Beijing has been trying to reduce the smog in the city in the lead up to the Olympics. They start this Friday!! Whoopee! But, the Australian government is still not buying into the green Beijing, fresh air thing. In fact, the Australian government has voiced its concern about the effects that the air might have on its athletes. Yeah, and the Aussie government expects China do what that they haven’t done already?

The environmental minister down under said, ‘I think it’s a real issue for authorities there and also for the Australian team and for athletes generally, and I know that the Australian team medical staff will be monitoring the conditions really closely.’’

And I say, “Okay, so what do you recommend China do in the three days leading up to the Games?”

Or, is the minister just blowing smoke? Doesn’t he realize we need less of that? Let’s enjoy the Games and applaud China for putting on their best face. Is it the best? Could they do better? The point is, China is throwing a party and doing their darndest to do the best they can at it. How about some acknowledgment instead of criticism for a change?

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I am as surprised as the next guy. I didn’t think anybody could make Greenpeace content about anything. However, the environmental extremists have pronounced their blessings on Beijing for their 2008 Olympic Games preparations.

“We are glad to see that Beijing has improved its infrastructure in preparation for the Olympics,” says Greenpeace China’s Campaign director. It has made public transport more convenient, upgraded home heating systems, improved water treatment and, to some degree, reduced its reliance on fossil fuels.”

Greenpeace acknowledged Beijing’s

1. increased use of energy efficient technologies
2. use of renewable energy
3. use of geothermal heating systems
4. increased employment of wind and solar power
5. expanded public transportation system
6. cooperation with Coca-Cola and Samsung to meet specific environmental commitments.

“This is a huge leap from the polluting technologies currently used in the developing world. Beijing has shown that, when a concerted effort is made, change is possible,” Lo said.

Beijing missed out on

1. complying with internationally recognized timber procurement policies
2. use of zero-waste treatment

Can’t win them all. Greenpeace says the rest of China needs to learn from Beijing. Perhaps they would if the rest of the cities in China could take turn hosting the Olympics. All of Beijing’s advancements came with a price tag.

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If you build it they will come. If you stage them, they will come. If you put the pandas on display, they will come.  Beijing has brought 8 Giant Pandas to the city and put them on display for Olympic visitors and elsewise. Since June 5th, more than 1 million people have come to see the ambassadors for sport, the Middle Kingdom and everything else China wants them to represent.

So, what about using animals for material gain or otherwise? Sure, the animals are cared for, but I don’t think for a minute that they are getting their share of the money spent by those one million visitors. What’s that 20,000 visitors a day, 800 an hour 13 each minute. Five second look at a panda…NEXT!!

I’ve never been too much into zoos and putting animals on display for the benefit of the keepers and all those around. How about you? Is this another human, um, panda-rights violation example? Where’ s those topless PETA protesters when you  need them?

Beijing is a city of about 11 million people. Since 2001, in the lead up to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games the city has spent some $8.8 billion to improve its power supply capability. What does the city have to show for it?

1. Total power supply capability is up 124%

2. The city now has 344 transformer sub-stations

3. The sub-stations generate 37,840 kilovolts of power or more.

4. Blackout times per household have decreased by 40%

5. Natural gas transmissions have reached 15.3 billion cubic meters/year UP 400%!

6. Central heating network for the city is 837 km (500+ miles) and 130 million square meters up 100% from 2001.

7. The city’s total heating area is up 70% from 200.

And, of course, the city is burning enough energy to supply all of central Africa. But, then wh0’s comparing? The Games happen in about 2+ weeks. I don’t know about you, but I am betting the Opening Ceremony will definitely be worth watching. China does know how to throw a party even if it doesn’t care about the cost.

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Beijing continues to pull out all the stops, stop signs?, to make the usual transportation mess more Olympic friendly, greener, too.  There’s a plan:

1. Some 500 vehicles used for shuttling between the Olympic village and venues will be powered by electricity, mixed fuel, or batteries. 780 tons of gasoline and diesel fuel will be saved. C02 will be reduced by 2,510 tons. An Olympic record?

2.  34 Olympic bus lanes will be opened up during the Games.

3. 126 ‘intelligent road sensors’ have been installed in special traffic lanes. When an Olympic bus pulls up the traffic lights will automatically change. Hang on to those puppies once the Games are over!

