Following the recent holiday, I found the above tree that mixed the new (haibao) with the old (a packet of Double Happiness) as a strange reminder of just how far we have yet to go.
January 3, 2010
May 22, 2009
The Future of Green Business in China
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has released a filming of their recent Event, The Future of Green Business in China.
Terry Yosie, President and CEO of World Environment Center and Ye Weijia, head of New Ventures China, discuss green businesses in China.
They discuss the work their companies have already done, while anticipating new challenges.
At an hour long (16 chapters), this discussion is definitely worth spending your lunch hour on.
May 21, 2009
Plastic Bags Run Amoke
Seriously. What is the use of this plastic bags? It is clearly not strong enough to support the weight should I chose to use the bag as a … bag, and it is clearly not meant to act as a measure of protection.
Is this the result of a food safety law, or is it just another wasted addition to provide buyers with the illusion that they are buying a higher grade product?
May 8, 2009
China Earth Hour Newsletter
With the WWF China team still on a high from the success of March’s Earth Hour event, their local team pt together a press package (download here) of all the China based events that I think does a great job of summarizing the success they found in China.
For me, one of my primary concerns was simply how far into the local population they were getting, and was all the media making it into the Average Zhou’s house. It is a question I ask a lot as many foreign NGOs have issues getting into the Non-English market, but I have to give WWF credit as in the end they were able to convince a lot of gatekeepers (government agencies, property management firms, and colleges to participant)
These are relationships that will continue to bear a lot of fruit going forward, which will of course mean that WWF will need to / be able to bring up these groups into newer and more sustainable programming as well.
My hat is off the the team. job well done.
May 4, 2009
Greenpeace Tells Monsanto How They Really Feel about GM rice
One of the more interesting groups to follow, no matter where you are in the world, is Greenpeace.
Their history of confronting issues is well known, and while some of their tactics might be considered extreme for some, in china their efforts have been targeted, measured, and are done in a manner that I think will help push the environmental agenda in the right direction.
The latest successful exercise was last week in Beijing as members of Greenpeace showed up at the Monsanto offices to express their opinion on Monsanto’s role in producing GE crops:
Big multi-national companies such as Monsanto are among several overseas organisations or institutions which hold patent rights on GE rice lines being developed in China.
We want them to come clean about their patent plot.
The commerical GE seed business has driven seed prices up and in some cases has elbowed non-GE seeds out of the market.
Agrochemical giants have shown how they love to squeeze profits out of struggling farmers by charging technology fees.
They have even sued farmers over patent rights.
It comes on the heels of their recently released, and highly covered, food report that looked at the use of chemicals and pesticides in China’s food system… and this recent action shows that Greenpeace has clearly sunk their teeth into this issue
May 1, 2009
China Allocated 3.4 billion USD For Green Projects in 2009Q1
While the rumors over the final green stimulus are flying right now, it is good to see that at least the first 3.4 billion has been allocated:
Of the 23 billion yuan spending, 13 billion went to improving urban water treatment facilities, 4 billion yuan to pollution prevention projects on the Huaihe and other big rivers, 3.5 billion yuan to forest planting projects and the other 2.5 billion yuan to key energy saving projects across the country.
Heavy on pure environmental objectives, I would be curious to know what money – if any – was dedicated to buildings. Specifically retrofitting buildings to be more energy efficient.
April 23, 2009
Push to Stimulate Economy Risks Further Environmental Damage in China
As the wheels of the global economy began to spin off, many began to ask what the implications for China’s environment would be.
It was only last year that we began to see real strides, strides that were due in large part to China’s success, and its ability to get choosy, but as the manufacturing sector slowed down and Beijing looked to catalyze industry, things began to change:
In the rush to invest $585 billion in stimulus spending and revive flagging industrial production, China has at least temporarily backpedaled on some environmental restraints imposed, though with limited impact, during the country’s long boom.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection, citing the urgency of fighting the downturn, adopted a new “green passage” policy that speeds approval of industrial projects. In one three-day stretch late last year, it gave the green light to 93 new investment plans valued at $38 billion.
Provincial environmental agencies quickly followed suit, cutting the allotted time limit to review environmental impact assessments from the maximum 60 days to as few as five days in one province.
It was of course somewhat expected that the EVA’s would be brushed aside in the 2nd and 3rd tier cities, as they were still trying to catch up on the growth their coastal conterparts had experienced, but what is sadly becoming evident is that this is process occuring at the highest levels:
Mr. Pan’s populist cachet exceeded his political clout, putting him at loggerheads with many chiefs of provinces, state companies and ministries, including his current boss, according to people with ties to Mr. Pan who declined to be identified while discussing internal government affairs.
These people said they did not have direct evidence that Mr. Pan was sidelined by rivals. But he was replaced last year as the public face of the ministry. In the fall, as the economic downturn worsened, party disciplinary inspectors detained two of his top aides and investigated Mr. Pan, and his wife, they said.
