A Canadian's green dream in China
- By Deng Di
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 22, 2016
"China is home to me”
After 20 years' development, the number of employees at OE has grown from two to more than 40. Most are local villagers from South Liugezhuang Village. The couple's green business promotes local employment, as a result of which they were awarded the title of "Lucheng Model"in 2014 by the local government. Moore and Zhang Ping were also invited to make speeches to introduce their ideas on environmental protection.
In summer, trees create pleasant shade in the OE plant's yard and cicadas buzz in the midday heat. Kids from the village swarm into the yard to play on the trampoline, and puppies in the neighborhood also find their way here to sleep in the shade. Outdoor sofas, a small garden, dogs and OE workers enjoy natural coziness together. Moore has also rented a patch of land to grow vegetables, including his favorite red-core radishes, and shares the harvest with his friends.
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Darren Moore teaches blind visitors from Mind Eye Theatre to distinguish the smells of different essential oils. |
This is what Moore wants. "China was home to me when I first came here,"he recalled. He is attracted to China by the hospitality of its people, the richness of its food, and its splendid culture. All are his reasons for choosing to live here. Having barbecues in the yard with colleagues and neighbors and downing a cup of liquor have already become his lifestyle.
In his spare time, Moore always earnestly practices what he preaches. He invites local children to visit OE to watch the soap making process, gives lectures on environmental protection in local primary schools, and shares his experiences with college students. Moore hopes his ideas will influence young people both in China and throughout the world. He believes that environmental problems are the responsibility of everyone who lives on this planet and that everybody should be proactive in changing the situation for the better. To Moore, we all have enormous potential to effect change but what we actually do is insufficient. He encourages young people to embrace people instead of cell phones and to embrace nature instead of computers.
Moore has witnessed the rapid development of China, especially Beijing, in the past 20 years. He told China Today, the environmental awareness of the general public in China is much higher than before, and the more open-minded and confident young generations also play a key role in attracting foreigners to stay. In the beginning, due to their high price, OE soaps did not sell well in China. But now, OE occupies 90 percent or more of China's organic soap market.
Besides, in the "Beijing Gifts"Competition organized by the Beijing municipal government to select outstanding souvenirs, a gift box designed by OE won out. The package comprises eight soaps with different smells inscribed with different flowers and traditional motifs. As a Beijing calling card, the handmade soap gift boxes will introduce China to the world along with other souvenirs.
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