4. Some public transport vehicles will get the sensors, too.

5. Starting next week, Beijing will start an 0dd-even number traffic control system

6. An accident detection system is in place to speed up response time by 3-5 minutes.

In the end, the hope is that the Games run smoothly and Beijing can keep the air clean. That way neither traffic nor the athletes will be choked.

One of the world’s most polluted cities, Beijing, will have a “green lung” opening in it after the Olympics finish. The Olympic Forest Park will be a bit to the north of the Bird’s Nest, home to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The park cost $1.12 billion!

1. Add 10 years to your life.

2. Listen to Chopin through hidden speakers.

3. Walk below the water surface.

4. Observe wetlands through glass corridors

5. Stand right next to lotus flowers.

6. See hedgehogs and squirrels.

7. 500,000 plants and 180 species

8. Pieces of Mt. Taishan (something about if you can’t go to the mountain, bring the mountain or something like that.)

9. Man-made lakes with purified water

10. Spend $1 million a year to maintain it.

Is it worth it having a ‘green lung’ in a big city like Beijing?

What’s in your city?

Beijing is getting serious about clean air during the Olympics. The city has removed one half of all government vehicles from the streets of Beijing. The move eases congestion, reduces emissions and saves resources for a greener Olympics, which start 8-8-08. “The government wants to take the lead in guaranteeing smooth transport during the Games,” said a transport official.

The move is more aggressive than an initial plan to ban just 30% of all government cars starting on July 1st. Happy, of course, are the Beijing cabbies. Business is good and traffic is far less congested as they haul around their fares. Beginning on July 20th, Beijing will ban 70% of all government vehicles until September 20th. Altogether, some 210,000 vehicles are expected to be sitting in garages. That number is in addition to the half of 3.3 million cars that will be parked on 0dd-even days. The 12 million commuters in the city can expect some 4 million more to crowd onto buses and other public service vehicles. To meet this demand, some 2000 buses and three new metro lines will be added or extend their operating hours. A 4-day trial period last year showed that it works.

Now, if the city really wanted to save money and do something about hot air, they would try to reduce the number of people that create congestion in the government bureaucracy by 70%, too. And, if that works, help us out here in the U.S. please.

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Beijing will follow NYC’s lead, sorta, restricting car traffic on roads during certain periods. The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games are less than 2 months away. Beijing will ban vehicle traffic with odd and even-numbered license plates on alternate days from July 20th-Sept 20th. The hope is to improve air quality during the Games. Taxis, buses and emergency vehicles will be exempt.

The action is taken to fulfill Beijing’s commitment to host a “Green Olympics.”

Beijing will also ban all motor vehicles that don’t meet European No. 1 standards for exhaust emissions. Trucks not registered in Beijing will be prohibited from entering the city. To compensate motorists, owners will be exempt from taxes and road maintenance fees for three months. I wonder, what will NYC drivers get. Last year, Beijing ran a test that kept about 1.3 million vehicles off the road which in turn cut 5,815 tons of emissions.

So, why can’t the city do that all the time?

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My Bag - Use Me and Re-use Me - I’m not green but I could be.

These are some of the inscriptions on tote bags that are popping up everywhere in Beijing, small shops to luxury malls. The Chinese government issued a ban on free plastic bags on June 1st, this year and in response, the Chinese shoppers have found themselves engulfed in a green phenomenon.

The new push among retailers, turn fashion-conscious customers into eco-aware shoppers. Tote bags are a one time thing and the Chinese shop till they save the planet - that is, they help push along the green revolution.

Young fashion minded girls in Beijing say that, “it’s cool to carry a simple colored ec0 bag with my Levi jeans and Nikes”. Diesel, Marc Jacobs, DKNY and the Japanese lifestyle store Muji are well known international brands that are in on the push.

It’s about time people have figured it’s cool to be a good steward.

I have no idea how many flowers 100 million are. I mean, what kind of space can that cover?

Beijing will know.

From June 20th, Beijing will start decorating the streets with some 100 million flowers.

Out of a total of 2,000 types, 576 breeds of flowers were selected:

1. rose

2. pansy

3. morning glory (more…)