Latest comments posted about How volunteers can help freedom of information on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1182-How-volunteers-can-help-freedom-of-information http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1182-How-volunteers-can-help-freedom-of-information SEPA requires that the environmental evaluation details become accessible to the public. However, even if transparency is in place, the public has nowhere to give their comments, or even if it is possible for them to comment, there's no real power. They may try for once, twice, and be left feeling desperately powerless. They will naturally start urging the government to become a better listener and start asking them to stop being someone only superficially engaged: look, we also have transparency and democracy. On the other hand, just like what is said in Pan Yue's article: Idealism is to go ahead knowing that chances of success are slim. We need this attitude. We try, though we might not be able to achieve our goals; but if we give up, there's never going to be any change and nothing will be achieved at all. Fri, 07 Sep 2007 09:17:35 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4360 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4360 The person posting the first comment led the discussion into a blind alley, which makes Chinese people fall into desperation, as we nearly always seem to. During discussions, we always find ourselves trapped without a way out. But what we are talking here does have a way out... In China, research and developement organisations collecting information. For example, the China General Station of Environmental Monitoring in the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), and the meteorological stations under Central Bureau of Meteorology. They all take responsibility for tracking environmental trends. At one time, people had no rights of concerns in enquiring about this information. The public could merely get access to the information which the government offered. And the public was trained to be dependent. It is true the government own the resources, but the public also have power to act. They can only make a difference when being led by non-governmental organisations. The more powerful the public is, the more influence they will have over government there will be. The public should be strong itself, rather than depending on the government. Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:19:23 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4141 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4141 It's worth noting that there is an international movement towards promoting both the _supply_ and _demand_ of access to information on environmental issues (as well as other 'access' rights related to the environment). This effort is making inroads in China, among other countries. More information here: http://www.accessinitiative.org/ Mon, 30 Jul 2007 22:14:55 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4113 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4113 I do not agree to the statement once the current information has became public, the crowds do not show interest on it, and also not agree to the statement whereby the crowds only complaining, environment are sensitive issue to residents in city, for instance, those residents visiting city, due to the fact that this is their bread and butter, and also their pride, or most of the people know that buying still water, but not drinking tap water, house cannot be moved in immediately after being renovated, due to the fact there is industry which caused pollution. Even in rural area, once the rivers have been polluted, the farmer will be able to notice it without using any advance apparatus to measure, because the crops will not lie, or increasing number of old folks infected by cough. That information would not be able to seal off. Our main concern is not to release the information become public or to seal it either, but is the effort from government. The degree of pollution happened at those places such as Huaihe River, Tai Hu Lake and Dianchi Lake do not require any detection; the condition will be able to tell with one’s own eyes. Though funding from Central Government is quite a big sum, what is the result?At current stage, government still monopolizes most of the public resources, what can be done by non-government organizations? What is the main source of pollution for river, atmosphere and lake? Not the resident, but the industrial and mineral enterprises, which the local government also dare not to offence, what can be done by those non-government organizations? Release the information become public, how to ensure the reality and sources of the information, World Bank has assisting with the assessment report, however we are unable to supply databases required for the study, how to release the information become public? The figure which has been released, how to ensure the truth? Simply release the information become public cannot resolve the problem, but, with the condition of distribution of power and resources remain unchanged, the results from public involvement would not superior than the budget allocated for control pollution at Tai Hu Lake. Thu, 26 Jul 2007 11:07:54 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4095 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4095 Transparency is a step forward. Rome wasn't built in a day, and this is already promising. Luke Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:07:40 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4096 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1182#comment-4096