This is Randi Hacker with another Postcard from Abroad from the Center for East Asian Studies.

Here in Beijing, being lighter than air just got a whole lot easier. This ancient city has served as the capital of China for almost 3,000 years and yet, what distinguishes it now is not its atmosphere rich in tradition but its atmosphere rich in pollution. So rich, in fact, that the air here is opaque with particulates, practically solid. So practically solid, in fact, that a clean air activist known as “Nut Brother” was able to create a Smog Brick. That’s right, a brick made out of compressed smog sucked straight out of the air. Vacuum hose in hand, “Nut Brother” roamed the streets of Beijing for 100 days pulling particulates into the dust bag. Once it was full, he fashioned a solid brick out of it. He is attracting media attention and has threatened to build a structure using these bricks if conditions are not improved, a second Great Wall perhaps.

With thanks to Paula Li for this text, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.