Mighty Chinese industrial dragon roars, then collapses in asthmatic coughing fit

The burgeoning Chinese industrial complex has been fueling unprecedented economic growth in that country for decades. Many outside China, however, fear if growth continues unchecked the environmental costs may eventually lead to disastrous and potentially irreversible consequences. China's urban centers already have air pollution levels several times worse than European Union health standards allow. Yin Jinqiang, a spokesperson for the Chinese government's environmental agency took umbrage with such criticism. “These last decades of growth have lifted millions out of poverty through job creation. And that's just due to the explosion in needed health care workers,” he stated through both an interpreter and a cloth surgical mask. “I, myself, was hospitalized over a dozen times last year alone,” Mr. Jinqiang continued, “And we've also seen record job growth in the small business sector, too, spearheaded by the service industry. Specifically the mortuary service industry but we hope to see similar trends in other areas.”