“Who are we if we can not cherish the Great Wall?”

On November 12th 2005, International Friends of the Great Wall organized a members’ activity at Jinshanling Great Wall to donate 30 garbage bins inscribed with the slogan “Bu ai Chang Cheng fei hao han”.

International Friends of the Great Wall, founded and directed by William Lindesay, has since its establishment in 2001, maintained regular efforts in the field to draw attention to the constant and widespread problem of garbage on and around the Great Wall. Since 2002 the society has been encouraging the adoption of a Countryside Code for city people visiting the countryside. 

In his opening remarks at Jinshanling, William Lindesay recalled the first cleanup campaign he organized there, back in April 1998. On that occasion he was asked by a journalist whether it was a one off cleanup effort, or the start of a sustained one. He replied “We’ll continue as long as there is a problem.” 

Less than six months – on National Day of 1998 -- he was back at Jinshanling, not only pickup up garbage, but donating 25 bins. Seven years later those bins are still being used at Jinshanling, although having suffered seven hostile summers and winters they are quite deformed. “So we thought it was about time we replaced them,” he explained.

According to Wu Qi, assistant director of International Friends of the Great Wall, the site of Jinshanling was also chosen to show support of the recent management change that took place in the wake of the much-criticized rock party convened there in August. A prime mover in making the change happen was expert adviser to the site, Cheng Dalin. Cheng, also honorary adviser and loyal supporter of International Friends of the Great Wall, was in attendance to explain the significance of the management change that has taken the site’s administration away from a development company and put it in the hands of Luanping County Cultural Relics Bureau. 

The bins were funded by Black Yak, the Korean manufacturer and retailer of high quality outdoor equipment, which is also lead sponsor of the society push to promote the Countryside Code. 

William Lindesay explained that since products of Black Yak – which range from clothing to sleeping bags and tents – are used by outdoor enthusiasts, adventurers and field researchers, it is important for this group of people to play the lead role in protecting both wilderness areas and countryside adjacent to cities. To encourage this, Black Yak is the first and only manufacturer and retailer in China to have all its products carry a specially-designed label asking customers to play a role in the defence and maintenance of China’s wilderness and countryside areas by observing and promoting the Countryside Code.

Speaking for Black Yak, Mr Nan Renhao, a Korean who studied Chinese in Beijing, said he was motivated to participate more actively in Great Wall conservation after he represented Korea by bringing his nation’s flag to the Great Wall cleanup in 2000 when the activity’s theme was “The Great Wall as a World Heritage”. On that occasion, also organized by William, 38 nationalities were represented and more than 30 different national flags were draped on the Wall, all flanking those of the two largest ones at centre – those of China and the United Nations. 

Nan Renhao of Black Yak, who was joined by three fellow Koreans, pledged more support for the Countryside Code campaign, with the focus in 2006 set to continue at popular Great Wall locations. 

Calling on members present to be “green guards” to promote the Countryside Code, Lindesay led members carrying bins onto the Wall and along it. Some members distributed small re-usable garbage bags, bearing the nine environmental guidelines, to distribute them to tourists. A total of 800 bags were distributed.

Wrapping up the day, Lindesay posed with some members around one of the new grey bins, bearing the calligraphy of Mao’s cursive hand, much to the surprise of a passing tourist. To clarify the calligraphy’s significance, William asked the tourist to read what he saw. He replied “I know, I know!!” but William insisted that he read it -- aloud. He did, and only then did he discover “Dao” had been replaced with “Ai”.

As he explained in his speech: It’s never been easier to reach the Great Wall as it is now. And it’s never been more difficult to cherish it. But the start begins with everyone playing their own part.

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