Water warrior praised for decade of voluntary efforts

Dedicated environmentalist has spent 3,800 hours cleaning local beauty spots

Editor's Note: As protection of the planet's flora, fauna and resources becomes increasingly important, China Daily is publishing a series of stories to illustrate the country's commitment to safeguarding the natural world.

In the past nine years, Li Jin has made great efforts to protect the waters of Sanya city in Hainan, China's southernmost province.

The 35-year-old — who is now popularizing awareness of environmental protection through new media platforms — was born in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, but raised in Sanya.

"I really cherish the beautiful beaches and ocean here, and I can't bear such views to be ruined by litter. Around 2014, I started doing charity work to pick up and clear trash from the beach when I had enough free time away from running a restaurant," he said.

He officially registered as a volunteer in May 2017, and immediately took the lead in a cleanup activity on the Sanya River, which is regarded as the city's "mother river".

"Along with sanitation workers, we (volunteers) collected litter with nets. Most of it was household garbage. I never imagined that the river contained that much trash," he said. "I've become even more concerned about water protection because I remember that in about 2000 some of the city's 22 rivers smelled bad, but few volunteers were joining environmental protection activities. Back then, people didn't have much understanding of the need to protect the water.

"It's meaningful work for me, and I feel very happy when I see clean, beautiful water and beaches. Through my volunteer work, I've made many friends who have a positive attitude to life. They really cheer me up. I've also been given many honors and prizes because of those activities, which I never imagined would happen."

His environmental protection work also proved to be a matchmaker as he met his wife during a river-cleaning activity in 2017. They married a year later.

In April 2021, Li spent 30,000 yuan ($4,330) to set up his own volunteer service center, and has since organized over 360 water-protection activities, popularized environmental protection and arranged care for seniors who live alone in Hainan's rural areas.

So far, he has spent about 3,800 hours on volunteer activities in over 550 events, and encouraged more than 2,300 people to join good causes. His volunteer center has 1,170 registered members who take part in charitable activities without asking for payment.

"We've not only encouraged adults to take an active part in volunteer activities, but also children. In 2021, we organized a beach-cleaning activity and allowed both adults and kids to join in to promote the importance of protecting oceans and beaches," he said.

Since its founding, his center has organized 51 beach-cleaning activities that have seen about 1,800 people join in, with several hundred metric tons of trash cleared from coastal areas.

In 2021, Li's growing influence in environmental protection circles prompted the city's bureau of ecology and environment to invite him to make a number of short videos to raise awareness of his work.

"In the videos, I use straightforward, simple words to explain the plastics ban and how to sort trash. Some of the videos have been viewed millions of times," he said.

Li said his father was initially opposed to his protection activities.

"He didn't understand what I was doing. He urged me to focus on my restaurant rather than 'wasting time' doing this 'useless' work, for which I received no payment or financial bonus. However, when my work was reported in newspapers and on television, my mother gave her approval because she wanted me to be happy. My father, who was severely ill, died last year, while my restaurant closed due to the COVID-19 epidemic," he said.

"My volunteer work would be meaningless if I valued high cash rewards. But the work itself is truly of great importance, ensuring that trash, plastic bags and beer bottles won't be digested by ocean creatures or degrade the marine environment for many years.

"I remember that during my childhood there were no concerns about drinking river water, but now we are worried that it may be polluted. As such, it's crucial that we continue doing our environmental protection work."

chengsi@chinadaily.com.cn