Cultural Reviews ing a great deal of material over the course can only find the right words when I think of of several years, he edited what he’d gath- that merciful and just God who is so far ered into a documentary called, “In Search away, and yet so close . . . As a Christian, In Search of the Soul of the Soul of Lin Zhao,” which revisits Lin my life belongs to my God. In order to per- of Lin Zhao Zhao’s short and tragic life. sist on my path, the path of a servant of Lin Zhao was born in 1932 in the south- God, this young person has paid a heavy BY JIN ZHONG ern city of Suzhou to a family that was physical and psychological price.” In April deeply concerned with China’s affairs. As a 1968, Lin Zhao was executed in secret. A new independent Chinese documentary secondary school student, she joined her She was 35 years old. relates the story of Lin Zhao, a political mother as a participant in the Communist Lin Zhao was rehabilitated in 1981. Of prisoner executed 35 years ago. The tragic underground movement. In 1954, her bril- the 800-odd students tale of “China’s Joan of Arc” is inspiring liant academic performance gained her who had been labeled rightists, she was reflection and self-examination among acceptance into Peking University’s Depart- the only one who chose to die rather than Chinese intellectuals. ment of Classical Chinese. In 1957, after to admit her error, and who left behind the she expressed disagreement with Mao vestiges and legacy of her protest. But only To execute a prisoner and then charge her Zedong’s anti-rightist movement, she her- a very small portion of her writings has ever family five fen for the bullet—that is the self was labeled a rightist and a “class been made public; the vast majority shocking aspect of Lin Zhao’s story. An offi- enemy,” but she refused to recant. In remains sealed by the authorities (with a cial Xinhua News Agency report on Lin 1960, she was arrested on charges of stated time limit of 50 years). From the por- Zhao’s wrongful death in 1981 noted, “This counterrevolution for publishing an under- tions of essays revealed in Hu Jie’s docu- is an amazing story that makes one’s hair ground magazine, and was imprisoned in mentary, it can be seen that Lin Zhao was stand on end.” But over the past 20-odd Shanghai’s Tilanqiao Prison. In prison she highly knowledgeable and critical of Mao years, Lin Zhao has disappeared from pub- continued to protest, and wrote many Zedong’s dictatorial rule, especially over lic view; the official media have not been essays criticizing the Chinese Communist the deception of China’s youth; she voiced allowed to report further on the case, and Party. When she failed to respond to correc- particular indignation over how China’s this heroic fighter seemed to have sunk to tion, her hands were handcuffed behind her youth was defrauded in 1957. She wrote, the bottom of the lake of history. back for 180 days. She was given no “The cunning villains used our innocence, Five years ago, Hu Jie, a 40-year old reprieve, even during menstruation. Accord- naivety and honesty; they incited and independent filmmaker raised in a military ing to her younger sister, him- steered our virtue, purity and fervent tem- household, was deeply disturbed upon self went to the prison to interrogate Lin peraments. When we realized the actual learning of the case of Lin Zhao, a Peking Zhao, but she still refused to yield. absurdity of the situation and began to University student who was named a “right- In 1962, the authorities agreed to demand our democratic rights, we were ist,” used her own blood to write hundreds release Lin Zhao for medical treatment, but subjected to unprecedented persecution of thousands of words in prison and was she refused to leave prison. After her family and suppression. Our youth, passion, learn- finally executed. He decided to “resurrect” forcibly brought her home, Lin Zhao contin- ing, idealism and joy were all sacrificed to Lin Zhao, and at his own expense inter- ued to write voluminous criticisms of the the terrible rule of this wicked tyranny. How viewed many of Lin Zhao’s fellow students, government. Several months later, she was can this not be blood?”1 At the time that friends and family members. After collect- arrested again, and back in prison she pre- Lin Zhao wrote these words, Mao Zedong pared for the inevitability of death. She sub- had initiated a even mitted articles to the People’s Daily, went more crazed than the anti-rightist move- on hunger strike and wrote essays in her ment, and in the name of revolution own blood. She left behind hundreds of defrauded and used even more young thousands of words in the form of journals, people to violent and murderous ends. essays, letters to her family and poems A video compact disc of Hu Jie’s docu- brimming with brilliance and emotion. Lin mentary circulating in Hong Kong and over- Zhao’s fellow student, Zhang Yuanxun, vis- seas has raised strong reactions. Many ited Lin Zhao in prison in 1966 after he people break into tears while watching it; himself was released from custody for right- they recommend it to each other and organ- ist offences. He found that Lin Zhao’s hair ize group viewings, and many writers have had turned white, a mark of her oppres- extolled Lin Zhao as the most trenchant sion. Lin Zhao told him in front of the prison critic of the Mao era, a cultural pillar who guards that she had been subjected to hor- puts her male contemporaries to shame. rendous abuse and violence. Open Magazine has presented the view that One of the spiritual pillars in Lin Zhao’s Lin Zhao is altogether worthy to be ranked deadly struggle was her Christian faith. among the greatest freedom fighters of the Documentary film director Hu Jie. Photo: Open Using her own blood as ink, she wrote, “As I 20th century, a Chinese Joan of Arc, and Magazine silently rub the drops of blood on the wall, I has appealed to China’s intelligentsia to . Thesentence“Howcanthisnotbeblood” 1. TRANSLATOR’S NOTE Translated by StacyMosher 2004 Written onAugust15, of anation.” fragile womanisraisingtheconsciousness “Thebloodofa hesaid, Manchu rebellion, heroic womanwhogave herlifeintheanti- a ing LinZhaotoQiuJin(1875–1907), past AprilbeforeLinZhao’s ashes.Compar- this deliveredaeulogy Peking University, panion inlove andinleadingtherightistsof professor whowas onceLinZhao’s com- aretiredQingdaoUniversity Tan Tianrong, nature. spirit andherloving andvirtuous emotionally depictthebeautyofLinZhao’s visualsandmusictocoollyyet film angles, sensibility.” herpoeticvisionandaesthetic “preserved an environmentandbrutality, ofdarkness in also highlypraisestheway thatLinZhao, thanourideologies.”important AiXiaoming teaches usthatouractionsaremore and tom lineoftheChineseherera, ered legacy;shechallengedthemoralbot- thespiritofLinZhaoisarediscov- rights, “Intoday’s eraofbuildinghuman out, Guangzhou’s