More than 20 leading Chinese publishing houses have jointly issued a statement, calling for creating a "green publishing world" to fulfill the sector's moral obligations to society.

Eager to pursue profits, some publishers have been glutting the market with books filled with pornographic materials or of low taste. The phenomenon has recently come under harsh public criticism and triggered self-introspection among publishers.

"We shouldn't let bad books smear the minds of our younger generation. They need appropriate reading materials to grow healthily," said Ji Zhongxun, an editor with the China Children Publishing House.

The act of the publishers echoed efforts by authorities of TV and movies and video and audio products to clean up related sectors, and followed the earnest call of the central government to foster a healthy environment for the growth of the country's youngsters.

In a circular issued on April 19, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television ordered all TV stations to curtail air time allotted to TV plays, movies and other TV programs that depict bloody, violent, homicidal and horror scenes and content.

It also ordered strictly control of the production and import of TV plays and movies of such nature, banned airing such programs in prime time, and ordered shifting their air time to midnight.

The Ministry of Culture is asking the public to recommend good-quality video products suitable for youngsters, which it would then launch a promotion of nationwide.

Earlier, the central government had asked museums to open free of charge to young students, asked schools to improve their standards in ethical education and ordered Internet bars not to admit minors.

Quoting from a survey, Shang Xiurong, a woman judge of a juvenile tribunal in Beijing, said approximately 75 percent of juvenile delinquents admitted that they had been influenced by films and video games featuring violence and sex.

"Young people lack proper differentiating ability. They inclined to accept scenes on TV and movies as truth and the actual way of life, including using violence to resolve disputes as is often exhibited on the screens," said Shang from the Haidian People's Court.

Robbery has replaced theft as the most common offense of China's juvenile delinquents since the early 1990s. Many people blame too much exposure of violence on the screen, video products and books as a major culprit for this shift.

People, especially those with kids, are very much worried about the growth environment of their offspring.

"When we were young, the environment was mostly positive that valued learning from model workers, model students and heroes. People tended to adopt lofty ideals and be full of drive to achieve certain goals," said Zhu Lizhong, a civil servant in Beijing.

"We mustn't let our kids get bogged down in meaningless video games, rubbish books and TV plays, let alone pornographic materials," Zhu advised.

Zhu praised recent actions taken by the government and the whole society to improve the growth environment for youngsters.

"We must do this as soon as possible. Otherwise, what can expect our kids and successors to be," said Zhu.

(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2004)