Blue Skies

Quote from Reuters

Beijing is aiming for more “good air days” in 2008 as it prepares to host the Olympics in August, a senior official said on Friday, with the city’s notorious pollution a major concern for athletes and organizers.
Beijing recorded 244 “blue sky days” by December 28 this year, a day short of its 245-day target. The standard of a “blue sky day” has not been widely recognized by international scientists.

Pollution in Beijing, known for its noxious smog, is a major concern for athletes and officials planning for next August and Olympic chief Jacques Rogge has said some events may have to be rescheduled if the air quality is not good enough.

The host city has already spent 120 billion yuan ($16.4 billion) in environmental programs to combat pollution and Jiang said there were more efforts to come.

This is good to see that they are doing something about the problem but I hope it doesn’t stop after they host the Olympics. I hope that they are in it for the long haul.

Yes, I absolutely agree with you tater. My dad just came back from visiting relatives and he couldn’t believe just how polluted the place was. He was pretty happy to come home to smell some fresh air…and see the blue sky.

It seems unfortunate to me that the main reason they are trying to clean up their city is because the Olympics be there. But I suppose any excuse is better than none.

I too have to agree with you. I am hoping that it would be a positive change for them to keep their air and city clean. Also, with all the tourists coming to watch the Olympics, there will be a lot more people. Hopefully all the visitors can help keep Beijing clean.

I am with you in that whatever makes them make the change is great. Just wonder how fast it would have been without the Olympics coming. That being said hopefully the tourists don’t make to much of a mess but that is a lot of people.

I wonder how they’re doing now. The games are getting closer so who knows how it’s still going. I can’t help but wonder if they’re going to continue efforts later, too.

I think almost all cities of the world especially the cosmopolitans with high ratio of vehicles are facing this problem. Beijing got an oppurtunity to do something because of the games…but what are the other cities doing about it….I mean are we all waiting for an olympic to be held it the city before we and our governments do something drastic about the increasing pollution?

Good point! But it is true. When a large city is put into the public eye, they want to make a good impression. Pollution does not make a good impression. Unfortunately, something like this may have to happen in a lot of large cities.

I think that’s really great that they’re realized there is a problem and are trying to do something about it! Sounds like the Olympics is a great motivator. I wonder what kind of impact the games themselves have on pollution? With all the people involved and everything it takes to put the games on, I wonder how green they are?

I apriciate you .it’s the need of the time to a collective step to keep our environment cool ………….

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