Changing Politics Of Environmentalism In Chinese Civil Society - Essay Example

Changing Politics of Environmentalism in Chinese Civil Society Environmentalism in China’s civil society has undergone remarkable change subsequent to the rampant growth of internet technology and virtual communities. Unlike the age of limited technology, today environmental activists and non-profit organizations can initiate any project or event toward the green movement, comparatively at less effort. In the past, activists and concerned citizens had to take their voice of dissent to the streets by conducting rally against the degradation of Mother Nature. However, today with just a click of mouse, people can participate in such movements and raise their protests through online petitions and environmental forums. Thus, in the hopes of assessing the changing politics of environmentalism in the Chinese civic culture, this essay briefly narrates the history of environmentalism in the country and how it changed overtime. In addition, the essay presents examples of online environmental initiatives, their hard line activities, and the corresponding impact of these internet-facilitated activities on civil society. The Chinese people have once more proven to the world their innovative prowess with the onslaught of online green social movements. Rapid development in technology has assisted the wake of environmentalism among the Chinese. “Environmental activism in China critically diverges from the popular image of social movements as ‘masses of people taking to the streets and erecting barricades’ (Peter ho and Edmonds 216). The country has wakened up to the alarming needs to protect its environment as a measure to prevent possible calamities and widespread communicable diseases with a view to minimize the operation costs in the administration of the country. In the past, Mao introduced a revolutionary industrialization program in which he insisted falling trees and leveling the surface of the land in order to support the growth of industry in China. The depletion of environmental balance in the country was constituted mainly by Mao’s policies as per the references of many a historian in the world. For instance, the agricultural policies like ‘close plating of seedlings, deep planting, the double- blade plow, peculiar fertilization techniques’ were of negative impacts on the environment (Shapiro 76). In addition, Mao’s political line was rather utopian as he considered nature his most prolific enemy to be conquered. He associated a ‘mass culture’ in China with which he formulated his policies and executed the destruction of forests. It has to be observed that Mao’s political regime was aiming at keeping people away from anything that supported their individual abilities to think about nature. As a result, a large proportion of forest lands and cultivable lands were trodden under unnecessary reforms for industry. This process later resulted in the massive famine in 1960s as the population in the country had explosively grown beyond the imaginations of Mao Zedong. During the time of Mao Zedong, civil society around 1949 to 1976 hardly had any input to the green movement. Mao applied what he termed as “Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong thought to the environment and people of China” (Tickell). No NGO existed back then and environmentalism initiatives were governed by Mao and his party. He literally broke the concord of human harmony with nature and heaven and taught people their ‘right’ to conquer nature. His vision of political changes adversely affected the people of China as the dictator was not aware of the consequences including air, land and water pollution, erosion of hill sides, flooding, and salinization of irrigated areas (Tickell). The effects of these exploits echoed in the lives of succeeding generations. Movements on rights and interests emerged since mid-1990, subsequent to the enactment of numerous legislations like PRC Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women, the PRC Law on the Protection of Minors etc (Keith and Lin 12). Chinese public has realized their draw backs as emerging powers to stand and resist the environmental problems. China had a tradition of confined politics during the time of its revolutionary movements when men were taught only to fight united for the needs of the common goal. It was mostly the case of forced socialism. In addition to the legislations on rights, china adopted a series of reforms in rural areas such as decollectivization of agriculture, gradual liberalization of price controls, permitting emergence of private sector, allowing farmers access to free markets etc have also contributed to democratic movements and activism (Zhang 4). But from the ‘isms’ China had had for many decades have been redefined by environmental experts as per the present tendency. Protection of the environment for a perfect future is the responsibility of the Chinese government which propelled activities to promote safety of environment of China. In contrast with traditional top-down Chinese politics, environmentalism in China “represents the rise of a bottom-up, grassroots politics” (Yang 89). Information and technology has been particularly instrumental to the rise of this change in the politics of environmentalism (Xie). There was an earmarking change China adopted with the formation of several nature clubs which were operated by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the year 1994. It was the same year China connected to the internet. The enthusiasm of people to use internet grew faster with a catapulting progress in environmental awareness programs aided by the users of internet. From the mere fun of exploring internet, people started using it as a communication channel that connected several million people under the ideology of saving the environment from further hazards due to overuse of land and destruction of surface environment. The enterprising efforts of the environmental activist led to the emergence of an online Environmental Forum, “Greener Beijing” which attracted nearly 3000 paid members. The remarkable efforts of the forum were taken up in three spheres of actions; operating a website, conducting environmental protection projects and organizing volunteer environmental awareness activities (Yang). The organization’s online interactions have been catalysts for on field trials of common public with the inspiration taken from its members to protect rare plant, and endangered species of animals and bid habitats in the country’s forests. With the emergence of internet and advanced technologies of communication and telecasting, it has become easy for China to see environmentalism take on a new phase as the country, under the great reformer Deng Xiaoping, transformed into a market economy and an information-based newly industrializing country (Lin 150). Centralized life style and integrated marketing systems were introduced to negotiate the issue of over use of land areas. Xiaoping’s policies enabled people’s lives go future oriented as they induced the minds of common people with the need for protecting environment. Introduction of technical assistance, mainly the use of internet, was the immediate mightiest pen he used to rewrite the political equations in China. This access to information and technology gradually empowered the grassroots to get involved, especially where the environment is concerned. As a result of