Agent 350

350 China, Part VI: Back in Beijing

Jamie (Agent 350)

Aug 28, 2008 02:41 pm

Claire and I returned to Beijing to find the city abuzz with preparations for the Olympics. On the subway, we ran into volunteers proudly displaying their official Olympic name-tags. The street leading to our guest house, located in one of the few remaining traditional hutong neighborhoods, had been repaved. Most impressive of all, Beijing taxi drivers were (for the most part) obeying new rules that prohibited excessive honking, one of the most popular forms of communication in the city.

Since we already tracked down many of the groups I hoped to get in touch with, I took a day off from meetings, conferences, and marches and visited the Forbidden City. It was stunning to look out across courtyard after courtyard, building after building, and reflect the immensity of China's history and power. Few countries can count their history over 4,000 years into the past. And few countries will have a larger impact on the future of our planet.

I left China without any deep insights into it's fate or ours. To me, China felt like it was going in a thousand different directions at 100 miles per hour. Despite that, the trip felt like a great success. Claire and I met so many incredible students, organizations, business people, and journalists, all of whom who are working hard to put China on a more sustainable course – a course towards 350 and all it is meant to represent.

After our time in China, Claire and I spent another productive week in Taiwan before heading back the United States. We attended an excellent environmental camp and met with more student leaders and even met one of the most famous poets in Asia and got him to become a messenger for us and 350.

Now, back in the United States, I'm busy catching up with all the friends and contacts I made from my trip to Asia. I'd love to hear your thoughts about how we can better connect all of these efforts around the world. Keep in touch!


 

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