Report from China

CLAPV lawyer Zhang Jingjing visits with the lead plaintiff, near the power lines.

In the face of enormous environmental challenges, pioneering Chinese lawyers are stepping up to enforce China`s environmental laws and give Chinese citizens a voice in decisions about the environment.

ELAW Executive Director Bern Johnson and China Program Coordinator Steve Barnes traveled to Beijing in January to work with pioneering Chinese advocates at the Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (CLAPV) on the campus of the China University of Political Science and Law.

Since 1999, CLAPV has received almost 10,000 complaints from Chinese citizens through the Center’s 24-hour telephone hotline. CLAPV has taken nearly 100 cases to court and won many victories for public health and the environment.

Bern and Steve traveled outside Beijing to meet with the lead plaintiff in one of CLAPV`s current cases. In February 2004, the Beijing Electric Power Company began building 50-meter electrical towers near the Summer Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For centuries, Beijing residents have enjoyed the area`s hills, lakes, and rivers. The power line project violates Chinese law and more than 200 residents have participated in community meetings and campaigns to voice their objections.

Ma Yan to visit ELAW

Bern Johnson collaborates with CLAPV staff in Beijing.

ELAW is thrilled to host CLAPV lawyer Ma Yan for a two-month ELAW Fellowship this summer. Ma Yan will study English, learn about U.S. environmental laws and litigation strategies, and meet with lawyers, judges, and non-profit organizations. ELAW will host two other Fellows from China before the end of the year. We thank Jim Olivier and ADM for making these Fellowships possible!