http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspxBy Adrienne Mong, NBC News Producer My nose started twitching even before I set foot outside the airport in Beijing. While not quite hot, the air was thick. Thick with white fluff the size of grapes. "What is that?" I asked our driver, Mr.Guan, asen-USCommunityServer 2.0 (Build: 60608.1)http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#174938Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:22:26 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:174938HighTide McBrideIn my college town the local govt made a law that prohibited the planting of male cottonwood trees inside the city limits and it turned out to be a good idea. Thank God for CLARITIN (over-the-counter) allergy medicine, it's a life-saver! I don't know who invented it, but if it was a woman and she's cute, I'd kiss her! Everywhere!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#174988Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:03:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:174988Cats Meow, Spokane Walol people trying to control nature. "ohhh it annoys me, oohhh my allergies". Don't get me wrong, but I suck it up. I get hay fever every summer but you don't see me trying to burn the farmers feilds over it. Come on, if its one thing that I observed trying to control nature either fails, kills what ever you are trying to fix, or succeeds too well....look at the Australians and the cane toads! Sexing trees, what's next?!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175025Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:25:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175025Roger Umber, Albuquerque, NMVery interesting, but misinformed. The male trees produce the pollen (sperm) and the female trees produce the ovule (egg) when fertizled by the sperm becomes the seed. So, if you inject the female to change to a male, you end up with more pollen. Another name for the poplar is cottonwood, so maybe what they are trying to do is stop the production of the billowy clouds of cottony seeds.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175035Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:31:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175035Jon NicholsonPlease note that pollen does not come from female flowers -- it comes from male flowers or the stamens (male parts) of unisex flower. The stuff you saw floating through the air was fertilized seeds from female flowers of the poplar trees. The seeds are surrounded by cottony fluff, to help them travel with air currents. Also, there are no "female species" of poplars -- "female" is a sex, not a species. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175052Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:39:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175052John Elson, Sacamento, CAThere's something odd about this story. Pollen is the *male* product! Are they actually turning male trees into females, or is the "pollen" actually fluff from seed pods?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175067Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:45:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175067A Chavez, El Paso, TXInteresting, considering that female trees do not produce pollen, only male trees do. They're probably talking about the catkins or flowers, which are usually large and are produced by the female trees. Another source I found on Google was using the terms catkin and pollen interchangably.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175075Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:47:07 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175075Sean, Torrington CTThey tried to control nature when they chose to plant only male plants in the city...I'd assume to avoid the fruit? Oops! I don't believe you've thought your cunning plan all the way through! http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175081Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:50:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175081Z. B., Austin, TXPeople have been selecting what kind of tree or other plant to plant -- by sex or other reasons for thousands of years. It's why we have many cultivated varieties. "Cats Meow" could take a lesson from some horticultural history. For many years, for example, people have chosen to plant male Ginkgo trees in public plantings because the females produce foul-smelling seed organs (not true fruits). By the way, the writer should do a little homework and use proper terminology. Female trees do not produce pollen; pollen is produced by male sex organs on the trees to pollinate female floral organs in the process that produces seed. The "fluff" is actually part of a seed dispersal mechanism and is part of the fruit, not pollen.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175094Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:58:40 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175094Lori, savannah,ga oh my goodness, changing the sex of trees. whats next?????http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175110Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:12:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175110cdugga shreveport laAllergies and asthma are getting worse because of pollution so it makes sense to destroy the vegetation we are becoming allergic to. Right? Trees grow and drop leaves and attract birds so that anything under them will get leaves and bird dookey on them so all the thousands of acres of new parking lots made every year should be completely tree free. Right? And the list goes on of all the things we must continue to sacrafice in order to worship the golden calves.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175116Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:13:56 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175116Matt Alszeik, Stanhope, NJI thought this article was going to be more interesting/amazing, like a human sex changes.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175128Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:19:39 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175128HighTide McBrideGENETIC ENGINEERING of plants has been going on for a long time now, whether it be barley, corn, grapes, trees, etc. We humans have been trying to "control" nature since the beginning of time. The TREE-HUGGER in Washington should realize the value of applied knowledge!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175134Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:22:19 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175134Micael Yu, San FranIt probably wasn't the pollen causing the author allergies in Beijing... it was more likely all that DAMN POLLUTION. They should rename it Smog City!