Ecolodge San Luis, a University of Georgia campus hidden in the cloud forest of Monteverde, Costa Rica will be seeing some changes in the months to come.

Andy, a  student in architecture is currently working on seven different projects to expand the current site by designing sustainable houses and buildings.

The campus currently has some 12 cabinas along side bungalows and casitas for the on site naturalists.

Every six months or so, the ecolodge San Luis receives volunteers from around the globe. On site there are  seven resident naturalists giving tours to visitors and working closely with Santa Elena and San Luis residents.

Cameron Moyes, a naturalist from Scotland said: ” I have learnt so much more here than I have in University. It makes things much more real and understandable to be in such a rich biodiversity.”

The naturalists are trained to recognise the sound and appearance of the many birds as well as being aware of their surroundings.

Other students come here to train to be English teachers and give free english lessons to the children and adults from around the neighbourhood which has proved very popular so far.

Next week a photo exhibition from the women of San Luis will be offered to all.

 To learn more about the Ecolodge San Luis project go to http://www.uga.edu/aboutUGA/compete-ecolodge.html

France is facing another season of discontent and will be faced with at least two strikes in the next few days.

Today the unions are hoping to see over 50,000 people in 80 towns demonstrating against a new law concerning retirement schemes. The retirement scheme would effectively make people work longer and that the unions find unacceptable.  

Next Saturday, 24 of May, the teachers are excepted to go on strike against the suppression of 11 200 teaching positions in September 2008. This has been an ongoing debate for the last three months.

And finally on May 15, 38% of agents from the general public finance department went on strike for the first time since 2003.

So we can now ask if a year later, Nicolas Sarkozy is still as popular as when he started. The answer is definitely not! His electorate feels let down and people are slowly losing faith in him. So maybe its time for president Sarkozy to step out of the stage light and seriously find solution to France’s economical and financial crisis.

  China and Burma both destroyed by nature in the last week are reluctant for outsiders to help their people. While China is ready to accept “financial and material” international help, the Burmese Government finally agreed for a US military plane to land today.

Yesterday the county of Sichuan was victim of a destructive earthquak, magnitude 7.9,  leaving next to 12 000 victims. Le Monde reports that Beijing is “favorable” to international help but only on a financial and material scale.

Wang Zhenyo, Minister of Foreign Affairs said: ” It is still impossible for our own teams to get to the zones destroyed by the earthquake. We do not have any good transport conditions”.

There is an international mobilisation around the world. Countries around China are now offering to help their neighbour. Japan will send some essentials such as tents and blankets. Taiwan stepped up saying it is was ready to send first aid teams. King Abdallah II of Jordan offered to send medical teams.

     The official death toll for the cyclone in Myanmar has now reached up to 32,000 although international organisations believe it to be higher. In Myanmar the BBC has reported that two lorries carring relief supplies have now been able to access Rangoon. Even though its people are living in terrible conditions, Myanmar is determined to get over this without any international help.

Some areas of the country are still unexplored and people are not receiving any help at all. The US flight was carrying mosquito nets, blankets and water. And the Medecins Sans Frontiers and Medecins du Monde agencies have been able to deliver 56 tonnes of aid supplies.

International aid is only trickling in both politically controversial countries and despite the events in the last year, the world seems to be in sympathy with China and Myanmar. Facebook is even circulating a group that will donate 10 cents to Burma Cyclone Relief for every person joining the group.

For every person who joins, we will donate 10 cents to Burma Cyclone Relief (facebook)

Pictures from BBC website

11 people have been killed in North Ghana during the confrontation of ethnic groups in Bawku since May 5.

The residents of Bawku have requested police security and have been escorted to the borders of the town.

The minister of Interior,Kwamena Bartels said that police “imprisoned residents in their homes”. A circulation policy allows residents to go freely only between seven and nine in the morning. 72 people have been arrested for breaching the 22 curfew. Reuters reported that a 24 hour curfew was now in place.

Bawku has 206 000 residents and the majority belong to the Kusasi and Manprusi ethnic groups. The troubles have been going on since January and house have been burned down on more than on occasion.

The Ghanea president meet the two rivals ethnic groups last March in the hope of mediation.

Despite the troubles in 2002, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire still keeps its West African feel of a relaxed and welcoming country.

