COMMON CAUSE:

CHINA’S STATE-SOCIETY NO. 1, 2006 RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS RIGHTS FORUM

BY ELIZABETH WILLMOTT CHINA

The Chinese government’s recognition of the

economic development and its related pollution. If he lives and 15 need for public input in solving the environ- works beside his villagers, as did the village leaders on the Chaoshui, he shares the financial and physical hardship of mental crisis may offer a test for greater pub- catching toxic fish; on the other hand, if he receives personal lic participation in other areas. financial benefit from local industry,he may be in a position to buy bottled water and physically remove himself from pollu-

tion-induced “cancer clusters” such as those near Zhongshan TE BALANCE in Guangdong Province.5 “Without real democracy there can be no everlasting green Dispatches from Howard French and Joseph Kahn in The hills and clear waters. I am convinced that nature conserva- New York Times suggest that intense popular discontent with such

tion is a cause for a whole nation. It won’t do to depend on a economic and environmental inequity is roiling through the THE DELICA wise emperor or president. Hundreds of millions of people rural interior and spreading to central cities.6 Environmental must realize and show their concern for this problem.” and related social crises in China now attract international —Passage censored from A Green World Tour media attention on a regular basis (see sidebar next page). by Tang Xiyang, 19991 China’s central leadership can no longer deny the need for measures to protect environmental health and natural “Environmental protection issues are of public interest and resources. In response to unrest, civic engagement and public are the least politically sensitive. [Environmental protec- participation on issues of environmental grievance increas- tion] is the best area for experiments in socialist democracy ingly represent a strategic vision that the government can and rule of law.” employ to protect the environment while maintaining stability. —Pan Yue, vice-director, This is an idea that Chinese environmentalist-philosophers State Environmental Protection Administration, such as Tang Xiyang have long promoted, and which govern- February 9, 20062 ment officials such as Pan Yue now seem to share.Articulation of this view by Beijing officials suggests improved prospects China’s environmental crisis for the development of environmental civil society in China, as In September 2005, The Washington Post reported in a front-page well as an opportunity for cautious forays into political expres- article that residents of a village on China’s Chaoshui River sion on environmental and other issues. were finding their rice paddy livelihood ruined by toxic silt, their fish dying in black rivers and their children developing Environmental protection and democracy skin rashes from swimming.3 The poisons responsible flowed Although acts of political organizing considered disruptive from upstream mines, which the county government kept are still prohibited by the government, support seems to be open, despite clear indications of harm to environment and growing in Beijing and beyond for the idea that an increas- health, because of the high profits brought by minerals. Hav- ingly open state-society partnership will bring better environ- ing reached the boundaries of their tolerance, villagers mobi- mental protection. State Environmental Protection lized to raid and destroy the mines with their farm tools and Administration (SEPA) vice-director Pan Yue observed on Feb- hands.Their local leadership did not stop them. ruary 9 that China’s environmental nightmares call for an Similar “farmer rebellions” are playing out in cities and vil- “open and sunshine administration.”7 Put into a broad politi- lages across China. In some cases, village chiefs and Party offi- cal context, Pan said, environmental activism may be a prov- cials break ranks to condone or support uprisings; in other ing ground for the central government to test greater civic cases, they join paramilitary troops in violent suppression.4 engagement on issues for the common national good. “Envi- Locally,lines of allegiance seem to be drawn according to how ronmental protection issues are of public interest and are the

