Follow-up action should be taken to tackle pollution after an environmental protection "storm" is launched, says a commentary in Beijing News. An excerpt follows:

The State Environmental Protection Administration recently once again launched a large-scale anti-pollution campaign nationwide.

The priorities are examining the potential environmental risks posed by key petrochemical factories, the supervision of problematic facilities and punishment for those responsible for projects that seriously violate State environmental standards.

But pollution will not be effectively curbed by one-off measures. Lasting projects must follow if the thorny problem is to be tackled properly.

Even Western Europe, which now enjoys a relatively clean environment, was once plagued by serious pollution.

The renowned Rhine was for a time called the "European Sewer" because of the serious water pollution.

Since the 1970s, Germany has never stopped environmental protection efforts. A strong awareness of environmental protection is deeply rooted in the minds of its population.

In China, environmental protection efforts should be stepped up at a legal level by introducing harsher punishments for polluters.

The media should play a big role in enhancing the public's awareness of environmental protection.

Attention and efforts from the public are also an indispensable force for creating a good environmental protection atmosphere.

Every citizen should report to relevant government departments any case of pollution that comes to light. This will act as a powerful deterrent to enterprises in pursuit of profits while disregarding the environment.

(China Daily February 20, 2006)