ULAANBAATAR – According to a working group, air pollution level of Mongolia’s capital city has increased by 28% despite efforts.

A working group led by MP D.Terbishdagva has found during its evaluation of the impact of programs aimed at reducing air pollution that only MNT8.2 billion was spent on them last year, despite a Parliamentary resolution in 2007 allocating MNT50 billion annually from the State budget. It also found that the pollution level, far from going down, has actually increased by 28%. The group has recommended more coordination among the organizations responsible for the work and has also called for more accountability.

Source: Unuudur; highlighted in the BCM Newswire by Business Council of Mongolia

Taste the Savory Indian curry at its Best. Your participation will enable a needy Mongolian family live in a house called home.  A worthy cause.

A Buffet Charity Dinner will be organized on the 13th of March, 2010 at the Taj Mahal Restaurant at 6.00 – 10.00 p.m.  located on 6th floor of the Ulaabaatar Hotel.  Entrance fee 21,000 MNT per person

Curry for a Cause Event Program:

• Welcome Habitat for Humanities (HFH) Mongolia Blue Sky Build Presentation
• Dinner and then after dinner some fun Games
• Auction – Items, A saree from India, Another dress called Salwar
• Kameez, some Indian Handicrafts, Famous Mongolian artists paintings
• Music and Dance

Come and join Hands to lend a Helping Hand .  All proceeds to be given to Habitat for Humanity Mongolia.

About The Blue Sky Build

Building 30 houses for 30 Mongolian families with low incomes.  A sign up paper will be available for people to sign up as volunteers during the actual days of the Blue Sky Build 28th June – 2nd of July, 2010.

For reservation of a seat, please phone into Tajmahal restaurant – 98110562 OR the Habitat for Humanity Director Charles Jolliffe -99041137

Mongolia Business Podcast Summary: Mongolia’s 2009 business news highlights; Coping with winter weather in Mongolia; Parliament approves 324 billion tugrugs in handouts to citizens

Mongolians playing a traditional Mongolian ice game called "musun shagai", which literrally means "ice ankle bone".

Mongolia Business Podcast Highlights: Parliament recently approved to allocate 324 billion tugrugs, roughly 220 million USD, which essentially gives money away to Mongolian citizens.  Human Development Fund distribute 120,000 tugrugs for each citizen, 70,000 before Tsagaan Sar, or Mongolian New Year, and 50,000 tugrugs after the Tsagaan Sar…

SouthGobi Energy Resources may spend up to $800 million USD to improve operations and better supply customers in China…

Some big events in 2009 were headed by the signing of Oyu Tolgoi (OT) agreement on October 6, 2009, a very good auspicious day.  There was a collapse of two major banks and a merger of two other banks.  In March 2009, Mongolian tugrug fluctuated from 1100 tugrugs to up to 1700 tugrugs before heading back down to 1500 tugrugs.  Prime Minister Bayar resigned…

Weather in Mongolia is currently -30 to -40 degrees Celsius (-40 degrees Celsius is -40 degrees Fahrenheit).

How do we cope with it?

1. Stay inside.
2. Dress with too many layers or wear fur
3. Eat Mongolian diet
4. …

Why Mongolians crank up the heat to about 25 degrees (85 Fahrenheit) inside?  It’s freezing outside, but people are wearing shorts inside…. Black stuff on roads is the ice.  Another tip to stay warm?  Turn into a ninja.  Only show your eyes and cover everything, wear layers of clothing, eat mutton, and don’t go out too much…

Click here to listen to entire podcast episode: Mongolia Business podcast by Mongolia Business Blog (MBB)

A friend of mine emailed me this.  The source was “The Arts Council of Mongolia“.

Enjoy!

BEST ARTWORKS OF THE YEAR

Modern Art Gallery

Dec 4 – Dec 30

The Modern Art Gallery of Mongolia is hosting its annual ‘Best Artworks of the Year’ competitive exhibition from December 4 until December 30. There are 120 artworks in the exhibition, and they will be judged over two weeks. A select few will then be brought into the gallery’s collection at the conclusion of the exhibition.