a village leader or local Party chief is personally affected by least politically sensitive,” Pan wrote. “[Environmental protec- Photo: Reuters

and local officials in implementing China’s myriad national China's Internationally Known environmental laws.10 Success in applying environmental poli- cies has been sporadic across the country,with some local offi- Environmental Crises, cials in remote areas committing crimes against nature and 2005–early 2006 their people for the sake of personal financial gain, and leaders in other areas uniting with residents to protect their commu- August 2005: Demonstrators demanded the shutdown of nity and environment.Thus for SEPA, in particular, collabora- a lead-emitting battery factory in Zhejiang Province. tion with society and individuals is a highly practical way to Some protestors used violence; police tear-gassed the achieve environmentally and socially sustainable economic crowd and “beat innocent bystanders,” according to an development. anonymous phone interview.(Source: “Dozens hurt after Working toward widespread public consciousness and China factory protest,” The Boston Globe, 21 August 2005.) involvement in environmental protection is consistent with November 13, 2005: A chemical plant blast dumped 100 modern philosophies of environmentalism worldwide.Ameri- tons of benzene into Jilin Province's Songhua River, a can environmental advocate Robert F. Kennedy,Jr. has joined waterway that is shared by Russia and later becomes numerous others in echoing Garrett Hardin’s 1968 work on Russia's Amur River before flowing into the Sea of the environmental “tragedy” of predominant Western political Okhotsk. (Source: United Nations Environment Pro- economy: “Laissez-faire capitalism does not work, particularly gramme, “The Songhua River Spill Field Mission in the commons. Individuals pursuing their own self-interest Report,” December 2005) will devour the commons very quickly.That’s the economic law—the tragedy of the commons.You have to force compa- Mid-December 2005: A smelter's discharge of cadmium nies to internalize costs.” In a capitalist democracy,wrote into Guangdong Province's Bei River required shut-off Hardin in his original commentary,only “mutual coercion of water for 500,000 people. (Source: “Toxic spill in mutually agreed upon” can keep individuals from destroying second China river,” BBC News, 21 December 2005) their shared resources.11 December 6, 2005: Protests over land requisitions and Before the recent realization of reformist Deng Xiaoping’s other issues related to a power plant in Dongzhou Vil- socialism (or, arguably,outright capitalism) “with Chinese lage, Guangdong Province lasted seven months; on characteristics,” one might have reasonably expected such December 6, police opened fire on protesters and killed coercion in China to have been less than mutually agreed at least three villagers. (Source: Human Rights Watch, upon. Even now,it would be consistent with China’s current “China: Dongzhou Killings Need Independent Investi- economic system to forge a resolution of environmental crisis gation,” Human Rights News, 15 Dec 2005.) by forcing companies and other political-economic actors to account for the social and environmental results of their February 14, 2006: A chlorine plant spilled 2,000 tons of behavior. However, as polluting state-owned enterprises are alkaline into the Wuding River near Xi'an, Shaanxi privatized and the political-economic decisions of China’s cen- Province, but the incident was not reported until ten days tral leadership lose their command-and-control certainty, later. (Source: “China Spill May Affect Groundwater, Offi- attempts to enforce environmental policy have proven neither cial Says,” Bloomberg News, 14 February 2006) uniform nor effective. It appears that China’s capitalist reforms call for private participation not only in industry,but also in monitoring the environmental problems that industry tion] is the best area for experiments in socialist democracy brings—perhaps something like “participatory environmental- and rule of law.” ism with Chinese characteristics.” Human rights advocates can celebrate these comments as The practical importance and current lack of robust envi- an opportunity to advance dialogue on multiple rights, as well ronmental civil society has apparently become painfully clear as on movement toward rule of law.Advocates for the right of not only to the SEPA leadership. One