Research Workshop("The Workshop")
1. As globalization and technological advances change our lives, the task of protecting biodiversity and cultural pluralism, preserving individual national and ethnic identities, presents itself as a new challenge in the international community.
2. Western China is the cradle of the Chinese civilization. It is also the region where most non-Han ethnic groups live. Natural and cultural resources are especially rich in this region, where each ethnic group is unique and full of character.
3. As China opens its Western regions, with increasing accessibility, communication and interaction both economically and culturally, the traditions and environment of ethnic groups are facing critical situations. It is now imperative that the cultural ecology of the region be preserved, protected, and developed.
1. To protect the cultural ecological environment of western regions of China, and to assist local governments in developing economic projects to improve the quality of living in these areas and as much as possible in preserving the life styles of the ethnic groups and natural environment.
2. The Preservation and Developing Project will begin its operations in Guizhou, and extend its work into Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan provinces in southwest China. The project will further extend to cover the entire southwestern region, covering ten provinces and regions.
1. To preserve cultural diversities and maintain natural and cultural ecological environments in western China, especially the preservation and protection of their life style, folk culture and folk art; and to respect local communities and their rights to economic advancement.
2. To fully utilize the participation of local government, cultural and tourism ministries In enacting these plans,and to identify government and other official research groups, regional experts and their help. At the same time, to invite national experts and international professionals as consultants.
1. To record ----in both audio and video forms---the music, language and oral histories and social practices of the various ethnic groups.
2. To save and collect folk arts that are representative of the region and its ethnic groups, and to protect Western China's cultural ecological resources.
3. To publish a series (multi-media) of cultural ecological products, to promote the cultures and folk arts of the western region.
4. To advocate the introduction and active realization of eco-tourism or cultural tourism plans without endangering natural and cultural ecological environments.
5. To work out feasible and sustainable economic development plans for the regions with special emphasis on the production and marketing of high value-added agricultural and cultural products so as to bring about economic betterment for the communities.