For more information please call 327177 or 331687

NATIONAL FOLK SONG AND DANCE ENSEMBLE

(Tel: 323954, 99283116, 88083116)
Web address: www.mon-ensemble.mn

• 14-15^th 7 PM   ‘Mongolian Melody’ performance

CENTRAL CULTURAL PALACE

(Tel: 321444, 328833, 323954)

Please call for a detailed schedule

STATE PHILHARMONIC HALL

(Tel: 70118012)

Please call for a detailed schedule

THE AMERICAN CENTER FOR MONGOLIAN STUDIES

2009 ACMS Speaker Series

• Independent Students Study Project Presentation, World Learning / SIT Study Abroad Program DECEMBER 2^ND, 2009, 10AM ROOM 304, BUILDING NO.5, NUM
• Khamnigan: Documenting and Describing the Endangered Language of the Northern Mongolic People Speaker: Andrew Shimunek, Fulbright Fellow, Indiana University, Bloomington DECEMBER 3^RD, 2009, 5PM ROOM 305, BUILDING NO.5 NUM
• Chasing the Singers: The Transition of Mongolian Long-Song (Urtiin-Duu) in Post-Socialist Mongolia Speaker: Sunmin Yoon, Ph.D. University of Maryland DECEMBER 10^TH, 2009, 5PM ROOM 305, BUILDING NO.5 NUM
• Transition and New Public Management in Mongolia: A Comparative Perspective Speaker: David K.Hausman, Research Specialist, Princeton DECEMBER 17^TH, 2009, 5PM ROOM 305, BUILDING NO.5 NUM

For more information, please call 350 – 486

OPERA AND BALLET THEATRE

(Tel: 99054570, 98200443, 70110389)

• 1st    5 PM   ‘Carmen’ opera
• 7th    5 PM  ‘Swan Lake’ ballet
• 14th    5 PM   ‘Three Dramatic Characters’ opera
• 15th    5 PM  ‘Skilled Khas’ opera
• 21st    5 PM   ‘Rigoletto’ opera
• 22th    5 PM   ‘Nutcracker’ ballet
• 28th    5 PM   ‘Die Fledermaus’ operetta
• 29th    5 PM   ‘Nutcracker’ ballet

STATE ACADEMIC DRAMA THEATRE

(Tel: 324621, 99199794, 88087088)

Special performance

• 4-8^th 7 PM   ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ play
• 9-13^th 7 PM  Opening of ‘Yellow Sea Anguish’ play
• 16^th 2 PM  ‘Golden generation-2009’ conference
• 17^th 5 PM  ‘We Won’t Forget’ performance
• 18^th 2 PM  Performance by Jigjid
• 18^th-20^th 7 PM  ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ play

L’ ALLIANCE FRANCAISE de MONGOLIE

(Tel: 351914)

Located on the south side of the International Student Dormitory of the National University of Mongolia

Please call for a detailed schedule.

German Information Library

(Tel/Fax: 976-70118333) located in Cultural Palace Complex

E-mail: deutsche_infobib@yahoo.de

Mon-Fri: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm

Sat: 12:00 am – 5.00 pm

Information and resources on German language, culture, literature, history, geography, art, science, economics and legal studies are available.

TENGIS MOVIE THEATER

(Tel: 313105, 312719, 91913307)
Web address: www.tengis.mn
Tickets: adults 4000₮, children 3000₮
On Tuesday and Wednesday tickets: 2500₮
New movie opening day tickets: 2000₮

• Record Of Love (Mongolian)
• Take Off (Korean)
• Final Destination-4 (American)

Please call or visit for a detailed schedule.

TUMEN EKH NATIONAL SONG AND DANCE ENSEMBLE

(Tel: 322238, 96664374, 96650711) Located in the Children’s Park, near the Seoul restaurant

Performance with booking

MOON STONE FOLK SONG AND DANCE ENSEMBLE

(Tel: 99186171 and 99288399)

Tickets: Foreign adults $7, Mongolian adults 5000₮, Children 3000₮

Performance with booking

TORGO FASHION SALON

(Tel: 324957, 919190508, 99122448) located in the D block of Golomt complex, West main road

Tickets: adults $7, children 3000 ₮

Fashion show with booking

ART GALLERY OF THE UNION OF MONGOLIAN ARTISTS (Tel: 327474)

