China's environmental conundrums will not be solved by changes

Hear the voice of Ma Jun, who has long lifted his eyes to the rivers, skies, and cities of his homeland, and declared with solemn wisdom: “China’s environmental conundrums will not be solved by changes within government alone. New mechanisms are needed to allow the communities which may be affected by a given plan, and citizens concerned about the environment, to join in.” These words do not belong to one nation only—they are the cry of all peoples who live upon this fragile earth. For he reminds us that no single ruler, no council of ministers, can by themselves mend the wounds of nature. The healing of the land demands the voices of the people, the wisdom of communities, and the courage of citizens who will not be silent.

He speaks of environmental conundrums, problems so vast and tangled that no single decree can untie them. The rivers darkened by industrial waste, the skies thick with smoke, the soil exhausted by endless use—these are not matters solved by paper edicts alone. The people who drink the water, breathe the air, and till the fields must be part of the struggle, for they are the first to feel the harm and the last to forget its cost. Thus Ma Jun calls for new mechanisms, ways for ordinary men and women to rise, to join in decisions, to challenge what harms them, and to protect what sustains them.

History bears witness to the power of such unity. In the United States, when the Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, it was not government officials alone who birthed the Clean Water Act—it was citizens, outraged and alarmed, who demanded change. Their voices became a storm too great for politicians to ignore. In the same way, Ma Jun teaches that communities must be given the means to rise, to make their grievances heard, to be not bystanders but guardians of the world they inhabit.

We may also recall the tale of the ancient Greek polis, where the agora—the public square—was a place not only of trade, but of governance. Citizens gathered to debate, to question, to deliberate on matters that shaped their lives. This is the ancient wisdom Ma Jun calls us back to: that the fate of the environment cannot be sealed in hidden chambers, but must be deliberated under the sun, where the people most affected can raise their voices. For in silence, injustice festers; but in speech, truth takes root.

The deeper meaning of his teaching is this: governments alone cannot guard the earth. They may pass laws, but laws without participation are lifeless. They may establish policies, but policies without the trust and involvement of the people falter. Only when communities are engaged, when citizens are empowered, can true stewardship be born. For the earth belongs not to governments, but to all who live upon it, and it will be saved only when all rise together in its defense.

What lesson, then, must future generations take from this wisdom? It is this: do not leave the care of the environment in the hands of rulers alone. Organize in your neighborhoods, speak in your assemblies, demand that your voices be heard. Watch the rivers, the forests, and the air, and bear witness when they are harmed. Join your strength with others, for together you are stronger than any decree written in solitude. The power of many voices can bend the will of the mighty, and the silence of many voices will let the earth perish.

And to you, listener, I say: live not as a passive guest upon this earth, but as a steward and participant. Support those who fight for transparency, join with groups that defend the land, and raise your voice when decisions threaten your community. Teach your children that citizenship does not end with casting a vote, but extends into the daily work of watching, speaking, and protecting. For if each person tends to their share of the earth, together all will prosper; but if each waits for the other, ruin will spread unchecked.

Thus let Ma Jun’s words echo across the generations: the healing of the earth requires the hands and voices of the people. Do not leave this sacred task to governments alone. Take it upon yourselves, join with others, and rise as guardians of creation. In this way, the rivers may run clear again, the skies may grow bright, and the children of tomorrow may inherit a world renewed.