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175160Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:35:02 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175160Kyle Knoll, bryan.ohio 43506 Some sientist think of a quick cure most dont think of the final conciquences its rush rush to find a quick cure so they skip the little things. mothernature didn't skip nothing. you change something other cascading events follow.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175199Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:57:50 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175199Patricia Clark, P. O. Box 823, Arden, N. C. 28704Sitting here in my office in North Carolina, I just read your article about Mother Nature in Beijing. I am sorry to hear of the current tree - allergy problem in Beijing. I can sympathize because we are having a similar allergy situation here. On the positive side, looking at the photos, has been like a little vacation for me. Beijing often looks hazy especially in the mornings, just like your picture. And the streets lined with cottonwoods are so typical of the city. They were planted as the city began to rebuild and improve during the second half of the 20th century. I am reminded of visiting a friend who lives on a street which looks like your photo. As you can tell I think highly of Beijing and hope to return soon. There is much to admire in the spirit of the people who live there, and the amazing way of life they have created for themselves. They will manage the cottonwoods I am sure. Xiexie for the pleasant moment. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175200Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:58:52 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175200Cuerva, Denver, ColoradoChina continues to take steps that others are too conservative or religiously guilt-ridden to pioneer themselves. I respect their realism. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175222Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:09:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175222Aceman Jones, NY NY 11222"China is no slouch when it comes to climate engineering. In fact, it seems determined to wrestle Mother Nature to the ground." ???? Like we here in North America are entirely free of the blame...have you seen the smog over Houston lately? Or what we're doing to the enviornment in Alaska? Please, this sounds so jingoistic.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175226Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:13:24 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175226Tomay, Charlotte NCI wonder if anyone thought that the high pollen count would be natures way of producing more trees to correct the poor air quality . Trees filter the air just like all the other plants in the world. I wonder if they thought about the gas, pollution, and chemicals they are using that destroy air quality. I take allergy shots twice a week and I hate to see the pollen , but I love to see the trees! I would never recomend changing sex, or destroying something that was put here to help us just because I have allergies. Shame on the selfish people of the world. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175247Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:24:45 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175247Claire G. Northern ColoradoI feel this is all very misguided. Why not work on preventing the pollution or maybe even improving the rural areas that have been so badly damaged that they have so much particulant matter in their sandstorms. If the Chinese actually respected nature vs trying to dominate it, their country wouldn't be in such poor shape. It's a few weeks of discomfort (I live with them to, so I know what it's like). I agree with CatMeow, a person should adapt to their environment, not force the environment to adapt to them. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175261Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:31:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175261DawnYou can't control nature. It usually backfires or causes another problem. Nature is balanced for a reason. Man screws it up. Why don't they do somethng about their polution problem. fix existing problems instead of creating further ones.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175319Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:10:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175319Dennis, Richmond VirginiaNature is not a balanced system, that's just coincidental from our very short term perspective. When it finally tips back to an ice age or full blown into a high-heat epoch, whatever weather control skills we have learned will be put to good use just to keep us alive. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175340Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:24:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175340Judy PPERHAPS CHINA SHOULD STOP MANIPULATING MOTHER NATURE AND LEAVE THINGS ALONE. YOU WONDER WHY THERE IS SO MUCH DISEASE AND HEALTH ISSUES IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175343Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:26:49 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175343Marci, IowaDoes anyone see a problem with tinkering with Mother Nature - playing wiht clouds to make rain and attempting to create snow? Somehow that just seems like a bad idea.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175372Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:43:10 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175372Don, TexasI think the Chinese environmentalists probably know the difference between pollen and pollinated seeds. The mistake was probably in the info handed down to the article's writer. As far as manipulating nature, we do it everyday. If you live and breath, you are changing the space around you. Even after you die, newpaper obituaties get printed up and a headstone is either manufactured or quarried for you. Everytime you eat, you are manipulating the cells and chemicals within your body. Sex changes within species occur throughout nature; that's not something out of the ordinary for nature. Some species are even asexual. Nature is changing in some parts of the world already as a result of pollution and global warming, there is no question about that. If things were not changed in nature, there would not have been any evolution. Think about it. The question is are changes being made for the better or worst? I don't like the concept of manipulation of nature either, but if people are having trouble breathing, obviously something should be done and since it would be almost impossible to do away with all of the cars and factories without putting everybody out of business, the next step would be to regulate the natural world. It isn't uncommon to regulate a species when it overpopulates any given area. Remember also that when there's too many of one species, things become imbalanced also. That being said I think its better to take each situation and examine it on an individual basis.