Web address: www.uma.mn

Everyday

10 am – 6 pm

Entrance is free

• 4-11^th Exhibition ‘Earth color’ by artist Ts. Erdenetsogt
• 12-19^th Solo exhibition by artist D. Enkhtaivan
• 20-27^th Joint exhibition by artists G. Nurmaajav and M. Bayarmagnai
• 29-10 Jan Exhibition ‘New Art – 2009’

MODERN ART GALLERY

(Tel: 327177, 331687)

Everyday 9am- 5pm

Tickets: adults 2000₮, children 400₮, students 1000₮

• 4-30^th Best Artworks of The Year
• 4-14^th Exhibition celebrating the 80^th anniversary of transport and infrastructure
• 9-15^th Exhibition of traditional Mongolian art style ‘Uulen Durs Buyu Uran Ukhaaral’
• 17-18^th Photo exhibition ‘Let’s Embrace Our Culture and Send Letters For Tomorrow’
• 19-23^rd Photo exhibition by Mongolia-Germany NGO ‘Bridge’

ZANABAZAR FINE ART MUSEUM

(Tel: 326061, 326060, 326837)

Web site: www.mongolianationalmuseum.mn

More information on Zanabazar himself is available at www.zanabazar.mn.

Monday – Friday: 10 am – 5pm

Tickets: adults 2500₮, children 200₮, student 400₮

• 7-11^th Joint exhibition by young artists M.Davaa, M.Gan-Ochir and L.Munguntsetseg
• 12-18^th Photo exhibition by Mongolia-Germany ‘Bridge” NGO

RED GER ART GALLERY

(Tel: 319015, 99235422) located in Zanabazar Museum of Fine Art

Web address: www.artscouncil.mn

Operated by the Arts Council of Mongolia, supporting Mongolia’s finest young artists.

Monday – Friday: 10am – 5pm

Entrance free

BLUE SUN CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY

(Tel: 99860122, 95259374) located in the building # 23 opposite to the Ulaanbaatar Bank

Web address: www.bluesun.mn

Everyday 10am- 5pm

Entrance free

KHAN BANK ART GALLERY

(Tel:332333, /3264/ ) located in Khan Bank new building, Seoul street

Mon-Fri 9am – 6pm

Entrance free

E-mail address: artgallery@khanbank.com

13-9^th Dec  ‘Memory of Art’ Exhibition for J.Bold (1958-1997)

PEARL ART GALLERY

(Tel:326793, 99138281) Located in the 220 myangat #25-31

Everyday 11am – 7pm

Entrance free

Closed Sunday

5+… STUDIO GALLERY

(Tel: 88812615; 88890124) located in Union of Mongolian Artists Studio B, 2^nd floor, room 210, Erkhuu Street, Sukhbaatar District  (west side of the US Embassy, on big ring road)

Website: www.arts5plus.com

Everyday 11am – 5pm

Entrance free

XANADU ART GALLERY

(Tel: 310239, 99110873) Juulchin Street, north of the State Department Store, beside the Tedy Center

Website: www.xanaduartgallery.org

Monday-Friday: 10 am – 7 pm
Saturday: 11 am – 7 pm
Closed Sunday

Entrance free

• 18 Nov-20^th Dec       Solo exhibition by B.Badral
• 20-11 Jan    Solo exhibition by B.Orkhontuul

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SHOWROOM

(Tel: 318070) located in the National Information Technology Park

Web address: www.itpark.mn

Science and Education Exhibition Hall

Monday to Friday 10am–2pm and 3pm–5:30pm

Tickets: adults 1000₮, children 500₮

BOGD KHAAN PALACE MUSEUM

(Tel: 342195)

Everyday 9.30am – 4.30pm

Tickets: adults 1000₮, children 300₮, tourists 2500₮

(Closed on Wednesday, Thursday)

CHOIJIN LAMA MONASTERY MUSEUM

(Tel: 328547)

Everyday  10am- 4pm

Tickets: adults 2500₮, children 500₮, students 1000₮

(Closed on Monday, Tuesday)

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MONGOLIA

(Tel: 70110911; 70110912)

Website: www.nationalmuseum.mn

Everyday 10 am – 4:30 pm

Tickets: adults 2500₮, children 600₮, students/ seniors 1200₮, family ticket 3000₮

(Closed on Sunday, Monday)

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF MONGOLIA

(Tel: 70110183)

