TresSugar

Biggest Headlines of 2008: China Hosts the Olympics

CitizenSugar — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0800

Hosting the Olympics was a huge deal for the Chinese government and people. While protesters put their feet down around the world, the Games were a source of pride for the controversial country. Take a look at the biggest stories to come out of China hosting the 2008 Games. Source

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Beijing Gets an Olympic-Sized Makeover: In 8 Easy Steps!

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:30:49 -0700

Beijing will be dressed to impress this August when the world turns its attention east for the Summer Olympics. Radar lists eight changes in its July/August issue that China is making to ensure the city is picture perfect when the cameras go on.

Reduced traffic
To avoid unsightly traffic, the Chinese government will only let half of Beijing's drivers on its streets. How will they decide who gets to drive? Even- and odd-numbered license plates will alternate days. See, life is fair.
Less spitting
China's government is known for its oppressive quirks, but that does not include prohibiting spitting in the street. Until now. Fines and tissues will be handed to the defiant.
Fewer felines
Apparently, Beijing is like one giant cat lady. And that never did my image any good, so I can see why China is concerned. To reduce the city's overpopulated kitty sidewalks, the government launched an aggressive campaign to ensure people know the truth about cats. You know, like how they carry SARS. Scared pet owners have been sending their beloved fluffies to cat death camps.

There are more upgrades afoot. To see what else is going on, read more.

Cloudless skies
You know what they say! It never rains in Beijing when they hire scientists to shoot silver iodide-filled rockets into clouds from 21 locations to preempt summer showers.
No knockoffs
Take your counterfeit Olympic gear back to Canal Street. Officials are patrolling the streets, particularly looking out for unauthorized use of the Olympic logo. Make sure your new mug has all five Olympic rings!
Orderly lines
Since China is a Communist country, it surprises me that standing in line never really took off. But there you have it. Preferring to nudge their way to the front, Beijingers have been learning the letter queue for over a year now with monthly, government-induced practice.
No turtle blood
Competitive athletes take note: Turtle blood - and deer penis - can be used as performance-enhancing drugs. Just not in Beijing this August.
No Chinglish
Bad translations can be so much fun - "slip and fall down carefully" - but for a city in primping mode they are an embarrassment. Unfortunately, a 35-person committee is "caretaking" this problem.

Looks like once they get these eight woes under control, they'll be good to go for 08/08/08 . . . right? Are cosmetic changes like these eclipsing the greater human rights concerns? If China is shiny on the outside, will people overlook deeper trouble?

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Would You Go to Tough Lengths to Boycott Chinese Goods?

LibertySugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:45:46 -0700

Considering the intimate economic ties many countries have with China, boycotting the Beijing Olympics to protest human rights violations seems like an incomplete and insincere gesture. Yet, some individuals are attempting to resist China on their own by boycotting products made in China. These conscious consumers are finding it nearly impossible to not buy China.

China dominates the manufacturing market. BBC writes:

Listening to your iPod. Made in China. Fiddling with your key ring. Made in China. Label on the inside of your underpants irritating you a little bit. It more than likely says "Made in China."

Even if you want to buy a TV "made" - aka assembled - in Europe, most of its parts probably come from China. And if you can find the goods, your guilt-free conscious isn't going to be free . . . or cheap.

Is a consumer's hands tied when big businesses and governments decide to do lucrative business with China? Is it a luxury to make a political statement with your purchasing power?

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Quiz Nation - A History of Olympic Protests

LibertySugar — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:00:20 -0700

I'm out watching the Olympic torch run in San Francisco right now! While I get the real story for you, check out a little history of the games in question. China isn't the first country to host Olympics under a shadow of protests. The high-profile event, which commands the attention of the world, is an attractive forum for activists.

Today demonstrates that political controversy is as much of an Olympic tradition as athletic competition. Take this quiz to find out how well you know the story of Olympic protests and boycotts.
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Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Ceremony in London

LibertySugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 03:00:11 -0700

The Olympic torch is coming to North America this week, but not before making a hectic stop in London. Yesterday, 80 English athletes, celebrities, and other respected citizens relayed the torch - and the scene was chaotic. 2,000 police officers lined the snowy route populated with pro-Tibet protesters as well as flag waving China supporters.

