Shanghai - World Expo 2010 - how should we behave!

After the Beijing Olympics of last year the next big event in China will be the Shanghai Expo in 2010. (http://en.expo2010china.com) While this might be still far away for most people not living in Shanghai, for those of us living here we hear about the preparations on a regular basis. We also see the (ugly) mascot called Haibao at many places in the city. Traditional Chinese design can be very beautiful but when it comes to mascots the Chinese do not have a very good idea of what is liked internationally.

Professionally I will also involved in a small way. We have just reached agreement with the Shanghai Environmental Protection Bureau (SEPB) that the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities will work with the SEPB in organizing a workshop on the air quality management plan for the World Expo. I developed the idea for the workshop when I was still the Executive Director for CAI-Asia and since I am living here in Shanghai I will probably be involved in the organization of the workshop.

However, our personal lives are also affected by the Expo. Yesterday we received a letter from the community Party committee which gave an extensive overview of do's and do-not's:

1. Eliminate uncivilized behavior:

• Drying clothes outside should follow the rules
• Pets should not disturb the neighbors
  
• Be careful where you throw rubbish
• Protect public facilities
• Parking should follow regulations
• Manage your hands: no graffiti, do not throw rubbish
• Manage your mouth: no obscenities, no spitting, no smoking in public
• Manage your feet: observe red lights for crossing, no jay-walking

2. Self Discipline, Follow the Moral Rules

• At home, be a good family member
  
• At work: be a good colleague and observe good work ethics
• In society: be a good citizen

3. Show good spirit:

• Be polite
• Be responsible
• Show big spirit in small ways: charity, donations

You can see that we have our work cut out! I thought that I better post this so that people planning to visit us in Shanghai for the Expo can prepare themselves as well.