2008-04-22

In celebration of Earth Day, which falls Tuesday, a Canadian in Beijing is spreading a movement to raise awareness of sustainable development through a distinctive hand sign.

Introduced in Hong Kong a year ago, the three-finger ("peace + one") sign is reportedly becoming popular among students seeking to express their concern for the future in cool fashion.

"Changing attitudes toward society, environment and the economy is easy", Philip McMaster, academic and founder of the symbol, told China Daily late last week.

"I'm not expecting it to happen quite that fast, but Earth Day would be an auspicious start for China," said McMaster, who can often be seen zooming around the capital on in-line skates.