Those are the words of Li Changqing, recipient of the 2008 Golden Pen of Freedom. At the opening ceremony of the 61st World Newspaper Congress and 15th World Editors Forum the Golden Pen of Freedom Award was given to Mr Li, Deputy News Director, Fuzhou Daily, China. Unfortunately he wasn't able to tell the audience himself. Instead his words were recited by a close friend and colleague Miss Li Jianhong who was in Gothenburg receiving the Golden Pen in his honour. Mr Li Changqing hasn't been given his passport back since being released from prison in February this year after having spent two years in  jail. Neither was Mr. Li Changqing able to travel to Gothenburg. She was stopped at the Beijing airport when trying to board the plane. Mr Li Changqing had written a letter to the audience.
The letter told the story of how he became a journalist, why he still continues to work as one, what his driving force is and was. From questioning and doubt concerning the system in China at a young age, after the death of his father, till youth rebellion at the university, followed by the intellectuals revolt in the 1980's.
The problems he discovered, the weakness in the system, and the lack of freedom for the Chinese people is what spurred him on. And this is still why he keeps writing and publishing articles about interesting issues in the country. This was what got him arrested in 2006. He had revealed and exposed the spread of the dangerous, infectious disease, dengue fever, in southern China, before the authorities had informed the public. An act that would have been greeted as the action of a hero in most other countries was deemed as the "fabrication and spreading of false information."  The outbreak of dengue fever was never recognised by the authorities. This shows the vulnerability of a society without free press. The letter ended with Mr Li Changqing putting hope in the future and blessing China.