The official language in Ivory Coast is French although there are many African dialects which can be easily picked up if you stay for more than 3 or 4 weeks. The country borders Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana. The Gulf of Guinea is the main resource for the south of the country. Like many of its neighbours, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire was a French colony and you will realise when looking at Africa how straight the border lines are. This was done by the colonials without taking into account the tribes and lands of the people. There are more than 60 different ethnic groups in Ivory Coast with the main one being Baoule.

Although the capital is Yamoussoukro, Abidjan remains the main administration centre and the largest city. An anecdote one of my friends told me was that when the French Embassy had a party they would put two different times on the invitation card. One at 8 pm for the expats and one at 7 pm for the locals to make sure they are on time.

Again in the Gambia, the GTM time is funnily called the Gambia Maybe Time… this are just a couple of example illustrating that one must not be in a hurry when visiting West Africa and you just have to go with the flow.

Places:

Abidjan, the former capital is probably as lively as it gets and the main centre for foreign expats to go to. You can also see the home of famous reggae singer, Alpha Blondy. The national museum hosts a collection of artifacts, statues, ivory and local culture. Le plateau is also a unavoidable stop-by for tourists with a numerous shops and parks. If you fancy a nice night out you should head towards Treichville where you will find pubs, bars, clubs in abundance.

Les lagunes is also a favourite where you can go and relax by the sea with a lot of water sports and dirt tracks on offer.

Other than that I would recommended taking a road trip of a few days in the brousse so see wildlife and experience the dodgy roads and old 4 by 4!

Food:

As far as I’m concerned it’s all about the fried plantain! You’ll find them for breakfast, lunch and dinner! The other main food is cereal which ranges from cassava, yams and taro along side fish.

Recommended Websites, Books, Music:

August Cornelius Yao Azaglo, Photographs from Ivory Coastshows a magnificent array of pictures.

Any of the Alpha Blondy albums which include ‘Fanta Dialo’ or ‘Jerusalem’

http://www.africaguide.com/country/ivoryc/culture.htm gives an nice overview on what to see, do and know.

Sensual, singing and enticing, Spain a and all that surrounds it is about ‘el amor’ and ‘el corazon’. Spanish people are flirty and always ready to share with others.

Along with the United Kingdom, Spain is one of the few European countries left with a monarchy. It seems that much like the UK, the Spanish Royal family is only ever part of the news when a scandal explodes. Spain is divided by regions which all have something different to offer may it be for the food, the fauna and the flora or the architecture. Spanish is very lively language and much like Italian you might think they are arguing but it’s really all about energy it conveys and most often it’s just happy banter.

The Spanish civil war heavily influenced Spanish arts whether the painting (Picasso or Dali), architecture (Gaudi) and films (La movida created by Almodovar, Bunel) as well as Arabic style during the Arabic invasion during the 10th century (mainly in the South of Spain). The Spanish are very proud of their nation and their country and it can sometimes be difficult as a foreigner to fit in but as far as holidays go, it’s great thanks to their great sense of partying. Do not forget that if a Spaniard asks you out, your evening will probably not start before 11pm and most lightly end in the early hours of the madrugada.

If you ever have to possibility to see a flamenco show, you should definitely go. This dance of battle and strenght is conveyed by the sometimes heart breaking sound of the singers and intruments and the grace of the dancers. Caution will give you shudders down your spin.

Places:

Much like Glasgow and Edinburgh or even Marseille and Paris, there is an eternal battle between Madrid (prounounced Madriz by the Madrilenos) and Barcelona. You have to prefer one over the other. To spend a long weekend, I would probably recommend Barcelona because of it geographical emplacement by the sea. There’s loads to do there and Gaudi’s buildings and park break to monotony of city buildings. Walking down la Rambla and in the city centre browsing around the shops is a real treat on a nice warm sunny summer day. The night life is great as well, we more bars and clubs than you can wish for to choose from.

It is probably the geographical location and the architecture that will make you choose between Madrid and Barcelona. Personally, my six months in Madrid were amazing but a lot of it happened at night. Being the capital, Madrid is young and vibrant and there’s always a nice little hidden cafe round the corner…usually your instinct bring you there. The ‘barrios’ I would warmly recommend are Lavapies and el Rastro (old town), Malsana and Conde Duque (good clubs and the famous Plaza de Mayo) along with Sol and Huertas. Drinking in the streets has now been banned because of the noise but notably in Plaza Dos de Mayo you will still be able to find a few people hanging around with bottles of San Miguel and drums.  The Retiro Park offers the same kind of atmosphere as well as a nice walk round the lac. A must-see museum along with the famous Museo del Prado, is the Museo de la Reina Sofia next to the train station which is home to Picasso’s famous Guernica. You will inevitably find yourself on the Plaza del Oriente (where you will see the Palacio Real and Teatro Real) and it is worth stopping by the small church of San Isidor with it’s unexpected paintings on the ceiling.  

