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Among the many good things about these Olympics, however, Ramanathan insists, is that they will not only increase awareness of the worldwide problem of air pollution but also the present danger of climate change--and the surprising connection between the two: "I'm not a policymaker, and there's no magic bullet. But we have to be aware of both the climate-change aspect and the pollution aspect. China has done a good thing by cleaning up the air for these Games, but they are all at the mercy of the winds. Beijing remains a very polluted city."

The British Broadcasting Corp.'s Beijing bureau confirms this, reporting that its pollution-measuring device has shown readings this week for tiny particles of soot and other particulate matter well above the World Health Organization's recommended levels for healthy air.

Unmoved, Chinese officials, and even some non-Chinese members of the International Olympic Committee, continue to preposterously insist that the thick yellow haze blanketing parts of Beijing this week is fog, not smog, and that the air is just fine. And they insist that if the air does get worse, they can force as many as 90 percent of the automobiles off the streets and close even more factories. But the athletes aren't breathing any sighs of relief.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: lovejusticepeace @ 08/21/2008 1:07:32 PM

    Nice China bashing. It will fall back on your own head.

  • Posted By: abem611 @ 08/18/2008 10:35:17 AM

    x

  • Posted By: Tan Boon Tee @ 08/16/2008 10:45:15 PM

    When the air is polluted, you are damned. When the air is cleaner, you are equally damned.

    If a writer decides to slant a clouded view for the purpose of gaining an advantage, or utilizes someone???s dubious and inconclusive research to support a shabby argument to support a point, let it be, for he/she has every right to voice an opinion (no matter how preposterous it may be). Such prejudice can simply be annoying if not nauseating.

    Comments based on historical or factual evidence are beneficial to the readers. Otherwise, they are hollow or at best shallow talks. Writers, please take note.

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