points ZhongShanUniversity essay by ProfessorAiXiaomingof ness andreflectiononhistoricalevents. An students inthehopesofraisingconscious- haveprofessors organizedscreeningsfor and intellectualcircles.Someuniversity film hasalsocirculatedaroundcampuses ofChina. understanding tled inEnglishtogivetheWest abetter suggested thatthefilmbedubbedorsubti- haveLin Zhao.Someoverseasscholars produce aneven on moreoutstandingfilm that China’s mightsomeday futureartists Kong filmcriticshave expressedthehope make LinZhaoahouseholdname.Hong Hu Jie’s successfullyuses documentary theVCDofthisindependent In China, phrased inChinese. so hasbeentranslatedliterallyasitis a refrainseveral timesinthequotedessay, itisrepeatedas previous sentence. However, does notseemtofollownaturallyfromthe of Change inModernChina A Review of Tilting atWindmills • • • several weeks: plucked over fromthenewspapers thelast Consider thefollowingnews stories, BY TOMKELLOGG $16.80 336 pages, 2004 Pantheon Books, Ian Johson Foreign Service, ferred to a Hong Kong court. toaHong Kongferred court. stemming fromthecardgametrans- chargesagainsthim the corruption Kong immigrationauthoritiestohave andhehasappealedtotheHong case, Hong Kong publicizedhis newspapers allowed togothehospitalonlyafter beating were leftuntreated.Ngwas waist downafterhisinjuriesfromthe andwas leftparalyzedfromthe ment, game. Ngwas refusedmedicaltreat- ruption inOpenLetter,”ruption Cor- CadreDecries Official Lowly Party “Plea forHonestyTransfixes China: South ChinaMorningPost, says defendantinfraudcase,” lyzed, Iwas leftpara- denied medicalhelp, “HK gamblerbailedinShenzhen:Iwas I’ll ever beabletowalk properly.” months,” Mr. Zhensaid.“I’mnotsureif he passedout.“Iwas bedriddenfortwo until whobeathimwithironbars men, andfinallyfacedavisitfromfour cials, ignored threatsagainsthimby localoffi- Zhen of 3,000mostlypoorfarmers. avillage finance committeeofSanlitun, after hewas ofthe electedchairman into seriousallegationsofcorruption tion inhisvillage.Zhenbeganlooking jailed afterhebeganlookingintocorrup- beaten senselessandhisdaughterwas was fromHebeiprovince, peanut farmer a46-yearold 2004: ZhenShuqing, ing toexposecorruption,” AFP, August 2, isbeatensenselessaftertry- “Villager than 1.5million vice-mayor ofShaoguanoutmore province afterallegedlyconningthe Guangdong center inShaoguan, was beateninadetention 42, ming, 2004: HongKong residentNgKwong- Wild Grass: Three Stories uut1,2004:Gov- August 14, yuan during acard Washington Post July 23, to democracy, human rights, rule oflaw rule and humanrights, to democracy, itisnotyetonanunalterable path contrary, undeniable. Yet U.S. policybromidestothe all frontsover thelasttwenty-five is years with itscitizens’demands. morewilling tocomply more highlytrained, asbureaucratsbecome able torefuseand, willbebothless andthegovernment ment, more andfreedomsfromtheirgovern- they willbegintoaskfor eign investment, citizens growricherthroughtradeandfor- and cooperation. oneofengagement cessor tookonChina, the samelinethathisDemocraticprede- roughly tember 11andhassincepursued PresidentBushgotseriousafterSep- tion, Taiwan days intheearly ofhisadministra- with tough talkonChinaandopenlyflirting rights-respecting nation.Afterdabblingwith middle-class statetomodern ian one-party China make thetransitionfromauthoritar- willhelp goes, sothetheory engagement, however slowly. Positive oflaw, the rule that Chinaisinchingtoward democracyand some timebeenpredicatedontheidea of dailylifeinChinatoday. mucha part asbotharevery and violence, have founddozensmorestoriesofgraft Icould day’s headlines.Withlittleeffort, justasIwas readingthe out reallylooking, uncommon oratypical;Ifoundthemwith- papers followedpapers the The progressthatChinahasmade on issimpleenough:asChina’sThe theory U.S. foreignpolicytoward Chinahasfor None ofthesestoriesisparticularly because ofconstantthreats. and was protectedby bodyguards Huang hadtowear abulletproofvest DuringtheFuzhouinvestigation,arrests. whichledtoseveral of thelocalpolice, in Fuzhouthatwas undertheprotection he uncovered anillegalslaughterhouse ago, fights:several years anti-corruption lead. Huanghimselfisnostrangerto flagship ter was publishedontheWeb siteofthe Huang’s let- over theproblem, frustration sign ofincreasingcentralgovernment by Ina hamstrung moreseniorofficials. take actiononindividualcaseswere to andlamentingthathisefforts ruption, ment complainingaboutwidespreadcor- wrote alonglettertothecentralgovern- level cadreincoastalFujianprovince, acounty- HuangJingao, official ernment People’s Daily, People’s Daily and dozensof ’s

REGULAR FEATURES 91 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 3, 2004 middle class stability. A political “soft land- be they peasant farmers or city straphang- In China, the problem of excessive local ing” is, of course, the most hoped-for and ers, are often compelled to become taxation is severe, and has tried to perhaps—perhaps—the most likely out- activists, merely to defend themselves do something about it. In 1991, for example, come. But it’s also possible that China against the local government’s stealing, the government declared that the maximum could end up suffering the same fate as its conniving and cheating. In the case of the total tax rate for rural farmers would be five former soviet sister, Russia, a case study in Falungong spiritual movement, they are percent of the farmer’s annual income. As mafiosi-ocracy. Instead of continuing to fighting to be simply left alone. Johnson points out, this would be a bargain grow NGOs, reform and improve the court The story of Ma Wenlin—the so-called in any industrialized country. system, and increase the latitude and inde- “peasants’ champion”—illustrates this alone extracts an 8.25% sales tax from its pendence of journalists and the media, phenomenon of reluctant, accidental residents, in addition to taking a small bite China could instead fall victim to all of the activist particularly well. His is the story out of city-dwellers’ income. The additional countertrends one sees in China today, of defending those men and women who state and federal taxes add up to more than those of rampant and rising corruption, vio- didn’t put down their hoes and head off for one-third of even a relatively low-income fam- lence and thuggery. China’s booming cities, but instead contin- ily’s income, and can be well over one-half for Ian Johnson’s Wild Grass: Three Stories ued to tend farms in the countryside. upper-income families. of Change in Modern China gives us a vivid What makes poverty in rural China differ- But the devil is in the details. Local gov- and compelling picture of contemporary ent from the poverty of, say, rural Missis- ernments in China charge fees for every- China, as illustrated by three extended nar- sippi is this: in China, too often, the thing that the government can think of, ratives. Although