They said Mr. Pan and his wife had been cleared of wrongdoing. He has made more official appearances in the last month than in previous months, the ministry Web site shows. But he no longer holds key responsibilities for environmental reviews and cultural promotion, and people informed about his situation said it was unclear whether he would remain at the ministry.
A truly discouraging sign that things have taken several steps back, and I can only hope that it doesn’t take another Taihu Lake to cake over in algae before the environmental movement gets back on track.
April 3, 2009
Jane Goodall China Diary
It you are believer that the key to the environmental problems we face is education, then there is no better teacher than Jane Goodall.
Founder of the Roots & Shoots program, Jane Goodall’s impact is being felt in China as programs in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Nanchang, and Inner Mongolia have developed.
Part 1
Part 2
March 27, 2009
Ma Jun on Defending Water Security
In the recent China Dialogue Article Defending Water Security, Ma Jun writes a very compelling piece on what can happen when weak environmental protection is allowed to continue.
Following the recent events in Yancheng, the article shows the time line leading up to the spill possessed not only multiple opportunities to prevent the accident, but that local officials were fully aware that it was only a matter of time before an accident happened:
In the meeting that set out the plan, one city leader described the threat from chemical plants as a time bomb threatening water security in Yancheng. He cited a chemical leak at Longfeng Aromatics, strange odours coming from the river in 2004 and 2005 and a waste leak from Anhu Agricultural Chemicals in 2007.
However, one year later Yancheng extended the deadline for closing or relocating 10 of the firms until the end of 2009. These firms included Biaoxin. Indecision and delay meant a serious incident was permitted to happen. On February 20, Biaoxin dumped 30 tonnes of phenol-contaminated effluent into the Mangshe River.
It is a decision tree that unfortunately is rooted very deeply in China. One where attitudes are incubated to believe that either it won’t happen to them, or that if it does happen, someone else will be held responsible for it persists.
Going forward though, and perhaps Ma Jun could have added a bit of punch with this, is that there are problems all over China that are festering because weak enforcement and sense of responsibility are inhibiting action. .. and that we are only going to see problems grow in frequency and size
If we want to drink clean water, we need to control pollution and stop projects that contaminate our rivers. This requires widespread participation in environmental management and policymaking. Understanding the environmental costs and benefits of various projects will help us find a balance and a negotiated compromise between different interests. We have no time to waste: to protect our water we need a new type of decision-making. It will test the will and the capacity of government at all levels to implement the scientific view of development.
March 9, 2009
Roots & Shoots Beijing Eco-Office Program Job Opening
Job title: Project Coordinator for Eco-Office Audit, a joint project of Roots & Shoots and the British Council
This is a full-time position based in Beijing, with a one-year contract signed after a one-month probation period.
Responsibilities:
1.Recruit schools, adult volunteers, companies and government organizations in the initiative.
2.Create project plans, budgets and reports on a semester-basis; and report primarily to the R&S Shanghai Office’s Eco-Office Coordinator, as well as to the R&S Beijing Office and the British Council China.
3.Organize and facilitate workshops to train students and adult volunteers on environmental auditing and reporting.
4.Create and maintain database to keep track of all audit reports and generate ranking as needed.
5.Actively promote the program by speaking at business events, meet with business leaders and work with British Council Press Officers to seek opportunities to advertise the program through media and collect all relevant media reports.
6.Work with environmental experts to ensure the technical viability of the program.
7.Assess the program on a semester basis using quantitative and qualitative methods.
8.Work with R&S Project Officers to keep track of, and promote, R&S groups’ involvement, and contribute to Roots & Shoots Beijing Office efforts to motivate school groups to actively create their own projects, represent Roots & Shoots Beijing Office at events, and update school contact information database.
9.Liaise with staff working on the British Council’s Climate Cool initiative to integrate Eco-Office with their efforts.
10.Contribute to Roots & Shoots Newsletters, E-Newsletters; as well as British Council Climate Cool and other publications.
Requirements:
-At least 3-5 years of Volunteer or/and non-profit/NGO working and/or teacher/trainer experience, especially with events planning and organization; or/and some prior experience as a teacher or trainer.
-Bilingual, with superior abilities in English and Chinese
-Able to manage projects, oversee many activities simultaneously, organize and prioritize tasks
-Able to promote the concepts and vision of the Roots & Shoots Program
-Open, friendly attitude and determination to build relationships with partners and to encourage participation and communication from partners.
-Energetic and takes initiative, action-oriented and has organizational skills; ability to document and follow-through on projects is vital
-Strong ability to work as a member of a team and to build effective relations with partners, students and colleague.
-Computer literacy (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), internet searching skills and database maintenance computer skills
We want to fill this position URGENTLY!
Deadline for application is: Friday, March 13th.
Please send a cover letter and your resume to the following email address: ecooffice@jgichina.org