From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

China, the Olympic Games, and environmental pollution.

Hello again, I'm Aronalny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

As China strives to be an economic colossus, hundreds of thousands of people are dying prematurely from unbreatheable air and contaminated water.

During next summer's Olympics, auto traffic and manufacturing will be curtailed in greater Beijing, and nearby coal mines may be shut down.

But the basic problem remains. mind-boggling expansion

in the world's most populous country with few controls on waste and emissions. On To the Point,

what does it mean for the rest of the world? What's China trying to do about it? On reporter's notebook

later on, an unlikely apology from the chief of the LAPD. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and

Catherine T. McArthur Foundation. Hello again. Warren Alney, back with To the Point.

Next summer's Olympic Games have focused attention on China's economic expansion and the environmental

pollution that's going along with it. On To the Point, we'll talk about China's image problems,

the health of its people, and the impact on the rest of the world. On reporter's notebook,

the chief of police in Los Angeles has issued a public

apology, something he wasn't known for as chief in New York, is William Bratton sending a new

trend in law enforcement. First, this news update. As auto workers appear on the verge of ratifying

a new contract with General Motors, 35,000 workers at Chrysler walked off the job today. Picket lines went up at

18 manufacturing plants and several other facilities in some 14 states. Katie Merck's is business

writer at the Detroit Free Press. Katie, thanks a lot for being with us.

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