it is not his intent to make government is an active facilitator of regardless of whether the government actu- such predictions, Johnson’s reporting poverty. Whereas rural America often suf- ally delivers anything in return for the raises the very real and very dangerous fers from the cruelty of government neglect, money collected. And this is not counted as possibility that China could, if current much of rural China suffers from a greedy, part of the five percent. What seemed like a trends continue unchecked, subvert the bloated local government that ignores generous solution meant simply that local recent progress towards rule of law, and orders from Beijing to lessen peasants’ tax governments had to make semantic instead become a country in which, to bor- burden, and instead continues to extract as changes to their revenue collection row a phrase from Chairman Mao, political much money as it can from its constituents, schemes—which meant that protests power comes out of the barrel of a gun, at by force if necessary. Instead of acting as against local tax collectors continued to least at the local level. the agent of economic development and escalate. Each of the three stories has a central empowerment, local government in China all Mr. Ma got involved in defending a group character, but none of the three is about too often is a greedy hand that takes as of peasants who were accused of engaging only one individual. Instead, the three nar- much as it can and gives little in return. in rebellion against the government, and ratives take on three separate issues, each Ma Wenlin, a self-trained lawyer and was eventually himself accused, and later of which are illustrative of the challenges peasant advocate, saw first hand the suf- tried and convicted, of stirring up the peas- facing China midway through its third full fering of farmers in Tuo’erxiang in Zizhou ants in revolt, of “disturbing social order.” decade of reform. Johnson’s approach is County, near his hometown of historic Ma did not match the Hollywood description dictated in part by his theory that change in Yan’an, and tried to do something about it. of the crusading lawyer; instead he had contemporary China is more of a ground-up It could be argued that the anti-tax come to the law late in life, more by acci- process than most outsiders realize. In movement is the strongest political move- dent than by design. According to Johnson: Johnson’s view, ment in America today, although the anti- . . . Mr. Ma didn’t fit into the category of abortion groups would take exception to . . . the push for change comes mostly young romantic. Born in 1942, Mr. Ma this assessment. If it were permissible to from people we rarely hear of: the small- was fifty-five at the time he filed his law- found a Chinese version of the American town lawyer who decides to sue the gov- suit [on behalf of the peasants of Tuo’erxi- anti-tax Club for Growth, it would quickly ernment, the architect who champions ang]. He had spent almost all his life rocket to the top of China’s nascent civil dispossessed homeowners, the woman under communist rule; there had been no society scene. who tries to expose police brutality. overseas education for him, no familiarity But such a group’s makeup and Some are motivated by narrow interests with English, no real knowledge of the out- approach would be wildly different from the of family or village, others by idealism. side world. In a country where many American anti-taxers. Instead of being the All, successful or not, are sowing the people retire at sixty, Mr. Ma was an old province of the rich, the movement in China seeds of change in China, helping to man born of an old system. I couldn’t would be swollen with the ranks of the foment a slow-motion revolution. imagine what could cause such a person working class poor. And instead of harangu- to challenge the system, setting in motion In other words, the story of China as an ing against the predations of the national a massive lawsuit and, if I believed the authoritarian state in which a small band of government, as happens in the U.S., anti- court documents, protests and demon- political dissidents rage against the politi- taxers in China would beg for more central strations across the countryside. cal machine doesn’t explain China today. government intervention to protect them Instead, China is a country of thousands of against the remorseless pillaging by local It all began when Mr. Ma went back to political acts each day, in which residents, and provincial officials. Zizhou county to visit relatives during the was stillby threatening andignoring turns thatthegovernment frustrated themselves, alltonoavail. Thepeasants protests, appeals andeven heldsome smallpublic wrote The grouporganizedfarmers, ants’ associationwas probablyamistake. ing nature.” nal thegroup’s “apoliticalandnonthreaten- “quite amouthful,” butitwas chosentosig- thegroup’s namewas Johnson putsit, notmonitoringit.As ofthesystem, are part choose namesthatdemonstratethey inChinagroupstendto name possible, mostdramatic come upwiththepithiest, can NGOscompetewitheachotherto challenge thegovernment.WhereasAmeri- den Volunteer LiaisonSmallGroup—to andReducingTax Anti-corruption ers Bur- association—the Tuo’erxiang CountyFarm- cal route.Hehelpedorganizeapeasant Mr. Madecidedtotake thepoliti- blocked, Tuo’erxiang case.Withthelegalavenue refusedtoeven hearthe thecourt before, dict hadbeenissuedjustafew months afew weeks papers later.necessary andhefiledthe agreed totake thecase, Mr. Ma gling forsometimeover whattodo, Afterstrug- wouldsoonlearn. ang farmers asMaandtheTuo’erxi- deliver consistency, butthatitalsofailsto fails tobringjustice, system inChinaisnotonlythatitoften had gotten.Buttheproblemwithlegal same justicethatthepeasantsinPeijiawan peasants. overcharged—a full$75,000—backtothe theamountthatpeasantswerereturn case even to orderedthelocalgovernment inthePeijiawan Thecourt from thecourt. andwonareprieve over excessivefees, hadtakeners thelocalgovernmenttocourt inwhichlocalfarm- neighboring Peijiawan, They were inspiredby arecentcasein andthey wanted Matohelpthem. ment, thrown injailfortheirinsubordination. andthey were roughedupand couldn’t pay, eitherrefusedtopay orsimply farmers the sameshareoftaxesandfees.Many officialshadinsistedoncollecting ernment butthegov- vest was downfrompastyears, andthehar- thearea, Drought hadstruck whotoldhimoftheirtroubles. farmers, hewas approachedby somepeasant there, Lunar New Year holiday in1997.While nrtopc,thefoundingof peas- In retrospect, Despite thefactthatPeijiawan ver- inTuo’erxiangThe farmers wanted the wanted tosuethegovern- The farmers just afew weeks’ notice. forcedtomove outwith and areregularly or nocompensationfortheirlosthomes, Localresidents areoftenofferedlittle ers. inordertobuildmammoth skyscrap- ways, oralley- rip downcenturies-oldhutongs, out