Brave children

By Cao Baoyin
0 CommentsPrint E-mail China.org.cn, February 5, 2011
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In 2010, Fang Minghe (left) won "China's Top 10 Ecological Hero Award”. 



"Bang!"There was a sudden shot, but what then rushed at its prey was not a hound, but a young man.

"Are you crazy? Can't you see I'm shooting birds? You dare report me – I'll kill you!"roared the poacher, staring at the young man. But even as he shouted, the young man reached for his camera and captured the evidence he needed. Later he reported the matter to the local forestry department, and the poacher was severely punished.

This courageous young man is "the youngest president of China's Environmental NGO"– president of Greeneyes of China, Fang Minghe. On November 25, 2000, at the Yulong Lake in Cangnan County, Zhejiang Province, 12 middle school students cherishing a common ideal held a brief ceremony and established the "Youth Nature Expedition,"at Fang's initiative. They began environmental protection activities to explore and protect nature. Fang was in his first year at senior middle school, 16 years old, still a teenager.

 All in this series:
 • The rise and passion of China's 'green' NGOs
 • All dreams have a common beginning
 • For the freedom of rolling rivers
A year later, the small youth league of middle school students was renamed Greeneyes of China as it joined the international "Roots and Shoots"Environmental Education Program. The name, given by Fang, has a simple connotation: green is the theme of environmental protection, and we should protect our living environment as we protect our eyes. That year, the 17-year-old Fang Minghe, still a year 2 senior student, won the "Conservation and Environmental Grants"given by Ford Motor Company, the world's highest honor in environmental protection.

In 2003, Fang moved into year 3. Like other teenagers, the 18-year-old faced the enormous pressure of the college entrance examination. But at the time Greeneyes of China was stalling in its development. Having checked the regulations on the management of non-governmental organizations, Fang applied to register Greeneyes, but was told by the relevant departments that school students were not mature enough, so it was inappropriate for them to initiate social organizations.

What to do then? Two months before the college entrance examination, Fang voluntarily abandoned school. By making himself a "non-student,"he paved the way for the registration of Greeneyes. That summer, while other classmates were busy preparing for the examination, Greeneyes was finally registered as a non-governmental non-enterprise entity, and at the cost of giving up the college entrance examination, Fang Minghe became the youngest legal representative of an Environmental NGO in China. It is not uncommon for young people in Western countries to give up the chance to go to college in order to pursue their own ideals, but it is a real challenge for a young Chinese person and his family to do so. Giving up the examination means deviating from the normal course of life and society, and making yourself into a "non-conformist."The pressure is unbearable for many; even Fang found himself in a state of conflict and indecision.

In 2004, Fang started a repeat school year to sit the examination, but the newly-registered Greeneyes needed someone to take charge. Fang was again at a crossroads. After discussing the matter with his parents, he finally decided to give up the exam altogether and dedicate himself fully to Greeneyes. From that day on there was one less student among the mighty force preparing for the college entrance examination, but one more person in charge of Environmental NGOs in the construction of China's civil society – a person who is young, intelligent and capable of great achievements.

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