Wang Yongchen

Wang Yongchen is the Senior Environment Reporter for China National Radio. Wang founded Green Earth Volunteers, a Chinese environmental NGO, in 1996. She is the president of the group and organizes many of its activities.

Biography Wang received her graduates' degree at Peking University. She worked as a journalist specializing in the environment. A pioneer of radio programs for the environment, she founded "Classroom on Wednesday" and "Journalists' Salon," which encourage public awareness as well as debate. She specifically hopes to increase awareness on the relationship between humans and nature and the social responsibility in the protection of nature.

Involvement with the Nu River The Nu River, in southwestern China, is one of only two major rivers in China that remain undammed. The project could still be completed despite the fact that many locals do not support the project.

Positions Wang thinks it is a false choice to choose between economic development and environmental protection:

"The biggest problem in increasing awareness, I think, is that environmental protection still involves nothing but slogans. While many people see a conflict between economic development and environmental protection, I believe that when you come closer to nature to learn more about it, you will find no real conflict between the two. On the contrary, a deteriorating environment makes economic development a 'mission impossible.' It is just like when people sacrifice health to make money and then have to spend that money to recover their health. The Green Earth Volunteers is a big family of nature lovers. If you are interested in our goals, just join us and you will be surprised at how much you will enjoy."

Works Wang publishes articles for chinadialogue, which are available in Chinese and English.

Letting nature heal itself chinadialogue 18 July 2008 A yellow card for the Three Parallel Rivers chinadialogue 3 August 2007 China’s water resources: environmental security needed chinadialogue 7 March 2007 What if nature could speak? chinadialogue 15 February 2007 Quenching China’s thirst chinadialogue 2 February 2007 Farewell to the baiji chinadialogue 10 January 2007 Report from the Nu River: "Nobody has told us anything" chinadialogue 2 August 2006