http://taiwanwhatsup.immigration.gov.tw/public/epaperHTML/0101517435271.pdf#e1
用行動守護台灣 環保法律人—文魯彬
在喧囂悶熱的台北市區，當所有人都迫不及待希望趕快躲進冷氣房裡，文魯彬，一個以美裔台灣人身分為環保運動發聲的法律人，卻仍從容地騎著鐵馬穿梭在台北街道，甚至將一般人印象中嚴肅的律師事務所佈置成綠意盎然的「環保辦公室」，希望有一天能和他與妻子的住所一樣這15年來不使用冷氣，並以自然光、堆肥廁所等實際行動表達他對環境保護的立場與決心。
文魯彬出生在美國，擁有傲人的法學博士頭銜。1977年來到台灣學習中文，原本預計只待半年就回美國，想不到一來便愛上台灣，進而決定在台灣長久的待下去。因為認定台灣是他的家，也因為目睹了少數外籍人士因為太過“活躍”於具爭議性的社會運動而最後必須回國的命運，文魯彬希望能正式以台灣人的身分投入環保運動，於是在2003年10月放棄美國國籍，正式歸化為台灣公民。面對身邊許多人不解的聲浪，文魯彬卻認為這是一個很自然的決定。除了不用擔心必須出境的風險外，也因為自己生長在美國，對美國式「過度消費、揮霍地球」的生活方式很有警覺且難以認同，同時也希望能以歸化的方式說服其他人一起投入環保運動。在來到台灣之後，看到當時許多台灣家庭輪流用同一桶水洗澡，之後再用洗過的水澆花擦地板等「珍惜並小心」的使用資源方式感到不可思議，卻也讓他深受感動，從此愛上台灣和她的人民。「歸化是非常自然的事，誰會不想成為這群人中的一份子呢？」他說。
2002年底，長期為了律師事務所事業在國內外奔波的他生了重病，被醫生宣判只剩六個月的生命，此時他決定放下一切，並聽從醫生的指示到花蓮靜養。在病痛奇蹟似地只靠著健康食物、運動、紓壓及自然療法不藥而癒後，文魯彬決定把握時間，將自己剩下的人生回饋給他所愛的這塊土地。2003年12月，文魯彬成立非營利的環保運動組織「台灣蠻野心足生態協會」，致力於環保、社會正義及他口中“保障經濟永續發展”工作。隨著協會的成立，他也全心投入台灣環境生態之政策、法律研究及環保訴訟等業務。他相信此協會是台灣第一個為環保團體及運動提供法律協助的公益律師組織，並同時指出台灣有許多擔任社運義工的律師，卻只有少數在環保領域，非常可惜。
曾當過環評委員二年的文魯彬認為，台灣太過關注於經濟的快速發展，而嚴重忽略了環境保護及永續發展的重要性，台灣的企業也應該遵循「環境基本法」並落實負責任的商業行為。他希望「台灣蠻野心足協會」及他的「博仲法律事務所」能成為模範，喚起更多人一起為與我們息息相關的自然環境盡點心力。「為了當代人及後代子孫，也為了整體環境、動植物、山川、海洋和其它物種的利益。」文魯彬以實際行動守護台灣，也為愛台灣下了最好的註解。
Robin J. Winkler: American-turned-Taiwanese lawyer uses the
law to protect Taiwan’s environment
Robin J. Winkler is constantly trying to live up to his environmentalprotection
ideals, even on a scorching day in downtown Taipei city.
While most people are
trying to hide in air-conditioned rooms, Winkler, an
American who has become a naturalized Taiwanese
citizen, moves unhurriedly through various parts of
the city on his bicycle. Even this attorney’s office
forgoes the usual solemn trappings to become a verdant
“environmental office.” He not only hopes one day it can
operate without air conditioning as has he and his wife’s
downtown Taipei residence for the past fifteen years, but
it also demonstrates his resolve to enhance environmental
protection in practical ways by making good use of natural
sunlight and compost.
Winkler was born in the United States and received
his J.D. degree there. Arriving in Taiwan in 1977 to study
Chinese, he originally only planned to stay on the island
for half a year, but fell in love with Taiwan instantly upon
arrival and it was soon clear that he might be here for a
much, much longer time. As Taiwan has become his home,
Robin decided to fully devote himself to environmental
protection as a “real” Taiwanese, for he had observed
that the rare foreign national that gets “too active” in
controversial social movements often ends up forced
to get on a plane back to their home country. He thus
renounced his American citizenship and was naturalized
as a Taiwanese citizen in October, 2003.
In spite of strong misgivings about this move from
people around him, he felt it was a natural step to take.
Aside from the potential deportation, due to having grown
up in the United States, Winkler was also well aware of
the American lifestyle of excessive consumption and the
squandering of the world’s resources, and felt that taking
on ROC citizenship would be a persuasive statement to
those he wanted to persuade to join the environmental
movement. Upon arriving to Taiwan, he had observed
little things such as how multiple family members would
take turns bathing in the same tub of water, before using it
again to water plants or mop the floor. Such mindful use of
resources touched him deeply and helped him fall in love
with this island and its people. “Becoming a citizen was
so natural,” he says, “who wouldn’t want to identify with
these people?”
A key incident occurred at the end of 2002. At this
time, Winkler, who had travelled frequently abroad for his
law practice, was informed by doctors that he only had six
months to live. This was a wake-up call that forced him to
reevaluate his life. At the suggestion of a medical doctor
who worked with a natural healer he moved to Hualien,
where he could ponder his situation in relative solitude.
After his body cured itself without any medication but
only with healthy food, exercise, reduced stress and a
series of “natural treatments”, Winkler decided to seize
the moment to devote the rest of his life to social and
environmental justice in Taiwan.
In December 2003, he founded Wild at Heart Legal
Defense Association, a non-profit organization dedicated
to environmental and social justice work and what he calls
“long term sustainable economic protection.” With the
organization’s establishment he wholeheartedly committed
himself to legal based policy, research and advocacy in
the area of environmental protection. He believes the
association is Taiwan’s first public interest law office,
providing legal support for environmental protection and
social justice organizations and movements. He is quick to
point out however that there are a large number of lawyers
in Taiwan doing volunteer social work but only a handful
in the environmental protection sector.
Robin was appointed to serve on the Environmental
Impact Assessment committee of the Environmental
Protection Administration for 2 years. He believes that
Taiwan’s attention to short term economic success has far
outstripped its attention to environmental protection and
sustainable development, and that all industries in Taiwan
should adopt a commitment to comply with the Basic
Environment Act and its spirit that requires responsible
business practices. He hopes that not only Wild at Heart,
but also the law firm that he founded, Winkler Partners,
can set an example for others, and encourage more
people to make contributions to preserving the natural
environment which so closely surrounds their daily lives.
“This is for the interests of our contemporaries and
descendants, and for the whole environment, animals,
plants, mountains, rivers, oceans and “others”, notes
Winkler, who continues to tangibly demonstrate his love
for this island as he stands guard over its environment.
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