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Do you remember the Olympic torch? Your atmosphere does.
That was back in April. who cares?
The 5,500 tons of carbon dioxide pollution that the worldwide torch relay emitted is anything but a memory.
To put 5,500 tons into perspective:
A round trip flight between New York and Los Angeles produces 2.4 tons of C02,
driving 12,000 miles in a 2006 Ford Explorer, 7.83 tons.
The British Virgin Islands emit 84,000 tons of C02 per year,
the European Union emits 3.1 billion per year
and the United States 6 billion per year.
A 250-guest wedding, assuming that 125 attendees spend the night at a high-end hotel, will produce 9 tons of C02.
see link to know how 5,500 tons was emitted.
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it's the beginning of the 21st century. the time for frivolousness must end. That was back in April. who cares? ... more -
Beijing last stop of Olympic Torch Relay on auspicious 2008.8.8
Sights and sounds of Beijing on August 8th, where the last stop of Olympic Torch Relay was held at the Headquarter of Olympic Youth Camp, and continued on in the National Stadium as LI Ning air-walked to light the torch that launched the 2008 Olympic Games. Sights and sounds of Beijing on August 8th, where the last stop of Olympic Torch Relay was held at the Headquarter of Olympic Youth Ca... more
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Inside the Olympics
Uncovering the untold stories behind the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
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Olympic Ring Logo world record set by Bikini Clad Ladies
A bikini battalion of 1,202 ladies gathered Sunday at the Changlong Water Amusement Park in Guangzhou to form the Olympic rings logo and broke a Guinness world record — not for the largest Olympics logo ever formed with human bodies, but for the largest swimsuit photo shoot ever (previous record was set last year at Bondi Beach by 1,010 ladies). Yet another utterly useless record, you might say, but these girls sure look like they're having a blast.
For Latest World Records Feats visit
http://www.worldamazingrecords.com A bikini battalion of 1,202 ladies gathered Sunday at the Changlong Water Amusement Park in Guangzhou to form the Olympic rings logo a... more -
Can't Torch This // Comment Picked for TV
Thanks to Eric_C for his response to "Can't Torch This" -- a JT hosted pod from the streets of San Francisco the day the Olympic Torch came through. http://current.com/items/88898920_can_t_torch_this Thanks to Eric_C for his response to "Can't Torch This" -- a JT hosted pod from the streets of San Francisco the day t... more
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After China quake, Olympic torch relay shortened
The Beijing Olympic torch relay will be scaled down in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit China, a spokesman for the Games organising committee (BOCOG) said on Tuesday.
Committee spokesman Sun Weide said that, starting from Wednesday's leg in the eastern province of Jianxi, the relay would be cut back and that one minute of silence will be observed before runners set off.
"The relay will be scaled down starting from Wednesday and procedures will be simplified," Sun said. "The one minute of silence will reflect our concern for the earthquake victims."
Sun said that scaling down the relay and simplifying procedures would mostly affect ceremonies and celebrations that accompany the launch of each leg.
"We will be cutting down on the speeches and the singing and dancing that have marked the relay so far and it will be a much simpler affair," he said.
The 7.9-magnitude quake that struck on Monday in southwest China's Sichuan province has killed over 12,000 people, and there are fears the death toll will rise further. The Beijing Olympic torch relay will be scaled down in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit China, a spokesman for the Game... more -
Beijing Internet Police make an arrest
The Beijing Internet Police Strike
The AP is reporting, “A Chinese man was arrested for saying on the Internet that he planned to grab the Olympic torch during its relay through eastern China, police said Sunday. The 28-year-old man, identified only as Tang, was detained in Zhenjiang in Jiangsu province in eastern China for allegedly spreading rumors online and disturbing public order, said an official in the local public security bureau who would give only his surname, Zhang.
Tang was detained on May 7 and will be held for 10 days, Zhang said. Tang is accused of writing in an Internet chat room that he wanted to organize a group to grab the torch when it arrives in Nanjing, near Zhenjiang, on May 24, state media and police said.”
Check out more on this at the associated link. The Beijing Internet Police Strike ... more -
The Torch Climbs Everest
The Olympic torch reached the summit of Everest after several days of weather related delays.
The ascent and broadcast of the torches at 29,035 feet was a success in terms of safety and technological coordination, however political concerns over China's rule over Tibet still cloud the Games. The Olympic torch reached the summit of Everest after several days of weather related delays. ... more -
Olympic torch reaches Mount Everest summit - International Herald Tribune
BEIJING: A team of climbers trudged through snow and ice to carry the Olympic torch to the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday, fulfilling a long-held goal of the Chinese government to have the Olympic flame lighted on top of the highest mountain in the world.
That thing sure does get around. BEIJING: A team of climbers trudged through snow and ice to carry the Olympic torch to the summit of Mount Everest on Thursday, fulfil... more -
China announces Everest torch squad, includes Tibetans
China announced today a 36-member squad, including 24 ethnic Tibetans and three women, which will carry the Olympic flame to the Mount Everest marking the high point of the torch relay.
Could this be a sign China is trying to reach out to Tibet in a positive way? This week, China met with an Envoy of the Dalai Lama and both sides said the talks were a good first step. Certainly China is looking for a PR boost after the last month of bad press.
