China Program Report

In July, ELAW Fellows and volunteers met with Hon. Ann Aiken of the U.S. District Court for Oregon. Pictured, left to right:
Zhang Yige, Ma Yan, Judge Ann Aiken, Li Bing, and Augustine Niber (see "Q&A with Augustine Niber" in this issue).

Ma Yan

Lawyer and environmental law professor Ma Yan spent ten weeks at ELAW this summer. She is the third in a series of ELAW Fellows from the Beijing-based Center for Legal Assistance to Pollution Victims (CLAPV).

The ELAW China Program is building CLAPV`s capacity to protect the environment and public health in China, and connecting Chinese public interest attorneys with pioneering advocates in 70 countries around the world.

Ma Yan enjoyed a busy summer. In the mornings she studied English with more than 200 international classmates at the University of Oregon`s American English Institute. In the afternoons she worked with ELAW staff lawyers and scientists on her cases. In the evenings she worked on an environmental law text that her law students will use this fall at the China University of Political Science and Law.

On the weekends Ma Yan found time to explore Crater Lake National Park, hike in nearby forests, raft the McKenzie River, and enjoy barbecues with new American friends. Many thanks to Ma Yan for her hard work, warmth, generosity, and culinary expertise!

Li Bing

ELAW owes tremendous thanks to Li Bing, a Beijing lawyer and University of Oregon master`s student. Over the past year Bing has provided countless hours of pro bono services to ELAW`s China Program.

A native of Ningxia Province (near the Mongolia border, by the Yellow River) Li Bing lives in Eugene with her husband Xiang Kui, a PhD candidate at the University of Oregon, and their five-year old son Leo.

Li Bing says she volunteers because the environment is one of China`s most urgent issues. "ELAW can raise public awareness about environmental protection through training lawyers, community meetings, and helping with technology," she says.

This year Li Bing received the University of Oregon`s International Student Leadership and Involvement Award.
Congratulations and many thanks to Li Bing for her high impact work!

Cai Xianfeng

Cai Xianfeng, environmental law professor at Ningbo University Law School, Ningbo, China

Cai Xianfeng will arrive in September from Ningbo, China, a "small" Chinese city of two million, located 200 kilometers south of Shanghai. Cai Xianfeng is an environmental law professor at Ningbo University Law School. The university`s 1,000 law students are now required to study environmental law.

Cai Xianfeng and his colleagues want to launch an environmental law clinic at Ningbo University. During his two-month ELAW Fellowship, Cai will work with ELAW and other organizations to learn about environmental law clinics and determine the best organizational structure and resource needs for Ningbo University. Cai will also attend an intensive English program at the American English Institute.

Special Thanks

ELAW`s China Program would not be possible without the support of Jim Olivier and ADM. Many thanks for your generous support! We also thank volunteers Michele Li and Zhang Yige.