Mixed Record for Beijing's "Green Olympics"

A $1 billion rush order for the Indonesian tropical hardwood merbau is designated for construction of the 2008 Beijing Olympic sports venues, according to an April 2006

New York Times report. The deal is part of $7 billion China invested in Indonesia last year—much of the investment is going toward replacing valuable ecosystems with palm oil plantations to produce goods like soaps and cosmetics for Chinese consumers. Meanwhile, China is touting the 2008 Games as the “Green Olympics,” with forests being planted around Beijing to control air pollution and the government committing to using green materials and renewable energy for Olympic facilities.