Xinhua's rocking hard today.

BIRD FLU
Ducks die en mass in Vietnam's southern province LINK

PEOPLE FLU
Flu hits Beijing big time LINK

DESERTIFICATION
" As a result of ongoing environmental degradation, stronger winds are bringing as much as 60 tons of dust per square kilometer every year. Some experts warn that some part of the cliff where the grottoes are located may collapse as a result of this wind and dust erosion.
Meanwhile, the environment continues to deteriorate.
The area of natural forests in Dunhuang has been reduced by 40 percent in the past several decades to only 87,000 hectares, while the area of grassland has fallen by 77 percent. More than 80 percent of the area's lakes have dried up. Around 1,300 hectares of grassland and arable land is lost to the desert every year.
Whether we can stop these ancient grottoes which have stood the test of time for almost two millennia from being destroyed and finally engulfed by the desert remains a great cause for concern. "
LINK