student environmentalist association, right to participatory development and access to in Lanzhou explained her commitment to environmental edu- environmental justice can potentially make inroads based on cation by saying, “So many Chinese have poor minds about the this semi-official environment-and-democracy framework. environment!”The “poor mind” problem incriminates more For the Chinese leadership, however, it seems that this than just rich polluters and high-consuming urban middle approach to environmental protection is more a matter of classes. Even Buddhist monks with whom I traveled from practicality than it is an endorsement of individual “rights.” Xiahe (“Little Tibet”) to Lanzhou in Gansu Province threw The government has long needed support in environmental their muffin wrappers out of a speeding minibus window protection; according to Elizabeth Economy,SEPA is “grossly without a second thought.As Tang Xiyang once wrote, “I am understaffed and underfunded,” with a total agency workforce convinced that nature conservation is a cause for a whole of only 300 individuals.8 Furthermore, the urgent rhetoric in nation. It won’t do to depend on a wise emperor or president. Pan’s statements about “battling the scourge of pollution”9 in Hundreds of millions of people must realize and show their capitalist China is not new.Political crisis over the environment concern for this problem.” has built up from a long history of disconnect between Beijing In line with these observations, the most positive results of cause withgrassroots environmentalists. must work incommon beginning withSEPA, government, Chinesecentral intendedaudience.The itsenormous reach side NGOscangive SEPA network thenecessary capacity to Only without- partnership step. education critical isthefirst thenenvironmental but even created andfostered, tolerated, leadership that environmental civilsocietymust benotonly government authority. environmental orthreatening withoutundermining concerns official grievance toeffectively processes aschannels resolve hastakenernment greater notice ofbothcivilsocietyand openness andenvironmental healthare intertwined.Tang as such Tang Xiyang andDaiQingargued that governmental Chineseenvironmentalists Long before mode, officialcrisis ofChineseEnvironmentalism A BriefHistory LiaoningProvince. asShenyang, ities such public inenvironmental participation protection inmunicipal- NGOs in Yunnan Province andinresponse tolaws encouraging tions ofthisapproach have beenundertaken by environmental Effective applica- ness andlocalofficialswithvested interests. members ofthepublic tomonitorbothpollution-based busi- to gainconverts tothiscommoncause—attempts toenlist environmental protection inChinahave emerged from efforts AFP/Getty Images DaiQingfoundherselfcaughtupinpolitics.Photo: Environmentalist If Pan Yue’s commentsreflect adominant view intheParty 12 ntr,thegov- In turn, a edr]Alti utb rcie,notmere form.” thismust bepracticed, [as leaders].All andselectable criticize persons discuss, destiny canthey speak, “Only whenpeopleare thereal mastersoftheirown States. Europe and the United parks intheformerSoviet Union, his 1999reflections ontraveling through nature conservation to shoutoutthat theemperor hasnoclothes…”Tang wrote in to the West inthe Tang “Citizensshouldhave Dynasty. theright withBuddhistsutrasfromas Sanzanghadreturned hisJourney just ofenvironmentalist democracytoChina, a “green sutra” Inthe1980s,Tangdemocracy. Xiyang felt that hewas bringing ing what heperceived asChina’s environmental solution: innam- pullednopunches college studentsinthemid-1990s, that many ofChina’s topenvironmentalists current attended as nature-tours therevered father ofthe “Green Camp” Xiyang, domestic environmental work. actorsin ofconnectionswithinternational the importance andon to-global networking toresist mega-damconstruction, Herwork for shedlightonopportunities local- Gorges dam. opposedtothe intellectualsandjournalists Three scientists, essays andboldstatements by Chinese collection ofinterviews, potent that pairing couldbeinashakypoliticalsystem. potent that pairing andhow between environmentalism anddemocratic vision, events of1989illustrated inreal life thephilosophicalnexus theunfolding For thoseinsidethemovement, crackdown. the Tiananmen Square protests andthesubsequent violent China’s growing democracymovement inthemonthsbefore ing their