Ma Jun
Ma Jun
Ma Jun, courtesy name Deheng, was a Chinese mechanical engineer and government official during the Three Kingdoms era of China. His most notable invention was that of the south-pointing chariot, a directional compass vehicle which actually had no magnetic function, but was operated by use of differential gears. It is because of this revolutionary devicethat Ma Jun is known as one of the most brilliant mechanical engineers and inventors of his day. The device was re-invented by many after Ma...
NationalityChinese
ProfessionEnvironmentalist
Date of Birth22 May 1968
CountryChina
I think its time to change and balance the environment and growth. If we don't do that, we're going to suffer a hard landing one day very soon.
We haven't seen the turning point yet, but we're sticking to our bottom line, for the environment and the health of the country.
We must strictly enforce the Environmental Law, closing down the polluters that fail to meet the standards.
Everyone knows the link between the environment and their own health.
Everyone else has some interest in economic growth and development, which often happens at the expense of the environment and community. We need the other side to join this to check and balance.
What we aim to do, through public pressure, is help the environment protection bureau to enforce the law.
Urban residents, most of them middle class, have a much better sense of their environmental rights, and they're willing to take to the streets.
Environmental problems cannot be resolved here the way they are resolved in other countries. I heard that 80 per cent of the environmental problems in the U.S. are solved in court. That can't happen here.
Environmental groups are not completely against dams. We approve of appropriate development.
Environmental agencies in China are hamstrung by local officials who put economic growth ahead of environmental protection; even the courts are beholden to local officials, and they are not open to environmental litigation.
Brands who come to China, often they just care about price - so they actually drive the suppliers to cut corners on environmental standards to win a contract.
Even the government understands that the environmental challenge is so big that no single agency can handle it. It needs collaboration among all the stakeholders - companies, governments, NGOs and the public. Public accountability will be the ultimate driving force.
We firmly believe the environmental issues cannot be addressed without extensive public participation, but people need to be informed before they can get involved.
We copied laws and regulations from western countries, but enforcement remains weak, and environmental litigation is still quite near impossible.