On October 29, the China Environmental Culture Promotion Association (CECPA), responsible for the selection of "Annual Green Celebrities", disclosed the nominated environmentalists and 5 anti-environmentalists; Ge You and Gong Li were listed as controversial public figures.

Wang Panpu, secretary of CECPA, said that the selection of "Annual Green Celebrities" has been held twice before, and many netizens suggested selecting both environmentalists and anti-environmentalists. In last year's selection, Chen Kaige, the director of The Promise, and Zhang Jizhong, the director of Condor Hero, were voted as anti-environmentalists because of the damage they caused to the environment while filming. Nominations for anti-environmentalists and controversial public figures were added to this year's ballot.

The anti-environmentalists selected by netizens this year are: Ma Zhengxiang, the president of Linxiang Zhengxing Chemicals Co. Ltd. of Hunan, because the company's illegal discharge of pollutants caused arsenium pollution in the Xiangjiang River; Zheng Yonggang, the president of Wuhu Tianrun Biotechnology Co. Ltd., because the company was ordered to stop their production due to water pollution; Xu Shuren, the president of Henan Caixin Group, because the company's production discharge polluted the Huaihe River; Yang Shijiang, the president of Gansu Tianma Beer Co. Ltd., because the company's excessive pollutant discharges caused damage to the surrounding environment; Zhuang Kai, the president of the Titanium factory of Panzhihua Iron & Steel Group Co. Ltd., because it polluted the Jinshajiang River by discharging acid wastewater into it.      

Famous film stars Ge You and Gong Li were selected as controversial figures because of mixed comments about their attitudes toward environmental protection. Ge You once acted as the spokesman for the false advertisement, "Yilin, the Best Place for Afforestation." This placed him in the category of anti-environmentalist in the minds of some netizens. Others thought that he had corrected his mistake through public service announcements and should be rated as an environmentalist. 

Some netizens believe that Gong Li has maintained a good image for many years and achieved international influence. Additionally, she has publicly expressed a sincere wish to help work toward environmental protection. However, others don't think she is qualified to be a green celebrity because she wears leather and fur, making her an anti-environmentalist. Wei Yongcong of Semir Clothing Co. Ltd. was also voted a controversial figure because of his business advertisement: "Global warming is none of my business, but at least I have to look nice." 

CECPA statistics reveal that more than 50,000 people cast nomination votes for green celebrities, anti-environmentalists, and controversial public figures online, and by mail, phone, and fax between September 5 and October 20. The nominees came from all walks of life and many locations, including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and some international locations. Most of them are NGO representatives, social environmentalists, teachers, students, and soldiers.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Ming'ai, November 1, 2007)