Further South are Granada and Sevilla. This is were you will find the most Arabic influenced buildings notably with the Alcazar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada. During the spring Seville lives up to expectation with trees dripping with oranges in the city. Opposite the Alcazar is the equally impressive cathedral of Seville build in the 15th century. Granada is a favourite of mine even though I went there in mid-winter, with a snowy Sierra Nevada in the background. The Alhambra is majestic and you feel in another world when you visit it. The whole palace is centred around the theme of water and fountains and water features are everywhere. It is here you most likely be able to order a beer and get free tapas with it. If you fancy a walk, go ad get lost in the Albacin, a small village like hill which is most likely lead you to the Mirador San Nicolas from which you can admire the Alambra at sunset.

Food:

As far as food goes, Spain knows what it’s doing. Eating is convivial and tapas on offer enable you to share around with the rest of the table. The cheese is lovely and so it the ever famous Jamon Serrana (dried ham). And who can resist a Paella ( get the ‘mixta’ so you can have seafood and chicken in it)? Franchises are more and more common but still offer quality food and if ever a ’100 montaditos’ crosses your path, you should stop. Montaditos  are small sandwiches and in this particular place you can choose amongst a hundred of them for a reasonable price. Another budget food option is the tortilla espanola (omelette with onion and potato).

If you like your red wine full-bodied, Rioja and Valdepenas are the ones for you.

Recommended films, books and websites:

All the Almodovar collection of films; from Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown to the more recent Volver with Penelope Cruz.

Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro if you like mystical/magical film with an often underlying meaning of the impact of the civil war in Spain.

L’auberge Espagnole (I think it’s translated to Pot Luck in English) by Cedric Klapish, a feel good movie about a student going to Barcelona for a year and who discovers the warmnest of Spain and living abroad. Incredibly funny!

http://www.spain.info/ to find you what’s happening in the country and the best to visit.

Cervante’s famous Don Quixote (book). 

Music: La Hungara, pop-funk mixed with the basics of flamenco, very catchy and Paco Cepero for pur flamenco.

South Korea, knows as the ‘Italy of Asia’ is a vibrant, dynamic and warm hearted country. Unlike its Japanese neighbour, South Korea feels much more authentic and human even though their traditions are still very much alive.

South Korea has experienced an incredible boost in the last two decades notably due to the Football World Cup and mind-sets have changed a great deal. Last decade it would have been inimaginable for a couple to divorced without being booed by the family.

Although traditions still mean a lot and people still follow them, they have taken a new meaning and have been adapted to this technological world. For example, for a child’s first birthday, the young one is placed in front of a needle and thread (symbolizing long life), a bank note or money (symbolizing a rich life), a pen and paper ( symbolizing the child will become a writer) and so on. Nowadays parents have also added a computer mouse symbolizing the child will become a computer/technology wizard. Let’s not forget that South Korea has one of the more advanced technological developments.

Places

Once again the inevitable capital, Seoul! Very much a big city and proud to be one, Seoul is yet another of these cities that never sleep. Bars, karaoke, clubs and even the public baths are open at all times of day and night. The public transport is very reliable and like many Asian cities you can find corridors of underground shops with loads of funky, cheesy and of course kitch clothes and accessories. If you want to make the most of the day light whilst shopping and find nice affordable Korean souvenirs, the best place to go is the market in Isadong. Traditional masks, green porcelain and calligraphy can all be found. I suggest that you maybe check out the Lonely Planet for the more historical aspect that Seoul has to offer including the Seoul Tower ( best panorama in town when the sky is blue), Kyongbokkung Palace or Pagoda Park.

Travelling around Korea is fairly easy, most people will be happy to try out their English and Koreans will always try to help you as much as they can. But be aware that it isn’t called the Italy of Asia for nothing, people like to talk and even though they don’t know they might send you in the completely opposite direction ( they genuinely wanting to help you though). Very much worth visiting is the Cheju-do Island. This volcanic island hosts the highest mountain in Korea at 1950m, Mount Halla. The usually warm, sunny climate makes it a nice escape from Korea’s big cities. It’s also possible to see women diving for pearls, one of Cheju’s specialities.