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175392Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:52:17 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175392Hillarioushow would YOU like to be that poor tree and have YOUR sex changed? don't let BUSH read this or he'll get scared and send over more troops!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175434Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:25:25 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175434Laurel MarshallSo then, what about CHEMTRAILS? What about HAARP in Alaska?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175452Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:37:01 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175452James Albuquerque/San DiegoIt is also very important to remember that the seeds really dont cause allergies!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175530Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:30:28 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175530here comes troubleEach and every tree is born with a soul, just like people. From the moment of conception, that soul is a sacred being and deserves dignity and respect. When we tinker indiscriminately with God's Plan, by changing the sex of these trees, we alter God's intended Creation... and now the wrath of God may bring a tsunami or something over Beijing. Don't say I didn't warn ya.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175534Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:33:21 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175534That's funnyHey, Hillarious: a tree DID try to grab me once and change my sex, but i didn't let it, and i told it, "and you can't change my sexual orientation either!"http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175556Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:47:35 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175556P BHow dare those trees perform their natural procsess! What do they think they are living or something? Maybe the trees know something that the scientists do not? Perhaps because of the poor air quality that the Poplar trees have to deal with has put them into shock and this is their response. A struggle to reproduce and survive. Speaking of reproduction... China, unlike the USA and Europe do not have declining populations. However, in China, there is a preference for boys over girls, and we now have the technology to know which is which before they are born. In China, many families are aborting the girls. As a result, there are 70 million boys growing up in China who will never find wives. The birth rate in Russia is so low that by 2050 their population will be smaller than that of Yemen. Russia has one-sixth of the earth's land surface and much of its oil. You can't control that much area with such a small population. Immediately to the south, you have Oil Hungry China with 70 million unmarried men - a real potential nightmare scenario for Russia. And you all want to talk about Chinas allergies? WAKE UP!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175564Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:51:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175564Shanda Memhis, TNSeems to me, people try to do a quick fix on certain things without really looking at the big picture, or maybe they have and cleaning the air the right way cost too much. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175569Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:55:27 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175569Steve StelleIf you don't eat meat or dairy products you won't get allergies. It's that simple.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175575Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:56:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175575dodo charlotte nctrees have no clue what polution is in the air, they bloom and create pollen from the weather, temp, moisture, ect.. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175587Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:04:12 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175587dodo, charlotte, ncmaybe china has a better solution.. taking the pollen out of trees, created artificialsnow.. we can refreeze the ice caps.. and create artifial trees.. still pretty to look at.. still look like trees.. still blow in the wind.. but all plastic.. sorry termites.. you're screwed.. but birds can still make their homes. perfect.. no pollen.. no allergies.. and the best of all... each tree has a built in solar powered o2 production, it takes co2 out of the air, and produces Oxygen.. andyes.. our trees will look horid for a while. big bulky.. and they will break down.. but that will create new jobs.. creating the trees, and an industry to fix the trees.. And we'll let the japanese make us better trees, smaller, that work better, and are more reliable.. and we will start buying japanese trees, instead of american trees.. I'll have Sony trees in my front yard.. andt then some cheaper made in taiwan trees in the back.. we can wireless internet all the trees so we can monitor their fuctioning from one location.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175604Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:21:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175604Mayumi, San Francisco, CAJournalists will be journalists: they confuse things from time to time. Male vs female... I mean, come on, trees don't have gonads! Where's my Quercetin?http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175633Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:47:16 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175633Joe MammaThese are trees planted by man. Really, what does it matter if they force the trees to stop producing pollen? http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175639Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:53:14 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175639JOE, LAREDO, TEXAS.I THINK IT'S ABOUT BEING COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. IT IS TOO LATE TO SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT. EVEN IF ALL THE CARS AND ALL INDUSTRIES STOPED EMMITING CO2, THE CLIMATE WILL CHANGE, FOR THE WORSE, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO IN ORDER TO STOP THE POLAR BEARS AND HUDREDS OF OTHER ANIMALS AND PLANTS FROM DYING OFF. BEIJING IS NOT HARMING THE ENVIRONMENT MORE THAN YOU ARE BY TURNING ON YOUR CAR. ELECTRIC CARS, GREEN BUILDINGS, ETC. NOTHING WILL WORK IT IS TOO LATE. OCEANS WILL SWELL AND COASTLINES WILL VANISH. LETS LEARN TO LIVE A LITTLE CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER, THAT IS THE ONLY SOLUTION. http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175641Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:54:33 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175641Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,GeorgiaDear Adrienne, I live in Georgia and when Spring comes so does the pollen. I can sympathize with wiping off ones car to get rid of the yellow pollen. I wonder if that injection would work on the trees here in our state. It would make alot of people I know very happy if it made them feel better.