At one point the police halted the procession, as a demonstrator attempted to grab the torch out of a torchbearer's hands. Protesters blocked its path and tried to put out its flame. In total police arrested 30 activists.

The relay of the Beijing Olympics torch is the longest torch tour in Olympic history. It began in Olympia, Greece and is expected to meet passionate protesters throughout its journey across five continents. It makes its only North American stop this Wednesday in San Francisco. Stay tuned for our eyewitness coverage!

Would you rather see an Olympics where the world attempts to get along? Or, is it a vital opportunity to call attention to China's very serious human rights violations? Do you think the protesters in London went too far by trying to extinguish the flame?

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Oh Snap! Obama Is a Celebrity in China

TresSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:37 -0800

A stone carving of President Obama is on sale in Shanghai, China, along with carvings of celebrities like Will Smith, Tom Cruise, and Katie Holmes. Obama will be meeting with both ordinary citizens and Chinese leaders in Shanghai and Beijing starting today. As you can tell from these photos, creative vendors in China are ready to capitalize on Obama's visit. You just got to love ~~capitalism~~ communism!

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Beijing Brings Back Olympics Car Rules to Cut Smog

CitizenSugar — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700

While the medals and finish lines from the Olympics are becoming a distant memory - so was the hard-fought clean air that Beijing enjoyed during the Games. Residents have been discussing just how to keep the measures in effect, and now they might have won. A partial victory at least.

Traffic restrictions have been re-introduced to Beijing, hoping to bring back the easy-breathing peace and quieter of the Games. The new plan doesn't go as far as the original measures however - each car only has to spend one day a week off of the roads, as opposed to the every other day plan during the Olympics. The benefit is, "expected to reduce Beijing's average road traffic flow by 6.5 percent," according to one city official. During periods of heavy pollution, the restrictions can be returned to the more stringent every-other-day plan.

How many cars are we talking that will be affected by the plan? To find out, read more.

Beijing has 3.4 million cars on the road, with 1,000 more added every day. So the return of the measures seems great - but residents are complaining that it's too complicated - for instance on Mondays, license plates ending in one or six can't come in to the city. Since the skies in August were the cleanest Beijing has seen in 10 years, should the stricter measures stay? Is this just the tip of the iceberg of sacrifices we'll have to make for the planet in the years to come?

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David Beckham and 7,000 Performers Say Cheerio to Beijing

LibertySugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 09:03:00 -0700

China put on a spectacular goodbye to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. David Beckham and a red double-decker bus made appearances, helping China pass the torch to London, which will hold the games in 2012. David wasn't the only star shining among the many fireworks; Leona Lewis and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page also entertained the athletes and spectators.

The United States left Beijing with the most overall medals (110), while China got the most golds (51). China celebrated its success with a show that included flying drummers, unicyclists, bouncing gymnasts on stilts, and a human trampoline.

To see many more pictures of the remarkable closing to a remarkable Olympics, read more.

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Life in Beijing, Olympic Style

LibertySugar — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:00:40 -0700

Over 10,000 athletes, hundreds of thousands of fans, and 30,000 journalists have traveled to Beijing for the Olympics. To welcome these visitors, everyday life in the Chinese capital received an Olympic makeover. The Chinese government removed the homeless from the streets, urged smokers to quit, advised bus commuters to wait in line instead of push, installed 40 million plants, cut traffic in half, and even gave residents wardrobe advice. Check out the view from Beijing!

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What Not to Wear: Beijing Olympics Edition

LibertySugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:30:02 -0700

Chinese authorities know that looking fierce is key to making a good impression on the world. That's why they're handing out etiquette books to 4 million households. In the books, the Chinese fashion police have put white socks with black shoes, outfits with more than three colors, and pajamas in public on the Olympic "don't" list.

The Chinese are also trying to make sure Olympic fans and participants will have no need for tacky-looking breathing masks - drastic tactics are being used to improve air quality. On alternating days only even or odd license plate holders are allowed to drive in Beijing, and some factories have been shut down. Since air quality is still horrible, Beijing might turn to "ultra-emergency" tactics, like shutting down most industry, along with 90 percent of car traffic. According to experts, air quality is pretty elastic and could improve quickly if most emissions stop. Let's hope so!

What sounds like a worst PR disaster: no visibility due to smog, or a public pajama spotting? Maybe if it's smoggy enough, we won't be able to see the pajamas anyway.

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