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By Ian Morrison The recent spate of pollution to engulf Beijing - and many other cities in China - should lead us to the conclusion as to what measures we can take as individuals, who are faced with this growing problem on a daily basis, to help mitigate it. China's impressive record of economic growth since the turn of the century has improved the lifestyles of many of its population in ways which would have been beyond recognition just a matter of a few decades previously. But this has also led to the development of lifestyles which consume amounts of energy that would have been unimaginable several decades ago, with the carbon footprint of the average Chinese urbanite increasing from the mere imprint of a baby's footstep to one which would resemble a lumbering giant crashing about before us. So the next time we complain or justifiably feel concerned about the dangerous levels of air pollution, we should also look ourselves squarely in the face and consider what we should do to help bring our own carbon footprint down by a few sizes. Before you make your next car journey, you ought to consider whether there is any other viable alternative, or the next time you reach to switch on one of the myriad of electrical appliances in your home, you ought to consider whether it is absolutely necessary for you to do so. You may be nodding your head in agreement with my points, but like many people in this increasingly individualistic society, your own personal concerns will probably come first, with those of your fellow citizens relegated to taking a "moral stance" on such "important" issues. | 
