Chinese, Japanese, and Korean environmental activists use of Borderless Media - Essay Example

Outline Introduction Chinese environmental activists’ use of Borderless Media -Use of Local newspaper -Use of Internet Japanese environmental activists’ use of Borderless Media -Use of Internet and social networks -Use of local newspaper and television networks Korean environmental activists’ use of Borderless Media -Use of mass media -Use of Internet Conclusion Reference List Introduction One of the critical issues that are proving to be a thorn in the flesh for the media and the public is how environmental issues are tackled by leaders across the different governments. The Asian journalists tend to think that the media from the West is well equipped with environmental data, which is totally different from the situation that is on the ground in Asia. In Asia difficulties faced by the media ranges from financial, technical and political in the various ventures that are explored. Information on environmental problems and projects is vast in Asia but the only problem is that the information is not freely accessible to the public and the only people who get to access it are the government agencies. The information is not also made available to the journalists neither is it filtered to meet the government interests. The only information that is availed to the public in one way or the other is usually presented in scientific jargon as well as in technical reports aimed at making the environmental information incomprehensible to the media fraternity thus gagging their ability to spread the information throughout the public domain. A good as well as a practical example is indicated by the fact that the appraisal report, the evaluation report and the impact-assessment report of big projects like dams are normally treated by the national government as confidential and the same case applies to international loaning agencies that are funding these projects. There are numerous unfolding difficulties that are faced by the activists and the media fraternity in their efforts to inform the public on issues facing the environment. These however does not deter the Asian environmental activists as well as the Asian group in stepping up their efforts of informing the public on matters that are environmentally sensitive and which affect government decisions (LaMay and Dennis, 1991, p. 219). Chinese environmental activists’ use of Borderless Media Use of Local newspaper According to Redclift, as the years go by the environmental issues are in one way or the other considered to be non-sensitive issues. This has changed the whole of reporting scenery of these issues as they are reported regularly thereby making them to be obvious. The Chinese local newspaper in particular has been under intense pressure from the government to refrain from critically reporting on issues that pertain to the environment. Bans are imposed with the claim that it is for the national as well as the security interest of the nation. In 2005 Yang, an expert of the media and environment in China indicated that environmental NGOs together with their environmental campaigns have had one of the favorable spells in the Chinese local newspaper since the mid 1990s when they emerged. A close relationship has since emerged from the environmental NGOs and conventional media. The existing relationship has also incorporated various green NGOs that are spearheaded by former professional journalists. The tie between the NGOs and the media is further enhanced by the fact that the environmental NGOs are part and parcel of the source of the news and at the same time, the environmental NGOs rely on the media to apply more pressure on the government (Redclift, 201, p. 389). Use of Internet The internet has played a crucial role in expanding the existing room for the free media over the past decades. The state however has a hand in the present internet affairs. Chinese environmental NGOs have embraced the internet as a tool through which they can use to spread vital environmental information throughout the country. The internet is mainly preferred by the environmental activist because of the numerous restrictions and barriers that have been placed in other type’s media that operate in China. Over a half environmentalist, NGOs in China have established their own websites that comprises of bulletin boards, environmental information, and internet campaigns. The Magnitude of the internet and a type of media used in spearheading environmental issues is further indicated by the fact that some environmental activist groups such as Greener Beijing and the Green-web are not registered but still practice through the web. It is through the web that these environmental NGOs mobilize volunteers, establish discussion groups, and organize campaigns as well as other activities. Although the internet in China is at its low level, its growth is coming up at a higher rate (Redclift, 2010, p. 389). Japanese environmental activists’ use of Borderless Media Use of Internet and social networks In the current communication world and digital technologies, spreading of information to vast group of people has been made fast and efficient. The social networks and the internet are mainly used by environmental activists to communicate instantaneously and directly to their supporters a well as potential future supporters. In comparison to the other types media used in advertising and spreading out environmental information, the social network that include the Face book and Twitter surpasses them all as they are cheap as they require no cost to establish