BEIJING: China made 4.8 billion Cahirman Mao badges - more than the

Earth's population at the time - during a decade-long cult honouring

him, it was revealed yesterday. The pins, standard dress for Chinese

during the 1966 - 1976 Cultural Revolution, used up aluminium that could

have built 39,600 jet fighters. If lined up pin to pin, the badges would

have circled the world six times.