Recently, outdoor brand Arc'teryx collaborated with artist Cai Guo-Qiang to host a fireworks show at Chaqionggang Day in the Himalayan mountain range. On September 20, Tibet's Shigatse city issued an official statement, and on September 21, both Arc'teryx and Cai Guo-Qiang published apologies.
A single fireworks display captured widespread attention. Just thinking about "ascending dragons," can one disregard the highland ecosystem? Even if the materials used in the fireworks show are biodegradable, they remain foreign substances. The Himalayan ecosystem is extremely fragile, and once the balance is disrupted, recovery becomes exceptionally difficult. The project team guided small animals like pikas away from the firing zone, which appeared well-intentioned but actually forcibly altered the ecological chain in the area, potentially leaving various carnivorous wildlife facing food shortages. These so-called "remedial" measures, despite good intentions, are likely powerless. The highlands are not flowerpots - foreign substances don't simply disappear when buried and hidden from view. The vegetation surface affected by fireworks combustion impacts root systems, soil, and water sources, damage that cannot be "repaired" with a mere apology.
Regarding this fireworks display, Cai Guo-Qiang expressed his hope to "find a balance between the rugged and the sacred - to unfold a dialogue about humanity, nature, the universe, and the soul within the primordial atmosphere of nature deep in the Himalayas." Art certainly possesses such functions, but the artist overlooked where such dialogue should take place to achieve this balance. Attempting to dialogue with nature through ecological destruction only results in hearing nature's silent protest. Arc'teryx has long maintained "respect for wilderness, leave no trace" as its brand philosophy, yet it conspicuously organized this "fireworks mountain bombing," disrupting the tranquility deep within the Himalayas and compromising the brand's core values. Regardless of how event organizers attempt to justify their actions, they cannot conceal the reality of this publicity stunt, cannot escape the fundamental lack of environmental consciousness, and cannot avoid public questioning and criticism.
Equally noteworthy is that China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Ecological Protection Law, specifically enacted two years ago, clearly states that relevant departments under the State Council and relevant departments of local people's governments at county level and above on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau shall, according to their respective responsibilities, supervise and inspect various activities related to ecological protection on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, investigate and handle violations, disclose information related to ecological protection work on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau according to law, and improve public participation procedures. Faced with the fireworks show controversy, local government environmental departments previously stated that the activity procedures were compliant and that no environmental assessment was required since the fireworks used environmentally friendly materials. Whether there were loopholes in the approval and supervision processes for this activity also requires the investigation team to respond to social concerns with a fact-based attitude. This requires not only handling the matter according to law and regulations but also addressing institutional shortcomings in ecological protection and gaps in environmental awareness and responsibility.
The greatest reverence for nature is not staging a fireworks show but reducing such performances. The greatest protection for highland ecology is not using biodegradable materials but avoiding disturbance altogether. Keeping the sacred land of the Himalayas pure and tranquil requires everyone's careful protection. We must not leave unsightly scars on nature for the sake of spectacular visuals.