Everyday 10am – 4:30pm

Tickets: adults 2500₮, students 1000₮, children 300₮, children under school age  free

(Closed on Monday, Tuesday)

MONGOL COSTUME MUSEUM

(Tel: 328140, 328840, 91910917)

Everyday 9am – 6pm

Tickets:  Tourists 2000₮, adults 1500₮

(Please call in advance to visit 328140, 328840)

Fashion shows with bookings

CALLIGRAPHY MUSEUM

(Tel: 315388)

Web address: www.inkway.mn

Everyday 10am – 6pm

Entrance is free

A&D MUSEUM OF ART

(Tel: 99115997; 317837)

Web address: www.mongolianantique.com

Everyday 9am – 6pm

Tickets:  Tourists 2000₮, adults 2000₮, students 1000

(Closed on Sunday)

Please call in advance to visit

BADAMKHAND MUSEUM OF ART

(Tel: 99050832)

Weekdays 10am – 6pm

Khan-uul district Zaisan Dreamland hothon 3-1

(Closed on weekends)

THEATRE MUSEUM

(Tel: 311320)

Everyday 9am – 5pm

(Closed on weekends and opened with bookings in advance)

Tickets: adults 1500₮, Primary and high school children 200₮, University students 300₮, tourists 1,000₮

INTERNATIONAL INTELLECTUAL MUSEUM

(Tel: 461470)

Everyday 10am-6pm

(Closed on Sunday and open with bookings)

Tickets: adults 2000₮, primary and high school children 1000₮, young children 500₮, tourists 3000₮

POSTAGE and STAMP MUSEUM

(Tel: 362972)

Web address: www.stamp.mn

Everyday 9am-6pm

Entrance is free

MONGOL MILITARY MUSEUM

(Tel: 261782, 261863, 261959)

Everyday 10am-5pm

Tickets: adults 1000₮, school children 300₮, tourists 2000₮

MEMORIAL MUSEUM FOR VICTIMS OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION

(Tel: 70110915)

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Tickets: adults 500₮, school children 200₮, University students 300₮, tourists 2500₮

MUSEUM OF ULAANBAATAR CITY HISTORY AND REFORMATION

(Tel: 450960)

Everyday 9am-6pm

Tickets: adults 1000₮, school children 300₮, University students 500₮, tourists 1500₮

MUSEUM OF MONGOLIAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE

(Tel: 342650, 99244135)

Everyday 10am – 4.30pm

(Closed on Wednesdays)

Tickets: adults 1500₮, children 500₮, tourists 2500₮

RAILROAD HISTORY MUSEUM OF ULAANBAATAR

(Tel: 244493) located Bayangol district, Zamchnii street 1.

Everyday 9am – 5pm

Tickets: adults 1000₮, children and University students 500₮, tourists $2

CULTURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM OF CHINGGIS KHAAN

(Tel: 99188143) located Khan-Uul district, Yarmag, street 18, # 433, behind the 41^st school, near the Khan Bank branch)

Open Everyday 10am – 6pm

Tickets: adults 1000₮, children 300₮, tourists 2000₮

DETROIT AMERICAN BAR

(Tel: 320033)

• Everyday   9:30 pm   Live performance by Yuppo
• Friday   9:30 pm  Live performance

RIVER SOUNDS

(Tel: 320497, 99293232, 99145757)

• Mon-Wed            10.30 pm  Live performance by A-Sound
• Thru-Sat  10.30 pm  Live performance by Black and White

GRAND KHAAN IRISH PUB

(Tel: 336666)

• Monday            9:00 pm  Live performance by The Lemons
• Tuesday             9:00 pm  Live performance by Fire band
• Wednesday  9:00 pm  Live performance by Starfish band
• Thursday   9:00 pm  Live performance by  L-Guards
• Friday   9:00 pm  Live performance by Beer band
• Saturday  9:00 pm  Live performance by singers

STRINGS

(Tel: 70150915, 91995504)

• Wednesday, Friday  9:00 pm  Live performance by Moon River
• Thursday, Saturday 9:00 pm  Live performance by Pause Jazz Band

STRINGS

(Tel: 367845, 91995504)

• Everyday  9:00 pm Live performance
• Sunday  9:00 pm  Live performance by a Mongolian band

