Friends of Nature (China)
Encyclopedia
Friends of Nature is the People's Republic of China
's oldest environmental non-government organization. On March 31, 1994, the organization was officially registered under the name Green Culture Institute of the International Academy of Chinese Culture under the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The focus of the group is to raise awareness about environmental protection ( such as saving endangered species, recycling, energy conservation etc.) through workshops, field trips and the training of teachers. Furthermore, FON has been instrumental in the development of other environmental NGOs and student groups across China because NGOs in China are technically forbidden from establishing branch offices.
, son of Sicheng Liang and Huiyin Lin, two of the leading architectural historians in 20th century China. The activist Hu Jia
became interested in environmental issues while participating in the activities of FON.
to collect information about the Tibetan antelope population. Two years later, FON held a series of conferences about the protection of the Tibetan antelope in conjunction with several international NGOs including World Wide Fund for Nature
and International Fund for Animal Welfare. The conferences raised awareness about the plight of the antelope.
In October 1998, Liang Congjie submitted an open letter to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair
asking the United Kingdom to stop illegal trade on Tibetan antelope fur. Mr. Blair responded the next day, showing his concern and support for the Chinese program to protect the antelope. Tony Blair's response prompted global media attention and large numbers of people set to join the program, helping fund and provide assistance to FON's campaign.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
's oldest environmental non-government organization. On March 31, 1994, the organization was officially registered under the name Green Culture Institute of the International Academy of Chinese Culture under the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The focus of the group is to raise awareness about environmental protection ( such as saving endangered species, recycling, energy conservation etc.) through workshops, field trips and the training of teachers. Furthermore, FON has been instrumental in the development of other environmental NGOs and student groups across China because NGOs in China are technically forbidden from establishing branch offices.
People
FON was founded by Liang CongjieLiang Congjie
Liang Congjie was a Chinese historian best known for his work as an environmental activist who established the Friends of Nature in 1994 as the first environmental non-governmental organization to be officially recognized by the government of the People's Republic of China.Liang's father,...
, son of Sicheng Liang and Huiyin Lin, two of the leading architectural historians in 20th century China. The activist Hu Jia
Hu Jia (activist)
Hu Jia is an activist and dissident in the People's Republic of China. His work has focused on the Chinese democracy movement, Chinese environmentalist movement, and HIV/AIDS in the People's Republic of China...
became interested in environmental issues while participating in the activities of FON.
The Tibetan Antelope
In 1996, FON members traveled to KekexiliKekexili
Hoh Xil is an isolated region in the northwestern part of the Tibetan plateau in China....
to collect information about the Tibetan antelope population. Two years later, FON held a series of conferences about the protection of the Tibetan antelope in conjunction with several international NGOs including World Wide Fund for Nature
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
and International Fund for Animal Welfare. The conferences raised awareness about the plight of the antelope.
In October 1998, Liang Congjie submitted an open letter to the British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
asking the United Kingdom to stop illegal trade on Tibetan antelope fur. Mr. Blair responded the next day, showing his concern and support for the Chinese program to protect the antelope. Tony Blair's response prompted global media attention and large numbers of people set to join the program, helping fund and provide assistance to FON's campaign.