Beijing...fudged on smog data! Faces scorn of world...

A week ago - I reported on Beijing's last-ditch efforts to curb smog in anticipation of the upcoming Olympics - by shutting-down factories, limiting the number of vehicles on the road, and so forth and so on.

But, the surge forward to clean up the environment has been to no avail, according to reports out of Beijing over the past forty-eight hours.

A huge cloud of smog still hangs thick and ominous over the horizon - obscuring the dazzling new superstructures built to impress the world - and posing a potential threat to Athletes due next week to participate in the games.

In fact, Olympic Officials have expressed their concerns that the quality of air is less than standard and may be a hazard to the health.

A Greenpeace Campaign Director - Lo Sze Ping - blamed the bad air on what he characterized as a - "develop first, clean up later" - approach by the Chinese Government which has obviously backfired.

Meanwhile, over the weekend, it was reported that smog around the Stadium is "unhealthful for sensitive groups".

The Chinese Government - which won the games on the provisio the environment would be "cleaned up" for the Olympic Festivities - has issued a statement in which they flatly allege they have reached their commitment to make sure the air quality is satisfactory for the Games.

Beijing Environmental protection official (Du Shaozhong) asserted to the press in recent days that seventy-percent of the days were able to boast acceptable levels of pollution or an improvement over last year's figures by twenty percent.

However, some are pointing fingers at the data, and accusing Chinese Officials of fudging the figures.

For instance, Steve Q. Andrews - a U.S. Environmental Consultant (who analyzed Beijing's figures) - alleges that two air monitoring stations in congested parts of the downtown sector were dropped from the Government's calculations for the air pollution index and substituted for monitors in the outskirts of the city.

Notwithstanding this kind of obvious skullduggery, those in-the-know claim that China does not even measure ground-level ozone levels which are a major component of smog, according to scientists in the field.

Andrews got a little ballsy and griped,

"They are manipulating the way they measure and what they measure so much that you cannot say the air quality is improving."

As athletes vow to wear masks during the games, China has been forced to look into novel ways to clear the air. For one, they are exploring the idea of artificially inducing rainstorms to dissipate the smog.

In the final analysis, it all appears to boil down to Karma, in my estimation.

Until China stops violating "Human Rights" and denying Monks "Freedom of Speech", and being "negligent" about the environment, their country will continue to face the wrath of God by virtue of floods, famine, earthquakes, poison air, and the like.

China must commence with a spiritual cleansing now - and pray, ultimately, for forgiveness - or face continued ongoing hardships to her detriment and well-being as a Nation.

What do they say?

Confession is good for the soul!

Beijing Olympics...Toronto blames Otis for losing bid for Games!

A couple of years back, I was up in Toronto visiting relatives, when the Olympic Committee was in town considering "Hog Town" for the site of the 2008 Olympics.

The Natives were restless, alright. After all, the competition was tough. In spite of that, T.O. made it to the short list.

At a time when one of Canada's largest metropolitan areas was seeking status as a "World Class City", fate dealt Mayor Mel Lastman a nasty blow.

While touring a facility in the downtown core, all the Officials got trapped in an elevator for thirty to forty-five minutes before a rescue crew saved 'em from the sweltering heat.

Although the Committee assured his honor that the mishap would not affect their vote, many swear to this day that the incident cost Toronto "the good" their bid for a shot at the gold ring.

To the elevator company, it was just about life's ups and downs.

To the residents of Toronto, it was Otis' fault for failing to provide the much-needed lift beneath their wings.

With all the brouhaha brewing over a boycott of the Olympics in Beijing - and likewise, the ensuing headaches - in retrospect, maybe the Committee wishes they took the stairs instead.

Beijing Olympics...China ignorant about Global Warming. "Dog meat" consumption revolting notion!

China's last gleaming...

Protests in San Francisco...

In anticipation of a host of swarming masses descending on the Olympics in the next few weeks, China has issued some ultimatums to create a "greener" setting for the games.

For example, Officials have restricted the use of private automobiles on the streets over the next few weeks to reduce smog.