IKH MONGOL

(Tel: 331206)

• Monday  9:30 pm  Live performance by L – Guards
• Tuesday             9:30 pm  Live performance by The Lemons
• Wednesday  9:30 pm  Live performance by Fire
• Thursday   9:30 pm  Live performance by Altan Urag
• Friday   9:30 pm  Live performance by Fire
• Saturday  9:30 pm  Live performance by X-Vit
• Sunday  9:30 pm  Live performance by Altan Urag

ARTE RESTAURANT

(Tel: 70111585)

Tuesday -Friday  8:30 pm  Live performance

M-CLUB

(Tel: 319866)

www.m-club.mn

M-Cinema, M-Playstation 3, M-lounge, M-Bowling are available in M-Club

MONGOLIA BUSINESS PODCAST #3 HIGHLIGHTS

December 4, 2009: This week, we discuss traffic laws, Mongolian IT industry, and Mongolian hacker vs. a peeping Mongol.  (Download the podcast here: Mongolia Business podcast)

Mongolians and ex-pats alike may have noticed that cars are no longer stopping on pedestrian crossings.  There is a reason for that.  For the past two weeks, any automobile that stopped past the traffic stop line for cars, was fined 5,000 or 10,000 tugrugs (3-8 dollars).  This is 3-8 percent of minimum wage.  There is also an upcoming jaywalknig law with fines as much as 20,000 to 30,000 tugrugs…

Bayarsaikhan started Singleton LLC three years ago.  After some employee and startup challenges, the web development is starting to pick up steam.  In March, the company launched BizNetwork.mn, the Mongolian version of LinkedIn.  It is now already a top 20 website and by far the best website in its category.

We also discuss a very interesting story from this summer where a Mongolian “white hat” hacker exposed the people behind an oft-despised underground website.  The ensuing happenings engulfed all of Mongolian young office workers as the two parties duked it out…

• Podcasters: Bobby Barnes, Mergen Chuluun, & Lhagva Erdene.
• Guest Speakers: Bayarsaikhan of Singleton LLC and Tamir of Mongolian Software Industry Association.

Thank you for listening.  Please give us feedback on how we can improve our podcast.  Please let us know if you would like us to cover any specific topics.  You can reach as on Twitter.com/MongoliaBiz and at MongoliaBusinessBlog (at) gmail (dot) com.

Seabuckthorn prices have increased by 1500-2500 tugrugs per kilo in Mongoolia

Due to the outbreak of H1N1, there is increased demand for food products that enhance body’s immune system and help fight against the flu.  As a result, pricing for garlic, sea-buckthorn, “aarts”, and horse meat have seen inflationary pricing over the last few weeks.  News coverage has been high as locals have been quite upset and have demanded price controls.

Within one week, pricing of seabuckthorne had increased from 4500 tugrugs per kg to 6000-7000 tugrugs as of November 7th at a popular food market (Bumbugur).  Garlic pricing had increased the most; what cost about 150 tugrugs is now basically double at 250-300 tugrugs.  Price of “aarts”, a traditional Mongolian dairy product, has increased by 500-700 tugrugs to 1800-2000.  And, pricing of horse meat has increased by 300 tugrugs to 2500 tugrugs per kilo, when most other meats have been declining in pricing.

As a result, local Mongolians have been very unhappy for the increased prices and have requested price controls.  Locals believe that the monopolies are manipulating pricing of key food items in the current “swine flu” season.  Pregnant women and elderly are people who at most risk and some cannot afford the increased pricing.

Storeowners, on the other hand, note that these food items have literally been flying off the shelves.  Many stores, including the State Department and small neighborhood grocery stores, have all been out of garlic come evening quite frequently.

The capitalist in me thinks that the increased pricing is probably due to this sudden increase in demand with limited available supply.  However, in Mongolia and in developing countries in general, it is always possible to manipulate and act rather “cleverly” when the anti-competitive and consumer protection laws are not as well created and enforced.

Mongol Bank rate for tugrug as of November 12, 2009 is 1,425 tugrugs to the US Dollar.

