 Dear International Great Wall Friends,
My name is Kjell Stenstadvold, chief representative of Norsk Hydro Beijing Rep. Office. In Norwegian, "sten" means "stone". So I was given a Chinese surname " 石" (Shi), my first name is " 丹 华" (Danhua) that means red China. The name is well received by my Chinese friends. I also like Chinese music, and play Erhu, a Chinese musical instrument. A foreign observer has characterized Norway as a large open-air museum because of its large areas of untouched nature. Hence most Norwegians are very close to nature and fond of outdoor activities. My Norwegian interest in mountain hiking soon brought me to wild parts of the GW. To me, the Great Wall is a large cultural monument in beautiful natural surroundings, such combination on a massive scale is unique in the world. I still remember the day in Dec. 1997 when I first saw the wild parts of the Great Wall after I climbed over a mountain peak around Mutianyu Great Wall. I've been to many mountains in Norway, but I've never experienced such strikingly beautiful scenery of culture in nature. The Wall is located in beautiful scenery reminding me of the mountains of Norway, yet the landscape is uniquely Chinese because of the Great Wall undulating into the distance. From then on, I went hiking on Wild Great wall over a dozen different locations. During my two year stay in Beijing, I've been there more than 30 times, hiking more than 100 km. The more I go there, the more I become concerned with the environment problems along the Great Wall. The threats to the Great Wall today are from mass tourism with increased littering, and unscientific repair of ruins. The present protection work is unsystematic, dealt with mainly by township level authority. Sustainability is used to describe economic development which ensures that future generations can enjoy a clean, natural environment as well as good social and economic conditions. The same concept is valid for the Great Wall. Ensuring its cultural and recreational value for future generations requires immediate as well as long term efforts. A sustainable Great Wall requires effort to solve the littering problem and bring significant sections of the GW under responsible care. The " Sustainable Great Wall " concept reflects Hydro's principles and values. Based on my personal engagement, Norsk Hydro ASA will sponsor a number of actions originated by William Lindesay. We have also presently started discussions with National Administration of Cultural Heritage and State Environment Protection Bureau to develop the "Sustainable Great Wall" Concept into a long term solution for the GW. Norsk Hydro is a Norwegian integrated industrial group on the Fortune 500 list. It has been a leader in responsible environmental action by industry. Hydro's principles on sustainability can be summed up as: We will demonstrate a strong sense of responsiblity for people and the environment. We will make care for the environment and for the well-being of future generations the basis of our company policy and decision making. Hydro is also sponsoring music, modern art and culture programmes because they can cross cultural and language barriers. We believe understanding different culture is very important to improve quality of life. Since 1990, Hydro has been exclusive sponsor of Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the top ten orchestras in the world, who visited China in 1996. Meanwhile, Hydro has also supported activities to bring culture of different countries into Norway to enhance mutual understandings. "5000 year's China Art" exhibition held in Oslo in 1996 is one example of it. "Sustainable Great Wall" Concept is a new contribution to our environment and culture concern. When China and the world gain a Great Wall monument for the future, Hydro expects to get recognition as a " good corporate citizen" from its initiative to ensure appropriate protection of this UNESCO world cultural heritage.  Kjell Stenstadvold
Chief Representative
Norsk Hydro Beijing Representative Office
Date: 19 November, 1999
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