Cities gasping for air

"From Madrid to hell," announces Público — an ironic paraphrase of the advertising slogan "from Madrid to heaven." The daily reports that over the last few days "the upsurge of pollution has set alarm bells ringing" in the Spanish capital. In 2010, Público recalls that "87% of the city’s air-quality control stations reported abnormally high levels of pollution," while "0% of drivers responded to a request from Mayor Albert Ruiz-Gallardon to avoid using their cars." As it stands, cars are responsible for 80% of air pollution in Madrid. And the problem also affects other major cities in Spain. In Barcelona, El Periódico notes that the local citizens "are unable to do anything about the level of pollution" and that "experts have demanded an emergency plan to deal with critical situations."