鈥淚f you want to change the world 鈥 and I do 鈥 then you need first to change yourself.鈥 That was the inspiring message given by Chinese labour activist Han Dongfang during a Chapel address at Redeemer on Wednesday, September 23. Dongfang has witnessed, and been the catalyst for, recent positive developments in labor relations in China. He helped set up China鈥檚 first independent trade union, the Beijing Autonomous Workers鈥 Federation (BAWF) in 1989. Arrested in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, Han was detained without trial for 22 months. He was expelled to Hong Kong in 1993 where he set up the China Labour Bulletin, an NGO that seeks to defend and promote the rights of workers in China. He was speaking at Redeemer as part of a national speaking tour sponsored by CLAC, the Christian Labour Association of Canada. Besides speaking at Chapel, Dongfang also gave a public lecture on Tuesday evening and spoke to students in classes on Globalization and Chinese History. In each case, Dongfang emphasized that social justice for Chinese workers required fostering in China a culture of mutually respectful bargaining based on the dignity of human beings. Dongfang spoke of being tortured by a government doctor while imprisoned. 鈥淒id I hate him (the doctor)?鈥 he asked. 鈥淵es. But I came to realize that my hate had no effect on the doctor. He didn鈥檛 care, and the anger was just making my life miserable.鈥 He noted that those who are hated feel defensive, and are afraid to change. And those that hate, that harbor anger, are unable to see certain things. 鈥淲hen I hate, I don鈥檛 see hope or opportunity,鈥 he explained. Learning to 鈥淟ove thy Neighbour鈥 has positively affected his work in labour rights in a very oppressive environment. For example, the China Labour Bulletin promotes 鈥渕ultiple win鈥 scenarios, coaching labour leaders to re-package their cases and position themselves as wanting to benefit companies, government, and workers. 鈥淲e want to support, represent and train Chinese workers to stand up for fair, legal working conditions in a way that is interest and membership based, rather than politically based.鈥 Dongfang鈥檚 experience with what the CLB would term 鈥渕ilestone cases鈥 is that there are steps towards positive change. He doesn鈥檛 claim that things are fixed, but he has noticed that the more awareness that there is, the more the government is allowing his organization to step in and participate. 鈥淲orkers are standing up, government is not taking offence, and respectful practices highlight the fact that workers are not trying to destroy capitalism. They don鈥檛 want revolution; they want a multiple winning approach.鈥 Visits such as these are an important part of campus life, both for students and the broader community. 鈥淩edeemer’s mission includes offering a curriculum that prepares students to understand and engage current relevant issues facing our world,鈥 David Zietsma, Associate Provost, Curriculum said. 鈥淒ongfang’s presence on our campus these last two days provides students opportunities to connect what they are learning in the classroom to the experiences of others in the world affected by issues like globalization.鈥