critical work.ing theircritical gic restraint that grassroots environmentalists have beenpursu- andwithstrate- obliged toconsider theiroverlapping interests, anddemocracyadvocatesrights andenvironmentalists are suppress apublic gathering. openingfire to first reportedinstanceofChinese authorities 2005 (seesidebar) was alsoa since “first Tiananmen”—the several power plantprotesters inDongzhou onDecember6, thekillingof to represent pointpost-Tiananmen, aturning Pan granted.Although Yue’s comments about democracyseem phy inChina’s state-society relations cannotbetaken for for ofbothstrategy awin-winsituation andphiloso- interms connection went unspoken inofficialpublic dialogue. thephilosophicalandpracticalenvironment-democracy 2006, civil society.And untilPan Yue’s commentsinmid-February NGOs(INGOs)representedGOs) orinternational theextentof government-operatedProvince NGOs(GON- several years ago, blossoming ofgrassroots environmental NGOsin Yunnan Untilthe silenced mostcivilsocietydialoguefor many years. many ofwhomwere alsoenvironmentalists, racy protesters, Chinese government’s violent1989crackdown onpro-democ- ble withinChina. passages were censored at publication andnever madeaccessi- with riverprotection activistsinIndia. but alsoin Chongqing Municipality, Roy’sArundhati work China’s year-old thirty in caseoftheDahedamconstruction icons ofpowerful canbeseennotonly state authority in Dai Qing and her materials wereDai Qingandhermaterials highly in influential o htrao,itiswithcautiousoptimismthat human For that reason, recent advances andprospects context, Under thishistorical vnerir n18,DaiQingpublished in1989, Even earlier, 14 (The resistance ofdamsas 15 ) Yangtze! Yangtze! 16 13 The These ,a

THE DELICATE BALANCE 17 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 1, 2006

Environmentalism in Western China—August 2005 other issues—a point important to emphasize on their behalf. Tang Xiyang has collaborated widely with other leading envi- By the time of my visit, the environmental crises and driv- ronmental activists in Beijing and abroad who are currently ers of this fall’s social unrest were well underway,but student developing strategies for China’s environmental protection. leaders I visited in Urumqi and Lanzhou were quick to define One example is Wen Bo, who worked extensively as coordina- their work as strictly environmental and non-threatening to tor of China Green Student Forum with colleagues such as Yan Beijing and their provincial regimes. Rather, they have worked Jun to organize and execute Tang’s first Green Camp, which assiduously and collaboratively with the government to mobi- brought young students to the threatened habitat of the jinsiho, lize student peers and local residents in recycling programs, the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey.Almost ten years later,Wen Bo wildlife education and even investigations of radioactive pollu- now works with Pacific Environment, a San Francisco-based tion. Unlike pollution protests erupting in angry opposition to environmental group that partners with Global Greengrants a cancer-causing factories and land grabs, these students have Fund to help build the capacity of environmental groups across demonstrated a particularly strategic strain of advocacy: decid- China.A 2004 Wall Street Journal article profiled Wen Bo as a edly circumspect, focused environmentalism. savvy,strategic thinker and trainer of new leaders on how to Like the rest of China, people in the western regions from effect positive environmental change.17 Gansu Province to the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region In August 2005,Wen Bo connected me with Green Camel are suffering a barrage of environmental assaults. Rapid eco- Bell—a young, robust environmental group in Lanzhou, Gansu nomic development and population growth have led to defor- Province, whose leaders subsequently connected me with the estation, desertification and widespread pollution, generally Xinjiang Federation of Environmental Students in Urumqi.The threatening biodiversity and increasing the ecological fragility groups are in full cross-country collaborative mode, but they of the region. In turn, reduced human access to clean water make not so much as a whispered mention of democracy or and fertile soil for drinking, irrigation and agriculture, respec- human rights. For environmental advocates