oftheirhomesby eagerto developers ofcitydwellers forced tal totellthestory tocapi- heswitchesfromcountry ond story, andabuseofpower.corruption Inhissec- lar deep-seatedproblemsofgovernment andillustratesimi- in China’s legalsystem, Wild Grass our lawyer.” conversation inahotellobby. “Hewas just furtive toldJohnsonduringaquick, farmer notLawyer Ma,”that we’re the responsible, word outonMr. Ma’s case:“Justtellpeople viewed by Johnsonasked himtogetthe inter- basis fortheirpetitions.Onefarmer usingmuchofMa’s asthe work ernment, continued todemandactionfromthegov- they buteven afterMawas sentenced, for, sented never wonthereliefMawas fighting The peasantsherepre- itous cruelties. shaky evidence and morethanafew gratu- thepresentationof dural irregularities, whichwas by marred numerousproce- trial, inalaborcamp. years was quicklytriedandsentencedtofive and hewas toZizhou, returned Within days, more thanadozenteethoutofhismouth. knocking thetwomenbeathim, him out, Public SecurityBureau.Ratherthanhear He was metby twomenfromtheBeijing tions andAppealsOfficetostatehiscase. totheStateCouncilPeti- with thefarmers Mr. Mawent inBeijing, When hearrived review hehadbeenaskingforsince1997. vent thelocalgovernmentandwin tocircum- for Beijinginalast-ditcheffort out withagroupofpeasantrepresentatives Ma’s heset days were numbered.InJuly, the incident. ment. Mr. Madeniedthathehadinstigated peasants tostrike outagainstthegovern- he was up orchestratingevents andstirring later usedagainstMr. Maasevidence that demanding relief.Thehostageincidentwas cial hostageformorethantwoweeks, andthey heldagovernmentoffi- their case, the officecontaineddocumentsthatproved ment officeinApril1999.They claimedthat crossedthelineandraidedagovern- them, The othertwostoriestoldby Johnsonin Johnson givesadetailedaccountofthe Mr.After theApril1999officetakeover, point outsimilarshortcomings r l ol,human figurestakingonacor- are allnoble, inJohnson’stence. Thecharacters book greedandincompe- sumed by corruption, up intimetosave Chinabeforeitiscon- mechanismscanbebuilt reform necessary outtobeself-defeating. ultimately turn might question ofwhetherthesereforms andbegsthe inpost-MaoChina, of reforms raises significantquestionsaboutthepath Butthebook the basisofhisreporting. largely avoids anover-arching analysison ment. generally foundmyself noddinginagree- Isthisoneabittoosweeping?—butharsh? and there—isthischaracterizationabittoo found myself quibblingwithawordhere engaging andhisanalysisisspot-on.I takes oninthebook.Johnson’s styleis ground ofeachthethreeissuesthathe explains thehistoricalandpoliticalback- ButJohnsonalso lives oftheparticipants. toldthroughthe ries arenarrative-based, his approachthroughoutthebook—thesto- cuts throughBeijing’s overheated rhetoric. group a“cult”orjustanothersecthelpfully detailed analysisofwhatmakes areligious andhis to demystify thegroup’s beliefs, strange. Johnson’s explicationdoesmuch Falungong isundeniably side observers, beginninginmid-1999.To many out- out, details thegovernment’s moves tostampit and how itbecamesopopularquickly, of ofFalungong, of tellingtheback-story tation group.Johnsondoesanexcellentjob crackdownontheQigongmedi- years-long toprotestagainstthe around thecountry whocometoBeijingfrom practitioners cles aroundthecapitalorganizingfellow whobicy- Falungong activistLiGuoqiang, history. pieceofChinese ing asmallbutimportant responsibilityforsav-would claimpersonal andtheentirecitygovernment monument, Kang’s housewouldbecomeaprotected fall over themselvestofixthesituation. politicianswould was goingtobeleveled, demolition inJohnson’s secondnarrative— housesfacing many historicallyimportant KangYouwei—one reformer century of 20th Beijing knew thatthehomeofearly for why Chinaneedsafreerpress.Ifallof bystruck howitcouldbereadasapolemic o ay thequestioniswhether For many, and Johnson stickstohisissues, His approachtoFalungong istypicalof focuseson The thirdandfinalstory Iwas As Ipagedthroughthissection,

REGULAR FEATURES 93 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 3, 2004 rupt system that does not hesitate to beat Hope for a Greener China the ultimate question posed by Economy’s up an old man or arrest a retired woman in insightful work. Economy concludes the A Review of The River Runs Black: The order to ensure that its authority is book with three possible future scenarios Environmental Challenge to China’s Future enforced and its ill-gotten profits protected. for China and its environment, and leaves Elizabeth Economy The men and women who challenge the the reader to ponder which is the most A Council on Foreign Relations Book / government in the three stories in John- likely. The River Runs Black is a must-read Cornell University Press, 2004 son’s book are united by a sense of duty, a for anyone interested in governance issues 272 pages, $29.95 willingness to fight for what is right and a in China, the rise of civil society, and China belief that, if a sufficiently senior official’s BY ANDREA WORDEN (and the world’s) environmental predica- ear can be turned, the problem will be ment and future. solved. The ominous story of the relentless degra- The environmental situation in China My fear is that, as time goes on, the dation of China’s environment is reflected was alarming enough when The Bad Earth number of people who think as Ma and the in the titles of many of the accounts dealing appeared 20 years ago; a glimpse at some others do will shrink rather than grow. As with China’s environmental ills that have of the statistics offered in The River Runs Johnson’s book makes clear, corruption in appeared over the past 20 years: The Bad Black reveals an even grimmer picture of China is still very much institutionalized, Earth: Environmental Degradation in China the deleterious effects of twenty years of and the state still has a near-monopoly on (Vaclav Smil, 1984), China on the Edge: The unbridled economic growth: violence. But as the free market expands, Crisis of Ecology and Development (He • According to the World Bank, 16 of the guns will likely become easier to obtain. Bochuan, 1988), China’s Environmental Cri- 20 cities in the world with the most pol- Violence could become an all-to-common sis: An Inquiry into the Limits of National luted air are in China; method of doing business, a cheaper alter- Development (Vaclav Smil, 1993), and The • China’s sulfur dioxide emissions, which native to resolving disputes in court. In Last Panda (George Shaller, 1993). Dr. Eliz- cause acid rain, are the highest in the such a situation, a stubborn lawyer such as abeth Economy, C.V. Starr Senior Fellow world; acid rain affects over 25 percent Ma Wenlin might not get a five-year prison and Director of Asia Studies at the Council of China’s land, including one third of its sentence for his troubles, but rather be on Foreign Relations, has made an impres- farm land; faced with