Listening to the Voice of Nature, "Nature is Speaking" lands in China

Seven influential Chinese artists joined the campaign

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Apr 08, 2015, 10:56 ET

BEIJING, April 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Nature Is Speaking ("NIS"), a proactive and refreshing environmental awareness campaign, was launched by Conservation International Foundation ("CI") today here in LAVIN, Beijing.

With more than 4.5 billion years of history, what is Nature trying to tell us? Lee Clow (creator of Apple's Think Different campaign) helped CI create the NIS film series. NIS was first launched in the US in October 2014.

We hope to vocalize nature with her own voice, while we expect people to be aware that nature's prosperity does not depend on us. NIS has gained enthusiastic supports from famous actors in Hollywood, including Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz, and Robert Redford. In China, we are excited to see Jiang Wenli, Jiang Wen, Chen Jianbin, Ge You, Zhou Xun, Pu Cunxin and Tang Wei. They will be lending their voices to some of the characters in Chinese. Starting today, there will be a film released every week by CI. The goal of NIS is to wake up the world, to spark a conversation about nature's essential role in human lives and ultimately, to inspire a global shift in values and behavior.

NIS films offers revelations on human activities from viewpoints of Nature - Influential international and Chinese celebrities VOICED characters

"Nature does not need people, People need nature." The NIS campaign was conceived of and executed by Lee Clow's team. Some of the stars lending their voices to characters are: Jiang Wenli (as Mother Nature), Jiang Wen (as Ocean), Ge You (as the rainforest), Zhou Xun (as water), Pu Cunxin (as redwood), Chen Jianbin (as soil), Tang Wei (as flower).

Mother Nature has been around for over four and half billion years, she does not need humans to continue or prosper. Today, the founder, Chairman and CEO of CI, Mr. Peter Seligmann, the Senior VP and Senior Scientist, Dr. M. Sanjayan, Ms. Jiang Wenli and Mr. Pu Cunxin held a press conference. They hope to convey the message to as many people as possible through their influence. Only when everybody starts to care for nature, conserve nature, we can ensure the prosperity of human beings.

Mr. Seligmann said: "It is really simple: We need water. We need food. We need minerals. We need energy. But we need to eliminate the damage when getting these things. We need to ensure the 7 billion here today leave the planet healthy so that the 9 billion who will be here tomorrow can prosper."

Dr. M. Sanjayan said: "Some may wonder why the films feel dark and angry, however, optimism is a core value for Conservation International. We do the work we do because we hope for a better future for humanity. In order to achieve this better future, CI needs to drive change by starting a conversation. The best way to start a conversation is with a provocative statement. We want Nature Is Speaking to serve as a wake-up call -- nature's message must be heard now."

Ms. Jiang Wenli and Mr. Pu Cunxin attended the launch on April 8. As the wise Mother Nature, Ms. Jiang Wenli was the first to present the Mother Nature film. "Mother Nature is the oldest, the one who has been here since the beginning. She's the mother of all creatures, past and living. This is her planet, everything here exists because of her. Like a mother she's fair, but she does set the rules, and she does expect us to live by them." Ms. Jiang Wenli urges the public to care for Mother Nature, if we do she will help us," she said, "we all want a healthy and prosperous world, let's care for and value nature, for the long-term benefit of people and all life on Earth."

Mr. Pu Cunxin is famous for philanthropy. At the Nature is Speaking launch event, he not only appealed for people's actions to protect trees and forests, but also borrowed words from the great Russian playwright, Anton Chekhov, to express his expectation:

"But when I pass peasant-forests that I have preserved from the axe, or hear the rustling of the young plantations set out with my own hands, I feel as if I had had some small share in improving the climate, and that if mankind is happy a thousand years from now I will
have been a little bit responsible for their happiness. When I plant a little
birch tree and then see it budding into young green and swaying in the
wind, my heart swells with pride."

What's worth mentioning is although Mr. Jiang Wen could not make it to the event, he sent a gift, a rarely seen calligraphy, to CI, to express his concern for nature, as well as putting forward the suggestions to the public to listen carefully to nature and care for the fate of nature and our own.

Listening to the heart of Nature, Conservation International calls for care for the future of Nature, which determines the future of human beings

Conservation International Foundation (CI) is a well-known international environmental NGO established in 1987. CI works in over 30 countries to ensure a healthy planet that supports the prosperity of all mankind. CI China launched its first program in 2002, and has obtained remarkable achievements in the areas of biodiversity conservation, freshwater conservation, climate change adaptation, marine ecosystem protection, and China's global leadership on environment. But, the journey has just started.

With the rapid pace of globalization, natures ecosystems that provides clean air, water and fertile soil are facing serious challenges. CI always thinks it is not enough to depend only on the nature conservationists to protect nature. NIS campaign is an invitation to all humans, to listen to nature, to share her fear and hope, and listen to her advice. What we have been doing is not to save nature, but ourselves.

CI has been working to advocate the responsible and sustainable conservation of nature for the well-being of humanity on the base of scientific researches, partnerships and field project demonstrations.

CI started in China in 2002, with working areas focused on freshwater conservation, climate change adaptation, protected area development and marine ecosystem protection.

From the depths of the ocean, to the peaks of the mountains, CI partners with government, local communities, corporations, research institutes, with strong foundation of science, to implement a series of innovative and achievable projects, to contribute to China's environmental protection and sustainable development.

Official WeChat: CI-China

Official WeChat: natureisspeaking

SOURCE Conservation International