China Prepares for Olympics

Forum Introduction

		With just days to go to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, China is pushing to clean up air pollution in Beijing and show its political tolerance by allowing protest zones around the city. Scott Tong, who is based in Shanghai, took your questions about the country's preparations for the games.

When factories are closed, what compensation do employees receive?

To what degree are the Olympics improving the business climate for U.S. businesses in China?

Do they have the area secured for all those people who plan to attend the games?

How are they doing about the extreme air pollution?

Do you have any advice for journalists working in Shanghai?


	Jerry B. from Cincinnati asks:

	How are they doing about the extreme air pollution? I saw a video some time back and it was so extremely bad.

Scott Tong replies:

Air quality is Topic A for Beijing residents. And the folks hosting the Olympics have been planning and fretting about this for a long time. The strategy is to take half the cars or more off the road, and shut down polluting steel/cement factories in and around the city. The verdict is still out on how well this will work.

But keep this in mind: We all contribute in a way to the air pollution that many reflexively consider "China's problem." These factories produce stuff that you and I buy. Those Chinese plants smelt iron ore and coal to make the steel that encases your music player or laptop; plus the steel shipping container your electronic toy was shipped in; plus the steel that went into the vessel; plus the steel that made the gantry crane at the port of Long Beach or Norfolk or Tacoma that received the container. Get the idea?

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