threats against his wife and fam- sive contribution to this literature with her • The annual pace of desertification in ily, a severe beating, or worse. recently published—and no less ominously northwest China has doubled since the The men and women at the center of entitled—The River Runs Black: The Envi- 1970s; today more than 25 percent of Johnson’s three narratives are united in ronmental Challenge to China’s Future. China’s territory is desert; their belief that the system can respond. In The River Runs Black, Economy • During the mid-1990s, nearly half of But just as importantly, all three are united explores not only China’s current environ- China’s 140 forest bureaus reported in loss. None of the cases chronicled by mental situation, but also the historical, that trees were being felled at unsus- Johnson ends in victory for the wronged economic and political factors that have led tainable rates; party. Instead, in each case the govern- to the crisis. She describes and analyzes • More than 75 percent of the water flow- ment compounded an initial injustice with the weak environmental regulatory struc- ing through China’s urban areas is further abuse. This is not a good sign. ture that is institutionally unable to do unsuitable for drinking or fishing; There are many positive trends in enough, fast enough, to either remedy cur- • 60 million people find it difficult to get China, just as easily found in the day’s rent problems or prevent further degrada- enough water for their daily needs; newspaper as the stories of abuse, vio- tion as China’s population continues to • 25 percent of the endangered species lence and corruption. And all countries in grow, living standards continue to rise, and listed in the Convention on International transition go through growing pains as they Chinese consumption and demand for nat- Trade in Endangered Species are found develop the basic institutions of a rule of ural resources skyrockets. in China. law system. Perhaps the move that has She also explores China’s engagement Not only is China’s natural environment gained the most attention was the constitu- with the international community on envi- suffering, but continuing environmental tional amendment, passed earlier this year, ronmental issues, as well as the growth of degradation has brought with it severe protecting human rights. Discussions con- the environmental movement in China and social and economic costs. In the late tinue regarding how to best implement this the role it may play in furthering political 1990s, China’s Minister of Public Security new provision. Wild Grass demonstrates reform. listed environmental disputes (such as con- that this law has come none too soon. It The Chinese economic miracle, driven flicts over forests, grasslands and mineral came too late for Ma Wenlin, but there are by the principle of “economic growth first,” resources) as one of the “four factors in hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens just has led to a significant increase in the stan- social instability.” Moreover, during the like him who still need it. dard of living for hundreds of millions of 1990s, an estimated 20–30 million farm- Chinese and has turned China into “a ers were displaced as a result of environ- global economic powerhouse,” but at a mental degradation and an estimated tremendous environmental cost. Whether 30–40 million more may need to relocate China will be able to turn its environmental during the next 20 years. The public health situation around, and how it might do so, is ramifications of China’s environmental g fGP,itisstillinadequate. age ofGDP), mental protectionisincreasing(aspercent- level. Whilethecentralbudgetforenviron- ronmental laws andstandardsatthelocal enforce centralpolicydirectivesandenvi- whichisunabletoeffectively bureaucracy, fromaweakagement suffers central Economy arguesthatenvironmental man- China. iad environmental issuesconfronting enacted inanattempttoaddressthemyr- thathave standardsandrules been tions, regula- and theimpressivearray oflaws, China’s system environmental regulatory omy cogentlyexplainstheemergenceof respond tothesepressingproblems?Econ- cities duetowater scarcity. per yearinlostindustrialoutputChinese water pollutiondamagesand$14billion include $54billionannuallyfromairand percent ofGDPannually. These costs scarcity isestimatedtobebetween 8–12 environmental degradationandresource deaths eachyear. Theeconomiccostof causes anadditional111,000premature in excessofstandards.Indoorairpollution areas asaresultofatmosphericpollution premature deathsannuallyinChina’s urban degradation includeanestimated178,000 tives forlocalgovernments toundertake ness—compounded by thelackofincen- conflicts ofinterestandinstitutional weak- vides usefulexamplesofhowcorruption, Economylocal governmentofficials). pro- thebusinessinterestsof often, (including, that arekey tolocaleconomicinterests orotherenterprises number ofworkers, heaviest thatemploy alarge polluters) (whichareoftenthe owned enterprises state- orcollectfinesfrom, action against, difficulttotake local EPBsoftenfinditvery local governmentsiseconomicgrowth, of concern resources. Sincetheprimary careeradvancementandother salaries, ments attheirsamelevel forfunding, whicharedependentonlocalgovern- EPBs, roleover local SEPA onlyhasasupervisory areeven weaker. from alackofresources, mately 2,500nationwideandalsosuffer whichnumberapproxi- bureaus (EPBs), of morethansixthousand. the U.S.equivalent—theEPA—has astaff whereas has afull-timestaffofonly300, ronmental ProtectionAdministration(SEPA) StateEnvi-underfunded andunderstaffed What is the Chinese leadership doingto What istheChineseleadership The localenvironmental protection 2 Despite thesenotableefforts, 1 3 The tion whetherChina’s civilsociety(ofwhich that itisanopenques- Economy observes mental activistsandtheirorganizations. strategies andchallengesfacingenviron- like aninsider’s view intothedynamics, much andprovides whatfeelsvery views, tal movement throughilluminatinginter- some ofthekey players intheenvironmen- Environment,” Economy introducesusto “TheNew Politics ofthe the chaptertitled, are playing in environmental protection.In tal lawyers andenvironmental journalists environmen- studentgroups, tions (CSOs), in Chinaandtherolecivilsocietyorganiza- is theburgeoningenvironmental movement ofChina’shopeful part environmental story eral organizationsandforeigncountries. cooperative projectswithvariousmultilat- points outthatthesecitieshave long-term China’s topenvironmental cities;Economy rolein has alsoplayed animportant to localEPBs. have provided neededbackingandsupport ronmental protectionthanothercitiesand greater percentageoflocalrevenue toenvi- mental protection.They have dedicateda have embracedthecauseofenviron- ors, inspiredby proactivemay- and Zhongshan), Dalian Shanghai, in wealthier cities(e.g., somelocalgovernments