espousing a market economy, “the state has gradually lost its grip over society” (Lin 151). In fact, there is a high correlation between the internet and the growth of grassroots environmentalism. A comparison between the time the first NGO, Friends of Nature sprung in 1994 and the present scenarios leads to a positive figure of a great growth in the number of activists in support of environmentalism in China. Presently, most web-based voluntary groups are initiated by non-government organizations (NGOs), government institutions, and research centers. There are also those spearheaded by a coalition of citizens who aim to take upon themselves the mission of nursing the wounded environment. Even a lone individual can contribute to this evolving social movement through blogs or personal online campaign ads. Over the years, civic environmental groups have become more and more “online” and less “offline.” Known advocates of “internet environmental activism in China” include Greener Beijing, Green-Web, The Tibetan Antelope Information Center, and Han Hai Sha (Boundless Ocean of Sand) (Yang 89-92). These groups initiate a range of activities that seek to address nagging environmental issues in the country such as deforestation, solid wastes management, air and water pollution, the rescue of endangered species, and the protection of animal habitats. Founded by ordinary citizens, these web-based groups have mobilized civil society and promoted environmental awareness in a way some non-Web organizations have not (Song). Members of such organizations act as the reformers of the eco-friendliness among normal people. The tendency of the public has reached a level where they are able to distinguish their political preferences on the basis of balance of environmental safety. The passion of people to save green look of their cities and countryside has been, by all means, developed and spurred by the igniting spirit injected by internet resources. They highly reflect the political changes surging through the Chinese green movement. Greener Beijing’s website is an example of such a group consisting thousands of environmentally concerned Chinese. Anyone can update themselves with the latest environmental laws and regulations in China, or share environmental concerns or strategies to reduce or avoid environmental problems. In addition to influential writers and activists of the green movement, who are often invited to voice out their “green” thoughts in the website, this web-based voluntary group has already organized environmental exhibit tours on many university campuses (Yang 89). Much like Greener Beijing, Green-Web is a portal site for discussions on environmental issues, with just as much voluntary community involvement outside the virtual world. The members of this web-based group organize bird-watching, recycling, and tree-planting activities (Yang 90), but they are also known for their aggressive online campaign against government constructions in Shunyi country that tend to destroy animal habitats. Reflections of post-Mao resolutions taken place in the country for the protection of environment are obvious with a changing Chinese political and structure. The high activism of environmentalist groups stands in stark contrast to the muffled environmentalist sentiments during the reign of Mao and his Chinese Communist Party. Unsurpassed experiments were conducted on the benefits of preservation of forest wealth and conservation of natural resources in the country. Stopping construction of dams across rivers helped against floods while a check on the disfiguration or leveling of mountains for industrial estates protected people from possible disasters like earth quakes. Conservation of environment to China meant minimizing the cost of rehabilitant efforts after every calamity. Awareness programs and interactive sessions of discussion were positioned by the seamless scope of internet based programs. In the most populated country of the world, mobilization for the community activities to promote awareness and precautionary measure became as easy as clicking on the digital screen. It may be as Jeniffer Turner, researcher from the Woodrow Wilson Center, said that “development in the environmental sphere is one of the bright spots in China’s civil society” (44). The superlative influence of internet and web-based environmental awareness activism benefits people with a virtual cover to protect their interests by selecting the most deserved person to lead the spheres of administration of the country. The government has learned to delegate its environmental role to civil society and even civic activists, particularly web-based groups. In China, a virtual stage is set for the people to act their role in the most important area of political establishments in the country. Organizations and groups of people set up websites to take recurring exit polls to invite votes for existing and expected political leaders with publications on the concern shown by the focus figure in the event of environmental concerns. Individuals have developed the tendency to create their own blogs and interactive log-ins to attract public attention on the topics of environment safety, mainly on elements related to conservation of forest resources and rare lives of the jungle. The activist groups have emerged as a great chain of information and interaction among the entire population of China. They can now set the environmental agenda for politicians. Indeed, throughout its two decades of existence, Chinese environmentalism has rooted itself in civil society and modern technology to lobby against all forms of environmental degradation and promote environmental awareness. With web-based environmental groups, it has become easier to mobilize the grassroots into awareness on the impact of pollution, deforestation, relentless poaching, dynamite fishing, quarrying and other such activities harmful to flora and fauna. Works Cited Keith, Ronald C and Lin, Zhiqiu. Law and Justice in China’s New Marketplace. Lin, Teh-Chang. “Environmental NGOs and the Anti-Dam Movements in China: A Social Movement with Chinese Characteristics.” Issues & Studies 43.4 (2007): 149-84. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. . Peter ho and Edmonds, Richard L. China’s Embedded Activism: Opportunities and Constraints of a Social Movement. Routledge, 2008. New York: Print. Song, Xinzhou. Greener Beijing Environment Forum. Greener Beijing, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. . Shapiro, Judith. Mao’s War Against Nature: Politics and Environment in Revolutionary China. Cambridge University Press, 2001. UK: Print. Tickell, Crispin. Rev. of Politics and the Environment in Revolutionary China, by Judith Shapiro. (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. . Turner, Jennifer. United States. Cong. Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Clearing the Air: The Human Rights and Legal Dimension of China’s Environmental Dilemma. 108th Congress, 1st sess. Washington: GPO, 2003. Print. Xie, Lie. China’s Environmental Activism in the Age of Globalization, Working Papers on transnational politics. City university London (2009). Web. 13 Oct. 2010. Yang, Guobin. “Weaving a Green Web: The Internet and Environmental Activism in China.” China Environment Series Issue 6 (2003): 89-92. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. . Zhang, Jianjun. Marketization and Democracy in China. Routledge. New York. Read More