Dear China: Engaging the Country in a Greener Future
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 01. 9.08
Created by Ci (that's Conscientious Innovation, a sustainability marketing group in Vancouver, BC), DearChina.org is a virtual sounding board for a green future in China. As the site self-describes itself, "DearChina.org is about engagement. It's about recognizing the fact that China will play a major role in determining the possibility for a sustainable world. It's not about criticism. This is an opportunity to share your thoughts, feelings and concerns; a chance to shed a little light on the fact we didn't get it right in the West, and in our pursuit of bigger, faster, softer, more we gave up more than we had bargained for."
Here's how it works: you go to the site, and, after checking out what other folks have said, leave your own thoughts for going green, going forward. After being manually translated, the English and Chinese version show up next to each other on the site (as pictured above -- it takes about 24 hours for each post to show up now, but they're looking into a faster, automated version); as more and more ideas get left, it'll become not just a collection of random ideas, but a real way forward that can be applied by more than just one country.
Our favorite so far: "You invented paper, fireworks, the kite, scissors, the compass… innovation is at the heart of your culture. Be part of the solution, not the problem. Help create a bright green, efficient, profitable future - one that we can all live with." -- Jason M. Leave your ideas at ::Dear China
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more silliness.
the chinese are going to ruin the environment for the foreseeable future. but their government WILL take appropriate steps sooner rather than later--china's leaders are engineers and technicians, not the ignorant lawyers that fill western parliaments.
the chinese are already investing heavily in windpower, new sanitation systems, nuclear powerplants, etc..
China? Fear not.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-01/10/content_6384576.htm
I don't know. This seems incredibly annoying to me. I share everyone's concerns about China, just as I have concerns about the West. But us "telling them what to do" is reallly really arrogant.
Unlike their government, the Chinese have a well-developped and mature culture. They have dissentors, environmental activists, academics, etc. who can do the job of criticising the country's direction much better than than we can. Our (Westerners') role, after we take care of things at home, should be limited to "positive engagement": make
This kind of nagging is silly, offensive, and ineffective. It gives the individual a little ego boost, lets them feel they're doing something useful, even though they're not. The people writing these notes are creatures of a culture of consumption: they seek instant, empty gratification, where real effectiveness takes years and is full of uncertainty.
If you really want to help, educate yourself; get a job with a company, like a cleantech startup, that's doing business in China, oir whose model they can copy; or make friends, cultural connections with real Chinese people. Just don't post anonymous, nagging notes on the internet. It marks you, and the environmental community as a crank, and I'd thank you not to do that.
Every one says we are importing too many goods to china, but few people know that we export too many goods as well: "China s Largest Export. Mike Rowe Might Be Proud."
Wow. People. I wrote a letter because I like the idea. What is more silly nagging about nagging or participating? True, I am a creature of a culture of consumption, production, and participation. Of course it's not THE answer but rather a gesture to a personal (perhaps naive) attempt to voice our thoughts / concerns about what we hear in the media, from friends and relatives, through travels, etc. about China.
@jojo, I actually live in China and I assure you their culture is not that mature, they could care less about the environment, and even though this site is offensive it doesn't matter, because it is blocked anyway.
The Chinese do need to be told what to do because they refuse to lead the way, ie Counterfeiting, IP theft, little if any innovation. The next time you see something that is made in China, check to see if it was designed in China, and you will see my point.
Hello,
I too wrote a letter because i think its a good idea. the idea is not a prescriptive "you must write this" platform. So Nero, why not Dear China, "Thank you for investing heavily in wind power."
I love these three excerpts from different letters (but then I'm a glass half full person) -
"It is time for 'Made in China' to represent a future of hope" -Denise T.
"You can lead the world in green technologies and sustainability, showing that China is a true world leader." - Ross L.
"I'd like to see China become the future of the world in sensible sustainability. Go green, Go organic. C'mon China!" - Su C.