nisms. Inaddition, ing andenforcementstrategiesmecha- capacitybuild- transfer, technology design, ects thatencompassenvironmental policy range ofpublicandprivatecooperativeproj- andprovides examplesofthewide China, assistance forenvironmental protectionin describes thesubstantialinternational throughout Chinesesociety. Shealso ongoing environmental educationeffort” however. Shenotesthatthereisa“vast, paints isnotoneofunmitigatedbleakness, prises.” thelocalenter- case inordertosupport ignored thelegalortechnicalmeritsofour they have notfollowed thelaw. Instead, thecourts all thesuitsthatwe have lost, nese environmental lawyer explained:“In suaded) tosidewithlocalindustry. AChi- andthusareinclined(orper- resources, local governmentsforfundingandother because theydependenton aresimilarly often oflittlehelptothelocalEPBs are regulations andpenalties.Localcourts spread disregardforenvironmental laws, environmental protection—resultinwide- The environmental pictureEconomy The mostfascinatingaspectofthe 4 The international community The international tion. in China’s eventual politicaltransforma- China’s environmental CSOswillplay arole confidentthat Asia). Butsheappears countriesin Europeandcertain Eastern Sovietchange (asintheformer Union, will growintoaforceforbroaderpolitical environmental CSOsareattheforefront) hpe,Economy writes: chapter, its environmental crisis.Inherconcluding to effectivelyandcomprehensivelyaddress ifChinais the necessityofpoliticalreform importance ofdemocracy’simportance core elements the underscores environment—her work not necessarilyguaranteeprotection ofthe is evidence that democraciesdo half years United Statesduringthepastthree anda Bush’s assaultontheenvironment ofthe China’s environmental crisis—indeed, full-fledged democracyistheanswer to his “green”travels aroundtheworld: wroteina1993accountof Camp inChina, Green with hiswifeestablishedthefirst whoalong Tang Xiyang, tection. For example, between democracyandenvironmental pro- appear inherbookhave drawn adirectlink system ofenvironmental protection. transparency andaccountabilitytothe tobringtrue toensuresuchafuture, sary develop thepoliticalinstitutionsneces- be acommitmentby China’s to leaders will important ifnotmore, tion. Equally, development withenvironmental protec- approaches tointegratingeconomic environmental protectionwillrequirenew A futureinwhichChinafullyembraces themeinEconomy’sA recurring is work Although Economy doesnotarguethat nature. totheprotectionof racy isnecessary Ifeeldemoc- attitudes, others’ observing office. Aftervisitingmany countriesand thing; otherwisehecannotcontinuein emperor orpresidenthastodosome- the When they alldaretospeakandact, forthisproblem. ize andshowconcern Hundreds ofmillionspeoplemustreal- depend onawiseemperororpresident. a causeforwholenation.Itwon’t doto is am convinced thatnatureconservation greenhillsandclearwaters. I everlasting Without realdemocracytherecanbeno tection tobethepracticeofdemocracy. I foundthechiefguaranteeofnaturepro- Some oftheenvironmental activistswho 5 6

REGULAR FEATURES 95 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 3, 2004 to successful environmental protection.7 have so far failed to implement integrated, to points just outside the city limits.” (Econ- These elements include a vibrant civil soci- systematic environmental management omy, at 120). ety and freedom of association, freedom of truly compatible with long-term sustainabil- 5. See Elizabeth Economy, “The grass-roots expression and open discussion and ity of an advanced, global civilization.”15 greening of China,” International Herald Tri- debate, a free press, rule of law and an Indeed, the , rather than pro- bune, April 21, 2004 (“Throughout China, people have become energized by their desire independent judiciary, public participation viding leadership on the global environmen- to contribute to the protection of nature. In so in policy making, accountability and trans- tal agenda, has more often than not proved doing, they have also set the pace for the parency at every level of government and obstructionist,16 and has shown a “persist- advance of civil society and the development 8 17 the free flow of information. ent disregard for sustainable growth.” If of democracy.”) Economy concludes The River Runs present trends in both the United States 6. This paragraph (among others) was deleted Black with a call for a more active role by and China continue, it is difficult to be opti- by Chinese government censors in both the the United States in assisting China in its mistic about a sustainable future. Chinese and English language versions of environmental protection efforts.9 She sen- “China Goes Green” is one of the three Tang’s book, A Green World Tour. Tang has sibly recommends that the U.S. should possible future scenarios Economy leaves “countered the censors by amassing a large remove the restrictions on the Overseas us with at the end of The River Runs Black. number of copies of the book at his home Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and Might we one day see the appearance of a and reinserting the censored portions by hand.” the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership, book entitled something like, A Better 7. See, e.g., Carl Pope and Paul Rauber, Strate- which would provide assistance to U.S. Earth: What China’s Environmental Turn- gic Ignorance: Why the Bush Administration is businesses seeking to establish them- around in the Early 21st Century Can Teach Recklessly Destroying a Century of Environ- selves in China’s environmental technolo- the World About Sustainable Development mental Progress (Sierra Club Books, 2004); gies market, and should also remove the and Environmental Governance? Let’s hope Robert Devine, Bush Versus the Environment restrictions on the U.S. Agency for Interna- that is the next book (Anchor Books, 2004). One of the key ele- tional Development (USAID)’s involvement ments of a democracy is, of course, regular in China. Economy argues for a “newfound 1. These estimates are from a 1997 World Bank multiparty elections, and it is through elec- commitment” by the U.S. leadership “to report on China’s environment. It’s not unrea- tions that leaders are held accountable for take the bold steps necessary” not only to sonable to assume these figures have their policies and performance. As Polish “benefit more significantly from China’s cur- increased over the past seven years. democracy activist Adam Michnik has stated: 2. Richard Ferris and Hongjun Zhang have “Only democracy—having the capacity to rent reform process but also to aid in the pointed out that (as of 2002) China was party question itself—also has the capacity to cor- future evolution of that process in ways to more than eighty environmental treaties, rect its own mistakes.” that serve broader U.S. political, economic, had enacted more