And, have increased mass transit in a bold-faced effort to alleviate the problem as well.

What a joke!

According to recent statistics, at least sixteen of the twenty most polluted cities are in China.

And - in spite of the fact the Chinese government has recently begun to relocate factories, haul old clunkers off the street, and plant trees to get a jump on global warming - it's all a little too late, isn't it?

The 11th hour actions should have been prompted by concerns about the environment, not by a deceitful attempt to gloss over the obvious - and in the process - conjure up a superficial image to the Nations of the world!

In essence, the whole bold-faced ploy is a white-wash.

In fact, China's efforts are akin to slapping a band-aid on a deep wound that has been hemorrhaging for years.

Indeed - some of the damage caused to the environment - is undoubtedly permanent.

The idea that restricting vehicle traffic for the next three weeks will rid the skies of green house gases is a ludicrous notion!

What really turned my stomach, though, was the announcement that a popular entree - "dog meat" - would be taken off the menu during the duration of the games to ensure foreign visitors were not offended during the course of the athletic celebration.

Are they going to allow a few stray dogs to wander the streets for appearances sake, too, before they herd them back to the chopping block at the close of the Olympics?

Talk about inhumane conduct!

This is a country populated by savages, in my estimation.

The arguments for "Boycott" are ripe!

Mia Farrow...laments George Bush plans to attend Beijing Olympic Ceremonies!

Mamma Mia...tireless supporter of Human Rights!


Well, I didn't think much of the way Mia Farrow handled her divorce from film director, Woody Allen, but her efforts to raise awareness about Human Rights in Darfur and Tibet are admirable.

In particular, I applaud her criticism of George Bush in that regard.

It's a no-brainer, really!

When George Bush announced his intention to attend the opening ceremonies for the Beijing Olympics, the haughty Texan defended his position by arguing that he sees the Olympics as a way to cheer up the athletes.

Frankly, I didn't know they needed a boost!

And, on the grounds that the Chinese will be "watching very carefully" to determine what decisions are being made by World Leaders, Bush took a giant leap and asserted that "not to go" would be an affront to the Chinese people.

Well, tough ti**y, George.

Is a civilized society supposed to look the other way when Human Rights are being violated and religious freedom is being denied?

What the "offenders" and "evil-doers" think is irrelevant!

George, you have your priorities misplaced.

On the other hand, Ms. Farrow's stance on the issues makes a lot of sense.

In a feature in the "OPINION" section of the Los Angeles Times today, Ms. Farrow - rightly so - notes that Bush's decision to attend the ceremonies was out-of-step for having come at a time when U.S. and International politicians took a stand by eschewing the opening ceremonies (the only component of the games not geared toward celebrating the athletes; but rather, towards the burnishing of the Beijing Regime's political image).

In sum, it appears that George W. Bush is thumbing his nose at a handful of respected leaders (British PM Gordon Brown; Canadian PM Stephen Harper; German Chancellor Angela Merkel; European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering) who understand (unlike Mr. Bush) the complexity of the issues - and hence - have chosen not to attend for good reason.

According to Ms. Farrow, President Bush squandered an enormous opportunity.

Especially when one considers that Beijing was notoriously indifferent to diplomatic pressure until the "Olympic Games" were at stake.

Indeed, as Ms. Farrow points out, a presidential boycott of the opening ceremonies may have proved to be a "powerful additional point of leverage" with an otherwise intractable regime. Likewise, a boycott limited to the opening ceremonies would have had the advantage of not targeting the athletes.

I agree with her conclusion that such action would have sent a strong symbolic message to Beijing with little substantive cost to U.S.-China relations.

In the final analysis, Bush's dim-witted stance - which goes against the grain - thwarted what could have been an opportunity to express solidarity to Chinese citizens whose human rights are being denied, demonstrate moral leadership, and underscore the importance of adhering to values and principles this great Nation was founded on.

Heck, Bush doesn't care. In the New Year, he's out on his sorry a**.

I expect he's going to grab all the party invitations he can before he high-tails it out of the White House.

After all, this time next year, he won't be on any A-list!


Dal, We'll meditate on it...