Setting aside their grief following the deaths of their colleagues
in Hoh Xil, home to the endangered Tibetan antelope, Chinese
volunteers determined to continue their invaluable work.
Feng Yong, 21, an environmental protection volunteer from southwest
China's
Sichuan Province, and a local driver, froze to death early on
Sunday in the famous Hoh Xil Nature Reserve in northwest China's Qinghai
Province.
Feng and five other volunteers had been working in the reserve when
their jeep broke down. The group walked back to base camp and later
Feng and the driver returned to try to retrieve the jeep in another
vehicle.
Just what happened next is, at the moment, a matter of speculation.
It seems that the second vehicle also ran into trouble.
But what is known for sure is the overnight temperature plunged to
as low as 30 degree Celsius .
One theory is they may have encountered wolves, prevalent and
hungry at this time, and remained inside the unheated jeep waiting
to be rescued.
Although a postmortem has not yet been carried out, it is thought
the two lost consciousness and froze to death.
The shock deaths sparked a debate on the Internet where web surfers
exchanged views on the question about whether such voluntary work
should continue.
One netizen expressed his sympathy and saluted the courage of
volunteers and said he would like to make a donation to Hol Xil
Nature Reserve.
Caiga, a senior administrative officer of Hoh Xil, responding to
the tragedy, said it was risky for outside volunteers, less
experienced than local people, to work in the Nature Reserve during
harsh winter conditions.
Ding Yuanzhu, director of the Research Center for Volunteering and
Welfare under Peking
University believes the accident will do nothing to diminish
the enthusiasm of volunteers.
"But they have to learn to protect themselves and acquire more
survival skills," said Ding, adding that a great deal remained to
be done if volunteering is to achieve its potential.
"Government plays an important role in policy-making and law-making
to guarantee both volunteers and voluntary organizations operate in
a constructive environment, one that includes fund raising and
program development."
Zhang Hongyu, a senior student of Xiamen University, was
shocked at the news. Zhang cycled thousands of kilometers from
Xiamen, a coastal city in east China's Fujian
Province, to Hoh Xil in the summer of 2000 to raise money for
the protection of Tibetan antelope.
"Conditions are tough in Hoh Xil Nature Reserve area. One should be
confident of his physical ability and strength and aware of the
hard environment," he said. In a warning to others, Zhang spoke of
the importance of being fully prepared when going to work in the
wild and remote reserve. Even the most experienced can get into
difficulties, he said.
Feng and his driver's sacrifice, working to help protect the
precious environment of Hoh Xil, may highlight and bring to the
forefront of the public's attention the need for such work. It may
also bring much needed support to the nation's environmental
protection fight.
There is a growing recognition in China of the impact of civil
participation and the benefits of volunteering.
A
survey conducted by Peking University Volunteer Center suggests the
estimated population of Chinese aged 18 and older, who volunteered
their time, skills and energy in 2001 was 769.57 million, both
formally and informally. Many Chinese, during the course of a year,
help improve the lives of others, their community, or their
environment, either through their own efforts or through some
organization.
A
number of activities will be held today, International Volunteer
Day, to reinforce the public's understanding of volunteer work.
(China Daily December 5, 2002)