Alxa SEE Ecological Association: Let Wealth Go with Morality |
| http://www.sina.com.cn 2005/06/29 18:47 |
On World Environment Day June 5 this year, more than one hundred Chinese entrepreneurs traveled across the sand dunes and gathered at the lakefront of Moon Lake in Tengger Desert of Inner Mongolia. Through only 3 months of preparation, the Alxa SEE Ecological Association, initiated by 102 entrepreneur members together (number of formal charter members is confirmed to be 79, because some charter members failed to make capital contributions in required amount), was formally established on that day, giving to the world an Alxa Statement.
The reason why Alxa was chosen is that in the recent 50 years, local vegetation has encountered great destruction, and the desert area has been expanding at a high speed, making Alxa the most important sandstorm source of our country. With such a mission to "prevent and control sandstorms, and restore local ecosystem”, entrepreneurs have come, clearly aware that most economic achievements we made in the past are at the expense of environment, and today, we have to confront the reality of serious environmental pollution and ecological destruction nationwide, which threatens the sustainable development of Chinese economy and society.
At the party that night, the entrepreneurs expressed their opinions on the meanings and prospects of SEE, as well as social responsibility. Strong idealism color filled the air in the whole scene. However, even though they know it is an unusual magnanimous act undertaken for the public good when seeing groups of entrepreneurs gather together, those who get used to commercial shows may be pretty sure and accustomed to wonder whether these philanthropists can persevere in their lofty mission and worry that all that followed is anticlimax.
Fortunately, the practical entrepreneurs never take it as merely a “spiritual trip” of one day or two. After the association was established, media’s interests in this soon cooled down and disappear eventually. In the following one and a half months, SEE carried on detailed assessment respectively on such three projects as the "natural sacsaoul forest protection and energy substitute", "improving the viability of Alxa ecological immigrant's" and "SEE ecological school". In August, SEE held the session of executive council meeting, at which thorough discussion was made on the above mentioned projects, the former two of which were approved in the end with the third rejected.
Later, the two approved projects were well implemented on schedule, and a group of Alxa herdsmen were sent to Guizhou for training on better life style. In order to attract more volunteers to participate in ecological protection and increase the chance of education, the association has also set up a volunteer's platform. At present, the association is making the development plan of next year in full preparation.
We are convinced that so long as the entrepreneurs can fulfill their commitments in the Statement in the way they do to their clients, they will make due contribution to ecological protection regardless of the effect of sandstorm control. (Zhang Zhecheng)