within China, link- tively,has destabilized livelihoods and society. ing green issues to a broader political discourse—especially Xinjiang’s Tarim River Watershed is in the gravest environ- one of human rights—is still risky and even dangerous. mental condition possible, demonstrating acute symptoms of Accordingly,the groups with whom I met pursue a “straight- deforestation.18 Forest oases unique to Xinjiang’s desert and forward” environmental agenda, and while their work may historically important to its regional economic and social have other ramifications, such as carving out political space for development are now being degraded by agricultural reclama- the agendas of others, they themselves are not employing envi- tion and construction of large-scale (unmapped) reservoirs, ronmental activism as a pretext, banner or springboard for both of which draw down groundwater necessary for the

Workers dig a well in the Xinjiang desert. Photo: Reuters

sidered agrassroots NGO. Xinjiang Federation ofEnvironmental Studentscouldbecon- only the Snowbased International Leopard these, Trust.Among for andtheU.S.-Western ChinaEnvironmental Protection; and Geography at theChinese Academy ofSciences;Volunteers ledby anecologist of theXinjiangInstituteEcology Fund, theXinjiangConservation university; based inatechnical included theXinjiangFederation ofEnvironmental Students, jay, aspeciesindigenoustoXinjiang’s Taklimakan desert. andmultiple booksontheXinjiangground habitat protection, Snowservation FundandInternational Leopard Trust on collaboration between theXinjiangCon- for example, tection; was able tocollectthere focused heavily onbiodiversity pro- environmentalist I materials issues.Written to restricted “safe” andtheoperational scopeofthosethat doexistis ber, mental non-governmental organizations are limitedinnum- Environ- has beenconstrainedby arepressive politicalclimate. thegrowth ofenvironmental civilsociety ofChina, other part cial collaboration onenvironmental protection more thanany regional population. even thoughthey accountfor only one-seventh ofthe land, now occupy nearly athirdoftheregion’sArmy arable (PLA), ity andemployment for veterans ofthePeople’s Liberation established ofregional ethnicstabil- in1949asaninstrument “motherland.” successinmakingUighursfeel oftheChinese partial part whileachieving only tion densityoflocalUighurMuslims, Ethnic Hanmigration intotheregion hasdilutedthepopula- environmental fragility are now hallmarksoftheregion. Poverty and in factthecapacities ofthiskey outstripped source. but oasispopulation growth has many locallivelihoods depend, for theoasisagriculturequate sourceofirrigation onwhich Xinjiangshouldideallythe mountainssurrounding beanade- odspl hvr eradfii”asaresult. food supply “hovers nearadeficit” andXinjiang’s land percapita was indeclineasofthe1990s, EmbassyinChinareportsthat arable U.S. or desertification.The but withoutany real progress todate instemmingdeforestation tion projects andenvironmental education for localofficials, ing environmental refugees. of thepotentialfor localpeopledependentonthelandbecom- thegovernment andwarn issues inagricultural policy-making, ularly for holisticconsideration ofwatershed environmental localenvironmental NGOsadvocate partic- all ofthesereasons, For ecologicalresilience inanalreadyundermined region. arid Nur—an infamous siteofatomic bombtesting—hasalso area’s asManasandLop oflakes Drying such “green corridor.” troit elementsintheregion andbeyond. “terrorist” or order tomaintainregional control over possible “splittist” documented that extreme measures are taken inXinjiang mentation oftheGreat Itiswell Western Development scheme. andtoensure smoothimple- in response toUighuruprisings troopsand paramilitary weigh the region witharepressive air Collaboration withthe environmental education outreach Groups with which Icameintocontactin Groups withwhich August 2005 althoughXinjiangarguably needscivilandoffi- As aresult, Xinjiang alsohasanespeciallysocialhistory. challenging The Xinjianggovernment hasresponded withforest protec- 20 Han farmer-soldiers oftheXinjiang 21 The presence andactivitiesofthePLA 19 22 Snowmelt from bingtuan , samjrcnen alongwithradioactive pollution ofrivers, is amajorconcern, increased siltingofthe “mother”Yellow Desertification River. are illustrated inthedegradation allofwhich and vegetation, soil erosionconditionsof