Wang Yongchen () is the Senior Environment Reporter for

China National Radio China National Radio (CNR; ) is the national radio network of China, headquartered in Beijing. CNR forms the national radio service of the state-owned China Media Group (also known as the "Voice of China"). History The infrastructure began wi ...

. Wang founded Green Earth Volunteers, a Chinese environmental NGO, in 1996. She is the president of the group and organizes many of its activities.

Biography

Wang received her graduates' degree at Peking University."Yongchen Wang." The Complete Marquis Who's Who: Who's Who in Asia. 2008. She worked as a journalist specializing in the environment. A pioneer of radio programs for the environment, she founded "Classroom on Wednesday" and "Journalists' Salon," which encourage public awareness as well as debate. She specifically hopes to increase awareness on the relationship between humans and nature and the social responsibility in the protection of nature. She has received many awards for her reporting including the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union prize in 1993, 1999 and 2001, the Condé Nast Traveler Environmental Award in 2004, and the Earth award or Globe award in 2001. The latter is China's most esteemed environmental award. She contributed the Earth award prize money, a sum of 20,000 RMB, to China's Environmental Foundation and founded the Green Earth Education Fund.

Involvement with the Nu River

The

Nu River The Salween is a Southeast Asian river, about long, flowing from the Tibetan Plateau south into the Andaman Sea. The Salween flows primarily within southwest China and eastern Myanmar, with a short section forming the border of Myanmar and Tha ...

, in southwestern China, is one of only two major rivers in China that remain undammed. Proponents of the dam project said it was a prime source for hydroelectricity, and said it would lift locals out of poverty. Opponents said it threatened the area's cultural and ecological diversity. The Nu River is home to more than 7,000 plant species, more than half of China's animal species, and some 22 ethnic minority groups. Wang organized a campaign to stop dam projects on the Nu River. Their efforts led to Premier Wen Jiabao's announcement in April 2004 to put the dam project on hold due to concerns about the environment and ethnic minorities. The project could still be completed despite the fact that many locals do not support the project. In August 2005, scores of Chinese organizations and individuals signed an open letter to the government, asking the authorities to publish environmental-impact documents and hold public hearings on the Nu River plans. By August 2006, the government still had not responded to the open letter. In February, contractors claimed the Nu River project was set to begin, with the project developer, China Huadian, beginning initial preparations. But it is still unclear whether the project received final approval from Beijing. A local government official reportedly denied the dam had been approved, saying a mandatory green assessment by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) was still pending.

Positions

Wang thinks it is a false choice to choose between economic development and environmental protection: "The biggest problem in increasing awareness, I think, is that environmental protection still involves nothing but slogans. While many people see a conflict between economic development and environmental protection, I believe that when you come closer to nature to learn more about it, you will find no real conflict between the two. On the contrary, a deteriorating environment makes economic development a 'mission impossible.' It is just like when people sacrifice health to make money and then have to spend that money to recover their health. The Green Earth Volunteers is a big family of nature lovers. If you are interested in our goals, just join us and you will be surprised at how much you will enjoy."

Works

Wang publishes articles for

chinadialogue Dialogue Earth, formerly China Dialogue (), is an independent, non-profit organisation based in London. It was launched on July 3, 2006. Dialogue Earth is funded by a range of institutional supporters, including several major charitable foundations ...

, which are available in Chinese and English.
Letting nature heal itself

18 July 2008
A yellow card for the Three Parallel Rivers

3 August 2007
China’s water resources: environmental security needed

7 March 2007
What if nature could speak?

15 February 2007
Quenching China’s thirst

2 February 2007
Farewell to the baiji

10 January 2007
Report from the Nu River: "Nobody has told us anything"

2 August 2006

References

External links