Sources:

• news.gogo.mn http://news.gogo.mn/r/61909
• TV news

There are quite a bit of confusion over this matter.  With all the H1N1, or the swine flu, all around, shouldn’t we all be wearing masks?  There is definitely some “swine panic” in Mongolia as prices of garlic, horse meat, “aarts”, and seabuckthorne juices have skyrocketed in response to the H1N1 flu.  Many people are wearing masks in Mongolia.  Some organizations are even going as far as requiring people to wear masks.  As a result, I set out to do a brief research into the matter: do I or you really need to be wearing masks?  Should you?

After doing some research on the internet, I think it is pretty clear that the experts don’t really think it is necessary for you to wear masks if you are  a healthy adult (as in a person not included in an “increased risk group”).  I got this information from the US Government organization Center for Disease Control website.

Here are the groups determined as increased risk group:

• Children younger than 5 years old
• Persons aged 65 years or older
• Children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection
• Pregnant women
• Adults and children who have asthma, chronic pulmonary, cardiovascular, hepatic, hematological, neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes;
• Adults and children who have immunosuppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by HIV)
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities.

And, here is CDC’s guidance on wearing masks:

It seems that wearing masks is NOT recommended in MOST situations.  So, if we cannot wear masks, what are we supposed to do?

Here are some simple daily prevention tips:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.

The takeaway

If you are a healthy person between the ages of 10 and 60, you are probably OK to NOT wear masks in vast majority of circumstances.  If you are sick or are sneezing, you are well advised to wear a mask or to sneeze into tissue, your sleeve, etc.  In any case, wash your hands with warm soap & water for 20 seconds and do not touch your mouth or your eyes.  It probably wouldn’t hurt to eat healthy and sleep well also.

Sources:

• Interim Recommendations for Facemask and Respirator Use to Reduce 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Transmission
• 2009 H1N1 Flu (“Swine Flu”) and You Questions and Answers

November 9, 2009

Mongolian Ministry of Health logo

According to Ministry of Health and as of 10am on Monday morning November 9, 2009, there are 929 laboratory-tested cases of H1N1 virus infections in Mongolia.  Of that 722 are in Ulaanbaatar city and 207 in rest of the country.

In total, there are 17 “aimags”, or provinces, that are registered as having H1N1 cases.  Bayan-Ulgii, Dund-Gobi, Gobi-Altai, and Sukhbaatar aimgags do not have any registered cases yet.

Here is the breakdown of the H1N1 cases by aimags: Arkhangai 8, Bayankhongor 3, Bulgan 7, Gobi-Sumber 16, Darkhan-Uul 23, Dorno-Gobi 24, Dornod 13, Zavkhan 3, Orkhon 15, Uvur-Khangai 26, Umnu-Gobi 2, Selenge 20, Tuv 10, Uvs 6, Hovd 19, Huvsgul 1, Hentii 11

In total, 29.8 percent, or 1166, out of the 3910 people who were serviced by ambulance were diagnosed with flu or flu-like disease.

Source: Ministry of Health (www.moh.mn)

ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA – Mongolians have a word for winter in UB: “ugaar”.  The word is made of two words “utaa” meaning smog and “agaar” meaning air.  This pretty much sums up the winter feelings of many in UB: smoggy air.

This is now my third winter in Mongolia since I came back to my home country “to gain international experience” (we’ll cover that another time). In any case, each fall and at the onset of each winter the issue of smog in Ulaanbaatar comes to the forefront of citizens, media, and politicians alike.  It’s not a pretty sight.  With 100,000 families living in “gers” (traditional Mongolian yurts) all around UB to the East, North, and West and burning coal and whatever they can find to stay warm, the air is filled with these toxic fumes and the air becomes smoggy.

Here are some photos from January 2008, but believe me things are still the same here… even after “all the hard work and effort” by the politicians and everyone else involved.

I will add that Ulaanbaatar is not very humid and has slight breeze, so very often these smog are cleared, especially during the day.  And, without folks in “gers” smoking everyone else in the city and without some of the automobiles with horrible smog, Ulaanbaatar would be one of the cities with the cleanest air in the world.

Without any sarcasm, if everyone who are involved and who are not currently involved with this issue takes a stronger stance in helping the city as a whole have a better air, we can ALL have a city with awesome air.  All of our children, friends, family, and guests can live and breathe without putting up with this smog.

A special thanks to everyone who really are trying to make a difference in this area.