8th
t minus one month
With the Olympics just one month away, it’s crunch time for Beijing. It promised eco-friendly “Green Games” for the summer 2008 Olympics, but it certainly doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. The green part, at least. Since the smog in Beijing is reported as being five times over the international standard, per a TimesOnline study. Even the Chinese government’s official air pollution index is double the levels of developed cities in the West and the level recommended by the WHO. And the sea where the sailing games are to be held is overrun by algae, a result of pollution. And the World Bank reports that at least 460,000 Chinese people die prematurely each year from breathing polluted air and drinking dirty water.
So definitely not the “Green” part. Although in its defense, Beijing has banned 1 million vehicles from the road for two months starting July 20, by restricting cars with even and odd-numbered license plates on alternate days. Beijing is also closing coal-powered plants, steel mills, and cement plants in order to curb emissions and pollution during the games. Though that is leaving thousands on smaller salaries and temporarily idle. And as for the water, authorities are stepping up the country’s waste water treatment capacity by 12 million tons this year, with the aim of making sure all waste water in 36 major cities is treated by the end of next year. It’s also banning plastic bags.
And perhaps not the “Games” part, either. Since athletes are dropping like flies for fear of, well, dropping like flies from horrible air quality. And since the construction of the city, new subway lines, and the redevelopment of Tiananmen Square is being frantically prepared just one month before the opening ceremony. And the torch, which faced protest obstacles throughout the world because of the situation in Tibet, barely even made it through the relay without incident. And per China’s deputy security minister, China faces three types of threats – those from international terrorists, domestic attackers, and organized crime syndicates.
Instead of “Green Games,” the slogan for the 2008 Olympic Games seems to be “Olympics Without Incident.” Signs with the slogan have been posted throughout Beijing and other cities that will host events, assuring the community everything will go according to planned. Hopefully.