Talking of specialities, if you like your fish, I suggest you wizz of to Pusan (now pronounced Busan), in South East Korea with one of the largest harbors in Korea. It has one of the most impressive fish and shellfish markets’ divided into dried seafood and fresh seafood. Don’t be startled when you see sea cucumbers for the first time in buckets of water, they look like penises.. You can also find nice, relaxing hot-springs in the area of Tongnae and if you feel like a bit of culture you should look around Kumgang Park for temples and geographical beauties.

One of the best seasons to go to Korea is spring or autumn which both have they own particularities to offer.

Food:

Korean food is one of the healthiest foods you can have. Restaurants will serve not only your main but also several little bowls of vegetables including the famous fermented cabbage,Kimchi. This traditional dish, varies from region to region and can be very spicy. If you are an amateur of meats bulgogi is a must have. Bibimbap is also one of the national dishes that you will regularly find in small and big restaurants. It is a rice dish served with vegetable and a raw egg that will cook once you mix it up with the rest of the food 9 caution hot!).

The national drink is soju. The Koreans grave about it. Although is it not usually well perceived for woman to drink, I think that as foreigners ladies, you can get away with it. Be aware though, qualities vary and the bad ones can be pretty lethal for your stomach and your hangover the next morning.

Recommended books, websites, films:

Lifeinkorea.com gives a good, general overview of what foods and events there are in the various regions of Korea as well as culture, education and life style.

Ida au pays du matin calme ( translated into Ida in the land of the Calm Morning) by Ida Daussy, is a huge recommendation is you can find it in English ( or French or Korean…). Ida Daussy has been living in Korea for over a decade and she shares in her autobiographical book all the unusual experiences a foreigner can pick up in Korea. Easy-reading and entertaining, it took me back to my years in Korea even bringing back to smell of raw garlic and hot spice that transpires in the underground at rush hour.

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring by Kim Ki-Duk the story of an elderly monk welcoming a mischiavous child into his calm life.

France, Paris, cuisine, food, strikes, Parisians, St-Tropez just a few words that can come to mind when thinking of my homeland.

From a now French expat’s point of view, France brings mixed feeling. I find myself dreaming a nice warm crusty baguette sandwich with ham and emmental but I also makes me cringe when I think of the way the French can act so arrogantly and manage to despise anything that does not have ‘le label rouge’.

For travellers, France has a lot to offer, from mountains to beaches and big urban cities to quiet small country villages.

Places:

Well Paris has to be in the list so I suppose I’ll just get it done and over with. A part from its inhabitants, Paris is lovely. Historically moments are dripping all over the place, cafes in abundance and on warm summer evening walking down the Seine is as romantic as you can get. You will have heard of all the famous place like the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre (where Amelie was filmed) and the Louvre. So the hidden places of Paris notably for a nice dinner and a drink would be the Canal Saint-Martin by Republique and the Barbes quarter becoming ever more trendy. For a nice breezy afternoon walk, go behind the Centre Pompidou into Le Marais, Paris’s gay quarter, have a look round the gadget shops and continue towards the Jewish quarter and La Place des Vosges to see Victor Hugo’s house.

Brittany is growing ever more popular for British holiday makers and house buyers. Up on the North West Coast, Brittanny has a rough landscape. Rennes is beautiful city to visit and the old quarter is a delight to browse around. Beware of Thursday night and the rest of the weekend really because students decide to pub crawl in the street now know as the Street of Thrist (Rue de la Soif). The food speciality there would be Crepes Bretonnes which can be had sweet or savoury.  The Mont Saint-Michelwith it’s unique monastry is a beauty especially at sunset.

Further down the West coast is l’Ile de Re, a small island with salt marshes, bycicles, cute donkeys and again wonderful landscapes. If you like hiking, water sports and camping, the Ardeche is the place for you. With its long river running down it, kayaking and canoying is very enjoyable especially on a sunny weekend. You can stop to camp on the way, and drink pur spring water. Wild camping is now illegal in France but as long as you respect the environment you can get away with it.

The East of France is especially popular in winter with its numerous skiing resorts in the Alpes and the Vosges. Outside of the winter season the East has amazing mountain landscapes and is very much recommended for hill walking lovers.

