Today, August 11th

Today, August 11th

 Yeah, I know it’s hackneyed but I’ll write about it anyway. The first thing you’ll notice about Beijing is the pollution. The heavy fog, mist, smog, smist or whatever it is that drapes the city in a gloomy cloud really can affect your mood. Being from Boulder I’m used to a brilliant blue sky. So, every now and then the fogmistsmogsmist opens up and the city is dazzling. Some people might come to the Olympics and only see the dreary side. But- if we’re lucky, we might get some Blue Sky Days during the Games. It rained last night, so at least I can see the mountains, but they are still shrouded in a grayish cloud.  

I’ve noticed this only happens after it rains or a large wind blows through. Then it scrubs the sky clean for a breathtaking sky. The government is “cloud seeding” to try to get it to rain. Only the USSR and China have ever said they can control the weather, and there isn’t any scientific proof that it works. I was always a little skeptical when people told me the smist was really just fog, but I’m starting to buy it. When I went with the wrestling team to the great wall the smist was still as thick- and it’s just not possible for there to be that much smog. Besides, according to the IOC most of what we see these days is just mist- but wouldn’t it burn off? The BBC is keeping track of particulates in the air everyday, viewable here on the right side (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/default.stm) They reported yesterday at, get this, 278 micrograms per cubic meter. The WHO recommends 50 for developed countries and 150 for developing. That’s over 5 times the recommended limit. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be a marathon athlete wading through that. Furthermore, all I know is the “mistiest” days also coincide with having a high particle count. I’m just saying.

Well, the weather was affecting me so much last month that I decided to do a countdown to the Opening Ceremonies by taking a picture from my office window everyday for comparison purposes. Viewable here: (http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027695&l=5569d&id=14500792). I did a pretty good job of taking the pictures at around the same time and documenting the current weather. The BBC used a few of these pictures, and one made the front page of the BBC’s Asia-Pacific section on July17th. Some are still up here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7494999.stm.

For those that don’t know, Beijing has been trying really hard to “clean up its act” with the environment for the Games. There are also new emergency procedures in place, like only half of private cars can be on the road alternating days, and some 90% will be taken off during marathon events. I don’t know if it has helped all that much, to be honest. 

As an observation, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) has made a very good effort at trying to look like it cares about the environment. On the subway there are videos of little kids doing environmentally friendly things and waste baskets around the city all have recycling bins, with the words “Protect the Environment.” So, at least on the outside they look like they are trying, it’s also a big step to educate the younger generations about the importance of environmental protection. For the record, China has some of the strictest environmental laws in the world. It’s just that the people who write the laws tend to own the businesses that break the laws… and since they are the ones writing them they know how to use their guanxi (connections) to break them. 

Just for posterity, there are many arguments on both sides about China’s development and the conflict with environmental protection. Personally, my Boulder upbringing resonates strongly here, so I tend to be skeptical of the “you developed dirtily so let us do it too” argument. But for a good synopsis James Reynolds of the BBC does a great job detailing both sides. I read his blog everyday and think he is a pretty balanced reporter with a good grasp of China. Here’s his analysis: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jamesreynolds/2008/07/capping_emissions.html

 

One of the Worst Days, July 11

One of the Worst Days, July 11

 

One of the Best Days, July 12

One of the Best Days, July 12

 So, if you’re here just know that there is “debate” on what that gray stuff out your window is. You can try to ignore it, or do as the Romans do, and just say it’s mist: which has become my way of coping.

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