Nowhere is the contradiction between economic growth and sustainable development more explicit than in the People’s Republic of China. The hardships of poverty experienced by hundreds of millions of people lie hidden behind the "superlative" economic figures. And the democratic void in Chinese society contributes to the failure of central government to address the negative social and environmental impacts of runaway growth. Disruption of the Olympic torch relay by pro-Tibetan demonstrations reflected disillusionment with China’s promises to improve its record on human rights as a condition for hosting the 2008 Games.
