China Warns That Guarantee Of Clean Olympic Air No Longer Holds W/O Industry Action - Reuters

[hatrack]

BEIJING (Reuters) - China warned on Friday that Beijing will break its promise to provide athletes with clean air during the Olympics unless polluting industries step in line and cut emissions. Beijing's pollution has already proved a major concern for athletes, with twice Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie, who suffers from asthma, pulling out of the men's marathon out of concern for his health.

In addition to shutting down high polluters within city limits, Beijing has demanded five surrounding provinces scale back or stop production to ensure blue skies hang over Olympic venues for the Games in August.

But last month, a top iron and steel association official said that steel mills were holding out for direct subsidies in return for scaling back production, indicating reluctance at local levels to wear economic losses to serve national interests.

In an unusually frank departure from Olympic organizers' optimism, Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian warned that Beijing would be at the mercy of nature to guarantee clean air at the Games.

EDIT

http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService_2_MOLT/idUSPEK34679720080516

[DS1]

1. What a stupid stupid decision it was to award that country the Olympics

Not that I have a shred of care about the stupid games anyway

[sandnsea]

2. And where do the products and profits go?

Who are the people who really won't sacrifice??

[phantom power]

3. Offer not valid at all locations.

[AlecBGreen]

4. say whaaaa?

you mean voluntary reductions DONT WORK!? Thats not what George told me...

[Zachstar]

5. What?

China enacted laws saying the industries in the area HAD to shut down during the games. You mean they can beat and kill protestors and enact great firewalls but not get a hold of it's own industry?