Walking the Earth For the Environment

Inspiring Others to ActKonomi with a supporter of theirs, Yuji Miyata, they
And who could doubt the answer from a man whohad already walked 2,500 kilometres from Hong Kong
since 1990 has walked more than 46,500 kilometres,to the flood plains of Northern Jiangsu. This walk had
through 39 nations planting trees, spreading thetaken them through cities large and small, through
environmental message and inspiring people to actionstowns, villages, and communes. They have hiked
that are for the good of humanity.through rice paddies, along beaches, over mountains,
Because of his actions, thousands of people havedown highways, through every type of environment
supported and joined his efforts. Most noticeablyimaginable and unimaginable.
they are supporting his campaign to encourage theThey have experienced China's environment at its
planting of 100,000,000 trees, one for every man,worst and at its best. They have seen water
woman and child killed in the wars of the last century.bubbling and boiling as black as a witch's cauldron, and
To date, over 11,300,000 have been planted.have drunk from streams crystal clear. Those who've
Paul represents many organisations, is anjoined Paul and Konomi along the way have
Ambassador to the United Nations 'Culture of Peace'experienced and learned.
Peace Messenger Initiative, and serves as the CharityPlanting the Seeds
Ambassador to the Living Rain Forest Exhibit in theThe tree plantings have been treated with great
UK-based institution.sincerity and have occurred at very special locations,
Hong Kong to Beijingincluding Three World Heritage Sites, and a memorial
On September 22, 2007, British-born Paul (52) and histo the victims of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. Other
Japanese wife Konomi Kikuchi began walking frominformal tree plantings include the first event which
Hong Kong to Beijing, joining China's efforts to 'Greenwas hastily arranged when Paul and his wife arrived
the Olympics'.at a restaurant in the small village of Yabachoa,
By walking to the Olympics, Paul is meeting manyGuangdong.
people and spreading the environmental messageAt the restaurant were a road construction crew,
through tree planting activities. He has receivedand when they discovered Paul's mission and
considerable official support and is being followed byKonomi's nationality, they suggested a tree planting
the Chinese and International media. Two Early Dayof friendship between China and Japan at the nearby
Motions have already been entered into the Britishsite of a 1937 Japanese invasion force landing. Such
Houses of Parliament supporting this walk, andspontaneous occasions as these are the essence of
encouraging the next Olympics, to be held in London,Paul's work. Paul is looking forward to being part of
to be as sustainable and 'green' as possible.further spontaneous environmental events during the
The Games Will be GreenOlympics.
China won the Olympics on the premise that theAchieving the Goals
games would be 'green'. The Olympics is aFrom the experience of walking with Paul and Konomi
monumental event for any nation and draws thefor 180 kilometres, over 10 days between Xuzhou,
attention of the world. China is undergoing massiveJiangsu Province and Qufu, Shandong Province (we
change, and surely what happens in China will affectfinished at the grave of Confucius), Louise had the
everybody.following comment: "The recycling at a local level of
Paul believes that China is a powerhouse comingglass, plastic, paper and metal was amazingly visible;
'on-line', and for the sake of humanity and the planet,however, sadly, the casual and careless disposal of
China needs to develop in a sustainable way.waste was also evident in many parts of our walk."
Furthermore, he believes that if China goes green,For myself, my last thought is of "Setting your goal,
the world will be encouraged to go green.and then taking small steps to achieve it, which is
Joining the Walkwhat Earthwalker Paul Coleman does every day!
When Louise Taylor and myself joined Paul and