and updates can be done in a matter of minutes. These social networks have aided a lot in lifting the burden of accessing to the normal existing news media (Lester, 2010, p. 126). Use of local newspaper and television networks Environmental activists still regard the old media as an important tool in shaping a lasting perception in the public domain in regards to issues affecting the environment. In light of preventing Japanese whaling, the Sea Shepherd Society has used media interactions as well as ICTs in its quest. Paul Watson has incorporated the use of local newspapers and the television bulletins to enhance his activists of preventing Japanese whaling in Antarctic waters. This is evident in his daily appearance on the cover page of newspapers and in news bulletins. The message is hence passed through to the Japanese nation and the rest of the world on the effects of whaling (Lester, 2010, p. 126). Korean environmental activists’ use of Borderless Media Use of mass media Korea’ environmental movement is attributed to a short history but a far-reaching impact in the Korean society. The Korean environmental movement set up the pace for the establishment of numerous of environmental NGOs. The composition of these environmental NGOs is vast and it is attributes to information awareness to the public. The information is channeled through the use of mass media that include the newspaper (Lee & So, 1999, p. 144). In the course that was attended by at least 25 Koreans that represented the different animals and environmental groups, a sample of video on fox hunting was used to educate the environmentalist in attendance on ways of protecting the environment, which included saving the animals (Littlefair, 2001, par 3). The use of the sample video is another type of mass media that is frequently put into good use by environmental activists especially when it involves seminars. Use of Internet The incorporation of sending graphics, text, images, and even video clips through the internet has proven to be one of the most efficient channels of spreading information to a large number of people. In addition to this, telephone communication in the modern world has also been incorporated as one of the key components in the build up to the backbone of the internet. In the Asian countries has had a huge impact as a major channel of spreading information. In South Korea, more and more people are embracing the use of the internet and hence the environmentalists seize this opportunity to inform the public on issues affecting the environment, which are normally kept within the tight grip of the government (Straubhaar &b LaRose, 2006, p. 516). Conclusion In transforming the environmental activism in Asia, the media must play its role by working hand in hand with the environmental NGOs to establish a partnership that is bound to last for ages. The media plays the role of ensuring that corrupt environmental practice are done away with as well as informing and educating the public on the importance of the environment. Many bright and promising environmentalists are emerging from the new modern generation with credentials in both the environment and journalistic fields. These environmental activists are destined to revolutionize the process in which the environmental NGOs in the Asian countries of China, Japan, and Korea undertake their goals and objectives in the following years to come. Reference List LaMay, L. C. and Dennis, E. E., 1991. Media and the environment. Washington D.C: Island Press. (Online). Available from http://books.google.com/books?id=-zNfWogq2R0C&pg=PA221&dq=Asias%27+environmental+activists+use+of++Media&hl=en&ei=HAiaTdLPL8LprAfo45jjCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false (Accessed April 4, 2011). Lee, F. Y., and So, Y. A., 1999. Asia's environmental movements: comparative. Perspectives. NY: M.E. Sharpe, Inc. (Online). Available from: http://books.google.com/books?id=Tj9m7HMa6-wC&pg=PA114&dq=Korean+environmental+activists+use+of++Media&hl=en&ei=YwWaTcSNLo7QrQfNmoDyCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false (Accessed April 4, 2011). Lester, L., 2010. Media and Environment. MA: Polity Press. (Online). Available from http://books.google.com/books?id=XJO0ggLWcP8C&pg=PA127&dq=Japanese+environmental+activists+use+of++Media&hl=en&ei=2AWaTcyCAsnirAf7893yCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Japanese%20environmental%20activists%20use%20of%20%20Media&f=false (Accessed April 4, 2011). Littlefair, P., 2001. Animal welfare course allows activists to share ideas, strategies. Korea Herald: Seoul. (Online). Available from: http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=2&did=94374996&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1301970921&clientId=29440 (Accessed April 4, 2011). Redcliff, R. M., 2010. The international handbook of environmental sociology. Massachusetts: Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc. (Online). Available from: http://books.google.com/books?id=fyhhWgou1p4C&pg=PA389&dq=Chinese+environmental+activists+use+of++Media&hl=en&ei=vgSaTbGWGozirAfkt_3lCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=Chinese%20environmental%20activists%20use%20of%20%20Media&f=false (Accessed April 4, 2011). Strubhaar, D. J. and LaRose, R., 2006. Media now: understanding media, culture, and technology. CA: Thomson Learning, Inc. (Online). Available from http://books.google.com/books?id=EQ8z_96ZYFEC&pg=PT127&dq=Korean+environmental+activists+use+of++Media&hl=en&ei=YwWaTcSNLo7QrQfNmoDyCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false (Accessed April 4, 2011).   Read More