China is preparing to take drastic action to ensure air pollution
doesn't mar the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
A leading city official has announced that in order to ensure a clean and
green Games, private cars will be taken off the road for the period leading up
to and during the Games.
That's just one measure. The Games are, of course, still two years away, but
air pollution is already afflicting China's capital.
In January this year the Beijing local government officially recorded 20 days
as being "polluted" or "seriously polluted". They were the worst levels for the
month in six years.
Then there's car emissions. Last year 1,000 new cars hit Beijing's roads
every day, bringing the total to 2.6 million. That figure is expected to top 3.5
million by the time of the Olympics.
Ensuring that the 2008 Beijing Olympics aren't ruined by worsening pollution
has been a major concern of organisers. For the past few years authorities have
been greening the city, and moving away polluting factories and power plants.
Now they've announced they're planning to take a number of drastic measures.
For a two-month period around the Games, all construction work will cease,
remaining polluting factories and power plants will be closed down, and roads
will be sprayed with water and swept several times a day.
Efforts will also be stepped up to artificially induce rain. For local
retiree Zhou Youcheng and his wife, it's a small price to pay.
"We can put up with this inconvenience. As long as Beijing will be beautiful,
we are willing to do that," he says.
Local journalist Zhang Xin believes something should be done, as national
prestige is at stake.