China's ruthless Olympic preparations - 08 July 08

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics is on August 8.

China's preparations have been consistenly ahead of schedule. Authorities in Tangshan, industrial city north of Beijing, have ordered 267 firms to shut down operations by
July 8 to improve air quality ahead of the Olympics.

Tony Cheng reports on the final countdown to the beginning of the Games.

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News & Politics

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• cheng
• china
• olympics
• air
• pollution

[PauloGVieira]

Sure but what country is free from criticism? Whilst I am no fan of the USA I admit they have a system of democracy and liberty that ranks just below the established Western European democracies.

China TODAY is a sharp example of government gone wrong, very little freedom and personal liberty, intolerance of different cultures and religions, and absolutely undemocratic. Look at Tibet, the Uigher region and the Falun Gong - makes you wonder if the devil is running China.

[LouisianaGatorGirl]

I don't see anything ruthless in this video. What's really ruthless is how the Chinese government suppresses the freedom of the Tibetan people. New buildings and infrastructure constructed just for the Olympics can't hide the fact that the Chinese government has blood on its hands.

[sharingideas]

America is looking for Investors for the Southern U.S. Borders, such as farmers, real estate developers, manufacturing companies, city and town developers, hoteliers, etc. There is a high Mexican labor force that is under utilized.

[Makadonska27]

I have nothing against chinese people. In fact I wish I knew more so I could understand them better. But Its obvious to any free thinking person that China is relentlessly brainwashing its own people. They also seem to block the free flow of information leaving their people with a polarized view of reality. The damage done to the planet should be reason enough. There is no way that a country like this should have been allowed to host a presitious event.;

[poioun]

I personally disagree environmental issues has any significant factor in choosing where to live. I have lived in Australia for 12 years but although Australia has probably the best environmental features in the world, they lack a lot of simple things such as their hard to find, terrible and expensive food (we eat 3 times a day), insane tax, rude people, amateur workers, very uneven roads, and a lot of other things. In these sense, Indonesia (I am Chinese), is much better than this country.

[XuanXuan79]

In a word, it is not a matter of money since I think the Chinese government has enough money (well, if they have money to buy massive US bonds and feed countless corrupt officials) but a matter of care. The focus of the Chinese government now is economic development. If one day, they take the environment issue seriously, they will find money for it and we will see the impacts of the change in their concern.

[XuanXuan79]

Agreed. But I guess China and India has been doing much less than what they are supposed to do as a developing country...You can tell this from the heavy pollutions in China and India. I used to study Environmental Sciences and got to know that Environmental Bureau is one of poorest government units in China. I used to work as an intern at Sichuan Environmental Bureau and could feel how limited money and staff they have.

[XuanXuan79]

I know they invested a lot in many important infrastructures. However, if they don't improve the environment, not many foreigners will want to go to the city. Also, the investment only benefits Beijing and perhaps one or two surrounding cities, say, Tian Jin. We should not expect too much from it for the whole nation, as pointed out by President Hu Jintao.

[XuanXuan79]

If that is the case, then that's the problem with the IOC and Chinese people are doomed to suffer in their life, which is sad...

[limpbizkittian]

Of course, there should be no excuses for what the developing countries are currently doing, but you cannot expect them to do so the same way the developed countries are doing, and that is to cut the emissions by half every year to the year of 2050. Better compromises are needed.

[limpbizkittian]

I agree with you, the money would have been better off to improve the lives of many in China, but I believe the 280 million (not billion) spent was a long term goal to lift the tourism industrial for China. It sort of is like investing in a commercial to advertise, and eventually let's hope that the money can all be worth it.

[limpbizkittian]

Let me tell you something, China could not have lived up to any promises made 7 years ago when they were selected. IOC should have understood this, but because of their greed, they chose China as the host anyways. The next time, lol, I believe, would do it again.