Posted on 07/28/2008 12:53:34 PM PDT by mojito
Less than two weeks before the Olympics, Beijing’s skies are so murky and polluted that the authorities are considering emergency measures during the Games beyond the traffic restrictions and factory shutdowns that, so far, have failed to clear the air, state media reported on Monday.
For the past five days, Beijing has been a soupy cauldron of humid, gray skies. Local pollution ratings have exceeded the national standard for acceptable air since last Thursday, despite a temporary air pollution control plan that began on July 20.
Under that plan, officials have used odd-even license plate restrictions — limiting motorists to driving on alternate days, depending on whether the last number on their license plate is odd or even — to reduce daily traffic by two million vehicles, or more than half the city’s total. Production at some factories has also been curtailed in Beijing and outlying areas.
But on Monday, China’s official English-language newspaper, China Daily, ran a front-page story under a boldfaced headline: “Emergency green plan for Games.” The article warned that officials may force far more vehicles off city streets — possibly 90 percent of the city’s total — and temporarily close more factories.
No timetable was announced, but a senior city engineer told China Daily that officials would inform the public as early as possible about the details of the plan. The Olympics’ opening ceremony is on Friday of next week, August 8.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The Chicoms could dragoon 800 million to go to Beijing and wave fans.
IN AN extraordinary move, Australian athletes have been given permission to withdraw from any event at the Beijing Games if they feel their health could be affected by the city's pollution problems. ...
They couldn’t pay me enough to go to Beijing.
They could have shut down all local commerce 3 months ago except for vital services.. and it still wouldn’t matter.
They couldn’t pay me enough to go to Beijing.
-———I’d take a million and then take off.
Chinese are used to doing without so, no big deal.
Why’s that?
there’s a lot of pollution that will blow in to replace it.. just hope we don’t get a good dust storm
Whoops. Forgot to say. That is UC Santa Barbara.
This is going to make the Mexico City olympics look like they were conducted in pristine mountain air. I’m kind of looking forward to it. You just know the nets are going to try to put lipstick on that pig, but people need to see the truth about that peoples socialist utopia.
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