Free Happy Hour Talk with Zhao Zhong, a TIME Hero of the Environment

Local Action, Global Impact: Holding Governments and Corporations Accountable for Polluting China's Rivers

A free happy hour event with Zhao Zhong, a TIME Hero of the Environment, who will share stories of successful grassroots strategies that force polluters to clean up their act.

Water pollution is one of China's most critical health and environmental problems. There isn't a single city that provides safe tap water to all of its residents, over 70 percent of lakes and rivers are polluted, 75 percent of all health problems are linked to poor water quality, and hundreds of "cancer villages" line the banks of polluted rivers.

Recognized as one of TIME Magazine's Heroes of the Environment in 2009, Zhao Zhong founded Green Camel Bell, the first environmental organization in Gansu province in northwestern China, in 2003. Under his leadership, Green Camel Bell became one of China's most respected and effective water pollution watchdogs, successfully pressuring factories to stop dumping waste and toxins into the Yellow River.

Zhao Zhong now helps Pacific Environment's local partners fight water pollution as our new Beijing-based China program coordinator.