The Observer Newspapers | Bad Air in Beijing

August 8 , 2008

Bad Air in Beijing

Sometimes it's nice to have an example handy of the consequences of our actions, so we can use that example to guide us to make the right decisions in life. When you are trying to teach your child about the difference between hot and cold, and then they touch the hot bowl on the table or the ice cube, you can say, "See? Now you understand the difference between hot and cold."

With the world's attention turning to Beijing for the Olympics, which begin this weekend, we should all take note of the dangers of not controlling air pollution.

The athletes haven't even begun to compete—they've only arrived to begin practice in the past few days—and already they are clearly shocked by what may be the world's most polluted city air. Photographs from Beijing show the haze that hangs over everything. Coaches have begun to make preparations for their athletes to spend as much time indoors as they can to reduce exposure to the debilitating air quality.

Here in Washington, D.C., we note the air quality in the summertime, when hot, humid and hazy air mingles with pollutants to create an environment that can be utterly oppressive. Orange days, red days, ride-the-bus-free days. We know what it's like to experience bad air quality. Imagine Herndon or Reston with air so polluted you could barely see across the Town Green or from one side of Reston Town Center to the other.

Sometimes, it's nice to be reminded that what we've done up to now has made a difference, and that we need to continue to work to avoid problems in the future. Beijing may just provide us with that reminder.