Zhan Shungui, the poorest lawyer in Taiwan, China, is a good comrade-in-arms of environmental groups

Today marks the first anniversary of the forced demolition of the Zhang pharmacy in Dapu, Miaoli. At the same time, word has come out that the Environmental Jurists Association, the staunchest ally of environmental groups and a long-time supporter of the Dapu case, is in financial difficulty, and nearly failed to pay salaries last month. Many farmers and environmental groups the association has helped have come forward to voice their support. Hsu Shih-jung, a professor in the Department of Land Economics at National Chengchi University who has long followed land issues, has also spoken up for the association. Its lawyers not only pay their own way to take on lawsuits for disadvantaged people, but also step into the system to help civil society propose bills and push back against the government, "using the law to bring happiness to Taiwan."

Cultivating young lawyers, sustaining the lifeline of the environmental movement

Hsu Shih-jung described Chan Shun-kuei as "one of the poorest lawyers in Taiwan." When he spoke out in support of the anti-Mei-li-wan incident, he paid out of his own pocket to fly to Taitung, and paying his own way to attend court hearings across Taiwan is even more common, yet he still donates a fixed sum to the association every month, simply because he loves this land so much.

Yesterday morning, he was sharing administrative litigation techniques with lawyers who had just passed their exams and had not yet done their internships, and was so hungry that he did not eat lunch until 2 p.m. Although young lawyers are constrained by their employers and experience, and the association's main affairs are currently handled by veterans such as Chan Shun-kuei and Lin San-chia, about 10 young lawyers are still involved.

He said with a smile that during his morning talk he "smuggled in" some issues. For example, because he has met many friends through environmental lawsuits, he has been invited by indigenous people to the Harvest Festival, and even has an Amis name. He hopes to nurture young seedlings and let himself take a breather. "The government often says it administers according to law. If more environmental jurists get involved and find the illegal grounds, we can challenge their legality."