Take Action to Release Arrested Chinese Environmentalist!

April 28, 2007

[Pacific Environment]

Wu Lihong, a prominent Chinese environmentalist has been detained, likely as a result of his efforts to end pollution in Tai Lake. On the evening of April 13, dozens of undercover policemen stormed Wu’s home, confiscated his computer and camera. Just moments before his arrest, Wu phoned a colleague and said, “There is no justice here.”

Please urge the Chinese government to release Wu Lihong today!

For 16 years Wu has been dedicated to cleaning up Tai Lake. He organized a citizen-led effort called “Defenders of Tai Lake” and collects water samples, works with media and environmental organizations and files reports to senior government officials to generate awareness on the lake’s pollution. Due to his efforts, nearly 200 factories have been shut down in the past decade.

Local government officials are often afraid to put the environment before economic growth. This backlash against Wu’s environmental work contradicts the central government’s call for citizen involvement in protecting the environment. Please ask the government to release Wu Lihong and uphold its commitments to the environment and its citizens.

Nearly one quarter of China’s population doesn’t have access to clean water. Wu’s work and the work of dozens of environmental groups is essential to put an end to the country’s water pollution crisis. Send a letter today asking the Chinese government to release Wu Lihong and support environmental leaders.

http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizationsORG/pacificenvironment/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=11214