Because this is the first post in this blog, I suppose I should tell you about myself and my reasons for posting here.
Not only is this a submission for the “Blogging for Progress” scholarship, it is an exercise in my writing abilities – I’m headed for college in the fall and I’m looking at majoring in Editorial Journalism. Consequently, I am also going to be posting a video on www.youtube.com/ciebeetea when I get each one completed (the only thing up right now is a ten-second clip of my friend and I working out webcam and sound settings on my computer).
Anyhow, my name is Cal. I’m seventeen and I’m living in Beijing, China. I’m headed back to the states for the fall semester of college. My intention for this project is to help myself and others with my proactivity and to get myself more involved with doing my part to reduce the stress that we are putting on the environment.
Not to say that I was selfish when I was stateside, but being out here has definitely broadened my perspective on cultural differences. The most noticeable is the fact that the Chinese have suddenly environmentally ‘upped their game,’ so to speak, with the coming of the Olympics this summer. Their attempts at environmental correction have been working to an extent; some mornings I wake up and can’t see past the outside of my compound because of the thick smog – and I live about forty minutes (26 mi or 42 km) from Beijing proper. Other days, I can see clear to the mountains (around 50-80 miles or 80-128 km away).
The thing is, China uses 24% of the world’s coal, and every day about five new coal-burning factories open across the country. Despite this, the Chinese government is looking at halting the production for all of the factories during the Olympics but then over-producing when they’re over to compensate for the time lost. As it stands now, whenever a high-ranking official from another country comes into China, the production in the factories the day before they arrive through the end of their visit is halted to give the impression of a cleaner, greener China. However, they do still push the factories to the limits and even open more once the person(s) leaves.
I dread to think of the economic and environmental status the next couple of years will bring.
For those who are interested, you can follow me on Twitter.com under CieBeeTea as well.
