Ma Jun (environmentalist)
Encyclopedia
Ma Jun is a Chinese
environmentalist
, non-fiction writer, environmental consultant, and journalist. He is a director with the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE).
In the 1990s Ma became known as an investigative journalist, working at the South China Morning Post
from 1993 to 2000. There, he began to specialize in articles on environmental subjects. He eventually became the Chief Representative of SCMP.com
in Beijing
.
He was named as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world by Time
magazine in May 2006, in an article written by Hollywood film star Ed Norton
.
Ma's 1999 book China's Water Crisis (Zhongguo shui weiji) has been compared to Rachel Carson
's Silent Spring – China's first major book on the subject of that nation's environmental crisis.
He directs the IPE (Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs), which developed the China Water Pollution Map , the first public database of water pollution
information in China. He also serves as environmental consultant for the Sinosphere Corporation.
Ma said: "Water pollution is the most serious environmental issue facing China. It has a huge impact on people’s health and economic development. That is why we have begun to build this database. To protect water resources, we need to encourage public participation and strengthen law enforcement. In some places, polluting factories and companies are being protected by local governments and officials."
In 2010, Ma, addressing air pollution
particularly in the wake of efforts made at the time of the Beijing Olympics, "said many of the government’s efforts to curtail pollution had been offset by the number of construction projects that spit dust into the air and the surge in private car ownership."
Ma Jun wrote for Hong Kong's South China Morning Post from 1993 to 2000. Articles are not available for free online.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
environmentalist
Environmentalist
An environmentalist broadly supports the goals of the environmental movement, "a political and ethical movement that seeks to improve and protect the quality of the natural environment through changes to environmentally harmful human activities"...
, non-fiction writer, environmental consultant, and journalist. He is a director with the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE).
In the 1990s Ma became known as an investigative journalist, working at the South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
from 1993 to 2000. There, he began to specialize in articles on environmental subjects. He eventually became the Chief Representative of SCMP.com
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
He was named as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine in May 2006, in an article written by Hollywood film star Ed Norton
Ed Norton
Edward Norton is an American actor.Edward Norton may also refer to:*Edward Norton , MP for Carlisle and Haslemere*Edward Felix Norton , British army officer and mountaineer...
.
Ma's 1999 book China's Water Crisis (Zhongguo shui weiji) has been compared to Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
's Silent Spring – China's first major book on the subject of that nation's environmental crisis.
He directs the IPE (Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs), which developed the China Water Pollution Map , the first public database of water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
information in China. He also serves as environmental consultant for the Sinosphere Corporation.
Ma said: "Water pollution is the most serious environmental issue facing China. It has a huge impact on people’s health and economic development. That is why we have begun to build this database. To protect water resources, we need to encourage public participation and strengthen law enforcement. In some places, polluting factories and companies are being protected by local governments and officials."
In 2010, Ma, addressing air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
particularly in the wake of efforts made at the time of the Beijing Olympics, "said many of the government’s efforts to curtail pollution had been offset by the number of construction projects that spit dust into the air and the surge in private car ownership."
Articles
Ma Jun has written for the online journal chinadialogue since 2006. Articles are available in Mandarin Chinese and English.- "Tackling China's water crisis online" (21 September 2006)
- "A path to environmental harmony" http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/589-A-path-to-environmental-harmony (30 November 2006)
- "How participation can help China's ailing environment" (31 January 2007)
- "The government needs freedom of information" (9 May 2007)
- "Getting involved" (24 May 2007)
- "Disaster in Taihu Lake" (8 June 2007)
- "After green GDP, what next?" (8 August 2007)
- "Tackling pollution at its source" (14 August 2007)
- "Ecological civilisation is the way forward" (31 October 2007)
- "Your right to know: a historic moment" (1 May 2008)
Ma Jun wrote for Hong Kong's South China Morning Post from 1993 to 2000. Articles are not available for free online.
See also
- Environment of ChinaEnvironment of ChinaThe environment in the People's Republic of China has traditionally been neglected as the country concentrates on its rise as an economic power. Chasing the political gains of economic development, local officials in China often overlook environmental pollution, worker safety and public health...
- Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of ChinaMinistry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China , formerly State Environmental Protection Administration , is a cabinet-level ministry in the executive branch of the Chinese Government . It replaced the SEPA during the March 2008 National People's Congress sessions in...
- Scientific publishing in ChinaScientific publishing in ChinaToday in the People's Republic of China, there are more than 8,000 academic journals, of which more than 4,600 can be considered scientific. About 1,400 cover health science . Scientific publications reflect the scientific output of China and scientific journals are one of the most effective and...
- 2009 Ramon Magsaysay AwardRamon Magsaysay AwardThe Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example of integrity in government, courageous service to the people, and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society. The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often considered Asia's Nobel...
winner.
External links
- Ma Jun page from Time magazine
- Ma Jun interview