Comments on: Of oranges and Olympics http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/ Global environmental challenges Mon, 8 Sep 2008 02:07:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Jeremy Guo http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-335529 Jeremy Guo Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:56:31 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-335529 The Olympics are just around the corner and the relief efforts in SiChuan are endeavours worthy of praise. China's newly constructed cities of steel and chrome are things of beauty, sitting on top of rubbles of brick, mortar and wood. If you look a little deeper, however, underneath the newly gilded exterior, you might notice people, China's people, oozing with blood. In the effort to construct these beautiful monstrocities, China's had to make a lot of changes. They've torn down thousand year old buildings, moved businesses, moved homes, moved families, and moved people. And the ones doing the dirty work? The construction companies. I'm sure everyone reading this has heard of the word "Chai Qian", meaning to take apart in an organized fashion. Well, it's not organized! Construction companies hire hoodlums off of the street, arm them with 2 by 4's, and send them out to homes in droves, "asking" the residents to move out. The hoodlums smash into homes and bring papers for the residents to sign, with wordings that few, if any, can understand. Those who sign are given a couple hundred dollars and shooed off of the Company's new property. And the ones who don't sign, the ones who just want to be left alone? They're beaten. It doesn't matter if the residents are children, elderly, retired, or employed; they're all beaten with the brutality and voracity of convicts out to make money. All in an effort to make China more beautiful. And the construction companies? They build high rises in places of the ugly old buildings, adding a new shadow to the hazy smog filled skyline. Selling each square meter of property for thousands times more than what they paid. It's not politics, it's not people, it’s just business as usual. I can't say that I'm completely unbiased because this morning I got a call and found out that my aunt was beaten by several of these hoodlums. She's a retired musician in Nanjing, and like many of her neighbors, she just wants to keep her home. And now she's fighting for her life in the hospital because she suffered head trauma at the hands of these thugs. My reason for writing is in hopes that one of you (an actual reporter) will read this and go to the 454 Hospital in Nanjing and interview at least a couple of the residents who were beaten today and get their side of the story. Jeremy Guo The Olympics are just around the corner and the relief efforts in SiChuan are endeavours worthy of praise. China’s newly constructed cities of steel and chrome are things of beauty, sitting on top of rubbles of brick, mortar and wood. If you look a little deeper, however, underneath the newly gilded exterior, you might notice people, China’s people, oozing with blood.

In the effort to construct these beautiful monstrocities, China’s had to make a lot of changes. They’ve torn down thousand year old buildings, moved businesses, moved homes, moved families, and moved people. And the ones doing the dirty work? The construction companies. I’m sure everyone reading this has heard of the word “Chai Qian”, meaning to take apart in an organized fashion. Well, it’s not organized!

Construction companies hire hoodlums off of the street, arm them with 2 by 4’s, and send them out to homes in droves, “asking” the residents to move out. The hoodlums smash into homes and bring papers for the residents to sign, with wordings that few, if any, can understand. Those who sign are given a couple hundred dollars and shooed off of the Company’s new property. And the ones who don’t sign, the ones who just want to be left alone? They’re beaten. It doesn’t matter if the residents are children, elderly, retired, or employed; they’re all beaten with the brutality and voracity of convicts out to make money.

All in an effort to make China more beautiful.

And the construction companies? They build high rises in places of the ugly old buildings, adding a new shadow to the hazy smog filled skyline. Selling each square meter of property for thousands times more than what they paid. It’s not politics, it’s not people, it’s just business as usual.

I can’t say that I’m completely unbiased because this morning I got a call and found out that my aunt was beaten by several of these hoodlums. She’s a retired musician in Nanjing, and like many of her neighbors, she just wants to keep her home. And now she’s fighting for her life in the hospital because she suffered head trauma at the hands of these thugs.

My reason for writing is in hopes that one of you (an actual reporter) will read this and go to the 454 Hospital in Nanjing and interview at least a couple of the residents who were beaten today and get their side of the story.

Jeremy Guo

]]> By: Paul http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-334215 Paul Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:47:00 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-334215 How long does it take before we realize our world is driven by fear? Is our fear of China big enough that we will give it up and say, "What up?" How long does it take before we realize our world is driven by fear? Is our fear of China big enough that we will give it up and say, “What up?”

]]> By: parkmount http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-334113 parkmount Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:38:39 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-334113 We need to tackle with the pollution of those corrupted who run the IOC. They got blinded by the money. By doing so, there will be no worry for athletes to go and play games at the place where the environment and people are so much polluted and corrupted. We need to tackle with the pollution of those corrupted who run the IOC. They got blinded by the money. By doing so, there will be no worry for athletes to go and play games at the place where the environment and people are so much polluted and corrupted.

]]> By: McShabby http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-333896 McShabby Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:53:41 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-333896 all athletes should be allowed to take performance enhancing drugs to counteract the effects of pollution. It might actually get people watching the olympics again all athletes should be allowed to take performance enhancing drugs to counteract the effects of pollution. It might actually get people watching the olympics again

]]> By: Ajit http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-333882 Ajit Sat, 01 Mar 2008 11:07:05 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-333882 Yes, Olympics should only be held in “clean” cities. Olympics and other Games should not be held in country, which has nuclear bombs. Yes, Olympics should only be held in “clean” cities.

Olympics and other Games should not be held in country, which has nuclear bombs.

]]> By: s.sankara subbu http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-333877 s.sankara subbu Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:18:17 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2008/02/27/of-oranges-and-olympics/#comment-333877 Orange Fruit is Colourful. Yello, Green,Light Red,Parrot yellow etc etc. Orange is good for Health. Energy drink also. Orange skin is More Antiseptic Value. Just take skin of Orange and rub all over the skin, Face ( Do not show to Eyes, you may cry) Hand & Legs and all parts of Body. Wait for 10 Minites. Take bath. Soap is not require. all dust, oil, sweating smell,bad odur will go out. You will feel fresh. Orange Fruit is Colourful. Yello, Green,Light Red,Parrot yellow etc etc.

Orange is good for Health. Energy drink also.

Orange skin is More Antiseptic Value.

Just take skin of Orange and rub all over the skin, Face ( Do not show to Eyes, you may cry)
Hand & Legs and all parts of Body.

Wait for 10 Minites. Take bath. Soap is not require. all dust, oil, sweating smell,bad odur will go out.

You will feel fresh.

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