Beijing Stops Construction for Olympics

[GodlessBiker]

New York Times
By ANDREW JACOBS
Published: April 15, 2008

BEIJING — Chinese officials laid out a sweeping series of measures on Monday that will freeze construction projects, shutter chemical plants and close down obsolete gas stations around Beijing, the capital, this summer in an attempt to clear the air for the Olympics. Even spray painting outdoors will be banned during the weeks before and after sporting events, which begin on August 8.

Although the announced plans raise a host of unanswered questions, they represent the most concrete scenario for how Beijing will reach its long-standing pledge to stage a “green games” in one of the world’s most polluted cities.

The measures include a two-month halt in construction and government directives that will force coal-burning power plants to reduce their emissions by 30 percent throughout most of the summer.

Officials said that 19 heavy-polluting enterprises, including steel mills, coke plants and refineries, would be either temporarily mothballed or forced to reduce production. Quarries will be closed, as will all cement production, and the use of toxic solvents outdoors will be forbidden.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/world/asia/15china.html?hp

How the athletes are going to breathe is beyond me.

[Zynx]

1. So they are going to mask it by basically shutting the city down?

God forbid they actually make the air breathable for their citizens on a long term basis. That would impede exploiting the environment.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

2. Having been to Beijing:

I can say there are few, if any, worse places to hold the Olympics. The air quality alone makes me shutter I feel sorry for the marathon runners..

How could they not have picked Toronto?

[HereSince1628]

5. It was the novelty of having an orange globe for a sun at midday

Only in Beijing can a person enjoy the sun going through the colors of sunset at midday.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

6. lol I didnt get to see the sun when I was there it was raining this

rather disgusting color liquid..

[texastoast]

3. What? They don't want to show the world what exploiting corporations create?

Imagine that.

:think:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Good for them.

I doubt it will be worse than the LA games in the 30s. Or the Mexico City games.

[Beausoleil]

7. Good point

Especially since Mex. City is 7000 feet higher than Beijing.