According to the latest readings out of Beijing, the pollution gauge shows a level almost 20 times the air quality standard across the rest of the world.
Guangbiao is trying his best to save that, 355 mL at a time.
Posted by: Mike | Jan 30, 2022 12:53:49 PM
"We're the Spaceballs! "
Just need to rescue a princess to complete the journey..
Posted by: gqh | Jan 30, 2022 1:47:03 PM
umm... wouldnt the production of this "clean air" not continue to compound the problem? it seems that no one ever looks at the big picture or long term when launching new healthy and green products.
Posted by: Daniel | Jan 30, 2022 10:32:48 PM
I agree with gqh
Posted by: George | Feb 1, 2022 2:53:16 PM
This is just as idiotic as selling bottled water.