China Selects "Environment Envoys"

China's top environmental protection official Sunday gave marching orders to 40 personages selected as the country's "environment envoys."

Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration, told the envoys that their job is to improve supervision over the country's environmental protection work, and to encourage more public participation in the massive effort.

The 40 newly-appointed envoys include three famous television anchorpersons from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong; Liang Congjie, founder of the Friends of Nature, the first non-governmental organization in China; senior experts specializing in environment-related sciences; and popular singers.

Dr. Li Hong, who is known for her tireless work in environmental protection, was one of those chosen who have great concerns about China's environmental problems.

"The reason the Earth is so polluted is because of the our ignorance," Li said.

Tang Xiyang, another envoy who is famous for his environment-oriented writings, said the history of nature is mature, while the history of mankind is still young and naive, and that human beings have committed too many foolish environmental mistakes in history.

Xu Gang, one of the 40 "unofficial spokespersons for the environment" who is also known for his environment-related writings, voiced the call: let us take good care of the Earth - our sole homeland.



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