See here how Tower 3 of World Trade Center looks this morning. Same as yesterday. According to the Beijing Environmental Bureau, pollution index remains at a bit over 90 but in my area it could be rather 100-105. Again, PM10 particles still to blame. While that is much better than usual, a level of 100 is definitely NOT good for your health according to WHO criteria.

Not a nice view. No wind to dispel the humidity that probably helps to catch the particles. The camera can hardly focus… For the 2008 Olympics, that will be the challenge. Even without the particles in the air, the windless and humid air can be a challenge for all, and there is little or nothing anybody can do about it. Except if the army installs some real big fans to blow it all away (just kidding). As I always say, pollution will not be a problem for the Games – but instead of a beautiful blue sky this is the other scenario where nobody is to blame. Let’s just hope for the best.

The car & traffic restrictions are apparently not providing the expected smooth ride and clear skies.
On 18 August my illegal observation station in Julong (located in my off-limits library) hardly detects the presence of China World Trade Center Tower 3. See here how it looked on 10 August (of course Jacques Rogge was here that day?).
WTC3 seen from my library (Julong) on a better day
According to SEPA’s website, pollution index for Beijing is now a little over 90 (grade 2); it says major pollution is caused by PM10. The index is said to include SO2, NO2 and particles (PM10, particulate matter smaller than 10 microns – masks are useless). Right.
Now the SCMP reports the following comments on the present anti-pollution test:
Scientists also questioned the validity of Beijing’s air-quality standards since they excluded two key pollutants – fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone concentrations – which could cause health problems.
Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau chief engineer Chen Tian said it had noted the issue, but the ongoing tests did not include the two categories.
“We are not monitoring these two things. We will consider them in the future. But there are many problems in standards and regulation. We need time,” Mr. Chen said.
Now, anybody can explain all this contradiction – are “fine particles” included or not? Particles are the real bad ones, exactly what is messing up my very own lungs. Good luck athletes.
Traffic yesterday was indeed better. The previous days, despite a general (non-published) ban on certain cars, traffic was hell as usual. Our own car is banned from 7 to 20 August (wrong plate) and my driver is enjoying a “voluntary holiday”.
Talking with taxi drivers is often fun, interesting and very challenging for my Chinese skills. Drivers commented pollution was, well, kinda difficult to solve. Too many cars, Beijing is surrounded by mountains, not enough wind, etc.
I asked one of the very talkative drivers how his English was as I heard the city was urging all drivers to learn English. His reply was simple. All talk/talk, no meaning and no progress. He tried a little and gave it up soon. He added: “I cannot even understand all Chinese, there are so many dialects in China. How am I supposed to understand all those different types of English, like Australian, American, British, etc.?”.
He has a point… Might explain why until today I never met a taxi driver who talk some useful words of English. And understand “Hilton Hotel” or Swissotel”.
Still wondering where all those English speaking Beijing ren are, all those millions as announced by the city. They must be on holiday, like my driver. Hopefully they will pop up on 8 August next year.