China clean air plan goes into effect

Beijing on Sunday will begin in earnest the staged shutdown that is supposed to keep the Summer Olympics from being shrouded in air pollution.

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has told Beijing Games organizers that outdoor endurance events will be postponed if air quality is poor.

Authorities already have phased out 30,000 old taxis and pulled nearly 4,000 old diesel buses from the road. Now, half of Beijing's 3.3 million vehicles are being garaged, Associated Press reports. The government also is shutting down factories and power plants that regularly spew pollution into the air.

Construction sites in the capital are being shut down, and the government has even promised to use rockets to seed clouds -- in effect, using rain to wash the skies clean.

The government also opened three new subway lines today that are designed to reduce vehicle emissions.

-- Greg Johnson

Photo: A hostess waits to greet the first passengers during the unveiling of three new subway lines in Beijing earlier today. Credit: Peter Parks AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Drake777]

These 2008 Olympics have absolutely nothing to do with fostering goodwill or promoting harmony. They represent an under-the-table handshake between a brutal totalitarian regime that craves world recognition and a declining Western civilization that is only concerned with the bottom line.

In an attempt to show a "harmonious society" on primetime television, the Chinese regime has been increasing their efforts in jailing and torturing Falun Gong practitioners, rounding up political dissidents, and exterminating thousands of cats and dogs throughout Beijing. The communists can never understand what it means to respect life in all of its forms because at their very core they are taught to fight with nature at all costs and battle with nature. This is one of the tenets of the Chinese Communist Party.

To hand the Olympic Games to a brutal regime such as the CCP, who openly employs organ harvesting on political and religious prisoners, persecutes Tibetans, Uighar Muslims, underground Catholics, Falun Gong, and many others, jails those who petition against corruption, and arrogantly destroys the environment...is a complete joke. But when it comes to choosing between what is right and what can turn a profit, the West always takes the latter. Just look at the 1936 Berlin Games as evidence.

The Chi-coms can stand on the world stage, bask in their moment of glory and proclaim to the world that they are worthy of being included among the elite superpowers. But to anyone with common sense and decency, they will still remain a brutal, self-serving dictatorship.

[Barack-Is-A-NeoCon]

"In an attempt to show a "harmonious society" on primetime television, the Chinese regime has been increasing their efforts in jailing and torturing Falun Gong practitioners, rounding up political dissidents, and exterminating thousands of cats and dogs throughout Beijing"

Drake777

At least the 'Chi-coms' aren't invading Iraq and killing hundreds of thousands of people there or trying to deny other countries nuclear technology ... all in the name of 'human rights' and 'Freedom'. Give them some credit :). I'd swap the market-oriented chi-coms for our neo-cons anyday.

[Henry Chu]

I had the chance to worship in two differnt open churches, in two different privinces inside China. I was so uplifted by the spirit of the Chinese congregation and the power of the sermon from the so called communist-pastors. I must say: I am flabbergasted by the harsh criticism that many hurl at China, for its suppressing of Religion and Human right. Where do you all get your information. One of those churches holds 4000 per service and the other 300. And each had multiple services on Sundays.

I had taken a few trips into China to teach the Bible since 1999. I have been very impressed by their vitality and fervency, and observed the huge space to operte to accomplish the great commission of Jesus Christ. People are happy and nornal everywhere I go. Chinese people in general are very pleased with their government, the very vast majority had lead a much better life now than before. Now my main concern is materialism and break down of the old social virture and family fabrics. Jesus said "be harmless like a dove, but wise like the snake".
As long as you do not do something stupid and silly, they love you for helping them to learn about Jesus.

Before anyone hurl any more harsh criticism at China, have it ever come across your mind to learn some Chinese and go experince for yourself. You have been lied to in forming your stance. If the vast majority of Chinese people dislike their society and do experiecne the progress their country have affored them, they would not have cheeried their own country as they do now........

I can sense lots of bitterness in your comment, that is a shame. You don't have to punish yourself like that, especially because you are crusading mainly for dubious course. May be you are so romanticly in love with old fuedal system in Tibet, and prefer the pre-liberation Tibeten culture demanding the peasants to "kawtow" their way to the Dali-Lama.

Jesus said " why do you see the splinters in your brother's eyes and fail to see the lumber in your own eyes". Whateever imperfections there are in China, indeed there are many, they are not going to be healed by the medications you have prescribed. If you really care, why not quit demanding under-takers, but be a real doctor?

If you dare to take a trip for yourself...I gaurantee, you will be happily surprised, for China is so far from your wildest dreams.

Cheer friend.....

[lookatthebigpicture]

In reply to Drake777 (or is it 666)'s comment -- "At least the 'Chi-coms' aren't invading Iraq and killing hundreds of thousands of people there or trying to deny other countries nuclear technology ... all in the name of 'human rights' and 'Freedom'. Give them some credit :). I'd swap the market-oriented chi-coms for our neo-cons anyday." ...

Right on - and never mind the rape of Tibet, or the dislocation of 20 million Chinese citizens over the economically and technically dubious Three Gorges Dam project, or the massacre at Tienamen Square, or the 100 Flowers Bloom bullshit by Chairman Mao, or any other of the communist claptrap that has kept China impoverished and enslaved...