The rapidly approaching Olympic Games have brought an unwelcome spotlight on China’s environmental situation.Beijingwon its Olympics bid with the promise of the world’s first “green” games. Five years later, there is no talk of a green Olympics, only of how extensive a shutdown of industry and transportation will be needed in Beijing and surrounding provinces just to ensure that the athletes can breathe.

I have to say that I find China's preparation for the upcoming Olympic games interesting.

How so?

Their scrubbing down Beijing, literally, of cars, of garbage, of everything that might seen as ugly or unwanted. as for China's attitude and response, sadly I am not surprised.

Well from what I've read they are scrambling to put their best foot forward, there is nothing unique about that, every country that hosts the Olympics does that. I think that China really is hoping to prove something and as Ratilfar stated they are literally scrubbing everything down.

Which is a good thing. China is a very interesting place, with lots of history and lots of future but one thing it's cities sure are is filthy (outdoors that is).