Smog and the Beijing Olympics

The games of the 2008 Olympics are set to start in three days time, 8.8.08. The People's Republic of China spared nothing to ensure that the 29th staging of the Modern Olympics would be a success. Considering the US$2.1 Billion expense account for the improvement of the venues, much is really expected of the event.

Let me ponder though on one of the wrinkles in the otherwise cleanly pressed, satin smooth sports spectacle: the smog that usually envelopes Beijing. The polluted air has caused tremendous worries from athletes that would be competing in the Games.

Powerhouse teams like the United States and Germany delayed their trip to China and instead trained in Japan in order to minimize athlete's exposure to the unhealthy atmosphere. New Zealand issued face masks to their athletes as part of their training equipment. Australia went as far as allowing athletes concerned about the air quality the free choice to withdraw from participating. At least one blue chip athlete, Marathon world record holder Heile Gebrselassie from Ethipia decided not to participate in the event out of concern for his health.

In response to the worries, the Chinese government reportedly spent US$ 16 Billion in environmental programs in an attempt to reduce the pollution. It has taken drastic steps to improve air quality like shutting down hundreds of factories and coal-powered plants, implemented odd-even vehicle restrictions and imposed staggered work schedules. Also, some 22 million trees have been planted to help purify the air.

The problem though is that Beiling is an "Urban Heat Island," a metropolitan area that is considerably warmer than its surrounding rural areas. The heat bubble generated in the city traps the pollutants and it would take colder winds to drive these away. Scientists are not too optimistic about this as they are not expecting cool winds to come soon. Furthermore, even if Beijing has tried to radically reduce the air pollution, other cities in China have not done so.

It should be noted that half of the pollution in Beijing comes from other areas. What was done in Beijing should have been replicated in other areas. Tianying and Linfen, two Chinese cities that are both upwind from Beijing are listed among the top ten polluted Cities in the world. If efforts were exerted in easing the pollution that is generated from these two Ciies, the situation in Beijing could have been improved.

What lesson can we learn from this? Again, let me go back to one of the Seven Environmental Principles: "Everything is Connected to Everything Else." Whatever we do, the entire Mother Earth is affected. We cannot live in isolation for we are interdependent. We must do our share for nature and keep in mind that such should be done on a continuing basis. It is only by doing positive action can we avoid and prevent what Beijing is experiencing now.