anddeteriorating water resources, anextreme shortage of problems ofenvironmental protection: however, concern. remains aprimary offunding, Lack use. program ofrecycling anddiscouraging disposable chopstick they were outintoauniversity-widefall branching semester, oftheir andasof thestart books toencourage self-education, one year.They have of beguntoassemble closet-sizedlibraries expand theirmembershipfrom sixto300withinthespace of handful ofstudentswas able togalvanize and campussupport a Energized by onestudentleader, within acceptedlimits. andthesestudentleadersare working strategically “summits,” with otherenvironmental studentgroups at Beijing-based ashasnetworking been ofgreat totheFederation, importance oftheprovincialarm environmental protection agency has oneprsi azo,GnuPoic,alsoface classic GansuProvince, inLanzhou, Counterparts Resources andEnvironment Voc-Tech College. Environmental Protection Association at Lanzhou inestablishingwas instrumental the “Blue Dolphin” Green CamelBell InMay 2005, Lanzhou andZhangye. organizationsin 17aspiring from 14collegesin Green CamelBellhasworkedFinally, todevelop capacity GansuForest Bureau. • GansuEnvironmental Protection Bureau's Centerfor • ofNature andotherenvironmental Friends educa- • LanzhouUniversity Community Development Cen- • organizations have included: government non-governmental andinternational event in 2005. a April “Green Olympics” These associations joinedwithGreen CamelBelltohost LanzhouPolytechnical College'sGreen Association. • Northwest University's Normal Environmental Pro- • LanzhouUniversity's Darwin Association; • Membersofitsnetwork include: China andtheworld. versity-based network ofindividualsandgroups across tion at LanzhouUniversity intothehubofalarger uni- Green CamelBellhasdeveloped from astudentorganiza- Model ofEnvironmentalism CamelBell—ANetwork Green niomna dcto n omncto;and Environmental Education andCommunication; tion NGOs; affiliated withLanzhouUniversity; both ter andtheGansuOfficeofOxfam HongKong, Greenin CamelBell'spartners On asimilarfront, and tection Association;

THE DELICATE BALANCE 19 CHINA RIGHTS FORUM NO. 1, 2006

a restive area of China.This caution existed in Lanzhou as well, To register or not to register? though to a lesser degree. “We just want to have fun,” was the common refrain of Green Camel Bell’s leader during my visit. Registration with the local government was the main Both groups also depend on cross-country cohorts for edu- issue on the minds of student leaders when I left cational exchange and tips on social organizing via cell phone Lanzhou in August. It is a sticky subject that each group and China’s prevalent “instant messaging” technology,OICQ. navigates individually.In the case of Green Camel Bell, The government-supported logic that environmental solutions Women bu shi hefa bu hefa,women shi feifa is the message that and individual civic engagement go hand-in-hand seems to be their leader was trying to communicate to the powers of an underlying factor in this yige ren bi yige ren (person-by-per- his particular world: “We're not legal or illegal.We're son) approach to network development. outside of the law (i.e. the law should have nothing to All the same, Green Camel Bell and the Xinjiang Federation do with us).” Green Camel Bell leaders were especially still face significant financial challenges in building libraries concerned about how much operational control would and offering environmental education to a broader audience. have to be ceded to the government after registration. Wen Bo’s “simple tips for environmental activism” make the But environmentalists do stand to gain from registration environmentalist road seem easy at the outset, but lack of in terms of collaboration with and subsequent funding money is a major obstacle in further development. Greengrants from the government.This seems to be the case for the China, which Wen Bo has led and which is sustained with collaboration Green Camel Bell has ultimately pursued assistance from international organizations such as Pacific with its local environmental protection bureau once its Environment Forum, provides small grants to Green Camel Bell leaders finally registered last fall. and its peer groups at the initial stage, but long-term funding Even without registration, leaders of the Xinjiang is not a given.This position of financial disadvantage leads