Beijing to Execute Half Its Population to Reduce Pollution for Olympics

BEIJING - China said that half of the population of Beijing will be executed this week in a move to reduce air pollution in advance of the Olympics, which start August 8. 

The executions are expected to reduce by half the 3.3 million cars belching noxious gases on Beijing’s roads.  Beijing’s air quality is some 40 times worse than the air quality in Los Angeles. 

The identities of those to be executed will be determined in a lottery to be conducted Tuesday.  The executions will occur Friday.  

The announcement surprised some Beijing residents, many of whom expressed disappointment that they may not be around to see the Olympics. But one Beijing man summed up the general mood: “Just knowing the Olympics will be here makes us proud of China, even if China has to kill us.”

Jul 28

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