If you want to avoid the high season tourists in the South of France you should venture to Provence (famous for its melons and lavender) and find a small rural village and go round the markets delecting peaches, nectarines, apricots and all these lovely seasonal fruits and vegetables.

If you are wine lovers I would recommend the the Loire Valley and Burgundy. But again I am not an expert in wine and to be honest you’ll find regional wines anywhere you go. However in the Loire Valley and Burgundy you can be sure to be able to visit vineyards and to a bit of wine tasting.

Food:

This is just going to be a very selective list. In the Est you will find tartiflette (potatoe, bacon and cheese bake), raclette ( self cooking/melting cheese with ham and potatoes- very sociable). In the South West you will get Cassoulet (beans stew with either porc, beef or duck), Salade de Gesiers and some lovely lovely goats cheese!  Down South you’ll be more likely to find Spanish and North African influenced cuisine. And has said above Britanny has a reputation for its pancakes.

Websites, Books etc.

A few classic are authors such as Victor Hugo ( Les miserables), Zola, Balzac and Voltaire.

Films: La Haine by Matthiey Kassovitz, story of three young people living on of the estates in Paris. We are invinted into 24 hours of their life. Gripping, very realistic and touching.

 Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain by Pierre Jeunet, no description needed

 the more recent Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis by Dany Boon, incredibly funny. feel good movie about how the North of France is perceived by the rest with their unique accent and way of life.

Japan, this country full of charm and peacefulness brings many interrogations.

 The Japanese, over-polite and hyper efficient seem never to relax. At least in big cities. Tokyo is impressively big and advanced. The pedestrians crossing become a human wall when the light turns green. The traditions, the temples and the nature are wonderful. If you have the courage, climbing Mount Fuji for the sunrise is an experience not to be missed. The Japanese, like the Chinese, travel together and en mass. The groups that you can see across Europe with white gloves, white hats and a leader with a yellow flag are no myth. It’s all about organisation and making sure you are not stepping on any body’s feet. I guess you have to if you will be living on such a narrow island dominated by mountains.

If you go to work over there, it might seem difficult to get any real advice or continuity in your work. People will say ‘hei hei’ (yes, yes) to everything but most likely they will then go behind your back and do their own thing. Hierarchy is very important to the Japanese. Your company is much like your family. You have the father at the head of it and you must obey him. This can be quite an adjustement to for foreigners but if you are only passing by and travelling this may not be your main concern.

Places:

Japan can be ridiculously expensive so get your budget sorted before you go. Tokyo is of course worth the visit and going to the punk quarters of Harajuku is always entertaining. If you go there please have a strawberry and whip cream pancake on my behalf! They are amazing! The subway works amazingly and is great help to get around town. As well as being historically interesting, Tokyo offers a great night out and some really kitch and funky shops. You might want to drop into the famous Condomania store, just for a peek. Don’t forget that Tokyo is increasingly of megalopolis and hosts up to 26 different regions.

A little outside Tokyo is Nara, Japan’s ancient capital, where you can visit temples (there’s a lot more of them where they come from) and lovely deers which will bow back to you. Kyoto is another inevitable stop with its famous Gold Temple. Do not be surprised if people look at you strangely because you are taking a photo with no one in it. The Japanese loooove taking each others pictures. And loooove taking pictures of Westerners. It can be quite daunting sometimes when you are desperately trying to take a view with no one in it.

To get from town to town, use the Shinkanzen, this high speed train will get you nearly anywhere smoothly and quickly. If you are on a budget it might be a little pricey so you may prefer to get buses or simply regular trains. To get to the main islands Shikoku, Kyushu and Hokkaido the only transports will be by boat or plane. Hokkaido is seen by the expats as the ‘posh’ place to go skying. Indeed everything is much more expensive than on the main island of Honshu.

Food:

Is would be unavoidable not to eat some sushi or sashimi ( the ones without rice) when you are there. Again these are quite expensive. A lot of street vendors will be selling yakitori (meat skewers – if you are particular missing cheese go for the beef and cheese one) and rice cakes. Japan has an amazing variety of noodles which you’ll need to taste to find which is your favorite. Anything from the sea is Japan’s main cuisine.

Websites, Books, Films etc.:

Japanese dishes: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2035.html

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

Memoirs of a Geisha the novel by Arthur Golden as well as the film by Rob Marshall

Lost in Translation directed by Sofia Coppola

Between the invention of writing and paper and the secrecy of a communist state that controls the internet, China is a country worth looking into.

