“All of the pollution we force upon our rivers, is but only wounds to our civilizations and ourselves. To protect rivers, is to protect the common interests of the entire human race.” — excerpt from the Humans and Rivers Declaration, Hangzhou, China, June 28, 2017
Hangzhou, China is likened to the American city of Seattle, Washington, a booming center of information technology, business, and trade. It is also home to Qiantang River Waterkeeper – who has played a phenomenal role in elevating this city to an international stage.
Hangzhou was built on the Qiantang River, at the southern terminus of the Grand Canal – the world’s longest canal with construction dating back to 486 BC. The canal was used as a passage for trading and shipping of supplies, mainly grain. With its beautiful river and lakes – including China’s infamous West Lake that blooms with lotus flowers every June, the city has long been a capital center of China, rich in politics, art, and innovation.
Last fall, Hangzhou was the revered host of the G20 Summit, an annual gathering of officials and central bank governors from 20 major economies. It was not lost on the leaders of Hangzhou that the beauty of the Qiantang River was a great attraction for the Summit attendees. 10 years ago the banks of the Qiantang River were wasteland, with waters dirty and smelly. But in 2009 a visionary by the name Mr. Wang Yaoxiang learned about Waterkeeper Alliance from his young student Hao Xin and founded Qiantang River Waterkeeper. Qiantang River Waterkeeper has played an instrumental role in stopping pollution in the river and revitalizing the riverfront. It’s beauty now attracts people day and night, dining, walking their dogs, playing with children, practicing tai chi, performing art, taking cruises, and more.
Hangzhou leaders want to elevate their city to an international center – and they recognize the importance that healthy rivers – and civil society – play in the success of its economy. So, just before leaving for our Waterkeeper Alliance Annual Conference in Deer Valley, Hao was asked by the Hangzhou Municipal Government to organize the Humans and Rivers International Culture and Sustainability Forum. In just one month, Hao organized a predominant lineup of speakers and panelists from China, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil and Italy, from government, civil society, academia, multinational organizations and the arts. One such speaker was Beiyun Waterkeeper, Ms. Yong Chen Wang – a great leader of China’s environmental movement. At the turn of the millennium, Ms. Wang successfully advocated for a halt to 13 large hydropower dams along the Nu-Salween – the only free-flowing river remaining in China, Myanmar and Thailand, but still under threat.
“China is a growing power economically, and is also coming to terms with a significant environmental burden to bear; this conference put Hangzhou’s forward thinking and water management initiatives on a global stage, not only showing the world that China is taking steps towards improving its environmental track record, but also giving all participants a chance to share ideas and inspiration.” – Katherine Olsen, Qiantang River Waterkeeper volunteer, organizer and interpreter.
City and District leaders presided over the afternoon Forum held at Hangzhou’s ‘Golden Ball’ International Center, and the evening’s star-studded Hangzhou Qiantang River International Culture Festival, held at a scenic outdoor venue above the riverbank. Both the Forum and Festival attracted hundreds of people and distinguished guests, and was live broadcast to millions more throughout the city. On behalf of Waterkeeper Alliance, I was a special guest in the midst of it all and was honored with a seat beside the Jianggan District’s Secretary and Chief Executive at a dinner reception. Thanks to Qiantang River Waterkeeper, Waterkeeper Alliance has gained respect among these leaders, who have the power to help us achieve our vision for drinkable, fishable, swimmable waters worldwide.
“We are here to help our government. The Qiantang River is our mother – and we want everyone to meet our mother!” – Hao Xin, Qiantang River Waterkeeper
Hao has a dream to create an H20 in Hangzhou – an intelligent play on ‘H2O’ – an annual global gathering for action to conserve and protect our waterways; Waterkeeper Alliance will strive to assist Qiantang River Waterkeeper in making this dream a reality. The timing of this effort could not be more critical as China embarks on its One Belt, One Road initiative to expand its economic and cultural interaction on an international scale. Throughout this initiative, we must remember that we have only One Blue Planet. So when we hear all about Chinese-owned developers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and more, remember that we have a network of Waterkeepers in China working with their country’s leaders to protect our world’s waterways.