Check out more at the associated link. China announced today a 36-member squad, including 24 ethnic Tibetans and three women, which will carry the Olympic flame to the Mount... more -
Thunderous welcome for Olympic torch in China
Thunderous applause and cheers greeted the Olympic torch today as it began the first leg of its marathon relay through mainland China after a protest-harried overseas journey. People lining the streets were chanting "go China!", and many climbed up trees to get a better view.
A carefully selected audience of dignitaries, celebrities and ordinary people listened to the local Communist Party boss declaring, "as the first stop for the torch relay in mainland China, we are very honoured and proud".
The demonstrations that dogged the torch procession, which were mostly over China's crackdown against protests in Tibet, deeply embarrassed Beijing and provoked retaliatory rallies at home and abroad by patriotic Chinese. Talks with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, whom Beijing blames for inciting the Tibet protests, are also scheduled to start today, in southern China.
The chances of any further disruption to the torch relay as it snakes its way through China ahead of August's Beijing Games appear remote.
"That we can reach the stage where we can hold the Olympics shows that we are a developed country which is becoming rich and powerful", Wu Qi, 23, a teacher from Hainan, said. Thunderous applause and cheers greeted the Olympic torch today as it began the first leg of its marathon relay through mainland China ... more -
Dude, Where's My Torch?
On April 9, thousands of supporters and protestors gathered in San Francisco for the passing of the Olympic torch.
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Police Contain Protestors (for olympic torch relay in Seoul)
When torch relayed in Seoul. There had lots of incidents...
It might be one of so violence Torch Relay...
"Tension mounted as scuffles broke out between the Chinese nationalists and some 200 human rights activists, who were holding a separate rally, forcing riot police to form a barricade between them..." (From The Korea Times) When torch relayed in Seoul. There had lots of incidents... It might be one of so violence Torch Relay... ... more -
Fight fire with fire? Korean protestor tries to ignite himself in Olympic Torch pr...
In yet another demonstration of protest against China in this free-for-all protest-happy Olympic Torch relay, a Korean man unsuccessfully tried to set himself on fire. This time it was not over the Tibetan issue but over a lesser known issue - that of the treatment of North Korean refugees in China. When caught, many are returned to North Korea where they face imprisonment.
The would-be immolator was a North Korean defector. In yet another demonstration of protest against China in this free-for-all protest-happy Olympic Torch relay, a Korean man unsuccessfu... more -
Protests hit Nagano Olympic relay
Now protests hit Japan for the Olympics! The first of many!!
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Public banned from Japan torch leg
Japan will shut out the public at the start, midpoint and end of its leg of the Olympic torch relay, which has been marred by protests over Beijing's crackdown in Tibet. Japan will shut out the public at the start, midpoint and end of its leg of the Olympic torch relay, which has been marred by protests... more
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Malaysian Olympic torch ceremony sees pro-Tibet protestor beaten with flags
Hundreds of Chinese students gathered at Independence Square to cheer for the Olympic flame as it began its four-hour relay through Kuala Lumpur today.
Following the tension that has surrounded the torch's global journey, heavy security was in place to protect the 80 runners carrying the Olympic torch along the 10-mile route through the Malaysian capital.
One protester wearing a "Free Tibet" shirt and holding a pro-Tibet sign, was allegedly mobbed by Chinese spectators who then began hitting her with small Chinese flags before she was carried away unhurt by a photographer.
"As soon as spectators saw what she was doing, they immediately mobbed her, hitting her with flags," said Brad Kesler, an American tourist who was there to watch the start of the relay.
It is reported that the Chinese Embassy drafted in 500 Chinese students who are studying in Maylasia to attend the event, with them also receiving transportation to the procession. Hundreds of Chinese students gathered at Independence Square to cheer for the Olympic flame as it began its four-hour relay through Ku... more -
Olympic torch reaches India, protesters there to greet it
Anti-Chinese protests have greeted the arrival of the Olympic torch in India, home to the world's largest Tibetan exile community.
The torch relays in Paris, London and San Francisco all had a high turnout of protesters but subsequent trips to Kazakhstan, Russia, Argentina, Tanzania, Oman and Pakistan passed without public controversy.
In New Delhi, thousands of extra police have been drafted in and Tibetan exiles are reported to gave staged near-daily demonstrations against China.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that more than 2000 protesters held a rival torch relay in the capital on Wednesday, hours before the official Olympic flame relay began. Tibetans, led by Buddhist monks, marched 2.5 kilometres shouting slogans like "Long live the Dalai Lama" and "Stop the killings in Tibet". Anti-Chinese protests have greeted the arrival of the Olympic torch in India, home to the world's largest Tibetan exile community... more -
Public banned from Torch Relay in Pakistan
As China's 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay continues, we are constantly reminded that human rights are abused around the globe. The abuses continues on Wednesday as the torch makes it way through Pakistan. Previous plans included a public parade of the torch, but Pakistan changed it's mind. Now only invited guests will view the torch in a heavily guarded stadium.
"The decision to move the relay behind closed doors came a day after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf attacked the West over the protests that have dogged the event.
Musharraf accused Western leaders and media of politicizing the Olympics by criticizing China's human rights record and its policy in Tibet.
"First of all, we consider Tibet an inalienable part of China," he said in an interview with China Daily on Sunday. If "anyone is harboring or abetting the separatists, we condemn that."
Musharraf is in Beijing to meet with various Chinese officials." As China's 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay continues, we are constantly reminded that human rights are abused around the globe. ... more
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