China, or should I say the People’s Republic of China, the name echoes a mixture of mystery and intrigue. This country populated by more than 1.3 billion people holds ancient secrets and recent political controversies notably with the imminent Olympic Games.

Having recently travelled to China, Olympic hosting cities like Beijing and Shanghai were trying to get buildings done in time. There were TV ads telling people not to spit, to be respectful of one another and basically make sure that anyone coming for the games would see how great China is as a country.

And it is. But not for the reasons the Chinese Government would like it to be. It is for the loaded and fascinating culture it has; for the temples and the religion, the nature, its poets and thinkers and of course the food! Ah, how I long for a bowl of noodles from Xi’an. And no, there wasn’t any dog in them as it is a very expensive meat only eaten for special occasions and for men who might want to be re boost their virility.

It seems easy to criticise China for their appalling history of human rights violations, which are hard to comprehend from a Western perspective. However, with regards to China’s history it is also questionable how the Olympic committee tolerates the Chinese state’s approach to making the country ready for this major event. 

Wu Jianmin, President of the Chinese Foreign Affairs University and former Chinese ambassador to France, said at a conference in Beijing that for China, hosting the Olympics is “a dream old of a century”.

Yang Lingli, university professor in Beijing said: “People in Beijing have better awareness of the Olympic spirit. They enthusiastically take part in all kinds of sports or Olympic-theme activities. They feel proud that such a great event will be held in Beijing and hope they can really do something for it. People here are more open-minded to the outside world.”

China is a country which has a lot to offer through a rich history and the incredible warm hospitality, and friendliness of its people. And through those aspects, China will be a great addition to the history of Olympic host nations. 

Before arriving in China I had been warned that language would be a barrier, but it is possible always to find your way with a few glossaries, body language and a smile. The only exception was one restaurant were we pointed at a picture with a prawn stir-fry and got fried peanuts instead.

The younger generation speaks English and learns it in school just as we learn Spanish or German. And you can always be sure that whenever there’s a bargain to be made, there’s someone to shout you out a price in English or whip out a calculator to haggle.

That is not to say that there are no dramatic, cultural differences, which might appear overwhelming for tourist and Olympic contestants.

Brieg Lemétayer, resident in Beijing says: “The Chinese are well-known for their lack of manners which can be a shocking experience for a foreigner. The Chinese Government wants to make of its capital a showcase of the country by educating its population”.

Lemétayer goes on explaining how on the 11^th of each month Beijing has a ‘day of ‘politeness’ where there should be no insults, no fights, respecting queues in the metro.

Queuing is a big problem for tourists in China. It might take you some time to realise that to get on or off a train or a bus the rule is that there are no rules. Another surprise for the western public might be experiencing the public toilet, often with no doors and the smell evident from 200 metres away.

There is however one obvious worry surfacing the debate over the Chinese Olympic Games and that is the problem faced by industrial activity, resulting in a grey blanket of pollution covering the major cities.  

When landing in Beijing, the air was smoggy and hot and my first thought was, I’m definitely in Asia. Now I wonder how the athletes participating in this summer’s Olympic Games are going to cope. During the four weeks I travelled China, blue sky and sun were present for a total of three days. The rest was a hazy, grey and humid cloud. 

The Olympics are only months away and it will go ahead despite the criticism the event is facing, and China I am sure China will pull it off in the same degree that Athens did four years ago, by proving the opposition wrong. Plans have been announced to halt the traffic and the construction a few months before the start of the games in order to improve the air quality. One method being by the government in Beijing to ensure a blue sky the next day is shooting chemical rockets that will disperse the rain clouds.

However, while visitors can leave China after the 16 days long event is over, opinions differs on the lasting implications for the Chinese people.

Yang Lingli says: “The benefits (from the games) are not just short term. The strong growth momentum the Olympic Games create will continue to promote China’s development in every aspect for quite a long time even after the Games 2008. I think Chinese politics will not be altered. But the Chinese government will adopt a more open minded approach to other governments to create a peaceful and harmonious political environment.”

Brieg Lemétayer says: “The wealthier Chinese are going to get the most economical advantages from the games. The more conservatives and communists Chinese fear the consequences of such an opening of their country. And finally the poorer population which is brought in from the provinces for labour will then be asked to leave once the games start”.