China will close 40 factories in its cities close to Beijing leading up to the Olympics Games. Thank you China. I don’t know if I should be thanking the Chinese for their apparently ‘cute’ gesture or blame the Chinese for causing the problem in the first place. In the interest of globalization, modernization and an aggressive makeover of Communist ideologies with a capitalist intent, factories and manufacturing plants sprang out everywhere in China. The byproduct of Chinese industrialization is the pollution that makes any day in Beijing a cloudy day (not only in aerial photographs). The move is the latest attempt by China to minimize air pollution in the capital during the Games in August, but whether or not it makes any difference at all, is ‘up in the air.’
Never mind the pollution in China gimmick anyway; too many countries owe China too much money and economic favors to allow some social agenda to affect their financial relationship. No pun intended (well, a little pun intended).
But you get my point; the Beijing games have to go on irrespective of how strong the Dalai Lama and supporters of Tibet will suggest otherwise. What an interesting time to be an Olympic athlete; just when you thought there was nothing more to worry about. Racism, steroids and now air quality that may (or may not) affect performance and be damaging to their health. PS: the last place athletes should not attempt to exploit the same ‘air quality’ excuse. So that I don't discount the grattitude to my Chinese friends, thank you.
See you in Beijing next month. Maybe.
