Constitution of FON

Chapter 1 - Character
Article 1
Established as an Institute under The Chinese Academy of Culture, The Academy of Green Culture (abbreviated "Friends of Nature (FON)") is a Chinese environmental protection Non-Government Organisation (NGO), which was approved by the competent department of the Government to be formally registered as a branch organisation of The Chinese Academy of Culture in March 1994.

Article 2
FON abide to the various laws and policies of the Chinese Government as well as the regulations of The Chinese Academy of Culture, and develop activities as well as perform regular reporting of past activities under the guidance of the Academy's committee of Academy affairs.

Article 3
FON is a non-profit, public welfare organization funded by membership fees and public support.

Chapter 2 - Purpose and activities
Article 4
FON's Purpose is to promote environmental education for the masses, to improve the environmental consciousness of the whole of society, to propose green culture, to promote the undertaking of Chinese environmental protection by striving for Chinese ethnic minorities to be able to have an overall continuous development.

Article 5
FON supports all policies, measures and activities beneficial to environmental protection as well as continuous development of society, from the Chinese government, social organisations as well as individuals, and is in addition hoping for their cooperation. FON moreover, according to these conditions, oppose things that are contrary to this appearance by progressing to monitor, criticize, expose and plead to the parties concerned to stop the matters in question.

Article 6
FON cooperates with international NGOs as an aspect of the development of environmental protection, and as such, according to these conditions, participate in worldwide environmental protection activities.

Article 7
The fundamental principals and methods of FON's development of environmental education and propagation of green culture is: After school teaching, different forms of adult education, publication, works of visual art and music, mass media, activities for the masses etc. particularly stressing the training of environmental consciousness among youths trough all kinds of activities.

Article 8
FON, according to these conditions, sustains and organises members to develop environmental science and environmental theory by research and collecting of environmental information, conducts social investigation using environmental activities as basis, and raises the level of the group and the individual; as well as develops the friendship and exchange between members through different methods.

Chapter 3 - Members
Article 9
Any individual, who practises environmental protection, agrees with FON's purpose and constitution, and wishes to contribute ability to the fields of FON, having applied and received approval by the board, can become a member of FON.

Any enterprise, institution and organisation that are engaged in or enthusiastic about environmental protection work and agree with FON's constitution, can pursue FON's purpose in its daily work, as well as support and attend FON's activities on a regular basis. When introduced by a member of the board who puts forwards an application in person, this entity can with the approval of the board become a group member of FON.

Article 10
Member's rights:
1. The right to elect, the right to be elected and the right to vote;
2. Attend activities of FON;
3. When agreed upon by the board of directors, hold activities conforming to the purpose of the organisation as a member (in the name of the organisation) within an appropriate scope, and additionally receive guidance and assistance from the organisation;
4. Share the information resources of FON as well as the opportunity to communicate this outward.
5. Put forward suggestions, criticize and supervise FON's work.
6. Recommend new members.

Article 11
The obligation of members:
1. Practice and take initiative to propagate the purpose of the organisation.
2. Abide to the constitution of FON.
3. Pay membership fee according to the rules.
4. Protect the rights and reputation of the organisation.
5. Volunteer service to FON.

Article 12
Members have the freedom to leave from FON. Those who put forward their wish to leave, will, if already registered, immediately be deleted from the members list;
Anyone not abiding to the constitution of FON, takes harmful action towards the purpose or reputation of the organisation, or violates national law, will be expelled with the approval of the board.

Article 13
Environmental protection is the common pursuit of mankind. FON receives people from outside mainland China within fields of enthusiastic environmental protection attending its activities as 'associate members;
The obligations of 'associate members' are the same as for members. The scope of activities, which 'associate members' participate in, will be arranged separately according to the specific circumstances and the relevant regulations of the Chinese Government.

Chapter 4 - Organisation
Article 14
FON is organized as an association. The Board of Directors as well as the Vice-President are elected by the members for a 2 year term of office and are allowed to serve more than one term. The Directors can select a number of persons from the Board as Executive Managers being responsible for the daily work at FON.

The Board can nominate to appoint an Honorary Chairman, Director and Adviser, and can according to demand establish a Secretariat being in charge of the administrative work under the guidance of the president. Additionally the board can establish a number of specialized groups to take care of relevant activities.

Article 15
FON does not establish branches or other forms of subdivision organizations. Group members and work units with relatively many members can select one person as point of contact to the Board.

Article 16
Without an formal written entrust from the Board of Directors, individual or group members can not organize activities, collect donations or establish organisational connections with other groups inside or outside China in the name of 'The Green Culture Institute of The Chinese Culture Academy' or FON. If this kind of situation occurs, FON will not acknowledge the situation and will not take responsibility. When needed, FON will carry out a legal investigation of the persons concerned.

Chapter 5 - Membership fee and donations
Article 17
FON member's membership fees and payment method is specifically stipulated at each annual board meeting. Apart from Membership fees FON additionally accepts donations.

Article 18
FON accepts donations from social organizations, groups and individuals in the form of funds, services, equipment, books and reference material and other forms of support and contribution. FON will, according to the contribution, extend appropriate thanks.

Article 19
The service of FON members in the organisation is voluntary, without pay. FON can provide meal and travel allowances according to the situation;
The rewarding method for members appointed by the Board, spending a relatively big amount of working hours engaged in tasks particularly entrusted by the organisation will be stipulated from time to time by the Board according to the circumstances.

Article 20
All incomes of FON will be used for development of environmental protection activities. Financial records are open to the public and will be published periodically for members and donors.

Chapter 6 - Supplementary articles
Article 21
FON establishes an address in Beijing

Article 22
This constitution was passed by the Board after seeking the opinions of all members during March and April in 1995. The power to interpret and modify the constitution belongs to the Board.

Note: this is an unofficial translation, if there is any doubt the Chinese will be taken as correct.

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