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Article: Fragile Civil Society Takes Root in Chinese Reform
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- June 4, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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In 1992, when Liang Congjie and some friends wanted to start
an environmental group, it would have been illegal for them just to
meet or hang a shingle. First they needed to find an organizational
"mother-in-law," or sponsor -- not a simple task in China.
The national environmental protection agency considered their
request for 10 months, then turned them down, declaring that the
nation could have only one environmental nongovernmental
organization and that Liang and his friends weren't up to the task.
So Liang changed the group's name to the China Environmental
Cultural Society, and became a branch of the Academy of Chinese
Culture under the Culture Ministry. Only then could he get ...