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175658Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:03:31 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175658MikeyThe Chinese, like most people, aren't thinking through the consequences of their actions. They need to read "Unintended Consequences" by John Ross (note that there are several books by that title, be sure to get the one by Mr. Ross). http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#175927Tue, 01 May 2007 01:51:36 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:175927Bob Linden Alberta CanadaInstead of worrying about new technology, why not use what we already have. Decide which sex of tree is causing the problem (I leave that to the experts) and do a sex change. In human terms, they would either be homosexual or lesbien. I don't think there would be any more trees started, so we would just clone whatever replacements required. This should also create thousands of new jobs for lawyers,politicians, and tree doctors. If there is a problem here that I have overlooked, we could resort to stemcells.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176012Tue, 01 May 2007 02:30:41 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176012Special Ed/ rural missouriPoor planning buy city officals doesn't justify the science they are trying to use. Accepting the fact that they made an error in tree choice, and seek a solution such as replanting would make more sense than altering mother mature.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176107Tue, 01 May 2007 04:13:20 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176107Regina Brokmann, Topeka, KsIt sounds like they are going to have a bunch of transvestite trees. That Fred Phelps can Pickett. lol lolhttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176127Tue, 01 May 2007 04:40:06 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176127Rich ChapmanAnd maybe Don, Texas ought to think seriously about de-sexing humanity. What a novel idea when it comes to overpopulation control!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176229Tue, 01 May 2007 11:02:08 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176229radBeijing is a big city, I've been there for several times and I trully believe and trust the chinese government's efforts to make the capital cleaner. Good luck Beijing.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176253Tue, 01 May 2007 11:54:13 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176253KAS, Decatur, TXI agree with Don in Texas; those trees were not a natural occurance in the first place. They were purposefully planted. And for those who say allergy/asthma sufferers should just 'suck it up' may I remind you that many die each year from allergy induced asthma and related disorders. It's not a matter of of taking a Clariton and dealing with it. For many the problem is life threatening. I doubt that the original gardners who 'artificially' created the unusually high concentration of this particular tree thought about that when they interfered with the process in the first place. If they can correct their error now, they should.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176298Tue, 01 May 2007 12:56:37 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176298Jim Everett, Columbia, MissouriInstead of fighting Mother Nature, why not mimic her and clean the pollen out of indoor spaces using the same methods as those seen in a thunderstorm to clean the air. If you are truly interested in helping people, contact us by visiting our site listed below and filling out your information.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176323Tue, 01 May 2007 13:10:49 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176323Civil Nut, Gettysburg, PAOh so very true PB! http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#176958Tue, 01 May 2007 17:31:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:176958Heather, Cripple Creek, ColoradoI think that this whole idea is absolutely ridiculous. Mother Nature will do what she will. Let's not manipulate it anymore. If/when we have another ice age, it was meant to happen. If Mother Nature wipes us all out, it's only because we brought it on ourselves. However, if we start getting into that, it could go on for hours. If anyone has read the Earth's Children series by Jean M. Auel, you may agree with me with the thinking that things were better in prehistory, before our advanced technology even came into the picture. They respected the planet and everything on it, even rocks. That's how it should be!http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#177436Tue, 01 May 2007 20:39:23 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:177436Pan, New JerseyI grew up in China and have no confidence in the government when they try to manipulate the nature. They did that very often even since Mao Zedong came to power; but they have a very bad tract record and the consequences have mostly been disastrous. I suspect the motive behind this tree operation is not to improve the well being of the citizens but simply to make the 2008 Olympic Games "successful". In other words, it's a political decision like many others that the government have done in the past to manipulate the nature.http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#177472Tue, 01 May 2007 20:50:51 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:177472wm aurandThe pollution and the things Al Gore on the golbal warming is worse because of the free trade. The businesses in the USA leave and go to other countrys where there is no EPA or anything like it. Where theres cheap labor and no reguard for anything other than a profithttp://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/30/174796.aspx#177839Wed, 02 May 2007 00:47:42 GMT8a5d2dbc-a0e4-4c7a-979f-3188051f228e:177839MIKE COX, ELDORADO, KS.I WOULD NOT PLANT A COTTONWOOD WITHIN 200 FT. OF ANY STRUCTURE INCLUDING PUBLIC WORKS UNDERGROUND OR FOOTINGS AND FOUNDATIONS OF BUILDINGS. THEY ARE LIKE GIANT HYDRALIC JACKS POUNDING AT THE BUILDING. OTHERWISE I LIKE THEM AS THEY ARE OUR STATE TREE IN KANSAS. DONT PLANT ANY TREE WITHIN 20 FT. OF ANY FOUNDATION..