than sixteen environmen- 8. See also Elizabeth Economy, “The grass-roots and environmental interests.” tal, health and safety statutes, issued several greening of China,” International Herald Tri- China’s environmental ills and increas- hundred regulations on the environment, bune, April 21, 2004 (“While China’s environ- ing demand for natural resources are a health and safety and more than 1,000 such mental activists recognize that democracy is global concern. South Korea and Japan standards. See Ferris and Zhang, The Chal- not a guarantor of a clean environment, they attribute much of their acid rain problem to lenges of Reforming and Environmental Legal consider its basic principles—political trans- China, and dust storms from China have Culture: Assessing the Status Quo and Looking parency, freedom of speech, assembly and traveled as far as California.10 A recent New at Post-WTO Admission Challenges for the press, rule of law and official accountability York Times article noted that there is a People’s Republic of China, 14 Geo. Int’l Envtl. through open and direct elections—to offer L. Rev. 429, 430 (2002). the greatest hope.”). growing concern that “the world simply may 3. Central investment in the environment has This point is driven home in Judith not have enough energy and other risen from 0.8 percent of GDP during 1996 to Shapiro’s recent account of the devastation resources for China to continue developing 2000 to 1.3 percent of GDP allocated for inflicted on China’s environment during the along present lines, especially at the pres- 2001 to 2005 (about $85 billion). Economy Mao years, Mao’s War Against Nature: Politics ent rate.”11 The United States and China notes that Chinese scientists say that 2.2 and the Environment in Revolutionary China are the world’s first and second largest con- percent of GDP is needed merely to keep the (Cambridge University Press, 2001). Shapiro sumers of energy, “yet on a per capita environmental situation at the status quo. shows time and again in her fascinating book basis, the Chinese consume scarcely 10 See Economy, at 107; see also Testimony of how the lack of an open political process, percent of the energy used by Ameri- Elizabeth Economy for the Congressional Exec- accountability, rule of law and freedom of cans.”12 Car sales in China have been utive Commission on China’s Roundtable speech resulted in untold disasters—for indi- increasing at the alarming rate of 80 per- Clearing the Air: The Human Rights and Legal viduals and the environment. Dimensions of China’s Environmental In the realm of international environmen- cent annually.13 Indeed, China is poised to Dilemma, January 27, 2003, available at tal law, James Speth, dean and professor in surpass the United States as the world’s http://www.cecc.gov/pages/roundtables/ the practice of environmental policy and sus- largest producer of greenhouse gases 012703/index.php. [“CECC Testimony”]. tainable development at the Yale School of sometime during the next five to fifteen 4. But Economy warns that there may be envi- Forestry and Environmental Studies has years.14 ronmental justice issues lurking behind these recently argued that “the transition in gover- But as Vaclav Smil, noted scholar of success stories; the most environmentally nance to capable, accountable, and demo- China’s environment, cautions, we “must proactive cities “often pursue environmental cratic governments” is essential if not forget that leading Western nations cleanup by exporting their polluting industries international environmental law and global

15. 1 oadFec,“China’s BoomBringsFear Howard French, 11. Thispointwas alsoincludedinEconomy’s 10. 6 pt,at88.Spethnotesthattheonly Speth, 16. 12. 3 et rdhr “ChinaPays aPricefor Keith Bradsher, 13. 7 ml “Development andDestruction,” at Smil, 17. “Development andDestruction: Vaclav Smil, 14. .See, 9. d. 2000). eds., of anElectricityBreakdown,” China). broadly forcontinuedengagementwith Seh at109).For about moreinformation (Speth, itistheUnitedStates.” ronmental issues, envi-for thelackofprogressoninternational mostresponsibility thatbears is onecountry 92–96. Spethalsocontendsthat“[i]fthere tion inthemid-1980s.Seediscussionat agreementonozonedeple- an international ronmental problemwas itsroleinbrokering onaglobalenvi-instance ofU.S.leadership Red SkyatMorning Id. at 211 Id. 2004. July 5, Speth, tively implemented.SeeJamesGustave environmental agreementsaretobeeffec- Cheaper Oil,” Affairs Crisis oftheGlobalEnvironment, 195. com/resourcesforcitizens.html. seehttp://www.redskyatmorning. for action, Challenge,” in The DimensionsofChina’s Environmental 2004. “Don’t BreaktheEngagement,”omy, 2004). Press, University CECC Testimony. at 213. e.g., (May/June 2004)(arguingmore Red SkyatMorning: America andthe (Timothy Weston andLionelJensen CECC Testimony; ElizabethEcon- New YorkTimes, China beyond theHeadlines, and hiscitizen’s guide New YorkTimes, June 26, at 173(Yale Foreign Out ofCommunistChinabyHuangXiang A Review of The BeastlyPoet ofChina ing apparentlyremain outofbounds.As depictions ofDengXiaopingorJiang Zem- butcheeky Mao Zedongmightbeallowed, of boundaries remainevident. Pop portraits clear However, ences intotheirworks. slypoliticalorsocialrefer- for incorporating atleastamongWestern clientele, ularity, gainingpop- withmany artists recent years, China seemstohave liberalizedgreatlyin front ontheartistic political prisonfodder, producerof andafertile fordebate, forum labeled eccentricorobsessive. exceptamongthose outmoded intheWest, able toadegreethathasbecomelargely becomespreciousandunassail- one’s life, andpossiblyeven one risksone’s freedom, China andoverseas—anopinionforwhich that festerinthedissidentcommunities in explainingtheintractabledisagreements opinion. Thisunhappy factgoesalongway cuted fornothingmorethananunauthorized people canstillbeimprisonedandperse- to thethoroughlyunacceptablerealitythat familiar withChinahasbecomeaccustomed or even amatteroflifeanddeath.Anyone remain amatterofgenuinepoliticalimport, andintellectualideas where art in theworld all they talked aboutwas football!” and group ofcolleaguesfromtheuniversity, meaningful. Ispentthelastweekend witha atleastthey argueaboutsomething “Well, sheresponded, American academicfriend, ions ofthemeritsGao’s work. mutually offendedby theirdifferentopin- each otherformonthsbecausethey were many standingstoppedtalkingto years’ friendsof circles, even outsideofartistic mewas butwhatsurprised that circles, might have beenexpectedwithinartistic able level ofgenuineorenvy-induced scorn Prize forLiteraturetoGaoXinjian.Areason- intellectuals over theawarding oftheNobel the degreeofcontroversyamongChinese agoIwasA few years amazedtoobserve BY STACY MOSHER $100 408 pages, 2004 The Edwin MellenPress, Emerson translatedby Andrew G. Huang Xiang, While the Internet remainsasensitive While theInternet There