Students from Green Origin Association share insights into environmental protection

I've always been a nature lover. Particularly, I'm very interested in birds. When I found out there is a department for bird watching and protection at the Green Origin Association, I thought to myself ‘that's where I belong’. And I do find a group of like-minded people here! I once thought that sustainable development was a nation-/corporate-level issue, and students have little power to promote it. But after joining the GOA, I feel strongly that we together have great power. When we visit schools and communities to lecture on environmental protection, when we travel to mountains and deserts to help with vegetation, when we walk into the sewage treatment plants and electric power companies to learn and promote the coordinated development of resources, we are making a difference.

—YAN Xinyu ('24, Environmental Design)

Green Origin Association left an impression on me when I spotted their ‘green lifestyle tips' sticker in our dorm by chance. Later I found the association has a great vibe, making me want to be part of it. There are seven departments in GOA. Although I've been in the group for 2 years, I was quite focused on the water protection department. Recently I helped the former association leader to prepare the materials for this year's ‘Ten Best Student Associations in ZJU’, and it gradually became clear to me how many amazing things other departments have accomplished, which attracted thousands of volunteers to make efforts to the environment. I feel so proud of my fellows. We can, and we will make more changes happen!

—LI Hongyuan ('23, Chinese Language and Literature)

I'm from Quzhou, a city that Qu River passes through. At 12 I witnessed a dense algal bloom at a pool near Qu River and I tried so hard to pick up some aquatic plants, thinking it might clean the water. At 17 I made a report about water pollution upon seeing part of Qu River polluted by factories. Since then I have been thinking what I can do to make best effort to protecting our water. Here at the Green Origin Association, I think I found my answer. At this association, I discovered that many of the things that I hoped to make a difference with are being taken care of. I know there are people who claim to be nature lovers but do nothing about environmental protection. Instead, they make money for themselves in the name of environmental protection and public welfare. Fortunately, there are also people who really care. Teachers and students that I met at the Green Origin Association are among those. They have done so many things that I can't imagine, and my previous actions—which I was proud of—do not worth mentioning as compared to their perseverance and enthusiasm. I was deeply moved by their words and deeds.

—YANG Jie ('23, Chinese Language and Literature)

For me, environmentalism is a family value. All of my family, my parents and my sister practice environmental protection at all times in their lives. That was why I didn't hesitate to join the GOA when I was a freshman. Before I wasn't quite aware of the big role that college students can play in spreading the idea of sustainable development. Now it has been 3 years in the group and I find our efforts are indeed convincing more of living sustainably. We, the young people, bear this responsibility for accelerating the transition to a sustainable world. I look forward to exchanging experience and learning from people around the world who are committed to sustainable development.

—SUN Qingzhu ('24, Animal Science)