WEN HAI-CHEN

WHY HER? In the early 2000s, Hai-chen was one of a group of housewives who joined forces to establish the Tsaoshan Ecology, Culture and History Alliance, which had as its main goal the protection of the Tsaoshan water supply, an ancient spring that was being overused by the government. Having persuaded the government to take less water from the spring, the organisation now works to protect Yangmingshan National Park. This year, Hai-chen was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award during an annual meeting of Taiwan’s NGOS.