areprobablynotmany placesleft toan When Irelatedmy observations A BilingualEditionofPoetry mentary, process featuredmovingly inthePBSdocu- a 1997 andappliedforpoliticalasylum, reprieves. cametotheU.S.in Huangfinally stints ondeathrowbeforebeinggranted includingtwo for atotaloftwelve years, thatputhimincustody a seriesofarrests ditions inaShelter&Investigation center. were con- detainedforamonthunderbrutal thepoetHuangXiangandhiswife, mune, com- ofthesameart members same year, Andinthe Wilderness. the GreatNorthern ThroughLaborCampin himself inaReform found inBeijing’sVillage Palace Garden, headoftheArtist’s named Yan Zhengxue, abumptiousartist recently as1994, Zhang Ling, and translator Andrew Emerson. Zhang Ling,andtranslator Andrew Poet HuangXiang(farright)withhis wife, Xiang’s provides anEnglishreader- poetry entitled, was immediatelybannedinChina, lections, col- Beast Poet ofChina.Onehispoetry toasthe which heiscommonlyreferred asaresultof radical andemotivestyle, movement in1978–79.Hetendstoward a duringtheDemocracyWallcharacter posters topostbig person he iscreditedasthefirst and backwardness incivilandhumanrights, ’s whichdebatedChina’s Yeya Salon, the CulturalRevolution hewas amemberof and politicshave proved inseparable.During hosted throughaCitiesofAsylumprogram. tobe forexiledauthors which arranges Parliament ofWriters, based International undertheauspicesofParis- Huangisnowonhisway to of hisexile, New Jersey formost A residentofTenafly, Crazily but Never Drunk. o un,thiswas merelythelatestof For Huang, This new bilingualeditionofHuang o nats uha un in,art suchasHuangXiang, For anartist un in,ABue Drinking ABrute, Huang Xiang, A Well-Founded FearA Well-Founded in May 2000.

REGULAR FEATURES 97 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 3, 2004 ship with its first comprehensive introduc- Once again the shimmering light of fresh In his poem “New York Teas Guest,” tion to Huang’s work, and an opportunity to dew composed in 2001, Huang shows himself understand what Chinese authorities have better acclimated to his new home: found so threatening. The poems date from Looks death in the eye the four decades between 1962 to 2002, . . . Suddenly a tea leaf is seen and cover a range of political issues, from Huang is also capable of intensely lyri- From a man standing in the world China’s Cultural Revolution to the destruc- cal passages such as this one from the financial center from out of a tion of New York’s Twin Towers, as well as 1970s: tea cup in the man’s hands personal issues such as Huang’s abiding Floating up from the depths of the cup love for his wife and muse, Zhang Ling (also In an instant I recall you, oh sea gull, That tealeaf is me. known as Qiuxiao Yulan) and life in exile. That day, you suddenly flew from the Floating up out of the world’s chasm of In a poem dated to coincide with the inner lack of my soul; greed and abyss of wealth death of Mao Zedong, and posted at Tian- And the jade-green waves seemed Stark naked I lose a lifetime of cares anmen Square in November 1978, Huang carried off by your wings. Win the present freedom writes: No more glint of the waves, just a layer of To drink alone at leisure dryness and mud. The tyrant of this era has fallen Andrew Emerson might not seem a From the pinnacle of unrighteous power “Refusing Exile,” a long poem that likely choice as translator of the first large- From the tip of a rusty bayonet Huang Xiang composed in exile after being scale English translation of the works of From the buckled backs of a generation awoken by a night terror in July 1997, this important Chinese poet. He is not a And within billions of gasping bleeding reflects the mixed emotions of a man professional linguist, but learned Chinese souls . . . forced to abandon his homeland: while in the military, and resumed his acquaintance with the language decades . . . With a bloody whip he measured . . . I am not a migrant nor a later after his retirement from a career in Space for spiritual freedom Visitor nor supplicant business. But a mutual friend assured He allowed no thoughts to be voiced Yet in spite of myself I have rushed off to Huang Xiang that Emerson had “the soul of Not even the sound of a cough a strange a poet,” and this volume proves him an He defined the space for living And enduring isolation able and sensitive interpreter in a medium Controlling man’s yearnings, impulses America’s vast sky vastly that defies perfect translation, and which in and hopes Oppresses me the case of Huang Xiang adds the chal- He concealed lookout-posts inside Buildings with their fresh theme towering lenges of unconventional form and syntax. peoples’ brains Above this ant’s head The poems might have benefited from To observe everyone’s thoughts Spread their wings high in the sky occasional footnotes to highlight the And natural desires The language of riches and foreignness events to which they relate, but Emerson Shoots rapid-fire bursts of light . . . provides a lengthy introduction to Huang’s In a poem from 1976 entitled “China life and work, which combined with a pref- You Can’t Remain Silent,” Huang Xiang . . . High walls and wire mesh reappear ace by Jeffrey Kinkley and a forward by writes: Prison attracts me like a paradise Huang himself, are very helpful in putting Jail guards and dogs smile at me the poems in their political, historical and Your children of this era have quietly said With liquid honey in their eyes personal context. Great poetry, of course, “Yes” While the memory of cool fresh spring has to be able to stand on its own—and Your last chance has come, oh China water Huang’s does. History is waiting for you Dispels the heavy heat and lassitude of The bilingual format displays Emerson’s The whole world is intently calling and exile . . . faithfulness to the original, his aim modestly listening for you described in his introduction as, “to put the To say one word— . . . My loneliness leans back to face poems into good readable and understand- “No!” The past able form so that the maximum number of Two creaking wooden door panels with people who read or hear them for the first Here is a passage composed while carven flowers time will be able to form accurate opinions Huang Xiang was detained in the Wang Wu Unhinged swing open towards me of the man’s style, scope and abilities as an Prison at the end of 1989: I drown myself in the dark gloomy peace of author, as well as enjoy the poetry.” It is Bygone days much to the credit of Emerson, as well as to Body ascends mounds of melting snow. While struggling free of the suffering a quality in Huang Xiang’s poems that tran- Purification I warmly recall the suffering scends the boundaries of language, that Fresh grass Red clouds and sea water I am now obtaining freedom such a modest aspiration should yield such soak to the And yet reject the freedom . . . a rewarding reading experience. Bone