Federation seem to have relied on collaboration with some groups to collaboration and registration with the gov- government—in particular, the environmental educa- ernment as a survival option. tion outreach arm of a provincial agency—both for It helps to have individual leaders who understand the access to funding and as a means of maintaining a legiti- dynamics of consistent but low-key activism in China.The estab- mate and apolitical image. lishment background of Green Camel Bell’s leader helps him to navigate this narrow path.Aided by his day job as a researcher at a local government academy and his persistence in maximizing lakes and pastures, and the loss of unique species of wild the usefulness of his connections, he is able to make the best of horses and antelopes to development and illegal hunting. China’s sociopolitical reality in exercising his commitment to Like the Xinjiang Federation, Green Camel Bell is a univer- the environment and ensuring the survival of his group. sity-based environmentalist corps of volunteers started by one leader at Lanzhou University—an Anhui native in his late Conclusion twenties who moved to western China because of his concern Governmental encouragement of environmental civil society for regional environmental issues. He and the group’s other seems to be a well-considered attempt to resolve a classic members have outlined an ambitious work plan, as required “tragedy of the commons”—with Chinese characteristics. under the terms of their official registration, which includes an Indeed, to speak productively about moving forward from ecologically focused, investigative excursion (modeled on Tang environmental calamity in China requires addressing how to Xiyang’s “Green Camp”) to the Great Wall; establishment of a “close the gap,” as Elizabeth Economy writes, between what small environmental library-database open to the public; envi- needs to be done and what the state can actually do.This gap is ronmental education trips to severely desertified counties; an the space that environmental society groups are now begin- environmental “culture” festival featuring a motivational ning to inhabit when official “environmental enforcement speech from Tang Xiyang; an environmental policy forum on remains unequal to the challenge” it confronts.23 converting croplands to forest and grassland; a market survey Whether or not the government will support environmen- of the antelope-hunting business; and investigation into possi- talists as heroes of society remains to be seen, but relations are ble radioactive pollution of water and air. certainly warmer than in the past.The more interesting ques- The group has completed many of these work items with tion now seems to be: how will environmentalists such as robust support from its broad international, national and Green Camel Bell and the Xinjiang Federation of Environmen- regional network of participants and supporters (see sidebar). It tal Students respond to this new official vision of an “open and is hard to pinpoint the reasons for Green Camel Bell’s ability to sunshine administration”? pursue such a large range of issues and social organizing as com- Certainly there are individuals “shouting out that the pared with that of the Xinjiang Federation, but greater political emperor has no clothes,” as Tang Xiyang has said, and the gov- freedom and access to funding appear to be major factors. ernment’s eventual admission of the seriousness of the ben- While environmentalists in Xinjiang currently exercise less zene spill in the Songhua River may indicate greater openness range than Green Camel Bell in Lanzhou, this could change. post-SARS on issues of public health. But the grassroots Chi- What seems to be a consistent preoccupation of student lead- nese environmentalists I met in Western China seem not to ers is that their groups not be seen as a potential source of have been lulled into a sense of security.Caution is the norm in political destabilization or a challenge to governmental rule in the attitudes, discourses and organizational approaches of stu- NOTES role.ipatory increasingly partic- be implementedwiththepublic inacentral, inspire somehopethat China’s myriad environmental laws will new level ofresolve articulatedby SEPA leadership should with issuesofsustainable the development andhumansecurity, For advocates concerned in governmental-societal