Rush hour for expo volunteers

Volunteers young and old swamped Beijing during the Olympics but they will virtually over-run Shanghai at next year's expo as the city is calling on 1.2 million people to patrol the streets and oversee the manufacturing sector, three times the number needed last summer.

Wearing orange jackets and conspicuous armbands, the Shanghai Ping'an Volunteers will serve a range of roles including apprehending queue-jumpers, giving directions and generally maintaining law, order and "face" on behalf of the hosts. Ping'an is mandarin Chinese for security.

Another group, the Industry Ping'an Volunteers, will stand on the frontline of the manufacturing sector to prevent food safety transgressions and other accidents from arising during the production process. Many of the volunteers will be retirees.

In addition to the 1 million volunteers earmarked to serve everywhere from local neighborhoods to airports, scenic spots and bus stops, organizers need a further 170,000 helpers in and around the expo garden.

"In order to host a successful expo we require the understanding and participation of the general public," said Chen Jiping, deputy secretary-general of the Party's central political and legislative affairs committee. Chen was speaking at a ceremony to celebrate the foundation of the volunteer brigade in Shanghai last month.

"(We will) fight a people's war for the security of the expo," he said, using political rhetoric.

So far the city has enlisted 800,000 Ping'an volunteers. The first batch will take to the streets next month. Local residents and people aged 18-65 who have lived in the city longer than one year are encouraged to apply.

Interested parties can pick up registration forms at various neighborhood committees throughout the city. Before taking the job they will receive compulsory training.

"It is every citizen's duty to issue warnings and reminders to those who take risks during the production process," said Song Jianbo, a civil servant in Pudong who signed up to be an industry volunteer.

"This fair will put the country under a global spotlight. China's image will remain intact if there are no major accidents or scandals," he said.