Leadership of farmer in Zhejiang brings visible result - a trash-free town

When Qiu Liqin, a self-described lifelong farmer from Lujiacun in Anji county, Zhejiang province, stepped onto the glittering stage at UN headquarters in New York in September, she told her story with passion.

"It would have seemed natural for a farmer like me to have a trembling voice and a racing heartbeat in front of such a large audience, but surprisingly, I was not flustered at all," she said. "I was representing 40 million farmers in Zhejiang province."

Qiu came to the United States to receive the Champions of the Earth Award in the inspiration and action category, one of the United Nation's highest environmental honors. It recognized Zhejiang's Green Rural Revival Program this year.