"Radical activism is not practical in China. We have to find another way of doing it -- a more Chinese way." Deciding that there was more than one way to save the Earth, Liang chose to become a critical voice of reason with an emphasis on education, dialogue and cooperation.

At present, Chinese environmental NGOs focus on three main areas: seeking to educate and guide the public, promoting public involvement and communicating with the government on environmental-protection-policy issues. They also monitor what is happening in the field of environmental protection and help enterprises develop a greater concern for environmental issues.

Liang feels that in addition to addressing environmental questions directly, FON has a unique opportunity to set a good example for NGOs in China. According to Liang, NGOs are not evil: They're potentially a great help, accomplishing things in mutual collaboration with the government that the government alone could not achieve.

Liang believes that even differences in government policies can be expressed in an atmosphere of principled compromise, if it is done properly. There are over 2,000 environmental NGOs in China and millions of participants who spend their time and money reclaiming wasteland, observing birds, planting trees and protecting endangered animals. They also work to establish green communities. Liang feels that FON can model this behavior for others to follow, and that such modeling is potentially a very important contribution in its own right.

"I can see a real difference since we started our work, especially in public attitudes towards environmental issues. It sometimes may not seem like much, but it's a seed. And from the tiny acorn, big trees grow." Now preparing for the successor selection of his cause, Liang still seems to have no plans of slowing down.