openness. precedentthreat—will for alsosetacritical otherdevelopments political destabilization orthegovernment’s perceptionof tions fare inthecomingyears—whether they successfully avoid How environmental associa- ofotherissues. space for theairing growth ofenvironmental civilsocietycouldpotentially make tion ofChina’s mostextreme societalconstraints. arguablywould anillustra- benotable especially for Xinjiang, realization ofthisvision presenting unduepoliticalrisk.The mental education ofthegeneralpublic servessocietywithout ronmental Studentsandothergroups aslongtheirenviron- theXinjiangFederation ofEnvi- encourage Green CamelBell, to suggestthat thegovernment viaSEPA willcondoneandeven Pan mark.Accordingly, Yue’s commentsinearly February seem areing Green thetrade- Campsandeducational exchanges consciousness-raising andproductivewhich but non-threaten- in carefully systemofpublic withinaproscribed education, haveand theirXinjiangcounterparts worked strategically and themembersofGreen CamelBell local government practices, trast tovillagers whohave expressed vocal resistance tounfair Incon- actively adoptedhispublic pro-democracy discourse. of in theGreen Campspirit schooled haveTang not Xiyang, Gansu andXinjiang. especially in Westerndent environmental groups, provinces of China may represent abellwether onthiscount. environmental NGOsinpolitically sensitive regions of Western government’sgood.The collaborative current attitude toward the government couldapply tobroader issuesfor thenational tal issuesmightfactor intoanew calculusoncivilsocietythat However, thebenefitsofcollaborationsociety. onenvironmen- the government intocommoncause withenvironmental civil thantherecognition ofadire situationual rights that isforcing mental NGOsseemstoreflect lessanendorsementofindivid- indicator ofsocialandpoliticalprogress.health isacritical for individualstovoice onenvironmentalthe right concerns growing recognition official of countiesandvillages, provinces, across thewildlyand track varying conditions ofChina’s toachieve difficult metric to findthethorny “access tojustice” .Elizabeth Economy’s 2004book, 6. water of safe isadaily drinking “Lack problem inChina,” Tim Johnson, 5. .“olto etfrCia eorc edd official,” democracyneeded: “Pollution testfor China, 2. “‘AGreen USEmbassy, PartWorld II,” Censored: Tour’ 1. .Edward Cody, “China’s Rising Tide ofProtest Sweeping UpParty Offi- 3. .Hwr rnh “Visit toChinese Anytown Howard French, Shows aDarkSideof 4. In areas controlled lessstrictly thanGansuandXinjiang, Student environmentalists in though Western China, nsm thegovernment’s attitude toward current environ-In sum, ngtRde esSrie eray1,2006. February 14, Knight RidderNews Service, cials,” News Progress,” http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn/sandt/tangcensored-2.htm. eray9 2006. February 9, , h ahntn PostThe Washington 24 The New York Times And althoughlegalreform activistswillcontinue etme 2 2005. September12, , aur 9 2006. January 19, , The River RunsBlack alsooffers anupdate , China Environment 7 Peter “Green Groups MoveWonacott, toCleanUpChina,” 17. cat- theSoviet modelwas falling elsewhere, Atabout thesametime, 16. 2 Willy “ExploitingaFavorableWo-Lap Climate,” Lam, 22. “China’s RadioFree November InfluenceinCentral 24, Asia, Asia,” 21. HumanRights “DevastatingWatch Blows: /HumanRightsinChina, 20. 1 art adn “The Tragedy Hardin, Garrett oftheCommons,” 11. William P.Alford andShen “The Limits oftheLawYuanyuan, in Address- 10. 4 DaiQing, 14. “‘AGreen USEmbassy, PartWorld II,” Censored: Tour’ 13. Elizabeth Economy, “China’s Environmental Movement,”Testimony 12. 19. US Embassy in China, “Xinjiang Reading Notes.” Excerpts from China Excerpts “XinjiangReadingNotes.” USEmbassyinChina, 19. Explorer’s Pacific Paradise “Xinjiang:An Faces New Pressures,” MaMing, 18. 4 ntepeoiatvso fa“ih odvlpet or “human Inthepredominant visionofa todevelopment” “right 24. Elizabeth Economy, “Congressional China’sTestimony: Environmental 23. 5 Ying Xing, 15. .“Resolve key tobattling scourge ofpollution,” 9. Elizabeth Economy, “China’s Environmental Movement,”Testimony 8. .“olto etfrCia eorc edd official,” democracyneeded: “Pollution testfor China, 7. Journal News tion ChinaBrief protests. alyzed by at European leastinpart environmental Eastern activismand tgp/books.html; ulcGivne,Fbur ,2005. 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