Beijing Pollution and the Olympics

[Brewing Up With]

I've been watching the news and hearing about runners thinking of opting out of out door events just because of the huge air pollution problem. I agree with these runners too. I wouldn't run a marathon in air that I can see. It's almost absurd that China is just doing so little at such a late time for the air pollution problem in Beijing.

Any thoughts?

[McP3000]

China is communist

they dont care

[Smokey D]

China views the Olympics as a chance to celebrate its peaceful rise and establish itself as a respected and constructive member of the international community. They are terrified of things going wrong in Beijing, and have even been shown to budge when its success was threatened (such as when people called for a boycott following the Burma crackdown last year, during which China was initially silent but became increasingly vocal of its displeasure as the crisis, and the threats to boycott, went on.

So actually they do care.

As far as I know, the CCP has been desperately trying to improve air conditions for the Olympics, but the population and Beijing's proximity to the Gobi desert makes it hard to fix.

[gort]

Just build a huge fan.


and a giant Febreeze sprayer.

[McP3000]

Just build a huge fan.


and a giant Febreeze sprayer.
you get an A for effort

[Linkinbassist]

aren't they moving some events out of beijing anyway?

[StreetlightRock]

China has actually been going nuts with trying to fix their air problem, I've talked to a couple of residents there, they've all said the air quality has improved heaps since a few years ago. Like Smokey said, the Olympics are a huge event for China's face to the world, and the last thing they want to do it scar it.

[Iscariot]

China views the Olympics as a chance to celebrate its peaceful rise and establish itself as a respected and constructive member of the international community. They are terrified of things going wrong in Beijing, and have even been shown to budge when its success was threatened (such as when people called for a boycott following the Burma crackdown last year, during which China was initially silent but became increasingly vocal of its displeasure as the crisis, and the threats to boycott, went on.

So actually they do care.

As far as I know, the CCP has been desperately trying to improve air conditions for the Olympics, but the population and Beijing's proximity to the Gobi desert makes it hard to fix.

This.

[marcus_in_absentia]

China views the Olympics as a chance to celebrate its peaceful rise and establish itself as a respected and constructive member of the international community. They are terrified of things going wrong in Beijing, and have even been shown to budge when its success was threatened (such as when people called for a boycott following the Burma crackdown last year, during which China was initially silent but became increasingly vocal of its displeasure as the crisis, and the threats to boycott, went on.

So actually they do care.

As far as I know, the CCP has been desperately trying to improve air conditions for the Olympics, but the population and Beijing's proximity to the Gobi desert makes it hard to fix.

A little too late, don't-cha think?

[iliketoplaydrums10111]

that says somthing, if they have in fact cleaned up the air, and runners still don't want to do it because it's still bad

lol

[mph4ever]

they have know about all this for a while. 16 of the worlds most polluted cities in 2005. short article from the guardian

As it gears up to host the 2008 Olympic Games Beijing has been awarded an unwelcome new accolade: the air pollution capital of the world.

Satellite data has revealed that the city is one of the worst environmental victims of China's spectacular economic growth, which has brought with it air pollution levels that are blamed for more than 400,000 premature deaths a year.

According to the European Space Agency, Beijing and its neighbouring north-east Chinese provinces have the planet's worst levels of nitrogen dioxide, which can cause fatal damage to the lungs.

An explosive increase in car ownership is blamed for a sharp rise in unhealthy emissions. In the past five years the number of vehicles clogging the capital's streets has more than doubled to nearly 2.5m. It is expected to top the 3m mark by the start of the Olympics in 2008.

Alarm about the perilous state of the environment has gathered pace in recent years. China is the world's second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, and the World Bank has warned it is home to 16 of the planet's 20 most air-polluted cities.

According to the European satellite data, pollutants in the sky over China have increased by about 50% during the past 10 years. Senior officials warn that worse is still to come. At a recent seminar Zhang Lijun, deputy director of the environmental protection agency, said that pollution levels could more than quadruple within 15 years unless the country can slow the rise in energy consumption and automobile use.

A recently published study, conducted by the Chinese Academy on Environmental Planning, blamed air pollution for 411,000 premature deaths - mostly from lung and heart-related diseases - in 2003. It said that a third of China's urban residents were exposed to harmful levels of pollution. More than 100 million people live in cities, such as Beijing, where the air is considered "very dangerous".

The political implications are also becoming more apparent. Health concerns, particularly regarding cancer and birth defects thought to be caused by chemical factories, have been a major factor in a recent wave of protests. Conservation groups say acid rain falls on a third of China's territory and 70% of rivers and lakes are so full of toxins they can no longer be used for drinking water.

[mullets suk]

China has actually been going nuts with trying to fix their air problem, I've talked to a couple of residents there, they've all said the air quality has improved heaps since a few years ago. Like Smokey said, the Olympics are a huge event for China's face to the world, and the last thing they want to do it scar it.

ok, better then what it was. To a resident in Beijing thats HUGE. but to most athletes (and im going to stretch and say most foreigners) that HUGE increase isnt that big, its still dangerous(?) to compete for them.

[ZaaR]

well atleast they'll be able to manipulate the weather to ensure that it is sunny and warm :-/

[marcus_in_absentia]

China is communist

they dont care

HAHAHA.

[McP3000]

HAHAHA.
oh im sorry i thought this thread was dead...