Olympics Raise Questions over China’s Environmental Pollution

[Myrtti]

Originally Posted by bruce

If they don't get a handle on the smog then the Olympics could prove to be the biggest advert for environmentalism ever. All it will take is a few marathon runners to keel over or something and the message will be rammed home loud and clear.

I've been thinking about the same thing. I'm sure the organizers will do anything to make sure the negative things about China won't be shown to the rest of the world, but they still will be and hopefully that will cause more pressure towards China to do something to their environmental and humanitarian problems.

[prashamk]

Actually china isn't allowing free press, inspite of its repeated assurances. Recently I have read that reporters are often stopped by the police. Moreover that is deep concern regarding tibet problem which just may pop up during olympics.

[include]

Good point Bruce. Might be just the shock the world needs.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by mellow_hendrix

On the plus side its giving the British athletes a ready made excuse for when we trail home last "it was the pollution guv!"

Some have already tried that excuse; and not just British ones…

Originally Posted by bruce

If they don't get a handle on the smog then the Olympics could prove to be the biggest advert for environmentalism ever. All it will take is a few marathon runners to keel over or something and the message will be rammed home loud and clear.

And what will that lead to “environmental protests”!? – not much prospect for that, since the official state response to “democracy protests” by university students in Tiamenan Square in 1989 rammed home a much louder and clearer message.

Originally Posted by spadlet

In that case, can I add an aditional suggestion of the free loan of as many spare bicycles as they can find to the people that will not be allowed to use their cars and the setting up of a car sharing network that is free to join and participate in. This might help the people deprived of their cars to experience alternatives that could have a lasting contribution on transport pollution levels. Maybe people that took part in the car sharing could even be entered into a prize draw...to win one of those bike taxis and a driver for a year that can be used by the shared car users instead of the shared car?

I think human-powered rickshaws are more popular means of environmentally friendly means of transport.

Originally Posted by prashamk

That was about 6-8 years back.

I wonder what made them think that an overpopulated rapidly industrializing emerging economy would find a way to do that while at the same time significantly cut pollution and improve environmental quality. Was the world really so utopian back in 2000?

Originally Posted by forfismum

This looks a bit more like a reference to the socio-economic environment than to pollution per se, so a good response to this one may very well be:

CHINA Beijing 2008: bars forbidden to serve "blacks" and Mongolians, outdoor tables banned - Asia News

Originally Posted by kepler

And yet the Olympic Committee handed the games over to Beijing. Bravo.

Overall, it appears that environmental quality or air pollution are not a major factor in the awarding of major international sporting events to host nations – an example being the fact that Mexico City also has similar problems with smog, etc. but it still looks like they will be hosting the World Cup 2010.

**link not yet available, will be in the near future**

[include]

I thought South Africa had the soccer World Cup next time around?

[Karl]

Originally Posted by include

I thought South Africa had the soccer World Cup next time around?

So did everybody else, but Sepp Blatter seems to have forgotten that...

[sparky]

China has admitted it could introduce further emergency measures to cut air pollution during the Olympic Games.

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Lingering pollution worries China

Looks like its proving a tougher nut to crack than they anticipated.

[hoon]

Interesting piece here on how Olympians are preparing for the Olympics, well the pollution aspect of the games anyway.

Olympians Prepare For Beijing's Bad Air : NPR

[spadlet]

How about considering the implemetation of a Chineese version of the Clean Air Act? The causes seem to be similar to those that lead to the Act's development in the UK. My Nan used to tell me about how you had to wash your self and clothes etc whenever you got home because they would be black with soot from the air pollution in Sheffield 'when she was young'.

[Andrea]

The visibility looks terrible on the telly, and they usually make things better not worse. I sure wouldn't like to be an athlete having to compete in that.