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One man's will to save the world
November 3, 2010, Wednesday
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A disabled farmer from Hangzhou has made it his mission to protect the Earth from environmental dangers and he's not limiting his efforts to a local scale. Xu Wenwen speaks to the determined Chinese eco warrior likened to Forrest Gump.
At the 16th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) that started yesterday in Cancun, Mexico, a 15-second video playing on the huge LED screens in the Climate Change Village urges "governments of every country to sign an environmental protection convention" in both English and Chinese. The plea has the signature of Chen Faqing, a physically challenged Chinese farmer.
The 43-year-old from Renhe Town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, suffers from a hearing disability and is known as the Chinese Forrest Gump, a reference to his persistent, but lonely efforts toward environmental protection.
The entitlement to have his video played at the convention is a "gift" from COP16 since Chen donated 250,000 yuan (US$37,473) in October to the Mexican government for organizing the conference. Along with the video, Chen also received an exhibition booth to promote environmental business in the exhibit hall of the village.
The video is only one of his public service advertisements calling for people to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Previously, he has spent 310,000 yuan to publish English and Chinese advertisements in several domestic and international publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.
Although Chen didn't even finish his first year of junior middle school and cannot speak any English, he has done many "crazy" things on an international level.
In 2008, he tried to sue former American president George W Bush for not signing the Kyoto protocol, (although he was unsuccessful because according to US laws foreigners are not allowed to sue American presidents); earlier this month, he donated US$40,000 to the International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), hoping to contribute to the study of climate change.
As Chen reveals, he also planned to donate 500,000 yuan to the Netherlands and the Maldives, two low-lying countries threatened by climate change. However, the two countries' governments declined and suggested instead they would find an non-governmental organization to cooperate with him.
The environmentalist's passion was first aroused in 2002 when his hometown of Yuhang was polluted by local quarries.
Because the noise and dust from quarries close to his apartment affected his life so much that he "could even use fingers to write on the table covered by thick dust," he attempted to sue Yuhang Environmental Protection Bureau with the charge that it didn't fulfill its responsibility.
Although he lost the lawsuit, as the court held that the bureau did take measures to reduce pollution even though they weren't great, the local government adopted methods such as water dispersal and enclosure to minimize the noise and dust.
Personal crusade
Since then, Chen has undertaken a personal crusade to protect the Earth. At the end of 2003, he tried to sue Zhejiang Province Environmental Protection Bureau for not protecting his hometown's Dongtiao Brook, and then in 2008, came his unsuccessful attempt at suing former US President Bush.
Though all of his actions were rejected or lost, Chen became so famous that many local residents turn to him to right wrongs for them, many of which concern corruption, environmental pollution and illegal behavior. Because of his crusading actions, he has offended and irritated some people and consequently received reprisals.
"I am very sorry to my family, but those accidents cannot stop my passion, instead, it is more aroused," says Chen. "What great leader in the world hasn't suffered from pain?"
During his years of environmental protection efforts, Chen has spent around 1.5 million yuan on the cause, but many have wondered how come a peasant is so rich?
"I earn money by small businesses with friends, like breeding poultry," Chen says.
He lives a simple life. "My apartment is the worst one among my neighbors," he says. "The money donated to IPCC and Mexico was for establishing a new house, but I think it is more important to save the Earth."
Chen values his identity as a farmer, and "Disabled farmer Chen Faqing" is the signature of every one of his advertisements.
"I want the world to know that a farmer from China is protecting the environment," he says. "It's eye-catching, shocking and will motivate governments and people more."
In 2005, Chen rented an office and established his website www.nmcfq.com, publicizing environmental protection information, telling the story of his career and providing a forum to receive complaints and consult on environmental pollution and ecological damage.
At the 16th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP16) that started yesterday in Cancun, Mexico, a 15-second video playing on the huge LED screens in the Climate Change Village urges "governments of every country to sign an environmental protection convention" in both English and Chinese. The plea has the signature of Chen Faqing, a physically challenged Chinese farmer.
The 43-year-old from Renhe Town, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, suffers from a hearing disability and is known as the Chinese Forrest Gump, a reference to his persistent, but lonely efforts toward environmental protection.
The entitlement to have his video played at the convention is a "gift" from COP16 since Chen donated 250,000 yuan (US$37,473) in October to the Mexican government for organizing the conference. Along with the video, Chen also received an exhibition booth to promote environmental business in the exhibit hall of the village.
The video is only one of his public service advertisements calling for people to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Previously, he has spent 310,000 yuan to publish English and Chinese advertisements in several domestic and international publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The Economist.
Although Chen didn't even finish his first year of junior middle school and cannot speak any English, he has done many "crazy" things on an international level.
In 2008, he tried to sue former American president George W Bush for not signing the Kyoto protocol, (although he was unsuccessful because according to US laws foreigners are not allowed to sue American presidents); earlier this month, he donated US$40,000 to the International Panel of Climate Change (IPCC), hoping to contribute to the study of climate change.
As Chen reveals, he also planned to donate 500,000 yuan to the Netherlands and the Maldives, two low-lying countries threatened by climate change. However, the two countries' governments declined and suggested instead they would find an non-governmental organization to cooperate with him.
The environmentalist's passion was first aroused in 2002 when his hometown of Yuhang was polluted by local quarries.
Because the noise and dust from quarries close to his apartment affected his life so much that he "could even use fingers to write on the table covered by thick dust," he attempted to sue Yuhang Environmental Protection Bureau with the charge that it didn't fulfill its responsibility.
Although he lost the lawsuit, as the court held that the bureau did take measures to reduce pollution even though they weren't great, the local government adopted methods such as water dispersal and enclosure to minimize the noise and dust.
Personal crusade
Since then, Chen has undertaken a personal crusade to protect the Earth. At the end of 2003, he tried to sue Zhejiang Province Environmental Protection Bureau for not protecting his hometown's Dongtiao Brook, and then in 2008, came his unsuccessful attempt at suing former US President Bush.
Though all of his actions were rejected or lost, Chen became so famous that many local residents turn to him to right wrongs for them, many of which concern corruption, environmental pollution and illegal behavior. Because of his crusading actions, he has offended and irritated some people and consequently received reprisals.
"I am very sorry to my family, but those accidents cannot stop my passion, instead, it is more aroused," says Chen. "What great leader in the world hasn't suffered from pain?"
During his years of environmental protection efforts, Chen has spent around 1.5 million yuan on the cause, but many have wondered how come a peasant is so rich?
"I earn money by small businesses with friends, like breeding poultry," Chen says.
He lives a simple life. "My apartment is the worst one among my neighbors," he says. "The money donated to IPCC and Mexico was for establishing a new house, but I think it is more important to save the Earth."
Chen values his identity as a farmer, and "Disabled farmer Chen Faqing" is the signature of every one of his advertisements.
"I want the world to know that a farmer from China is protecting the environment," he says. "It's eye-catching, shocking and will motivate governments and people more."
In 2005, Chen rented an office and established his website www.nmcfq.com, publicizing environmental protection information, telling the story of his career and providing a forum to receive complaints and consult on environmental pollution and ecological damage.
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